ICC Note:
Outrage has surfaced over a revelation by Travelodge—a UK-based hotel chain with over 500 destinations—that Bibles donated by the Gideon Society would no longer be included in guest rooms. The statement, which only publicly revealed a Bible-removal policy that has been in place since 2007, clarified that a select number of Bibles would be kept at the front desk of each of its locations, though a Travelodge receptionist has challenged that claim. In a similar controversy, the U.S. Navy recently restored Bibles to its guestrooms after having removed them briefly following a complaint by an anti-religious organization.
08/18/2014 United Kingdom (Fox News) – The decision by one of Britain’s largest hotel chains to remove Bibles from its rooms has sparked complaints from Christians.
Travelodge, which operates 500 hotels, says the Bibles were removed for “diversity reasons,” citing the country’s increasing multicultural influences, the Daily Mail reported. The chain reportedly said that despite the recent uproar, the decision to remove the Bibles was made in 2007.
The company said in a statement that the move was designed so as “not to discriminate against any religion.” Now the Bibles, supplied by the Gideon Society, are available at the reception desks for guests to borrow.
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