Theresa May Urges Religious Tolerance in Easter Message

Prime minister Theresa May urges tolerance in a video message posted on the 10 Downing Street YouTube channel on Sunday to mark the celebration of Easter. May references her own childhood growing up in a vicarage and also says the “strong tradition” of religious freedoms which exist in Britain must be treasured

Alastair Campbell: PM is wrong to hint that ‘God would have voted leave’ »

David Cameron Declares: ‘Britain Is Still a Christian Country’

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg deliver Easter messages despite being atheists

David Cameron has used his Easter message to the country to declare that Britain is still a Christian country, as he urged the nation to “speak out” over the persecution of the faithful around the world.

The Prime Minister and the other party leaders shared Easter messages - even though some, including Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister, and Labour’s Ed Miliband, are self-proclaimed non-believers.

In his message, Mr Cameron said: “Across Britain, Christians don’t just talk about ‘loving thy neighbour’, they live it out… in faith schools, in prisons, in community groups.

"And it’s for all these reasons that we should feel proud to say, ‘This is a Christian country.’ The church is not just a collection of beautiful old buildings. It is a living, active force doing great works across our country. (+ David Cameron’s Christian message) » | Rosa Prince, Online Political Editor | Sunday, April 05, 2015

Urbi et Orbi 2012

Pope Silent on Scandal

Gordon Brown Issues Easter Greeting
THE TELEGRAPH: Gordon Brown hailed Christians as ''the conscience of our country'' in an Easter greeting posted on the Downing Street website.

Gordon Brown outside Chequers, the Prime Minister's official country residence. Photograph: The Telegraph
The Prime Minister's Good Friday missive hailed the ''redeeming power of faith'' and said the forthcoming official visit of Pope Benedict would make this a special year for the UK.

''Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar because it is when we reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,'' he wrote.

''Christians all over Britain and the world will be celebrating in their homes and churches and thinking about the redeeming power of faith. >>> | Good Friday, April 02, 2010

Warmest Wishes for Easter from the PM
NUMBER 10: The Prime Minister has wished those celebrating Easter all over Britain and the world a happy Easter.

Gordon Brown said how “incredibly grateful” he was to Christian churches for all that they do.

The PM said this year was a particular reason to celebrate, as 2010 will see the first official visit of His Holiness the Pope to Britain.

The PM said: >>> | Good Friday, April 02, 2010

”Night Must Fall”, Says Archbishop of Canterbury
BBC: The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned in his Easter sermon against nations' greed for oil, power and territory.

Dr Rowan Williams said the "comforts and luxuries" we take for granted could not be sustained forever.

He told worshippers: "We face a culture in which thoughts of death are too painful to manage."

Two men were arrested at the start of the sermon, after protesting over comments made by Dr Williams on the adoption of Islamic Sharia law.

'Inner deadness'

Dr Williams reminded the congregation of Christianity's Easter message that death would be overcome.

But he said death was the end "in an important sense", and urged Christians to prepare for it by constantly striving to let go of "selfish, controlling, greedy habits".

The archbishop said: "Individuals live in anxious and acquisitive ways, seizing what they can to provide a security that is bound to dissolve, because they are going to die.

"Societies or nations do the same. Whether it is the individual grabbing the things of this world in just the repetitive, frustrating sameness that we have seen to be already in fact the mark of an inner deadness...

"Or the greed of societies that assume there will always be enough to meet their desires - enough oil, enough power, enough territory - the same fantasy is at work.

"We shan't really die. We as individuals can't contemplate an end to our acquiring, and we as a culture can't imagine that this civilisation, like all others, will collapse and that what we take for granted about our comforts and luxuries simply can't be sustained indefinitely.

"To all this, the church says, sombrely, don't be deceived: night must fall." Archbishop Warns Greedy Nations >>>

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