A priest in the diocese of Southwark who opened us his church for Muslim prayers has apologised after being told that this was not permitted within a consecrated building.
The Vicar of St John’s, Waterloo, the Canon Giles Goddard, said on Tuesday that the event had caused “great consternation”, and he apologised for “the offence caused and any infringement of Church of England’s framework and guidelines”.
The prayers were held on 6 March as part of the Inclusive Mosque Initiative, in the run-up to International Women’s Day. They were led by Dr Amina Wadud who campaigns for gender justice in Islam. Men and women sat alongside one another in the church.
Not an apology at all. And nothing, not even an “expression of dismay” from ABC Justin Welby.
He had to be “told” that this was not permitted? Sorry, sir. Covering up (according to report) all the Christian symbols in the worship space and allowing anti-trinitarian prayers is obviously not right.
What this heretic priest should be made to do is walk some of those Christian symbols down to the closest mosque and set up a little prayer station inside. I’m sure that some of his progressive Muslim associates would have no issue with that.