THE ROW over the removal of a communion table from the chapel at Perth Royal Infirmary has been re-ignited by members of the National Secular Society.

They last night accused Christians of attempting to impose their faith on everybody else and insisted that those who wanted to be confronted by Christian symbols should go to church.

There was a storm of protest after The Courier revealed that the communion table had been returned to the church that donated it, with outraged members of the public insisting it was a case of “political correctness gone mad.”

As the strength of public feeling began to emerge, NHS Tayside vowed to reconsider its position and it looked likely the table would be reinstated.

However, secularists in Tayside are now insisting that “hospital quiet rooms” are places for everyone in the community and “not just believers of a particular religion.”

Keith Charters, convener of the National Secular Society, last night called for what he described as a more equitable approach.

“This room is for private reflection in moments of emotional pain and grief,” he said.

“It is not a place for blatant statements of creed or worship.

“If members of the public want religious symbols around them they will find those in their local religious buildings.”

Mr Charters called on NHS Tayside to uphold its decision to remove articles of Christian faith from PRI.

“The quiet room should be safeguarded as a haven of peace and reflection,” he insisted.

“It must not become the exclusive preserve of any one faith. Believers and non-believers alike must have the right to reflection without being offended by intrusive signs of faith groups, however well-intentioned.”

He claimed that Christians in Scotland were in the minority and hit out at Crieff resident Brenda Kerr, who first criticised NHS Tayside for returning the communion table to her local church.

“The vulnerability of these places to interference from religious advocates is highlighted by the clamour caused by misguided individuals who mistake the nature and purpose of hospital quiet rooms,” he said.

“The lady who complained to Tayside Health Board did so because she felt the room was not Christian enough.

“It is regrettable that she—and those supporting her—do not recognise that she represents only a small minority of Scots. The vast majority do not practice any religion. Why should she be allowed to impose her Christianity on everyone else.”

Mr Charters also criticised NHS Tayside’s spiritual care committee, insisting it lacks a humanist and secularist input.

“We would urge all those who want to keep religion out of the NHS to let their feelings be known to Tayside Health Board through its spiritual care committee.

“However, we note that this committee has been created without representation being given to secularists and humanists to balance the views of the religious minorities.

“That, too, needs to be addressed.”