Wick remembrance service prayer sparks anger
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A REMEMBRANCE Day service in Wick “demeaned” the memory of the men and women who died in two world wars and other conflicts.
That was claimed this week by local man George Budge who was “angry and upset” by what was said by Caithness priest Father John Allen when he gave the prayer at the Wick war memorial on Sunday.
Father Allen yesterday accepted the criticism but said he was just trying to set the remembrance service in a wider context and look at what is happening in society and why conflict occurs.
Mr Budge, whose late father, William, served in the Second World War and was taken prisoner in North Africa, maintained the first part of Father Allen’s prayer was “all about religious dogma”. Mr Budge claimed the priest bemoaned the breakdown of marriage; opposed civil partnerships; appeared to scare children by telling them that in their adult life they would regret taking part in Halloween; and expressed regret that churches are being turned into pubs and are being used for other purposes.
Mr Budge said it was only at the end of the prayer that Father Allen mentioned the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives for freedom.
Speaking to the John O’Groat Journal, Mr Budge said the priest was entitled to his views but felt he should not have expressed them at a remembrance service. “It was inappropriate and the wrong place and time to make these comments,” he said. “The service should be about those who fought and died for our freedom in two world wars and other conflicts.”
Mr Budge, of South View, who returned to the town after living for many years in London, has attended remembrance services at various places throughout the UK since 1960 when he was a member of the Boys’ Brigade.
But he stressed Sunday’s event was “the first time I have come away feeling angry and upset”.
Mr Budge conceded that the public address system was fairly quiet and that he missed some of what was said by Father Allen.
“It may be that because of the PA system and my advancing years I misheard what was said but that was the way it came across to me,” he said.
Father Allen accepted some of Mr Budge’s criticism and said it was justified, but stressed he wanted to use his prayer to put the Remembrance Service in a wider social context.
He said he did not speak about civil partnerships and although he mentioned Halloween he did not try to scare children, as was suggested by Mr Budge. “I was quite aware of what I was doing it and deliberately widened the theme this year to try and put remembrance into context and look at some of the issues which lead to conflict. I was very careful how I worded the prayer and wanted to make people think about the reasons for war,” said Father Allen.
“Perhaps our young people ought to have a deeper understanding of the horrors of war and the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives in conflict. It is not a computer game,” he explained.
“We need to look at this from the Christian perspective of forgiveness and eternal life.”
Father Allen, who serves at St Joachim’s in Wick and St Anne’s in Thurso, also pointed out that this was the first year he had spoken about anything other than the sacrifices made by men and women.
Tony Hagon, the chairman of the Wick branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland, said no complaint was made at the time or since Sunday’s service.
He personally had no problem with what Father Allen said and stressed the priest is entitled to express his views.
But Mr Hagon also said it was “unfortunate” Mr Budge was upset by the prayer and could understand his point of view. The chairman said he would pass Mr Budge’s observations on to Father Allen to get his response.
Mr Hagon added: “I would be interested in other people’s views as well.
“If other people had similar views we need to hear them as we want to preserve the dignity of the occasion and ensure remembrance is held in an appropriate way.”
