 |
| After the arrival of the refugees from Ukraine at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka, they wait for a place in one of the buses that will take them to large sites or collective shelters. Source: Westport Presbyterian Church |
The Archbishop of Wales, who represents less than 1% of the population of Wales, has welcomed the judgement on Rwanda asylum plan.
In doing so, the Provincial News item included the above photograph without attribution.
The photo has nothing to do with the Rwanda judgement. It actually shows refugees from Ukraine arriving at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka in 2022 according to its source, Westport Presbyterian Church.
The picture was used to illustrate the plight of Ukrainian refugees in a Church Mission Project in the United States.
This photo published by the BBC more accurately illustrates the problem.
More than 100,000 people have come to the UK by crossing the English Channel in small boats since 2018.
That is more than the population of Rochdale.
Government projections put the cost of dealing with illegal migrants plan could cost £6bn over two years.
A solution needs to be found but it is unlikely to come from the Church in Wales.
In 2022 the archbishop said he would not make any apologies for pointing out the "deficits" within the government's Rwanda policy. "It's the duty of all people, Christians and those of no faith to speak up for those who are marginalised..and for what is right and proper."
The archbishop would be better employed considering the plight of the many Anglicans he and the bench have marginalised in the Church in Wales by reneging on the promised twin integrities and leading the remainder into secularism.
@ AB
ReplyDeleteWith more than 24 hours elapsed and absent of any comments since highlighting the above it seems that you have left all regular and visiting 'bloggers' totally dumbfounded that Brother John even knows where Rwanda is that alone have any useful contribution to make on the issues. His track record in poking his nose into matters of immigration (ie his debunked nonsenses over the Calais 'Jungle' a few years ago) is hardly worth reference. Best to ignore him - as he ignores his congregants.
The chocolate teapot Randy Pandy has no judgement to exercise.
ReplyDeleteWith less than 10,000 attendees on any given Sunday it's more like 99,999% of the population in Wales couldn't give a crap 💩💩💩 about anything the fool might have to say.
Since he represents fewer than 1% of the population of Wales and to most of the 1% he is either invisible or derided, why on earth should we take any notice of what he has to say? His statements are remarkable only for their pomposity in his belief that we need to hear them.
DeleteLW
He's not even preaching to the Choir, just himself.
DeleteI think the Rwanda scheme would be great.
ReplyDeleteNot big enough to deal with 675,000 a year.
Deletei have to wonder - tongue in cheek - what the geo-political academic humanitarian Andrew John might have pontificated in 1972 when 'Field Marshal' Idi Dada Amin expelled 800,000 immigrants from Uganda; booted out as 'stateless' persons mainly to Britain which welcomed them with open arms.
ReplyDeleteWould he have screamed from the pulpit that Britain was unfit to receive them, that their Rights wouldn't be protected and that they would be better off in the country they and their parents had settled in? Yeah: tongue-in-cheek, but I bet the lunatic would have had some PR Press Release to spew out for sole purpose of trying to convince someone - anyone who'd listen - that he's an important person with a voice to be heard.
But as noted by Ad Clerum up top of the page, the fact that so few AB bloggers have responded to this does seem to suggest that no one seems particularly interested in ++John or his nonsenses. Which of his circle of Bishop's Council staff and sychophants has the courage to tell him to simply zip his gob before he does more damage to an ailing church.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67517410
ReplyDeletePlod up to its usual trick of pandering to the muslim mob.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67517410
ReplyDeleteSpain's Catholic church to compensate sexual abuse victims even in cases where priests have died before Court cases have concluded.
Bewildered
I have no opinion on the Archbishop, as I don't know him.
ReplyDeleteSo this is a general comment to say that, if a Church Leader makes a comment on a subject such as the Gaza War, Britain's economy, migration or whatever, they run the risk of alienating part (at least) of their own community who may disagree and/or tell them to concentrating on dealing with the issues within that community.
If, on the other hand, they make no public comment, then some folk in the wider world are quick to say that it shows the extent to which the Church is irrelevant and out of touch with reality. Seems they're in a "no win" situation!
The wider world couldn't give a toss about the Cult in Wales any more than they do the few remaining Baptists, they're all utterly irrelevant with their imaginary and invisible friend.
Delete@ Baptise Trainfan
ReplyDeleteFor once, BT, I'm at odds with you on yours. Of course, a church leader has every right to 'pontificate' on issues, but as with politicians or radio-show hosts or other 'celebs' they ought to be careful to articulate intelligently and in sound-researched reasoning ... not simply to shoot from the hip expressing perhaps their 'personal' positions which is what ++Andrew too often does.
++Andrew or his PR advisors should also know he's in a less comfortable position than many politicians, radio-show hosts, celebs, etc., in that his audience of C-in-W listeners is - if the statistics prove right - less than 1% of the population of Wales. Careful not to antagonise the 99% who can't give a rat's backside about him or his views. Of the 1% remaining, he's in danger of cutting that down even more.
Of course he should 'comment', but his comments ought to reflect the true situation. He plays to an assumed audience of 'poor old Palestinians' rather than the slightly more intelligent who actually read, learn and dig into the circumstances. Well done to Keir Stamer (not my politics) for standing his ground not to condemn the people of Israel; thumbs down to ++Andrew for jumping on a bandwagon which he thinks will create him some popularity.
++Andrew is, after all, an outright hypocrite. Only in September glad-handing and parading with the banner-waving 'Yes Cymru' independence and anti-monarchy protestors in Bangor, and a fortnight ago in Bishop's robes singing 'God Save The King' at Remembrance Sunday What a two-faced turnip. His speeches have no value.
Well, I did say I wasn't commenting on the Archbishop (I have neither heard his pronouncements nor seen his actions) but speaking in general terms. I certainly agree that comment ought to be intelligent, nuanced and considered - although this can be difficult if the media demand an instant response.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I think it's right for Christian leaders to sometimes challenge the views, political or otherwise, of their constituency. As pilgrims with (hopefully) a constantly-evolving understanding of our faith (based, of course, on certain fundamentals), we all need to evaluate and, at times, change our opinions.