Winterval Whinges

Lord Carey has been foaming at the headlines again. It appears that, on the planet Lord Carey now inhabits, Christians are being airbrushed from public life, as when the Pope visits or the Synod gathers for yet another chat about women and sex, only to be greeted by total silence from the media. Accordingly, Lord Carey has lent the prestige of his name, and his standing as a man appointed by a politician to wear funny clothes and talk at the Deity, to the catchily-titled Christian Concern Not Ashamed Day. The campaign aims to highlight the cases of Christians who have been dismissed from employment for their saintly attachment to trinkets and baubles. Among Lord Carey's chums is Gary McFarlane, a Christian marriage guidance counsellor who lost his job on the insanely bigoted atheistic grounds that he was refusing to do his job. McFarlane is so intimidated by the prospect of discussing his faith in public that he told the Press Association all about it, while Lord Carey recycled some tabloid headlines by way of Eric Pickles: "The cards that used to carry Christmas wishes now bear 'Season's greetings'. The local council switches on 'winter lights' in place of Christmas decorations. Even Christmas has become something of which some are ashamed." Lord Carey urged Christians to emulate the Pharisee in the temple and "wear their faith with pride", as the Saviour in his humility commanded.