Liberalism

Farron resigns as leader of Liberal Democrats

It’s not that Christians can’t lead political parties; it’s that Evangelical Christians can’t lead the Liberal Democrats

"To be a political leader...and to live as a committed Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible's teaching, has felt impossible for me," said Tim Farron as he resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats. He certainly had a tough…

Michael Gove sugar-coats Jesus and preaches fake good news

April 18, 2017
249 Comments

This is a guest post by the Rev’d Dr Gavin Ashenden, former Chaplain to the Queen, who is presently in the (complicated) process of leaving the Church of England. ___________________________…

Vegetarianism a protected belief? How can a quango ignore the will of Parliament?

January 23, 2017
285 Comments

At the end of last year, without much fanfare, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued Religion or belief: a guide to the law. It's the helpful kind of…

“Not very presidential”? That’s precisely why Donald Trump is now President of the United States

January 21, 2017
307 Comments

When Barack Obama spoke, it was the voice of a god. He intoned overtures of conciliation, his themes were honoured; his words raised the hopes of the world. He was,…

A female Bishop of London “to make a statement”?

January 4, 2017
678 Comments

The Rt Rev'd Dr Richard Chartres retires as Bishop of London in February (he will be greatly missed - 'Peer Now!'), and according to the Times (..hold loosely..): Bishop Chartres…

Bishop of Burnley: CofE’s agenda is set by academia, moneyed elites, and sections of the secular media

December 3, 2016
272 Comments

The Rt Rev'd Philip North, Bishop of Burnley, decided to celebrate his 50th birthday with a splash in the Church Times, which has become a veritable flash in the Daily…

Martyn Percy: Justin Welby “is preparing the ground for a complete volte-face on human sexuality”

November 15, 2016
141 Comments

Here follows Martyn Percy's response to Adrian Hilton's second letter on 'Renewal & Reform' and the ministry and leadership of Justin Welby. It was a simultaneous exchange with Hilton's third…

Good Disagreement: report fellow Christians to the police for daring to disagree

September 11, 2016
228 Comments

It isn't entirely clear what happened to 1 Corinthians 6 in the Christian pursuit of Good Disagreement. It appears that if certain liberal/progressive Christians disagree with conservative/traditionalist ones, they think…

Same-sex marriage/blessing confronts Church of England with "a structural flaw of fatal proportions"

August 30, 2016
192 Comments

We have reached Chapter 5 in the great Anglican sexuality saga: 'Church of England parishes consider first step to break away over sexuality'. It isn't clear what the dénouement…

The great canon doctor Martyn Percy implicates Justin Welby in "secular sorcery"

August 17, 2016
172 Comments

"Everything you need to know about the Bible can be summed up by the great canon doctor Martyn Percy: 'The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven.'," writes…

Ukip's "positive vision" for British Islam: ban all Muslim schools

August 8, 2016
278 Comments

Ukip has a Muslim problem, which is fine if they're not particularly concerned about courting the Muslim vote, but not fine if it leads to the formulation of policies…

Turkey purge: is military coup a lesser evil than Erdoğan's Islamism?

July 20, 2016
243 Comments

Following last week's military coup – which is never the answer to anything – President Erdoğan is purging Turkey's civic institutions of every whiff of opposition, dissent, criticism and…

Bastille Day terror: you can't counter Jihad with a Twitter Crusade

July 15, 2016
291 Comments

Here we go again. You clearly don't need a SIG Sauer MCX semi-automatic rifle or a suicide belt packed with explosives, ball bearings, nails, screws and bolts to massacre…

May's 'one nation' mission: let's talk about white working-class boys

July 14, 2016
216 Comments

"But David’s true legacy is not about the economy, but about social justice," explained Theresa May in her first speech as Prime Minister. "David Cameron has led a 'one…

Theresa May could be poised for real political greatness

July 12, 2016
218 Comments

"Brexit means Brexit, and we're going to make a success of it," proclaimed Theresa May, just hours before she was unexpectedly declared the new leader of the Conservative Party,…

Brexit: a supreme act of foolishness perpetrated by racists, bigots and small right-wing men

June 25, 2016
799 Comments

Never in a decade of blogging has so much bile and vomit been spewed in this direction. Oh, we've had our fractious moments over the years, but nothing, ever,…

Michael Gove doesn't want to be PM: he wants meritocracy and freedom

June 4, 2016
50 Comments

"Michael Gove won't admit it, but tonight's EU debate is his first audition for the Tory leadership," wrote Asa Bennett in the Telegraph. Except he didn't because it wasn't.…

Giles Fraser backs Brexit – and the liberal elite sneer at him for it

May 11, 2016
364 Comments

The Rev'd Dr Giles Fraser is one of the very few Church of England clergy who has publicly declared that he wants the UK to leave the EU. It…

What British Muslims Really Think, or what Christians need to rethink?

April 14, 2016
244 Comments

Channel 4's documentary What British Muslims Really Think informed us that 52% of them want homosexuality to be outlawed; 39% believe that a woman should always obey her husband;…