Springer campaigners challenged over sexist comments and to back claims with cash
-23/02/05
The director of the Christian thinktank Ekklesia has issued two challenges to religious campaigners to make up any shortfall in money lost by a cancer charity as a result of their actions and apologise for derogatory remarks made about women during a discussion programme on BBC Radio 2 today.
Jonathan Bartley, the director of Ekklesia went head-to-head with Stephen Green from Christian Voice on BBC Radio 2ís Jeremy Vine show today, after pressure was exerted by Christian Voice on the charity Maggieís Centres to refuse a donation from ìJerry Springer: The Operaî that would have helped cancer sufferers.
Defending his position, Stephen Green said that his actions were ìprincipledî and that he was challenging ìone of the stereotypes of Christianity that it is a religion for women and wimpsî.
Green also said that he believed God would financially ërewardí the charity for refusing the donation and give them more money than they had lost.
However, when challenged live on BBC Radio by Ekklesiaís director Jonathan Bartley to make up any shortfall in the charities funding if his prediction didnít come true, Stephen Green refused.
Stephen Green also accused the United Reformed Church (URC) of ìjumping on a bandwagonî after it issued a statement condemning the actions of Christian Voice today.
Reports in the media have suggested that when Stephen Green called the charity Maggieís Centres he promised that religious protestors would campaign outside the charityís headquarters if they accepted the donation from ‘Jerry Springer: The opera’. When asked about the details of the telephone conversation on the Jeremy Vine show, Stephen Green said; ìI canít rememberî.
A number of callers phoned the Jeremy Vine programme, including Christians, following the head-to-head interview expressing dismay at Greenís reluctance to ìput his money where his mouth wasî, but also at his comments about women.
After the programme Jonathan Bartley said; ìAs numerous callers to the Jeremy Vine show made clear, the actions of Christian Voice make Christianity out to be a bigoted, harsh and judgemental religion.î
ìStephen Green should make a public apology for the derogatory comments he made about women, and also back up his claims that cancer sufferers will not lose out as a result of his action with hard cash.î
The interview on the Jeremy Vine show can be found here
Springer campaigners challenged over sexist comments and to back claims with cash
-23/02/05
The director of the Christian thinktank Ekklesia has issued two challenges to religious campaigners to make up any shortfall in money lost by a cancer charity as a result of their actions and apologise for derogatory remarks made about women during a discussion programme on BBC Radio 2 today.
Jonathan Bartley, the director of Ekklesia went head-to-head with Stephen Green from Christian Voice on BBC Radio 2ís Jeremy Vine show today, after pressure was exerted by Christian Voice on the charity Maggieís Centres to refuse a donation from ìJerry Springer: The Operaî that would have helped cancer sufferers.
Defending his position, Stephen Green said that his actions were ìprincipledî and that he was challenging ìone of the stereotypes of Christianity that it is a religion for women and wimpsî.
Green also said that he believed God would financially ërewardí the charity for refusing the donation and give them more money than they had lost.
However, when challenged live on BBC Radio by Ekklesiaís director Jonathan Bartley to make up any shortfall in the charities funding if his prediction didnít come true, Stephen Green refused.
Stephen Green also accused the United Reformed Church (URC) of ìjumping on a bandwagonî after it issued a statement condemning the actions of Christian Voice today.
Reports in the media have suggested that when Stephen Green called the charity Maggieís Centres he promised that religious protestors would campaign outside the charityís headquarters if they accepted the donation from ‘Jerry Springer: The opera’. When asked about the details of the telephone conversation on the Jeremy Vine show, Stephen Green said; ìI canít rememberî.
A number of callers phoned the Jeremy Vine programme, including Christians, following the head-to-head interview expressing dismay at Greenís reluctance to ìput his money where his mouth wasî, but also at his comments about women.
After the programme Jonathan Bartley said; ìAs numerous callers to the Jeremy Vine show made clear, the actions of Christian Voice make Christianity out to be a bigoted, harsh and judgemental religion.î
ìStephen Green should make a public apology for the derogatory comments he made about women, and also back up his claims that cancer sufferers will not lose out as a result of his action with hard cash.î