It is about time the Church became serious about politics. The debacle over its opposition to the Government’s welfare reform programme offers the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, a God-given opportunity to totally reshape the role of bishops in the House of Lords.
A week before the House of Lords voted on key aspects of the Government’s welfare cuts [in March], 43 bishops issued a statement to the effect that this was the most vicious attack on children since Herod slaughtered the innocent. The welfare cuts are serious in the impact they will have on the living standards of some families, but let’s leave aside the judgment as to whether the cuts were almost of a criminal nature. What did the bishops do?
Good grief! I did not realize how far down the road the CofE has gone in its efforts to catch up with the TEO. Just another left wing social/political organization with some religious trappings.
I’m happy to munch pop-corn while Frank Field has a go at the CofE. He isn’t going to get very far, but he does ask some searching questions which highlight the CofE’s lack of a strong moral compass. Ironically, the leaders of CofE think that a wimpy public stance on moral matters will avoid offence and gain them respect, when the reverse is the case.