Leicester hospitals were struggling to escape a public relations disaster last night after the trust's chaplain stalled a request from Gideons International to be allowed to replace patients' bedside Bibles.
His decision was interpreted on the front pages of tabloid newspapers yesterday as tantamount to banning the Bible from NHS wards.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust disputed claims that it thought having the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/363/11765_phone.html ' target=_blank>Bible on the wards might offend non-Christians.
But its spokeswoman was unable to say whether the Gideon Bibles would be allowed to remain in patients' lockers, tells the Guardians Unlimited.
The hospital managers also claimed that Bibles could have some kind of role in spreading the MRSA superbug. This has been refuted by medical studies. But the managers have also refused an offer from Gideons International, the evangelical group that provides the Bibles, to make copies of the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/printed.html?news_id=12526 ' target=_blank>Koran and other holy scriptures. It supplies 900,000 Bibles a year to hotels, libraries and hospitals in Britain.
Iqbal Sacranie, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said the idea (to ban) was " ridiculous and extreme" and warned that respect for other faiths could not be achieved at the expense of &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/science/ 19/94/377/11847_baptizing.html ' target=_blank>Christianity. Prof Harminder Singh of the Sikh Divine fellowship also said, " In 30 years working with inter-faith groups this has never been an issue."
A director of Gideons said he had as yet to receive a single letter or email or phone call from any member of another faith to say they were offended by a hospital Bible. But the hospital Trust maintained that was committed to religious diversity and equality and that there was a possibility that Bibles could give offence, publishes Hundistan Times.
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