Dutch smokers form holy alliance

A zealous religious movement is sweeping the Netherlands, under the banner of The One and Universal Church of the Smokers of God. Just over two weeks after a smoking ban came into force in the country, one publican-turned-preacher has transformed his café into a place of worship.

Cor Busch, owner of the Lime Tree café, said that the Holy Trinity of the new faith will be “Smoke, Fire and Ash.”

He hopes that the ‘faithful’ will be able to smoke indoors again, after the government outlawed smoking in bars and restaurants, as well as in the country’s infamous coffee shops, from July 1.

The Dutch constitution guarantees the right to religious freedom, which smokers are hoping will allow them to circumvent Holland’s new anti-smoking legislation.

Members of the church will receive membership cards upon joining. Church founder Michiel Eijsbouts told the Telegraaf newspaper, “It has ritual aspects, it is something you experience and we follow our faith very strictly.”

Possibly sacreligious... but effective.

What about their 'holy' shooting galleries?

I like it when political correctness makes politicians have to behave like snakes swallowing their own tails.

Ya gotta hand to those Dutch - they're really masters at that sort of thing...

Smoking has been banned in Dutch bars since July 1.

History repeasts itself. This time they surrendered to the smoking nazis.

One and Universal Smokers Church of God

a.k.a. The Rastafarians, mon!

I love the Dutch!

I even like the fact that the Dutch Restaurant Association is challenging the ban (fat chance, I know, but at least they are, unlike the craven, spineless Ass of the USA) based on violation of social moraes and cultural behavior.

BRAVO!

NANNY State Ping...........

It’s definitely creative :)

LOL...the smoking Nazis lose again. What a creative way to get around non-smoking idiocy.

No, I don’t smoke.

Holy SMOKES !!!

The first liturgical prayer for the One and Universal Church of the Smokers of God.

Which one of those Scandinavian countries allows dope smoking? The liberals here want to legalize it too,but they would prefer to outlaw tobacco.We need to outlaw liberals.

A holy alliance? I would call it an unholy alliance. A Christian’s body is God’s temple. Any Christian who smokes is defiling God’s temple.