How extraordinary?
This morning the BBC Today programme brought together a bishop and a politician to discuss the pastoral letter to be published later today by the House of Bishops. The Daily Telegraph and others tell the bishops to stay out of politics because they are “left-leaning”.
Two problems here: (a) Nadine Dorries began her interview by saying she had not seen or read the document, but would comment and criticise anyway; and (b) the “church stay out of politics” line is so ridiculously silly – at so many levels – that it is heard simply as a tired cliche. If we are going to be criticised, let it be on the basis of fact, and let it be at least remotely intelligent and a little original.
The pastoral letter issued later today does not trot out a party line. It attempts to encourage engagement with politics by Christians and voting by them in the General Election. It specifically states that it is not telling people how to vote, and illustrates how fragile some political judgements can be.
Isn't it remarkable that a politician will admit to not having read something, have no idea what is in it, but still be confident enough to go ahead and comment on it?
And, pace the Telegraph, if bishops and other Christians are to keep out of politics, who else is to be excluded? Politics are about life and the stuff of life – which isn't the concern of Jesus or the Bible or ethics or relationships?
Verily, the mind boggleth.
February 17, 2015 at 9:03 am
Sorry Nick, the only thing remarkable about politicians commenting on stuff they’ve not read, is that you think it ‘remarkable’. Well, I suppose it is, but it’s not ‘unusual’
February 17, 2015 at 9:05 am
Nadine Dorries in giving her initial response was missing the whole point and just confirming why the Bishops are publishing such a document. The general public are fed up with Politian’s who persists in point scoring and nit picking, quoting Jim Wallis in Archbishop Sentamu book On Rock or Sand “…Politicians continue to focus on Blame instead of solutions, winning instead governing, ideology instead of civility”
Thank God for our Bishops and a free press.
February 17, 2015 at 9:17 am
I used to think that the Church should stay out of politics. These days I think politicians should.
February 17, 2015 at 11:11 am
Thank you Nick for this comment. I was very disappointed in the way the Today Programme set this up and have written to the Today programme to that effect asking for a sensible discussion tomorrow morning.
John
John Clark 32 Weigall Road Lee London SE12 8HE
Tel 0208 852 2741 Mob 07989852630 john@mclark32.freeserve.co.uk
February 17, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Reblogged this on hungarywolf.
February 17, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Why do we have Bishops in the House of Lords if it is not to give their opinions of matters of public policy? When they speak out on matters of human reproduction and relationships, they are sidelined and ignored anyway. Perhaps it’s time for a nominated second chamber made up of a broader cross-section of faiths, denominations and charities, rather than (mainly) the nominees of political parties, put there because of the size of the donations they’ve made to their parties, rather than the extent of their wisdom, knowledge and expertise. Or/and perhaps we could form a broad-based Christian Democratic Party?
February 17, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Nadine Dorries. Say no more.
February 17, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Although I agree with you Nick that Dorries’ wasn’t short of a cliché or two, the issue of the Church’s legitimacy to talk about these issue with a special authority is being increasingly questioned by people of good faith. Dorries’ point on our recent incorporation into the top ranks of the Church’s leadership was well-directed and we do have a case to answer on both this and other issues, notably the Church’s attitude towards gay people.
February 17, 2015 at 4:48 pm
I love Tony B’s comment (3). I’m amusing myself with the assumption that it’s Tony Blair… 🙂
February 17, 2015 at 4:57 pm
The political parties failed to understand what it is to govern on behalf of the people an tend to make law etc ‘on the run’ appealing to the popular vote rather than that which is right for the country as a hole. The church has to enter politics with a small ‘p’ to help spot the cracks and raise issues – if politicians continue to fail us then perhaps the church should become ‘a party’ and use the big ‘P’. That would scare the blighters.
February 17, 2015 at 5:15 pm
[…] a bid to end the legacy of the late Margaret Thatcher.” However, as Nick Baines observed in his blog, some Tory MPs had not even read the letter before launching into a criticism on the BBC’s Today […]
February 17, 2015 at 7:59 pm
Whenever I hear yet another person saying that the church should keep out of politics I simply think there is yet another person who hasn’t read the gospels.
February 17, 2015 at 8:57 pm
No more extraordinary than people calling themselves Christians ignore scripture that doesn’t fit in with their personal beliefs.
Of course the church shouldn’t shouldn’t get involved in politics.Jesus had no involvement in political issues of the day.In fact quite the opposite He became angry when others tried to involve Him in a political debate about taxes.It’s all pointless anyway because politicians take no notice of what you say.
I believe a couple of years ago 27 Anglican bishops along with others urged David Cameron to make sure people in this country had enough to eat.According to Oxfam people in the U.K. who live below the poverty line has reached an all time high under this government,the church can make a lot of noise but in reality it’s impotent.
February 18, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Sadly, the conversation on Radio 5 Live was in a similar vein …
February 19, 2015 at 8:58 pm
There is a very old very large and very strong fence lying crushed under the bulldozer of Christian leaders saying “Enough”
This is epoch-making and I’m totally delighted.