Mansfield priest kicked out of church over 'harmful and divisive' salute

A picture of man in a white jumper
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A Mansfield priest has been kicked out of a branch of the Catholic Church after appearing to copy Elon Musk’s controversial salute whilst speaking at pro-life summit in the US last weekend. Calvin Robinson, who attended High Oakham Primary School, The Brunts Academy and West Nottinghamshire College in his youth, finished a speech in Washington DC by beating the left side of his chest before extending his right arm outwards in a salute-like fashion.

The gesture appeared to be similar to the one Elon Musk made on January 20 at President Donald Trump’s post-inauguration rally - one which the billionaire denied had any links to the Nazis. The 39-year-old former teacher has subsequently had his licence removed by the Anglo Catholic Church (ACC), which said: “He is no longer serving as a priest in the ACC”.

In a statement, the organisation explained it was made aware of the potential “pro-Nazi salute” on Wednesday, January 29, via a post on the Musk-owned X and had previously told Robinson to “desist” from “online trolling and other such actions”.

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The ACC said: “While we cannot say what was in Mr Robinson’s heart when he did this, his action appears to have been an attempt to curry favour with certain elements of the American political right by provoking its opposition. 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.

“Clearly, he has not, and as such, his license in this church has been revoked.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.

“Furthermore, we understand that this is not just an administrative matter. The Holocaust was an episode of unspeakable horror, enacted by a regime of evil men. We condemn Nazi ideology and anti-Semitism in all its forms.

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“And we believe that those who mimic the Nazi salute, even as a joke or an attempt to troll their opponents, trivialize the horror of the Holocaust and diminish the sacrifice of those who fought against its perpetrators. Such actions are harmful, divisive and contrary to the tenets of Christian charity.

“Finally, we pray that God will give us grace to lay aside our unhappy divisions, and we commend our nation and ourselves to his Almighty protection.”

In response to the church’s statement, Robinson said on X that he was “still a priest” and that he had not been “defrocked” - the term used to describe someone who has been dismissed as priest and no longer allowed to serve as one.

He said: “I have not been defrocked. My licence was revoked. This means I cannot minister in ~250 ACC churches. I am still a priest. Bishop Chandler Jones broke the news, but he is not my bishop, and he is not responsible.”

Robinson continued by urging his followers not to “send threatening or abusive messages to the bishops (or anyone else for that matter).”

He added: “Be careful not to become the thing they accuse us of. Good Christians expose and rebuke wickedness, sin and error; do not be consumed by it.”