Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Friday, 30th July 2010

Atheist in protest over 'Christian-run' leisure

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 04 January 2008
By Rob Stocks
AN Over Wyre atheist is mounting a one-man protest against the handover of leisure facilities in Wyre to the YMCA.
Ian Abbott from Knott End is angry about swimming pools in Garstang and Fleetwood being handed over to what he sees as an overtly Christian organisation.

Mr Abbott, 55, of Hackensall Road, who is chairman of the Lancashire Secular Humanists, has made an official complaint to Wyre Council about the handover, saying he does not want to play a part in funding religious organisations, but is given no choice.

He said: "I am a 55-year-old man who would benefit greatly from visiting a gym and swimming pool more regularly.

"Some years ago I was a member of the Wyre-run centre in Fleetwood and recently considered the possibility of re-joining and resuming some gentle regular exercise.

"But now it is the YMCA.

"I want someone to tell me how a secular local authority can justify supporting an overtly religious organisation."

Mr Abbott was told by Wyre Council it shared similar values with the YMCA.

A letter from the authority to Mr Abbott said: "The council and the YMCA hold similar values in terms of recognising the potential for sport and leisure to improve communities.

"It was felt a collaborative working arrangement between the two organisations would assist the council in providing benefits for the community.

"The YMCA is a well-established organisation on the Fylde coast with an excellent reputation for managing leisure facilities. We are not aware of any religious pressures being imposed on our customers.

"The YMCA and Wyre Council welcome people of all faiths, or none."

Nobody from Wyre Council was available to comment on Mr Abbott's complaint.

Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 January 2008 9:40 AM
  • Source: Blackpool Gazette
  • Location: Blackpool
 
First
Prev
1 2 3
4
5
Next
Last
31

,

05/01/2008 14:40:52
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
32

paul dunk,

05/01/2008 16:02:54
Ian the main question wasn’t is this country Christian the main question do you know what the YMCA does and if you do why do you dislike them so much. “So it seems likely that to become a YMCA Health Centre Manager or advance your career within these ‘Public Facilities’ only Christians need apply.” This statement is a lie a complete untruth there are many centre managers who are not Christians even the board members of the YMCA have different faiths and belief values. The YMCA do abide by the equal opportunity employment. If you speak to YMCA you would find this out yourself but clearly you have a bigoted view to Christians. As far as your comment on RC and CoE schools this is the main reason parents send the children to these schools to have a value system which is missing in the main state run schools.
33

paul dunk,

05/01/2008 16:55:20
The YMCA is the largest provider of safe, secure and affordable supported accommodation for young people in England. YMCAs offer over 7300 bedspaces, ranging from hostel rooms to self-contained flats. The YMCA is the UK’s single largest provider of Foyer, providing integrated housing and training support for young people under one roof. Over 20,000 young people are reached by YMCA youth work each week, over one million young people each year. The YMCA is one of the largest providers of crèches, school clubs, breakfast clubs and homework clubs in the UK. Over half of YMCAs work in partnership with local schools providing services that complement formal education. In addition, YMCAs are major providers of vocational training for young people, in particular those facing disadvantage or exclusion. You are right sir why would anyone wish to be associated with this group.
34

Ian Abbott,

Lancashire Secular Humanists 05/01/2008 17:52:26
Here we go again! I did not make a statement I asked a question. Why does that upset you so?
35

Ian Abbott,

Lancashire Secular Humanists 05/01/2008 17:54:40
I neither like nor dislike the YMCA. I question why the management of a ‘Public facility’, paid for by all for the equal benefit of all, has been handed to an organisation motivated by the ethos of one specific religion. I have visited the YMCA web-site. There are a number of jobs advertised there. They all require that, because the YMCA is a Christian organisation, successful applicants must adhere to and uphold its Christian ethos. Now if you can’t see that this could prevent or deter some people, qualified in every other respect, from obtaining employment ……
36

Ian Abbott,

Lancashire Secular Humanists 05/01/2008 17:56:33
You already accept that Faith Schools employ discriminatory employment practices and justify this with some oblique reference to “a value system which is missing in the main state run schools”. What is that by the way? I mean specifically, rather than vague allusions to ‘ethos’? You and I both know the real truth; Faith Schools provide a ‘poor mans private education’ for which many parents are prepared to lie about their beliefs in order to secure a place for their children … a practice widely acknowledged! If Faith Schools discriminate over whom they employ it is not unreasonable to ask whether other Faith organisations do the same?
37

Sally,

Ipswich 05/01/2008 20:01:18
Do you actually use any of the YMCA centres? Or any other leisure centre Ian? Is this just a theoretical discussion for you?
38

paul dun,

05/01/2008 23:25:26
Ian the YMCA is a caring organisation and as such it would expect people who work for it to have this commitment as part of their character. You only posed the question in a way which implied that the YMCA does discriminate against non Christians. This is not true many board members of the YMCA are none Christians and some have no religion at all they are all welcome to help run and fund this great organisation. The YMCA has never been found guilty of discrimination at any sought. Oh the Christian ethos which you are so worried about is this, “Christian ethos which is reflected in a genuine motivation to serve others and to share the love and care.” Does even mention god and for an organisation which does offer care not a bad ethos. I ask you the question can you honestly say you and yours do have as much as the YMCA does?
39

Ian Abbott,

Lancashire Secular Humanists 06/01/2008 10:17:58
You’ve got it Sally. This isn’t really about the YMCA in particular, or leisure centres in general, and it certainly isn’t anti-religious (although it is surprising how quick-to-anger people are). It is about promoting a secular society! A religiously neutral society. A truly inclusive society in which individuals or groups are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged based crudely on the presumption that they do or do not adhere to a particular faith.
40

Sally,

Ipswich 06/01/2008 14:03:10
I see this kind of protest as possibly being quite destructive, in spite of the avowed intentions. If, for example, you get rid of the YMCA operation they could be replaced with a less efficient operator or even none at all, resulting in the closure of this community facility. The humanists may not be setting out to destroy the pool but that could be a consequence of this type of campaign.
First
Prev
1 2 3
4
5
Next
Last

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.