Update on Holocaust Remembrance Day in Luleå

Last night our Swedish correspondent CB reported on the cancellation of a Holocaust memorial service in the Swedish city of Luleå due to the “inappropriateness” of the commemoration in the context of Israel’s recent war against Hamas in Gaza.

Now it seems that the leader of the local Lutheran diocese has noticed the asininity of his church’s stance, and reversed the decision of his subordinate. CB wrote us earlier today with this follow-up report:

Hi Baron,

This is an update on the cancellation of the Holocaust commemoration in Luleå. Now it seems there has been a change of heart, and the senior minister of the diocese says that the decision to cancel the commemoration was wrong.

I guess it’s always practical to have one of your underlings ready to throw under the bus if public opinion goes south… and, in this case, the southernmost yet has to be the Jerusalem Post writing about this disaster in Luleå.

It’s good to be able to admit when you’re wrong, but, the question is: Is this change of heart sincere or just a political move?

Was it a miscalculation about the popular support for this decision, or plain stupidity?

- - - - - - - - -

Was the priest who announced the cancellation just repeating leftist clichés out of ignorance about Israel and the Middle East, or is he a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Maybe time will tell. The people from the municipal immigration service have not changed their minds, however.

I read about their new stance comes in an article in the Christian newspaper Dagen. The new article about Luleå reprises some of the earlier material, and tells us that the church “will be open” (mentioned in an unqualified way), and that the immigration service stands by their decision, but that the alternative procession will be held.