this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025
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UK Politics

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A right-wing priest has been defrocked after mimicking Elon Musk’s controversial salute while addressing a pro-life convention.

Father Calvin Robinson, 39, spoke at the National Pro-Life Summit in Washington D.C. last weekend where he claimed that the U.S. is the “only country fighting for life”.

Robinson concluded his speech by thumping his chest and raising his right hand to the sky. “My heart goes out to you,” he said with a wry smile as he exited the stage.

The priest’s actions – and remarks – appeared to emulate those made by Musk who, at Donald Trump’s post-inauguration rally on January 20, beat his chest and shot his right hand – twice – uttering the same phrase. Musk denies his gesture was a Sieg Heil, or had Nazi connotations.

...

Robinson, from Nottinghamshire in England, belonged to the UK Anglican Catholic Church – before he was defrocked and had his license revoked.

“Mr. Robinson had been warned that online trolling and other such actions (whether in service of the left or right) are incompatible with a priestly vocation and was told to desist,” the church wrote in a notice on its website on Wednesday.

“Clearly, he has not, and as such, his license in this Church has been revoked. He is no longer serving as a priest in the ACC.”

...

Robinson has been colloquially branded Britain’s conspiracy theorist cleric.

After studying theology at St Stephen’s House in Oxford, he hoped to become a deacon for the Church of England but his application was unsuccessful. He continues to trash the church as being weak, and cowardly.

Robinson become a firm fixture in the UK’s far-right movement and bills himself online as a lead spokesperson for the right-wing populist party UKIP, which was formerly led by Trump loyalist and Reform U.K. leader, Nigel Farage.

Robinson, who describes his background as “half Afro-Caribbean and half English”, previously derided the Black Lives Matter movement as “clearly a con”.

On his Substack, Robinson condemned same-sex marriage as “sacramental sodomy,” urging homosexuals to “repent!”

...

Robinson is friends with incarcerated far-right agitator and founder of the now-defunct English Defence League, Tommy Robinson, whom he describes as “a patriot, persecuted for being a working-class hero”.

all 39 comments
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[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 108 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] nick@midwest.social 23 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Priest lives don’t matter.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Make Anglican Catholicism Great Again - by leaving.

[–] 52fighters@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

So he was a member of a sect that was a break-away of a break-away. Now he gets to form a new sect to the third degree.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 3 points 3 weeks ago
[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 69 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 8 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Father Ted has been on my back burner for so long, I need to get to it. I loved vicar of dibley, and it feels similar

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Well jump to it - it's an order of magnitude better than the Vicar of Dibley (and I say that as a fan of both).

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 weeks ago

That's high praise! Alright, I just finished Evil, and I need a new binge. I'll check it out!

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's best when you pirate it so Graham gets nothing not even the love of his children.

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Graham is such a transphobe that his wife and kids left him

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Well that's shitty. But also, who's Graham? I googled the cast and the only Graham I see is Graham Norton, and he is married to a man (or was? Search was unclear)

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Graham Linehan, the creator of Father Ted and the IT Crowd.

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Ahhh, okay. Thank you

[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 54 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I’m immensely relieved he was actually defrocked and not just given a slap on the wrist.

I sense a right wing grift career in his future.

[–] SouthEndSunset@lemm.ee 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

He’ll say he’s been cancelled for being Christian, or something, too.

[–] ALiteralCabbage@feddit.uk 4 points 3 weeks ago

"I'm being persecuted which proves I'm right"

A common sentiment in Christian circles.

[–] Gerudo@lemm.ee 34 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

It's funny when all these poor people doing "awkward hand gestures" keep getting fired, yet the rich one who did it is still around.

[–] MothmanDelorian@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Who fires the owner of a company? Who can afford to sue you for decades straight?

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The shareholders. He holds 20% stake.

[–] MothmanDelorian@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

These shareholders who gave him more money than Tesla has made in profits so far? I don't think they will.

[–] sculd@beehaw.org 2 points 3 weeks ago

Its an American thing

[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 24 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

It musk just be a misinterpretation 😵‍💫

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 20 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I salute your effort, but not like that.

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 5 points 3 weeks ago

Haha. Yes niiiiice aaaaand sloooooow.

[–] TIN@feddit.uk 18 points 3 weeks ago

Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, a working class hero? I wonder why he changed his name to Tommy Robinson?

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 16 points 3 weeks ago

A right-wing priest has been defrocked after mimicking Elon Musk’s controversial salute while addressing a pro-life convention.

Robinson concluded his speech by thumping his chest and raising his right hand to the sky. “My heart goes out to you,” he said with a wry smile as he exited the stage.

JFC "Elon Musk's controversial salute"?? JUST SAY IT ALREADY.

". . . with a wry smile" yeah they're all in on it. This needs to be stopped now.

Robinson, the premier surname for all right-wing asshats.

[–] deacon@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

Here we see a giant piece of shit.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 9 points 3 weeks ago

This poor man thinks US administration would consider him "one of the 'good' ones."

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

why do they all have that slack jaw?

[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

It's the weight of the chinstrap beard pulling it down.

[–] steeznson@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Flax_vert@feddit.uk 1 points 3 weeks ago

Call him a mormon, that'll really grind his gears

[–] Ioughttamow@fedia.io 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago

Seems to be fully functioning in regards to this whackjob.