LANSING, Mich. — A priest in Michigan has had his clerical license revoked by the Anglican Catholic Church following an incident where he imitated a gesture by Elon Musk that has been associated with a Nazi salute. This action took place after a speech delivered by the priest, Calvin Robinson, who serves as the priest-in-charge at St. Paul’s Anglican Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, during the National Pro-Life Summit in Washington, D.C. on January 25.
On Wednesday, an official statement from the Anglican Catholic Church announced that Robinson’s license had been revoked due to what they described as a gesture interpreted by many as supportive of Nazi ideologies. The church’s message highlighted that the intent behind Robinson’s actions could not be definitively assessed, but they suggested that it seemed aimed at garnering approval from certain factions within the American political right at the expense of what they considered seriousness about opposition viewpoints.
The statement continued, emphasizing the gravity of mimicking the Nazi salute, even if done humorously or provocatively: “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.” Robson’s gesture was a replica of Musk’s own straight-arm movement that was displayed during a speech on January 20, when Musk commented, “My heart goes out to you,” while extending his arm outward.
In the wake of the controversy, Robinson commented on his Facebook page, stating unequivocally, “in case it needs saying: I am not a Nazi,” asserting that his action was intended to be humorous. Originating from England, Robinson has a history of expressing conservative viewpoints, as noted in his biography on the St. Paul’s Anglican Catholic Church website.
