Several mainstream media outlets have once again referred to Christians as “Easter worshippers” in their reporting, sparking criticism.
In covering a bus accident in South Africa that killed 45 people headed to an Easter conference, CNN, NBC News and others used the term “Easter worshippers” rather than identifying the victims as Christians.
Social media users argued this obscures their religious identity and that Christians worship Christ, not Easter.
“They’re doing this again. We are Christians, not ‘Easter worshippers,’” polling analyst Red Eagle Politics said. “We don’t worship ‘Easter,’ we worship Christ.”
The phrase previously generated controversy in 2019 when used by former President Obama and others to describe victims of Islamic extremist bombings at Easter celebrations in Sri Lanka.
“The attacks on tourists and Easter worshippers in Sri Lanka are an attack on humanity. On a day devoted to love, redemption, and renewal, we pray for the victims and stand with the people of Sri Lanka,” Obama said.
Critics such as Newt Gingrich questioned if “Easter worshipper” was a way for the political left to avoid identifying victims as Christian.
“How do President Obama and Secretary Clinton both come up with Easter worshippers in their tweets about the murders in Sri Lanka? To have both of them use the same term the same day is strange,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich wrote.”
“Is Easter Worshipper the left’s new way to avoid the word Christian? Pathetic.”
The recurring usage of the term continues to be viewed as downplaying the religious aspect.
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