Michigan Anglican Catholic priest removed by church. Why bishops ...

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Elon Musk's gesture at inaugural event stirs controversy

Elon Musk's gesture to Donald Trump supporters at post-inauguration rally stirs controversy.

The Anglican Catholic Church on Wednesday said it has removed a Grand Rapids priest for making a "pro-Nazi salute" during an event in Washington, D.C.

The church said it revoked Calvin Robinson's license and he is no longer serving as a priest in the Anglican Catholic Church after making what "many interpreted as a pro-Nazi salute" while speaking at the National Pro-Life Summit in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 25.

"The Holocaust was an episode of unspeakable horror, enacted by a regime of evil men," the Anglican Church said in a statement on its website. "We condemn Nazi ideology and anti-Semitism in all its forms. 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."

In a Facebook post, Robinson denied being a Nazi or making a Nazi salute. He called the gesture "a joke."

"The joke at the end was a mockery of the hysterical 'liberals' who called Elon Musk a Nazi for quite clearly showing the audience his heart was with them. Context is key, but sometimes people ignore context to confirm their own prejudices. People see what they want to see," Robinson wrote.

"My attempt at dry wit, in that typical British way, was not a joke at the expense of WW II, nor an admission of my membership in the Nationalist Socialist Party," his posted continued. "You can consider my joke crass. But I ask you to consider if your responses have been proportionate?"

Robinson on Thursday remained listed as the priest-in-charge of St. Paul's Anglican Catholic Church, 2560 Lake Michigan Drive in Grand Rapids.

The national Anglican Church, based in Athens, Georgia, said Robinson had been warned previously that "online trolling and other such actions (whether in service of the left or right)" were "incompatible with a priestly vocation."

Robinson had been told to end such actions, the statement said.

"Clearly, he has not, and as such, his license in this Church has been revoked," the statement said.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 favor with certain elements of the American political right by provoking its opposition."

The statement said the College of Bishops of the ACC was informed at about 3 p.m. Wednesday of a post made on X showing the end of a speech made by Robinson at the National Pro-Life Summit.

Who is Calvin Robinson?

Robinson, according to St. Paul's Catholic Church's website, was born in Mansfied, Nottinghamshire, England in 1985.

Robinson previously was a computer science teacher and video games journalist. He undertook a two-year course in theological studies at St. Stephen's Home, Oxford, "with hope of becoming a deacon in the Church of England."

"His outspoken view on a more conservative theology caused the church to deny his application," the biography notes. He subsequently was ordained a deacon in the Free Church of England, ordained to the priesthood in the Nordic Catholic Church. 

He served at Christ Church, Harlesden, U.K. 

He describes himself as an Evangelical Catholic.

How long as Robinson been at St. Paul's?

Robinson joined St. Paul's as rector on Sept. 20, 2024.

What is the Anglican Catholic Church?

In 1977, an international congress of nearly 2,000 Anglican clergy and lay people met in St. Louis, Missouri, to take the actions necessary to establish an orthodox jurisdiction maintaining traditional Anglicanism.

The church initially called itself the Anglican Church of North America. In 1978 at a ceremony in Denver, Colorado, the Anglican Catholic Church was established. 

How does the Anglican Catholic Church govern Grand Rapids?

Grand Rapids is part of the Anglican Catholic Church's Midwest Diocese, which is based in Indianapolis.

Are there other ACC churches in Michigan?

The ACC lists two Michigan churches, in addition to St. Paul's:

• St Patrick's ACC, 85 Jones St., Comstock
• St. Bartholomew's, 9252 Miller Road, Swartz Creek

What did Elon Musk do?

Musk, who owns the X app (formerly known as Twitter), during a speech after President Donald Trump's inauguration, used his right hand to slap his chest with his open hand, then quickly straightened his arm at about a 45-degree angle with his hand open.

The gesture, captured on video, was called a Nazi salute, or Roman or fascist salute by many. Others called the gesture "awkward" but dismissed comparisons of it to a Nazi salute.

USA Today contributed.