The Anglican Catholic Church recently removed a Grand Rapids priest, Calvin Robinson, for making what many interpreted as a “pro-Nazi salute” during an event in Washington, D.C. The church condemned Nazi ideology and anti-Semitism and stated that such actions trivialize the horror of the Holocaust and are contrary to Christian charity. Robinson denied being a Nazi and claimed that the gesture was meant as a joke mocking liberals. However, the Anglican Church revoked his license, stating that his actions were incompatible with a priestly vocation.
Robinson, originally from England, had been a computer science teacher and video games journalist before pursuing theological studies and becoming a priest. He was ordained in the Free Church of England and then the Nordic Catholic Church before joining St. Paul’s in Grand Rapids in 2024. The Anglican Catholic Church, established in 1978 in response to maintaining traditional Anglicanism, governs Grand Rapids through its Midwest Diocese based in Indianapolis.
The ACC has two other churches in Michigan, in Comstock and Swartz Creek. The controversy surrounding Robinson’s gesture was sparked by comparisons to a similar gesture made by Elon Musk during a speech at a event, which some interpreted as a Nazi salute. The ACC emphasized that Robinson’s actions were inappropriate and were not in line with the values of the church, leading to the revocation of his license.
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