A CUDWORTH priest is fuming because a member of the British National Party posed outside his church for a photograph used on a leaflet to promote his candidacy in next week's elections.
Father David Nicholson, parish priest at St John the Baptist Church said: "It associates the church with everything I am against.
"It gives the impression that he may come to church and he doesn't, not here anyway. By using the church it gives the impression that I approve of what he says."
Father Nicholson acknowledges that the candidate, Terry Hubbard, a self employed taxi driver, had every legal right to have his photo taken in a public place.
But he doesn't want people to think that he or his congregation are involved with the party.
He said there is a war memorial outside the church to remember those who died in the world wars at the hands of the Nazis and added: "In my opinion the BNP is not much different."
Father Nicholson did not know about the photograph until he was shown a leaflet which had been posted through a parishioner's letterbox.
He said people have been surprised to discover that Mr Hubbard, 45, is not a member of St John's.
The Chronicle tried to contact Mr Hubbard but was told any questions had to be addressed to his agent, BNP Barnsley Party Leader Ian Sutton.
He said: "We have got traditional Christian values, that's why the photo was taken outside the church.
"There is no legality and it's a building that people will recognise from the area."
Mr Sutton says he does not know why Father Nicholson had not received a leaflet.
