The British Red Cross was criticised today for “banning” Jesus from its shops for fear of offending minority faiths.
The charity has told volunteers not to create nativity scenes or put up advent calendars if they have pictures of Mary and Joseph or the three wise men.
Customers wanting to support the charity by buying Christmas cards with a religious message will have to settle for “Season’s Greetings”.
The British Red Cross earns about £30 million a year from its 392 shops. It says the policy is designed to to underline its reputation for impartiality which allows it to work in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
But now it is facing demands from MPs to overturn the “offensive” decision.
Tory backbencher Nigel Evans said the policy was “political correctness gone mad”.
The Ribble Valley and Fulwood MP, who was in the shadow cabinet until Monday’s reshuffle, said: “This is simply beyond the pale. How can the Red Cross, sporting a Christian symbol as both its name and logo, possibly exclude Jesus, or other religious symbols, from the holiday celebrating his birth?
“This move has been condemned as absurd political correctness by representatives of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, and this dreadful trend needs to stop here, and now.
“Unless he reverses his decision, instead of banning the three wise men, I would suggest that the Red Cross employs one new one, at the top, to stop this trend of incredulous behaviour.”
Mr Evans has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons calling on MPs to press Sir Nicholas Young, the chief executive of the British Red Cross, to change the decision.
A spokesman for the Red Cross said: “We don’t want any overt religious symbols as we have to be seen as neutral if we are to work effectively.
“We can’t be seen to be affiliated with any religion as we want to be open to anyone of any religion or no religion. We are not a Christian organisation, we are a neutral organisation.”