A British vicar banned a man dressed as Father Christmas from a carol service at his church, he said. Reverend Tim Storey said he told Henry Cuff, a member of volunteer group the Lions Club, to disrobe because he wanted to "reclaim the Christian story of the birth of Jesus Christ as being the heart of the celebration".
"I do not believe that Father Christmas should be part of church services any more than Santa's grotto should have a manger and a baby Jesus present," Storey said in a statement.
But Cuff labelled the move "political correctness gone mad."
"If he can have big screen football in church, why can't he have Santa Claus in church?" he demanded.
He said he had been handing out sweets to local children before the church service.
The festive furore took place in Blandford, Dorset, southwest England on December 2.
Storey was due to meet Cuff and other members of the Lions Club later Monday to discuss the situation.
