I thought this comment from the Church of England website today was powerful, especially in the light of political reaction to the Bishop's letter to parishes today:
The letter defends the right of the Church to enter into the political arena: "It is not possible to separate the way a person perceives his or her place in the created order from their beliefs, religious or otherwise, about how the world's affairs ought to be arranged. The claim that religion and political life must be kept separate is, in any case, frequently disingenuous - most politicians and pundits are happy enough for the churches to speak on political issues so long as the church agrees with their particular line."
Two comments occur to me.
First those neoliberal economists who claim to be objective in their work should take note.
Second, substitute charity for Church and I think the same should and does apply. But there are those who seek to deny it.
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I’d like to think that the results of austerity as experienced by the clergy embedded in our communities has percolated up through the Church hierarchy to the point where it cannot be ignored any longer.
When I first heard this in my car coming home tonight I thought ‘Jesus comes home – at last!’ and I’m a bloody atheist!! (sorry to keep mentioning this Richard).
But seriously, I think that the suffering caused by this Government has gone too far not to be taken seriously anymore. And about time too.
Atheists are very welcome here
I’m not out to convert anyone
Except on the need to build a just society
Mark (and Richard), I’m pretty certain (and I’m a practising Christian), that God would infinitely prefer an honest (and certainly a caring and humane) atheist to a sanctimonious uncaring “believer” of whatever belief system.
So, thanks for your comment, Mark, and your response, Richard. For it is up to people of “good faith”, including where that good faith is not religious, to stand together on the common ground of concern for others and a just society.
Very well said all three of you.
Can agree with Church but not Charities. Within the Church there is some semblance of democracy (though I qualify that heavily with regard to my own C of E)but there is none usually with Charities. And with Charities you are dealing with donations from all sorts of people with different political opinions. Those Charities should not be captured by elites with their own agenda. And as a voluntary Charity collector nothing makes my blood boil hotter when taking donations from people who can scarcely afford it, that the same Charity pays inflated salaries to some of its executives, or spends monies on some pet campaign favoured by the same elite.
Stephen
All churches are, in effect, charities
Maybe you haven’t noticed
And if you don’t like a charity, don’t collect for it. It would be hypocrisy to do so
Richard