Anti-Semitic vicar faces punishment thrown out of temple of England amid accusations of spreading 9/11 conspiracy theories and shared platforms with Holocaust deniers.
Rev. Dr. Steven Sizer, 68, denied that his actions were anti-Semitic, claiming they were political and anti-state. of Israel, not a Jew people.
However, at the hearing on the disciplinary measure of the clergy first of its kind to be held in public it faces 11 separate cases of antisemitism, start in 2005 where he participated in conference run Islamic Commission on Human Rights titled “Towards a New Theology of Liberation”. The charges cover over decade to 2018.
Nicholas Levizer, presenting the case, said: first the charge is that Dr. Sizer’s actions were inappropriate or inappropriate for office of clergyman that he provoked and offended the Jewish community. second attracts in antisemitic activity.
Third accusation says that Dr. Sizer violated the Church of Code of England and caused “a just resentment towards others.”
vicar, who was ordained in 1984, Ph.D. in Christian Zionism does not deny the facts, but it does deny that its behavior was anti-Semitic. He former vicar of Anglican parish of Christ Church, Virginia Water, in Surrey.
“Anxious and hurtful” behavior
The complaint was filed by the Council of MPs of British Jews. Its president, Marie van der Zyl, said the vicar’s looks were “enough to make me sick forever”.
Giving evidence, she said: “There is a whole series of behavior in complaints that you cannot call anti-Semitic.
“The whole thing is really depressing. And think it came from someone in temple of England.
“It’s so insulting, especially when it comes to the Holocaust. It’s really terrible. If only my grandfather could see it.”
Ms van der Zyl also said in her testimony that Dr. Sizer promotes anti-Semitism on every platform he has access to.
She is added: “We have suffered from anti-Semitism, and you are trying to out we are some of outpost for Israel. I.e just delusional.
“By publishing that there was no Holocaust, you cannot go any lower than that. Priest! I never thought a priest could do such things.”
Mr Levizer said at a hearing at St Andrew’s Church, Holborn, London, on Monday, this along with the publication of an article blaming Israel of plan of the September 11 attacks online, Dr. Sizer asked, “Is this anti-Semitism? If so, no doubt I will be asked to delete it. It raises so many questions.”
He said, “This is not a rhetorical question, because of in content of article. Was only one answer yes.”
9/11 conspiracy theories
At the hearing, it was said that throughout the accusatory period, the vicar used common platforms. with One of the Holocaust deniers, one of the commanders of Hezbollah, shared allegedly anti-Semitic material on social media, including posting a link to an article in 2010 named Mother of All the coincidences that tried to blame Israel for September 11 attacks in New York.
Five years later he posted link to another article on the same topic called 9-11/Israel did it.
Steven Hofmeyr, who represents Dr. Sizer, said he has long been an outspoken critic. of state of Israel and of Christian Zionism, which he says promotes the idea that Jews home we will help coming of Messiah.
“There is a difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism,” he said at the hearing. ” former sent against jew peoplelast against Jewish state movement in Middle East.
” former sent against people, the latest in motion or establishment. If his words or behavior were anti-Semitic, he agrees that amount commit misdeeds.
“His case is that he was not an anti-Semite and that his words and behavior were never anti-Semitic. This is issue of fact You will need to resolve hearing the evidence.”
Bishop of Winchester, in whose diocese is the church of the Reverend Sizer, removed the Anglican priest from his ministry in 2018 pending results of it’s listening.
Dr. Sizer denies 11 allegations of anti-Semitic behavior, including attending conferences and escorting Holocaust deniers.
He also accused of escort and protection of the leader of the Islamic movement Raed Salah, in June 2011
The hearing continues.
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