Archbishop George Carey was my former theological college Principal and a great support in my early post-graduate research. It is heartening to see him speak out on theological, moral and political issues. Would that more Church leaders did so.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has urged Christians to "stand shoulder to shoulder" in rejecting the British National Party.
He told the News of the World the party's leader was a "squalid racist".
It was "chilling" to hear Nick Griffin claim to represent "Christian Britain" on BBC One's Question Time, he added.
The paper's poll of 504 people found a third backed the BNP policy that UK-born ethnic minorities should lose all benefits to pay for them to leave.
'Hijack'
The survey also found that almost two-thirds felt the mainstream parties had no credible policies on immigration.
The ICM research was based on interviews with a random sample of adults on 23 and 24 October.
 |  The BBC has handed the BNP the gift of the century on a plate  Welsh Secretary Peter Hain |
In the newspaper interview, Lord Carey accused the BNP leader of trying to "hijack one of the world's great religions" and said the decision to invite him on to the BBC's flagship political discussion programme had been "a mistake".
"To hear the phrase 'Christian Britain' coming from the mouth of Nick Griffin made me shudder. It was the most chilling moment of Question Time, perhaps better described as the Nick Griffin Show," he said.
"And what a pity that none of the other panellists challenged Griffin's deceitful attempt to align his despicable policies with Christianity."
He called on "all Christians to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in rejection of Griffin's notion that 'Christianity' has any place in his bigotry".
Lord Carey said other parties needed to deal with the issue of immigration in a balanced and firm way or the BNP would "feed off the anger of citizens of all races and religions".
Read more of the BBC Report here and also Ruth Gledhill here
