In the House of Lords this week, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, John Packer, led a revolt by senior clergy against the Government’s welfare reforms, arguing that an annual cap on benefits of £26,000 is unfair and un-Christian.
Fine, but if we take Bishop Packer and his fellow bishops at their word over what constitutes a fair income, there are going to have to be some enormous pay rises in the Church of England.
It would be fascinating for example to listen to the bishops explain to their curates ”“ paid about £16,000 a year regardless of the number of dependent children ”“ why they have a duty to support through their taxes a benefit claimant pulling in the pre-tax equivalent of £35,000.
Yeah, and the bishops of the CoE cost the Church about 10% of total revenues, if memory serves.
I am always astounded at the number of young curates arriving straight from theological college with two to four young children. Clergy do seem to have larger families, what is that about?
Meanwhile the House of Commons have just reversed the Bishops’ ammendment so things are looking better for the introduction of the government’s benefit caps.