In the last two weeks both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Bishops have sent pastoral letters to their members outlining their views on how to approach the next General Election.
In the last two weeks both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Bishops have sent pastoral letters to their members outlining their views on how to approach the next General Election.
The Anglican letter came first – a carefully written, sometimes challenging document, its 56 pages declare no political allegiance. Instead ‘Who is my neighbour?’ asks churchgoers and non churchgoers alike to enter into a dialogue about the kind of country we want to be.
Somewhat predictably, the moment the letter was published, Conservative backbenchers and the tabloid press were immediately critical. One critique was already anticipated by the Bishops – that they have no right to interfere in politics. Their letter points out the truth that it is not possible to separate a person’s beliefs from the way the world’s affairs are arranged. They also wryly note that politicians and pundits are always happy for the Church to comment when it agrees with a particular line.
The second critique was that the Bishops were promoting a “left wing” agenda that was riddled with inaccuracies. Nadine Dorries, the MP for mid-Bedfordshire was quick to castigate the Bishops on Radio 4’s Today programme. She claimed that they were biased when they said unemployment and child poverty were rising and that it was incorrect for Bishop Wilson of Buckingham to say Conservatives had made ludicrous claims about food banks. An analysis of her statements shows she was only partially right. It is true unemployment has fallen; but, as many commentators have pointed out, this is only through the creation of precarious low paid jobs, many of which are zero hours contracts or temporary which is contributing to in work poverty. Her claim that 300,000 families have moved out of relative poverty doesn’t tell the full story. The government’s own assessment of poverty stated in 2012 that the movement of families “out of poverty” was only due to overall income levels falling pushing the poverty line down. In fact, their situation is “no better off” than before (p10). More recent studies suggest the Bishops are right to state absolute child poverty is increasing.
Finally her comment about food banks does not stand up to scrutiny as there have been many public statements from Conservative politicians on food banks that have been widely criticised. These include Lord Freud’s suggestion that people use food banks because supply is creating demand, Iain Duncan-Smith’s claim that 900,000 people using food banks is a “tiny” amount and David Mundell’s refusal to listen to evidence of a food bank volunteer in Scotland because he was a ‘Yes’ supporter.
Like my colleague Jill Segger I found this reaction pretty disappointing when you consider that, the letter was not nearly as radical as it could have been. Furthermore, where the letter is at its strongest it asks us to consider how we can put aside political difference to alleviate poverty, build better communities, welcome strangers and develop a humane economy. The Bishops also ask us to consider whether we need to find a new approach to solving the country’s problems, beyond a reliance on the state or market.
I’ve been asking the same question for some time. The post war consensus that built the welfare state held for 35 years. It was followed by a neo-liberal consensus that has lasted for a further 35. If the neo-liberal consensus was possible because we’d reached the limits of what the state could do, surely now, after five years of damaging austerity, we can agree we’ve reached the limits of the market? Isn’t it is time for a new post-austerity consensus? It seems to me that this is what the Bishops are asking and it’s certainly a conversation worth having. I do hope once the dust settles sensible politicians from all parties will begin to consider this aspect of the letter.
Meanwhile this week (24 February 2015), the Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales published their own much shorter letter. At four pages, it is a much more concise document, which concentrates on some of the issues that Catholic Christians should consider when voting.
Whilst there is a strong focus on Catholic life concerns such as abortion and assisted suicide, there is also an overlap with some of the Anglican Bishops’ letter.The Catholic Bishops also call for an alleviation of poverty, a welcome of immigrants, a fairer economy, including a living wage, and the need to build community. And they too urge their members to take part in the election to consider what kind of society we want to have in Britain and abroad.
The Catholic Bishops’ letter does not appear to have created the furore that the Anglican Bishops did, and like the Anglicans it can be critiqued for being tamer on the issues than it could have been. They are careful not to discuss the causes of poverty and there is nothing about Trident or alternatives to militarism (which at least got a mention the Anglican Bishops letter). Nonetheless both letters should be welcomed. because if we read them with open hearts and minds, we can see they are asking all of us to work together for a more positive approach to politics. One that looks for common ground rather than ideological difference. One that works for a better, fairer society for all, not just a few at the top. One that creates a new “moral vision” in the language of the Anglican Bishops and avoids the “politics of fear” according to the Roman Catholic Archbishop, Vincent Nicholls.
This week we had a glimpse of politicians at their worst with the revelations that Jack Straw MP, and Malcolm Rifkind MP were caught granting access for cash The Bishops’ letters, for all their limitations, show us that there is a way to create a better kind of politics. And this year’s election provides us with the chance to choose the politicians we deserve.
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© Virginia Moffatt is chief operating officer of Ekklesia. Before working for Ekklesia, she spent 30 years working in services for people with learning disabilities, most recently for Oxfordshire County Council.
*More on the issues in the 2015 General Election from Ekklesia: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/generalelection2015