Should the Church stay out of politics?
Friday 10th June 2011Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has caused a major political rumpus with an outspoken attack on the Government.
In an article for left-wing New Statesman magazine he claimed "no one voted" for the Coalition's key policies on welfare, health and education.
Dr Williams said these were causing "anxiety and anger" and effectively questioned the democratic legitimacy of the Government.
The Big Society was condemned as "painfully stale".
He also wrote of ministers encouraging a "quiet resurgence of the seductive language of 'deserving' and 'undeserving' poor".
It is not the first time an Archbishop of Canterbury has attacked a government - but it is the most outspoken since Robert Runcie clashed with Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.
In response, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I've never been one to say that the Church has to fight shy of making political interventions, but what I would say is that I profoundly disagree with many of the views that he's expressed, particularly on issues like debt and on welfare and education.
"I am absolutely convinced that our policies are about actually giving people greater responsibility and greater chances in their life and I will defend those very vigorously."
Source: http://www.silversurfertoday.co.uk/News/Story/?storyid=2882&title=Should_the_Church_stay_out_of_politics%3F&type=news_features
