Pope Francis damns Brexit
Pope Francis has written another encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. It isn't a great theological tome; indeed, it could easily be a series of religio-political blogposts on current events. Much of the…
European Union
Bishop of Liverpool depicts UK-EU Brexit negotiations as ‘Dad’s Army’
The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev'd Paul Bayes, has been honing his episcopal vocation to be a "focus of unity", to which end he tweeted that the presently fraught and complex UK-EU Brexit negotiations are like something out of…
Brexit Day – at last, a wide and liberal global future
When the majority of UK voters determined to leave the European Union on 23rd June 2016, it was met with much relief and rejoicing by many millions of people: The…
A Christian case for Brexit
If one anti-Brexit argument persists within the clergy hierarchy of the Church of England, it is that the UK's departure from the European Union is a fundamentally 'un-Christian' pursuit. The…
Man plans and God laughs: resist all you want; Brexit will happen
Church of England Bishops in the House of Lords voted against the Government and in favour of Hilary Benn's Bill to force Boris Johnson to beg Brussels for another extension…
Boris Johnson nails his Brexit Theses to the door of Brussels Cathedral
As we countdown to 31st October, the date upon which the UK is set to leave the European Union; the day which happens to be by happy coincidence (if not…
Pessimism, realism and confusion: Ecclesiastes shines a light on Brexit
Theresa May has said that a vote for her Withdrawal Agreement (aka 'deal') would be an act of patriotism. Writing in the Telegraph she exhorts all MPs, whether they voted…
Darkness and devils: the inescapable framework of Brexit betrayal
"I've been wondering what that special place in hell looks like, for those who promoted #Brexit," tweeted Donald Tusk last week, as he made his State of the UK address…
Brexit and the ‘moral failure’ of ‘no deal’
In his speech to the House of Lords last week on Brexit, the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke eloquently about the moral responsibility that comes with parliamentary sovereignty, and of the…
Brexit backstop and beef: if the EU wasn’t faithful over BSE, how can we trust them with our liberty?
'He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much' (Lk 16:10). If…
Sentamu: ‘pure’ (‘real’/ ‘hard’) Brexit is “a childish dream”
On the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury was asked about the disparity (/gulf) between the laity and clergy in the Church of England regarding the…
Lambeth Palace convenes Brexit colloquium – and crams it with Remainers (including one MP..)
This Friday there is to be a colloquium at Lambeth Palace entitled: 'After Brexit: European Unity and the Unity of the European Churches'. In the current political morass of 'Hard'…
The EU is an anti-European force: it must become a ‘community of spirit’
The Red Cell is new research project set up to "inform, challenge and trigger" in order to deliver and manage Brexit. "It's a small unit, a break out team. its…
Chequers Plan: a dog’s Brexit, or a dog’s dinner of pragmatic politics and parliamentary sovereignty?
Whatever you think of Theresa May's Chequers Plan, it did at least unite the Cabinet for 48 hours. On the plus side, it was at least a plan. It may…
Deal or no deal? EU theology and Brexit ideology
"The EU's four freedoms are indivisible," tweeted Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder (Mission: 'Fighting Human #Trafficking. Protecting the Environment and stopping #Brexit'). So the free movement of goods, services, capital…
Why can’t Justin Welby distinguish the Council of Europe from the European Union?
Apparently the Archbishop of Canterbury has said the EU is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, he said it's the greatest thing since way before sliced bread: "The EU…
Italy is now a post-democratic colony of the EU: the ballot box no longer works
So, the 'elite' President of Italy has vetoed the appointment of a 'populist' finance minister, citing "uncertainty" about Italy's membership of the euro, which is apparently inviolable. "I asked for...…
EU Withdrawal: Bishops seek the ‘best shape’ Brexit (as opposed to dreamy Brexiteer ‘wishful thinking’)
In the ongoing saga of EU withdrawal, the House of Lords voted yesterday by 245 votes to 218, a majority of 27, to remain in the Single Market; that is,…
Welby: Brexit offers ‘a wide and liberal future’; Remainers are ‘depressed’ and ‘paranoid’
When it transpired that the reason Chris Heaton-Harris MP had written to all university vice-chancellors asking for the names of academics lecturing on Brexit was simply because he was writing…
If Brexit can’t be done, then Ted Heath lied, and our “essential national sovereignty” is gone
According to Alastair Campbell, Brexit can't be done. That's apparently what Theresa May has concluded and, if she were honest and any kind of leader, that's what she'd tell the…