Bradford & District | Archive | 2006 | February | 20
From the archive, first published Monday 20th Feb 2006.
As protests over plans to stage a controversial musical in the city gathers pace, a Methodist minister has called for church leaders to use common sense over what they protest about.
Christian groups across the district have united in protest against Jerry Springer: The Opera.
More than 2,200 from 59 churches have signed a petition organised by multi-denomination group, Prayer for Bradford.
The petition, handed to Bradford Council, calls on the authority to withdraw the show - set to run at the Alhambra from May 22 to 27.
And Muslim faith leader Dr Abdul Bary Malik, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, has also backed their campaign.
Dr Malik said: "I am backing the Prayer for Bradford petition, I feel very strongly about this," he said.
"I have the same respect for the prophet Jesus as I do for the prophet Mohammed. Anybody criticising Jesus would upset me as well.
"Therefore, I am supporting those members of the clergy who are trying to stop this show coming to Bradford."
Mr Malik said the production, which dresses Jesus in a nappy, addresses
swear words at him, and sees Christ
state that he is "a bit gay", was very upsetting.
He said: "Any protest against this production must be made peacefully. I am not in favour of any action where you take matters into your own hands. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, but you should not infringe on others rights."
However, the Reverend Paul Flowers, who also serves as a Labour councillor for the Great Horton ward, said he disagreed with Prayer for Bradford's stance.
Rev Flowers, Methodist minister for the Great Horton area, said: "I am giving my view on this as a Methodist minister.
"I understand the view that has been expressed by the Prayer for Bradford group and they are very much entitled to express that view.
``However, I disagree with it. I would be very worried about any attempt to censor or ban anything like this.
``The censorship or banning of productions like this has a very unfortunate pedigree.
"You need to be absolutely certain before banning things like this. There is history to think of.
"We also live in a very plural and democratic society and in a plural society views will be expressed with which we disagree.
"We should welcome that and engage with the issues."
Coun Flowers said he believed there were bigger problems throughout the world which needed to be addressed.
"People are dying from war, abuse, lack of food, water and healthcare," he
said.
"I would appeal to the common sense of my colleagues in the church to concentrate on these things rather than what I think is a trivial issue.
"I do not believe God needs defending. Christians are meant to be people who are witnesses to their faith, but we do not have the task of defending God - he does not need it.''
Coun Flowers added: "I, like lots of other people, will go to the show and make up my own mind."
A Bradford Council spokesman said the decision to allow the production to come to Bradford would be examined at a full council meeting on April 4.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008