Michigan Anglican Catholic Church Revokes Priest’s Licence Over Controversial Gesture Likened To ‘Nazi Salute’
Calvin Robinson, formerly the priest-in-charge of St. Paul’s Anglican Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was speaking at the summit on January 25 when he appeared to imitate billionaire Elon Musk’s inauguration hand gesture, US Today reports.
The Anglican Catholic Church revoked the licence of a Michigan priest after he made a gesture at the National Pro-Life Summit that “many have interpreted as a pro-Nazi salute.”
Calvin Robinson, formerly the priest-in-charge of St. Paul’s Anglican Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was speaking at the summit on January 25 when he appeared to imitate billionaire Elon Musk’s inauguration hand gesture, US Today reports.
Before performing the gesture, Robinson also quoted Musk, saying: “My heart goes out to you.”
In a statement released by the Anglican Catholic Church, the church disclosed that it had been made aware of a social media post showing Robinson ending his speech with the gesture.
The statement further confirmed that Robinson’s licence had been revoked, and he no longer serves as a priest in the church.
“While we cannot say what was in Mr. Robinson’s heart when he did this, his action appears to have been an attempt to curry favour with certain elements of the American political right by provoking its opposition,” the church said.
“Mr. Robinson had been warned that online trolling and other such actions (whether in service of the left or right) are incompatible with a priestly vocation and was told to desist.”
The church also emphasised the gravity of the issue, stating: “Furthermore, we understand that this is not just an administrative matter. The Holocaust was an episode of unspeakable horror, enacted by a regime of evil men.
“We condemn Nazi ideology and anti-Semitism in all its forms. And we believe that those who mimic the Nazi salute, even as a joke or an attempt to troll their opponents, trivialize the horror of the Holocaust and diminish the sacrifice of those who fought against its perpetrators.”
Robinson, however, denied making a Nazi salute, calling the gesture “a joke” in a statement on Facebook.
Born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1985, Robinson joined St. Paul’s Anglican Catholic Church as a rector on September 20, 2024. His previous career included roles as a computer science teacher and video games journalist.
He had undertaken a two-year theological studies course at St. Stephen’s Home, Oxford, with hopes of becoming a deacon in the Church of England.
However, his outspoken conservative theological views led to his application being denied, and he was later ordained as a deacon in the Free Church of England and as a priest in the Nordic Catholic Church.
Robinson is also known for his substantial social media presence, with hundreds of thousands of followers across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
Musk, who owns X and is involved in President Donald Trump’s Department of Governmental Efficiency, made a controversial gesture during the presidential inauguration.
Following the event, Musk crossed his right arm over his chest and forcefully extended it, drawing comparisons to a Nazi salute. Musk dismissed the criticism, labelling it a “tired” attack.
The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks antisemitism, referred to Musk’s gesture as “an awkward gesture” but stated it was unlikely to be a homage to the “Sieg Heils” salute from Nazi Germany.
