AD and BC move to be PC

THE terms BC and AD are being dumped from religious education lessons by some schools for fear of offending non-Christians.

The traditional BC, Before Christ, and AD, Anno Domini, are being ditched for BCE – Before Common Era, and CE – Common Era.

The new terms still denote the periods before and after the birth of Christ.

Local authority committees south of the Border drawing up religious education syllabuses say the old terms may upset minorities or non-believers. But critics described the move as a ‘capitulation to political correctness’, while ex-Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said the rulings were a ‘great shame’.

Local authority committees – known as Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education (SACREs) – from Brighton and Essex are among a growing number urging heads to ditch BC and AD. The syllabus for East Sussex schools reads: ‘BCE and CE are now used in order to show sensitivity to those who are not Christians.’

Lord Carey said: ‘I have never met a Muslim or Jewish leader who is offended by the Gregorian calendar’ while leading Imam Ibrahim Mogra said: ‘I don’t believe it causes Muslims offence.’

A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: ‘I don’t think anyone would mind if in mainstream schools they use BC and AD.’

Chris McGovern, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘Removing BC and AD is a capitulation to political correctness.’