'Heathen Islam' Preacher Retires

A controversial pastor who described Islam as "heathen" and "spawned in hell" is to retire after 57 years of preaching.

Pastor James McConnell of Belfast's Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle has announced his immediate retirement.

In a statement read out to the Whitewell congregation he said: "This past 18 months I have fought with myself what to do regarding my leadership in Whitewell, and now I feel the hour is come to completely hand over the reins to Pastor David Purse and all the Pastors who assist him."

The church said Pastor McConnell "did not want a long drawn-out period of time between his announcement and his retirement."

The preacher made headlines in Northern Ireland after addressing his congregation in north Belfast on 18 May this year when, describing the religion of Islam, he said "a new evil had arisen" and that there were "cells of Muslims right throughout Britain".

"Islam is heathen, Islam is satanic, Islam is a doctrine spawned in hell," he said.

First Minister Peter Robinson then stoked the controversy when he publicly backed Pastor McConnell, leading to criticism from Northern Irish politicians and Muslim leaders. The First Minister later visited the Belfast Islamic Centre and made a public apology for the comments.

"I still believe that radical Muslim ideology and doctrine poses a huge threat to this country and to the world," Pastor McConnell said. "In support of my stance against radical Islam, I received thousands of emails, cards and hundreds of phone calls and gifts left to the church, from all sides of the political divide in Northern Ireland, all over the UK, western Europe, the US, and indeed some from the middle east."

(IT/CD)