UK prime minister stands out among election leaders in proclaiming his Christianity

(Photo: REUTERS / Thomas Coex / Pool)British Prime Minister David Cameron (C) talks to officials as he visits the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem March 13, 2014. Cameron is on a two-day visit in the region. He held separate talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas, who are at odds over U.S. proposals to keep peace talks going beyond an April target date for an agreement.

Britain is often viewed as a secular nation in which leaders of two of the largest parliamentary opposition parties fighting in the national election scheduled for May, are self-proclaimed atheists.

Nick Clegg the deputy prime minister who leads Liberal Democrats in coalition with the Conservative Party of Prime Minister David Cameron and Ed Miliband, who heads the main opposition Labour Party both proudly proclaim they don't believe in God.

This contrasts with Cameron who says on Youtube his government supports Christianity.

He even posted an Easter message on Youtube this year proclaiming that the United Kingdom is still a Christian country.

"The church is not just a collection of beautiful old buildings," Cameron said. "It's a living, active force doing great works right across our country."

He continued: "When people are homeless, the Church is there with hot meals and shelter. When people are addicted or in debt; when people are suffering, or grieving - the Church is there.

"Across Britain, Christians don't just talk about 'loving thy neighbor', they live it out", "in faith schools, in prisons, in community groups."

Cameron asserted that it's "for all these reasons that we should feel proud to say: this is a Christian country."

The Prime Minister spoke about the persecution of Christians across the world.

"It is truly shocking to know that in 2015, there are still Christians being threatened, tortured - even killed - because of their faith," he noted.

"To all those brave Christians ... we must say, 'we stand with you.'"

Cameron argued his government has "put those words into action" by providing support in the form of humanitarian aid and supporting "grassroots reconciliation" in Iraq.

"In the coming months we must continue to speak as one voice for freedom of belief," he said

The prime minister encouraged his country to be proud of its Christian heritage.

"Yes we're a nation that embraces, welcomes and accepts all faiths and none, but we're still a Christian country."

Opposition leader Miliband posted on his Facebook page: "My thoughts are particularly with Christians in Syria, Iraq and other countries where the church suffers terrible persecution.

"According to the International Society for Human Rights, Christians are the victims of 80 per cent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today.

"We must all do everything we can to speak out against this evil and work to alleviate the suffering of those who are persecuted simply for their creed."

Britain's are scheduled to go the polls on 7 May to elect a new parliament. So far religion and Christianity have not figured as election issues, with economic issues the central focus.

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