Library officials in Brighton have banned a Sunday school leader from putting up a poster advertising a church craft fair because they said it ‘promoted religion’.
Jacalyn Oghan, 46, who helps out at St Mary’s Church, in Upper Rock Gardens, Brighton, for 13 years, went to the city’s Jubilee Library to put up a poster advertising the craft, singing and drama day for children at her church. Despite the poster clearly stating that children of all religions could ‘come along and have fun’, Mrs Oghan was told she could not put the poster up at the library. When she asked for permission to put up a poster she was told she could not because it ‘would promote religion’ – despite the library shop offering products which appear to mock Christianity.
Mrs Oghan, the mother of three, said:
‘Anyone in the community, of whatever faith, should be able to put up a poster in their local library so that people know what is going on. But I was told my poster could not be displayed because it had religious content.
‘Many Christians in the community are already too frightened to speak up. I was made to feel as if my poster was somehow offensive or dangerous.’
She found the decision of the Library particularly bewildering, especially as the library shop was selling sweets which were ‘clearly poking fun at Christianity’.
The Messiah mints, which have a picture of Jesus on the front of the tin, claim to provide Holy fresh breath. The slogan on the product stated: ‘He can't feed the 5,000 with this cute little tin of peppermints, but you'll feel a whole lot better after your hearty banquet of fish and loaves!’
Mrs Oghan said she was angry when she saw the mints on sale and her simple poster being banned. She said:
‘It’s political correctness gone mad and I do think it’s a little hypocritical. They said they couldn’t put up my poster because it was not in their guidelines. How they can get away selling the mints in the shop when I’m not allowed to give out inoffensive leaflets I do not know.
‘They clearly take the micky out of Christianity. I’m not offended but was angry that they were allowed to sell these mints for a profit. How is it that they are allowed to sell mints which clearly contain a religious figure?
‘It is so sad they can do that, yet a leaflet inclusive to all faiths and cultures is still deemed non-PC.’
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said:
‘In the interests of fairness, we have very clear and strict guidelines for displaying information in the library and we do not accept any material promoting a particular religious view point.
‘No material that has any political, philosophical or religious view point is displayed.
‘With regards to the mints, these are one of a series of tinned mints sold in the shop. The labelling is not meant to offend.’
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