AN ANTI-religious poster comparing faith to madness, which was glued to a Blackburn church door, has been taken down.

The fluorescent orange poster advising believers to see their doctor was stuck on a door at St Anne's Church, Feilden Street, yesterday.

It said: "Religion: Four billion known sufferers. Psychosis: Four billion known followers. See your GP for details."

It was taken down by workers from the neighbouring THOMAS (Those on the Margins of Society) project for homeless people.

Richard Coward, originally from Blackburn and now living in Huddersfield, attends the Roman Catholic church when he is in the area and was shocked to see the poster.

He said: "It is desecration. Maybe it's some kind of joke but I would not have dreamed of someone sticking something like that on a church." Father Jim McCartney, parish priest and leader of THOMAS, said he had heard much worse things said about the church and he was not upset about the poster - although he was sorry it had shocked worshippers.

He said: "There have always been critics against faith from the time of Christ. One of the great characteristics about our nation is that we are a democracy and people can express what they feel."

Father Jim said putting a poster on a door showed people were afraid to say publicly what they thought and he would welcome anyone who wanted to discuss religion with him.

He said: "The church has a very valuable role to play throughout the world. We are very active in Blackburn focusing on the problems of social justice and social exclusion."

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