LONDON – The Archbishop of York has called on Christians to have a robust faith and stand up for what they believe in.

Writing in the latest edition of UCB’s Prayer for Today magazine, Dr. John Sentamu said people in Britain should “celebrate what makes us a Christian nation” and “reclaim the symbols and emblems of our nation from those that abuse them for their own ends.”

He urged Christians to have “robustness” in their national identity as well as their faith.

“We need to stand up for what we believe in, confident that it will withstand the pressures and probing that the world throws at it.”

His comments come as the case continues over whether a Christian couple is “fit” to foster children because of their opposition to homosexuality.

Eunice and Owen Johns had their application to foster children withdrawn by Derby City Council because they said they would not be able to tell children that homosexuality was an acceptable lifestyle.

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Equality laws have forced all but one of the Catholic adoption agencies in the country to close down or secularize their ethos.

The landmark case against the Johns and other instances of Christians being denied a right to uphold or express their beliefs have left some feeling that Christianity is being marginalized in Britain.

The growing concern has prompted the Christian Broadcasting Council and Christian Concern to hold a joint conference next month addressing discrimination against Christians in Britain.

Keynote speakers at the Cry Freedom conference include the former Bishop of Rochester, the Rt. Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali and Bible Society’s Senior Officer in the Houses of Parliament, David Landrum.

Landrum posed, “There are powerful forces in high places, ideologies, philosophies and idols in the political arena. Where do we fit in … or don’t we?”