'Offensive' hospital bibles may be banned

By Nick Britten
03/06/2005

The century-old tradition of bibles in hospital bedside lockers could be ended in one health trust today after officials decided they might offend ethnic minorities.

Senior executives at the University of Leicester NHS Trust said it was also concerned that the books helped to spread the MRSA bacteria and it would rule on whether to remove them from wards.

The proposal angered Christians and Muslims who accused the hospital of political correctness.

Leicester has one of Britain's largest ethnic minority populations and the trust is concerned that the many non-Christian patients might be offended. A spokesman refused to say who suggested the ban, but said that she was "not aware" that any complaints about bibles had been made.

"Discussions are still in the early stages,'' she said. "Regardless of the outcome, patients can be reassured that religious texts will continue to be made available at hospitals through the chaplaincy."

Gideons International, the missionary organisation whose bibles are placed at patient bedsides, said the proposal was "sad" and "ridiculous". Iain Mair, an executive director, said the charity commissioned a surgeon and microbiologist to carry out a study on the risk of infection as soon as it learned that a ban was being considered.

"Doctors told us that to claim an MRSA risk is nonsense - and it is ridiculous to think having bibles in lockers discriminates against other religions," said Mr Mair.

"We have told the trust that we will put a note beside our Testament to advise patients who to contact if they wish a book of another faith."

The hospitals that would be affected if a ban were implemented are Leicester General, Leicester Royal Infirmary and Glenfield Hospital. Such a move would be especially embarrassing for Gideons, whose British headquarters is a few miles away in Lutterworth, Leics.

Mr Mair said: "The proposal is completely outrageous and the reasons put forward for justifying it, we believe, are totally without foundation.

He had not received "a single letter, e-mail or telephone call from any member of another faith to say that they have been offended by a hospital bible. Even other local faith leaders disagree with the proposal. The only thing I can think of is that this is motivated by political correctness.''

He said he felt sad that in a country that had been Christian for so long "we have got people that consider the Bible to be offensive".

Suleman Nagdi, of Leicestershire's Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "This is a Christian country and it would be sad to see the tradition end."

Resham Singh Sandu, Sikh chairman of the Council of Faiths, said: "I don't think many ethnic minority patients would object to the Bible in a locker."

The Diocese of Leicester urged officials to vote against a ban when discussions - which will include the thoughts of the hospital chaplaincy, infection control, service equality and volunteer services - are held.

A diocese spokesman said: "There is a long tradition of bibles being readily available for those who are in need of spiritual as well as physical help.

"People need this consolation at hospital. For example, they may need to reach for a Bible in the middle of the night for comfort and solace.

"What right does the trust have to do this when Gideons has been putting bibles in hospitals and other institutions for more than 100 years?''

Telegraph | News | 'Offensive' hospital bibles may be banned