What’s wrong with a horny Christmas?

Planning to have a horny Christmas this year? At least one person doesn’t like the idea – well, he doesn’t like the idea that such a concept is being incorporated into a display that, horror of horrors, Christians might see and be offended by.

He’s a priest, of course.

He’s Chris Dalliston, Dean of Newcastle, who’s objecting to an Ann Summers window in the city’s Grainger Street.

The City Council received a complaint about the display. But officials there say that, although they have deemed it “inappropriate”, they have no powers to force the shop to take it down.

And why on earth should anyone force the shop to take it down? And on what grounds does the City Council deem it “inappropriate”? Because it’s at Christmas, and mentions Christmas?

So we’re back to claiming midwinter festivities for just one section of the community, are we?

Ah, but, this dog-collared chappie might say, it’s the use of the word “Christmas”. Well it was your lot who foisted that word on the rest of us when Christians imposed their own festival on existing midwinter festivities. You can’t have it both ways. We now call it Christmas. Be happy with that.

If Ann Summers had a shop window saying have a horny midwinter festival, you can bet your bottom the Christians would be bleating about how they’re taking the Christ out of Christmas and calling it something else.

No, for better or worse, and by historical convention, it’s called Christmas. We’re used to it. Most of us – atheists included – are happy with that name. And, as a season, it belongs to us all, not just Christians, so Mr Dalliston has no claim on it other than within the context of his church.

If he wants to object to any perceived misuse of it among his flock, he can take it up with them.