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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: The Bishops' Pastoral Letter
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k-mann
Shipmate
# 8490
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Has it annoyed the Tory press? That's generally a sign you're getting it right.
Not having read the document, I can't comment on it. But it seems that your comment validates the point made by 'the Tory press,' that it is essentially a Labour-friendly document. If that is so, it's unfortunate. Bishops should speak out on political causes, but something is fishy if it turns out to be a quasi-theological version of any given party's program.
But if my experience of the involvement of bishops, provosts and priests in political matters in Norway is a guide, the press has probably not read the document. As Penny S notes:
quote:
Originally posted by Penny S:
I have not read it, but I have heard the opinions of others who have not read it on a talk radio station this morning.
It was very interesting to experience two politicians, one from the Conservative Party, and one from the so-called 'Progress' Party, rescind their membership in the Church of Norway because a bishop dared to talk about the environment and the oil industry. And even more bizarre to experience one politician, again from the so-called 'Progress' Party, flip out because a provost dared to speak against a ban on begging.
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"Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt."
— Paul Tillich
Katolikken
Posts: 1314 | From: Norway | Registered: Sep 2004
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chris stiles
Shipmate
# 12641
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by k-mann:
But it seems that your comment validates the point made by 'the Tory press,' that it is essentially a Labour-friendly document. If that is so, it's unfortunate.
Well - given that politics experiences swings towards both ends of the political spectrum, critique will always be focused more on one party than the other.
Given the general shifting of the Overton window towards neo-liberalism, even centerist critique is likely to come across as 'from the left'.
and no, the policy prescriptions aren't taken from the Labour party manifesto.
Posts: 4035 | From: Berkshire | Registered: May 2007
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
The bits I've read seem to me to be more along the lines of the bishops saying "this is something important to think about", rather than "we support this specific policy". Although there are some policies it does imply should be difficult for Christians to support if they've thought about them. But, those policies are found in all the major parties - although it may well be that one party in particular gets more stick than the others.
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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Doc Tor
Deepest Red
# 9748
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by k-mann:
But it seems that your comment validates the point made by 'the Tory press,' that it is essentially a Labour-friendly document.
I'm somewhat bemused by this, in the sense that that I do try (at least nominally) to measure my politics against my professed faith.
Would you frame (at the risk of Godwinising the thread) the Confessing Church's criticism of National Socialism in 1930s Germany in essentially party political terms, or religious terms?
If by Labour-friendly, you mean the Conservative party is advocating policies which actively harm people and work against the common good, then surely it's the CofE's responsibility to point this out without fear or favour?
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Forward the New Republic
Posts: 9131 | From: Ultima Thule | Registered: Jul 2005
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