Holy baloney
by Marcus Walker, The Critic:
Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent. But Wittgenstein wasn’t a Church of England bishop.
Being bishops in the Established Church gives them a powerful platform from the House of Lords, but do they speak wisely on subjects such as Brexit and Extinction Rebellion? Or do admirably irenic calls mix too freely with persistently progressive anathemas?
Brexit is not an easy subject for the Church. With a strongly Leave-backing flock (66 per cent according to sociologist Linda Woodhead) and a clergy which, well, isn’t, the difficulties are obvious. Treading very carefully they put out a recent statement calling for everyone to mind their language, yet even saying that the referendum result should be respected provoked outrage from their clergy.
Priests from across the country flocked to London and took up residence on Lambeth Bridge, singing hymns, conducting illegal weddings and blocking one of the main crossings to access St Thomas’ hospital
In their letter, the bishops restated their primary concern “about the potential cost of a No Deal Brexit to those least resilient to economic shocks”. This has been a constant feature of episcopal interventions since the Leave vote and is entirely appropriate for those with pastoral responsibilities — but this stands in stark contrast to the church’s reaction to Extinction Rebellion.
Although not coming out for the “rebellion” itself (the C of E has wisely retained an extremely competent media team), the bishop with responsibility for the environment, Bishop Nick Holtam, has tested neutrality to breaking point:
“We are facing an unprecedented global climate crisis. Christians have the duty to care for God’s creation. This runs through everything we believe. Climate change is upon us, and most affects the world’s poorest. Peaceful, passionate protest is a democratic response at a time when business as usual will not do.”
Where Bishop Holtam hesitates at the line, Archbishop Rowan Williams charged straight across it, fully backing ER. Priests from across the country flocked to London and took up residence on Lambeth Bridge, singing hymns, conducting illegal weddings and blocking one of the main crossings to access St Thomas’ hospital.
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