A Marian procession surprised Christmas shoppers on Oxford Street earlier this month. The rosary was prayed, Marian hymns were sung and Our Lady of Walsingham carried aloft as part of a “London mission” organised by St Patrick’s, Soho Square. Lucy McGuinness, volunteer co-ordinator, said reactions from shoppers varied from “joyful” and “curious” to occasionally hostile.

Peer says Creed might be considered a hate crime

The government has refused to say whether proclaiming the divinity of Christ could be a hate crime. Lord Pearson of Rannoch, a Ukip peer, said that when he raised the issue in the Lords the Government failed to clarify if Christians could be prosecuted just for stating their beliefs. “I said to the Government: ‘Will they confirm unequivocally that a Christian who says that “Jesus is the only Son of the one true God” cannot be arrested for hate crime or any other offence, however much it may offend a Muslim or anyone of any other religion?’” Government whip Baroness Vere of Norbiton replied: “My lords, I am not going to comment on that last question from the noble lord.” She added that the legal definition of “hate crime” had been the same for 10 years. Lord Pearson told Premier Christian radio that the refusal to comment was “pretty unique” and “makes one very worried”. He said the current definition of “hate crime”, which relies on whether the victim feels offended, was “stupid”. “Certainly the stricter Muslims do feel offended by Christianity and our belief in Jesus being the only Son of the one true God,” he added. He said there was a double standard in how hate crime laws were applied. “You can say what you like about the Virgin Birth, the miracles and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, but as soon as you say ‘come on, is Islam really the religion of peace?’, all hell breaks loose.” Last year, feminist and gay rights groups in Spain reported Cardinal Antonio Cañizares and Archbishop Francisco Javier Martínez for “hate crimes” after they gave homilies that criticised gender theory. The charges were later dropped.