Via email:

Tesco’s Head of Research and Development has said Christians are “evil” for opposing homosexual marriage. The comment was made by Nick Lansley, Head of R&D for Tesco.com.

It appears on Mr Lansley’s profile page on the photo-sharing website, Flickr.com, where he lists his employment as ‘Head of R&D at Tesco.com’.

He adds: “I’m also campaigning against evil Christians (that’s not all Christians, just bad ones) who think that gay people should not lead happy lives and get married to their same-sex partners.”

I’ve confirmed the quote, but I won’t give the link because of other things he has on the page.  If anyone is wanting to pass this on and feels a need to confirm it, you can find the Christian Institute on my Links page, and I’m sure they will have the link to his page on their website, or you can contact me directly (through the contact button if you don’t have my email address). 

Tesco recently cancelled their support of Cancer Research’s “Race for Life” and instead sponsored London’s gay pride parade.  There is more that I won’t go into.

We had begun using Tesco’s online shopping occasionally, but had already quit for these reasons, before getting this email.

UPDATE:  Credit Where Due — Mr Lansley has cleaned up his flickr page, and there is little if anything to offend Christians there now.

UPDATE AGAIN:  Tesco statement and thoughts for Christians.