Bishop of Willesden slams "unChristian" Tories and Ukip
The Clacton fallout has sent a few tremors around Westminster. So has the Heywood & Middleton spin-off. Not only have the people elected their first Ukip MP in a…
Discerning the future of the Church is not an intellectual exercise
When I was at university studying Architecture, we were given the hypothetical brief of designing a new chapel for the campus. Having looked forward to it initially, it actually became the most problematic project during my entire time there. I…
As Wonga falls, Welby's church credit unions arise
Wonga may still be hanging on as the big boy of the much-despised payday loans industry, but how much longer before it comes crashing down in a blaze of…
Christians are called to be 'non-violent extremists'
We have been here before. In fact, the illiberal proposal raises its portentous head with such frequency that it feels almost teleologically predetermined. From Labour's assault on "hate speech"…
Christianity versus Communism: Hong Kong's battle for liberty and democracy
No matter what issues of religion and politics have occupied us over the past week, there has been a feeling that we ought to be following the umbrellas, black T-shirts…
Why do left-wing clerics insult and alienate right-wing laity?
I don’t just disagree with Ukip. I despise them. I despise them for their smug Little Englander mentality. I despise them for their total absence of fellow-feeling towards vulnerable people…
Alan Henning’s compassion made him more Muslim than any member of ISIS
Our prayers and our thoughts have been with the family of Alan Henning over these last weeks, during which his life has been so publicly threatened. In his life Alan…
Survivors of child abuse need more than just understanding
So, Justin Welby is back blogging again after half a year. It looks as though a meeting with a survivor of abuse has made a significant impact upon him. He…
Targeted Aid for Oppressed Christians
There's a neat new book out co-authored by Brian Binley MP, Dr Lee Rotherham and Lord Tebbit entitled A Spotter's Guide to Sound Government Policies - "a platform for the…
Cameron prioritises national security and social justice
It is easy to be disenchanted by politics and cynical about politicians - especially if you're persuaded they're all disingenuous liars whose objective is shadowy manipulation and the pursuit of…
Politics and Religion at the Conservative Party Conference
Melanie Phillips writes: I chaired a most interesting fringe meeting discussion this lunchtime at the Tory party conference on the intersection between religion and politics. Unfortunately Sajid Javid, the Secretary…
Brooks Newmark's humiliating failure is not the real scandal
There are some enduring debates that will probably never be resolved. Did Lee Harvey Oswald shoot JFK? Are single-sex schools more effective than mixed ones? Should scones be pronounced sCOnes or scONs?…
The political purpose of claiming 10% of bishops are gay
This is a guest post by the Rev'd Peter Ould - a Church of England priest, consultant statistician and former blogger with an interest in the topic of human sexuality…
We should judge politicians by their fruits, not their failings
Mark Reckless MP is a man of faith; a faith which has, on occasion, caused him to delve into contentious matters of morality and probe certain state authorities which most…
Welby: we wrestle not against ISIL, but against Jihadi principalities and powers
We are, once again, a nation at war. And, rather like World War I, it won't be over by Christmas. The Prime Minister has identified our target: "We should be…
Our MPs should not let fear hold them back – this is a just war against IS
Today offers the chance for MPs to begin to redeem themselves. After an attempt by David Cameron to intervene in Syria that fell flat on its face, and an Iraq war…
AC Grayling's call to abolish RE in schools is dangerously ignorant
A couple of weeks ago I was in a conversation with a BBC producer discussing faith schools and their admissions policies. We talked about the possibility of my appearance on BBC1's Sunday…
We are about to enter World War III
Last week Pope Francis took stock of all the regional conflicts, bloodshed, struggles and strife, and joined the dots. "We are now in World War III,” he told journalists on…
What role for the Church of England in English devolution?
"Sanity transcends political differences", tweeted the Bishop of Willesden when it appeared there was some cross-party agreement on the pressing need for English devolution following the Prime Minister's 'vow' of…
Shock! Justin Welby admits that he believes in God
This is of course a ridiculous headline, but what makes it ridiculous? There are plenty of people who don't believe in God after all. We make assumptions all of the…