Council bosses have rejected claims from an MEP that a decision to remove a large crucifix from a crematorium wall is “political correctness gone mad”.
Hyndburn council’s decision to take a large crucifix down from a wall in Accrington Crematorium Chapel hit national headlines last week.
The wooden cross had been permanently located in the chapel off Burnley Road since 1956. But it was removed by Hyndburn council as part of a recent £17,000 refurbishment of the building and will not be put back up.
UKIP MEP Paul Nuttall, whose North West of England constituency covers Accrington, is furious about the decision.
He said: “This is political correctness gone mad and, as is increasingly common, it has been done because of a false perception of ‘causing offence’.
“There have been no calls from followers of other religions to remove the wooden cross, just woolly-headed council bosses seeing the risk of offence when none exists.
“Where is the consideration for Christians in this? This is still a Christian country and the majority of Lancashire residents describe themselves as Christian.
“The cross was there without problem for nearly 50 years and has given comfort to countless bereaved people.
“Sadly this is typical of the right-on bureaucrats who make decisions affecting the lives of others after a relentless diet of equality and diversity, no matter what their paymasters in the public might think.”
Coun Ken Moss, cabinet member for Cemeteries and Crematoria, dismissed criticism and said that the decision was made to make life easier for staff.
Coun Moss said: “The cross is not being taken away from the crematorium as some people have suggested.
“It has been in the crematorium for 60 years and that is where it will stay.
“It just will not be on the wall anymore.
“It is a massive crucifix and it is hard work for staff to cover it up, so to make life easier for staff a decision was made to have a cross placed on the altar instead, which can easily be moved when requested.
“This is normal practice across crematoria and the majority of the surrounding boroughs now take this approach.”
Coun Moss added: “With regards to the criticism made by Paul Nuttall I take anything he says with a pinch of salt.”
