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The British government’s zeal for censorship has even crept into religious institutions with the Church of England now warning clergy about “problematic words” in Christmas carols.

Priests have reportedly been told to avoid language in the traditional holiday hymns that might imply that Jesus Christ is the “true Messiah” because some people might be offended.

According to the Daily Mail, an email that was sent to Birmingham diocese clergy said “Try to use language that won’t add further confusion or tension or take away anything from the good news of the Nativity.”

A vicar told the U.K.-based outlet that the Church of England has “really lost the plot” and added that even Russian leader Vladimir Putin “doesn’t order Orthodox churches to censor carols at Christmas.”

Canon Chris Sugden, a former member of the General Synod and executive secretary of the Anglican Mainstream group, said that the traditional songs should not be changed because the “Church conforms to every progressive cause.”

“If one was attending a Jewish or Hindu festival, would you expect them to alter the lyrics or alter the liturgy because there are some who might find them difficult? Who are the people they think are going to object to this?” Sugden asked, according to the Daily Mail.

The Church’s censorship was also ripped by X users.

“People who attend Christmas carols… will expect to have them sung properly. If the Church cedes the line on this, what else?” Sugden asked.

“My advice to clergy is sing loud and proud. We have a great heritage of hymns in this Christian nation and any clergy who don’t like what the Church has to offer needs to think whether they are in the right role,” said Sam Margrave, a General Synod lay member who is quoted by the Daily Mail.

It’s probably fitting that George Orwell’s native country would eventually resemble the dystopian world envisioned in “1984,” his classic novel on totalitarianism.

Chris Donaldson
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