The Charity Commission, the independent charity regulator, and researchers at the Von Hugel Institute, have disagreed over the findings of a new report commissioned by the Church of England on the role of faith in social welfare.

The Cambridge-based Von Hugel Institute's report on church, government and social welfare is creating a lively media and political talking point following its launch in London yesterday.

When it comes to religion and public life, there is frequently unhelpful confusion in the debate, says Simon Barrow. Initial responses to the Von Hugel report on church and welfare illustrate this.

A report looking at the role of the Church of England and other faith communities in public welfare provision has been spun into an attack on government before it has even been published and read, say the researchers behind it.

The Christian think tank Ekklesia has welcomed an independent report from a university-based church research institute which shows the shocking conditions endured by many migrant workers contributing to the economic life of the UK.