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For sharing an article on the “conspiracy theory” that claimed Israel was responsible for 9/11 terror attacks he is barred from ministry for 12 years

  • Rev Dr Stephen Sizer was found guilty of 4 acts of anti-Semitism by a tribunal
  • These included sharing an anti-Semitic article entitled 9/11: Israel did it
  • He’s been banned by the Church of England until 2030 for the 2018 complaint

John James – Daily Mail Jan 31, 2023

A Church of England vicar who peddled an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Israel was behind the 9/11 terror attacks has been barred from ministry for 12 years following a disciplinary hearing.

Rev Stephen Sizer

The Board of Deputies of British Jews made 11 allegations against the Rev Dr Stephen Sizer which claimed his conduct in incidents between 2005-2018 was ‘unbecoming or inappropriate’ in that he ‘provoked and offended’ the Jewish community and/or engaged in anti-Semitic activity.

The tribunal found he engaged in anti-Semitic conduct with respect to suggesting Israel’s responsibility for 9/11.

In total, the tribunal found Dr Sizer’s conduct was ‘unbecoming to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Order’ in that he provoked and offended the Jewish community and/or engaged in antisemitic activity with respect to four out of 11 allegations.

Dr Sizer, former vicar of Christ Church in Virginia Water, Surrey, admitted the ‘factual basis’ of all allegations against him but disputed that his conduct was unbecoming or inappropriate and denied provoking and offending the Jewish Community and/or engaging in anti-Semitic activity.

He was given a ‘penalty judgment’ under the Clergy Disciplinary Measure 2003.

This will prohibit the retired vicar from licensed ministry in the Church of England for 12 years – which will take into account time served since the Board of Deputies of British Jews 2018 complaint.

This means he will be free to practise again in 2030.

Throughout the process, the former vicar of Christ Church in Virginia Water, Surrey denied anti-Semitic behaviour but admitted the factual basis of all 11 claims.

In a rare move, Dr Sizer chose to hold his tribunal in public in a bid to clear his name, arguing that his actions were political and aimed at the state of Israel, not Jewish people.

However, the tribunal eventually found that Dr Sizer’s conduct had been ‘unbecoming to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Order’ in that he provoked and offended the Jewish community and/or engaged in anti-Semitic activity with respect to four out of 11 allegations.

In 2006, Dr Sizer met ‘senior Hezbollah commander’ Sheikh Nabil Kaouk in a secret location near Tyre, Lebanon – however he claimed he did not instigate the meeting.

Regardless, the tribunal decided it was ‘unacceptable’ for an ordained minister to make an ‘unauthorised visit’ to a senior commander of the military wing of Hezbollah other than in an official capacity and found Dr Sizer’s conduct unbecoming and inappropriate in that he provoked and offended the Jewish community.

It also concluded, however, that he was not engaging in anti-Semitic activity.

Continues …