Brexit: open letter reveals Bishops split 60:40 on Government’s approach
The open letter on Brexit published yesterday by a group of Diocesan Bishops is interesting on a number of levels, not least of which is the fact that it is…
Free Trade
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…
A ‘climate emergency’ demands a Green manifesto more useful that Joanna Southcott’s box
Former US President George W Bush revealed in his book Decision Points that he often broke the conversational ice with visiting heads of state by asking the question: 'What keeps…
The weird cult of Greta Thunberg: she’s not the Green Messiah
The activities of those following the latest fashion in political activism have been disrupting the nation’s capital, and yesterday its unlikely spokesperson and poster child, Greta Thunberg, went to Westminster…
Welby to MPs: ‘Respect the vote of the people and unite our country’
By their 'indicative votes' ye shall know them. Last night MPs tried to determine what, if anything, they preferred to Theresa May's 'deal', and they said 'no' to everything. Motion…
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…
The G7 Summit: a Renaissance oil painting of the sacred and profane
The G7 Summit brings together the mighty economies of the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Italy, Japan and Germany, which together represent 62% of global net worth. That's $280 trillion,…
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,…
The knives are out for Labour Leave and Socialist Brexiteers
Giles Fraser sends out a tweet: 'Poorest will gain most under Brexit, says Labour report'. And the derision poured forth: ...report by rabid Brexit supporters. As rabid a Brexiteer as…
General Election 2017: Archbishops call for political stability and religious literacy
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued their Pastoral Letter to the Parishes and Chaplaincies of the Church of England for the 2017 General Election, and it's actually rather…
What’s wrong with ‘What’s wrong with Islamic finance’?
Christian Concern have published a neat little booklet called 'What's wrong with Islamic finance' (download HERE), which summarises the origins, aims and purported problems arising from Islamic finance in the…
Theresa May will have more freedom to govern than Margaret Thatcher ever had
In her conference speech yesterday, Theresa May told us what Brexit means: "Britain is going to leave the European Union." She filled in some of the gaps with stirring Tory…
Mark Rylands mocked by fellow clergy for coming out as a Brexit Bishop
"It was beginning to seem like there would never be a Brexit bishop," began the blog post on 1st April this year, a date which was lost on the…
Catholic bishops: picking their principles of social teaching
This is a guest post by Peter Smith: a Roman Catholic barrister practising in London. ______________________ Thus, the Catholic bishops in England and Wales have spoken. The EU Referendum, they…
Conservatives for Britain – but not if you're on Government payroll
"Conservatives for Britain has been formed among Tory parliamentarians to discuss the criteria by which to judge the Government's EU renegotiation. We are willing to consider how to prepare…
Votewise 2015: a biblical case for localism, subsidiarity and restored national sovereignty
Over the last couple of months this site has covered some of the most prominent publications that have sought to define an appropriate form of Christian engagement with political…
Why do bishops flaunt their Socialism but shroud their Conservatism?
When the Archbishop of York was giving media interviews recently to promote his book On Rock or Sand?, he made clear that "the theology of where I am coming…