Gideon Bibles have been banned from student rooms at Huddersfield University in a move that has been described as “anti-Christian”.
Digs, the company which manages student halls, said that it introduced the ban as a number of the university’s students were from abroad and it wanted properties to be “ethically neutral”.
The Gideons are now not allowed to leave Bibles in student rooms.
“Anti-Christian step”
But the Revered Mike Smith, a former minister at Huddersfield’s Golcar Baptist Church, said:
“Our culture is not ethically neutral.
“Banning bibles is not ‘ethically neutral’. It is a positive anti-Christian step, and could be the edge of a very dangerous wedge.
“What is considered perfectly acceptable in hotels, hospitals and prisons is not fit for students! How foolish can you get?"
He added: “Are the university authorities not aware that the Christian faith is a worldwide faith? And as for non-Christian students, they are not compelled to read the bibles.”
The Gideons have been leaving bibles in hotels and prisons since they were founded in 1899.
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