A Catholic MP, Carol Monaghan, appeared at a committee meeting on Ash Wednesday with a cross on her forehead. She had, of course, been to Mass and in common with thousands of other Catholics that day, including me, had received the ashes.
My reaction when I saw it was to admire the precision of her priest in producing so unmistakable a cross. I usually end up with a smudge, prompting kind souls to tell me that I have a mark on my brow and asking if I need a tissue to wipe it off.
The reaction of the ignoramuses at the BBC was rather different, and that mighty corporation asked on Facebook if it was “appropriate” for an MP to appear in committee with a cross on her forehead. Can anybody seriously imagine the BBC asking if it was appropriate for a Muslim to appear wearing a hijab, or a Sikh a turban?
