Priest is suspended for rejecting Nativity story
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A reformist Church of Ireland dean has had his episcopal authority temporarily withdrawn over his unconventional interpretation of Christianity, which casts doubt over the story of Christmas.
The Dean of Clonmacnoise, the Very Reverend Andrew Furlong, 54, was removed of his authority to act as a priest for three months after his rejection of the traditional Christian tenet of incarnation, the belief that Jesus was partly divine, which is part of Nativity.
Yesterday, the dean, who is the rector of Trim, stood by his belief and said this meant he could not subscribe to the traditional understanding of Christmas, although he did not want it abolished altogether.
"In all Christian churches, Jesus is human and divine, and he is God in some ways. But I cannot believe that his birth was the arrival of God on Earth in human form ... I see Jesus as nothing more than a human being and he had a birth like all of us," he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments