Banned

UK - The Vicar at the All Saints Church Hall in Totley, Yorkshire, had banned the Tai Chi class started by the Sheffield Council as part of its health promotion program while also asking the local residents' association for financial assistance to help refurbish the church hall on the grounds that it is open to everyone.

When instituting the ban, Vicar Rhodes stated, "Within the the church we see Tai Chi as being an aspect of the Taoist religion. We want to promote a whole life spirituality which centers on following Jesus and we feel that the two things clash." The class had around 20 regulars comprised of elderly women.

"I don't know if the vicar thinks we are learning kung fu or martial arts and are training to kill people but we're just trying to keep healthy as we get older - what's anti-Christian about that?" said 74-year-old Pat Parkin. "We are not anti-Christs, we're just a group of mainly older women trying to keep fit and healthy. We are not learning anything about any Eastern religion or philosophy."