Greggs shouldn’t have had to apologise for sausage roll nativity scene advert

Greggs’ nativity scene. ‘Objectors are correct in saying that other faith traditions wouldn’t take kindly to such a jape, but perhaps the freedom to do so, and the ability to receive it in good part, are signs of grace,’ writes the Very Rev Richard Giles. Photograph: Taylor Herring/Greggs/PA

What a shame that Greggs felt obliged to apologise for their lighthearted take on the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child (Report, 16 November). Objectors are correct in saying that other faith traditions wouldn’t take kindly to such a jape, but perhaps the freedom to do so, and the ability to receive it in good part, are signs of grace. When a faith tradition loses the capacity to laugh at itself, it is on the slippery slope to the hardline fundamentalism which brooks no comment or criticism, evidenced, for example, in the violent “anti-blasphemy sit-in” at Islamabad reported in the same issue.
Very Rev Richard Giles
Tynemouth

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