Even in 2021 I failed to understand what possible use umpteen 'contributors' to AB couldn be in this contrived Red Week PR wheeze. Five years after its launch, the answer is non whatsoever. We don't even have say or influence over what happens in our own small parish nonsenses. Surely, the ball should start with those entitled Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords and then, maybe - just maybe - trickle down to the rest of us. Meanwhile, a futile wheeze dreamed up by some bod or other.
A bit like Bangor's then idiot bishop Andrew John sailing off to Sangatte/Calais to encourage all Brits to champion the rights of illegal immigrants to jump onto lorries and Eurotunnel trains to flood Britain ... or at least send him money for their welfare. Another Dead-Duck PR initiative.
'Observer' is dead right. The 'Anglican' Church employs 26 senior bishops to represent us in Government, to pressure HMG Departments into this that or the other, to use their stalls to call in Ambassadors of rouge-countries etc.
The DAILY COST of this bench of Peerage bishops - if they all attended on the same day - would cost the tax-payer £10,140 per sitting (£390 per day each tax free to then) plus 1st class rail travel and taxis to the House + 4-star accommodation and lavish subsistence. Thankfully Parliament has wisely decided against having any Welsh bishops on payroll (They being incapable of even tickling the surface of even their own parochial problems let alone global issues)
If the Lords Spiritual really represent the 'Anglican Church) then time for them to play politics and demand the same sort of HMG sanctions against Christian-hostile countries - China included - as the House of Commons does against Putin and his cohorts persecutions. A p*ss poor motley bunch of Bishops on the take.
Yes, wisely deployed, they have a powerful voice - but never use it except in matters of trivia.
Even in 2021 I failed to understand what possible use umpteen 'contributors' to AB couldn be in this contrived Red Week PR wheeze. Five years after its launch, the answer is non whatsoever. We don't even have say or influence over what happens in our own small parish nonsenses. Surely, the ball should start with those entitled Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords and then, maybe - just maybe - trickle down to the rest of us. Meanwhile, a futile wheeze dreamed up by some bod or other.
ReplyDeleteA bit like Bangor's then idiot bishop Andrew John sailing off to Sangatte/Calais to encourage all Brits to champion the rights of illegal immigrants to jump onto lorries and Eurotunnel trains to flood Britain ... or at least send him money for their welfare. Another Dead-Duck PR initiative.
Too many Grand Plans ... not enough common sense.
'Observer' is dead right. The 'Anglican' Church employs 26 senior bishops to represent us in Government, to pressure HMG Departments into this that or the other, to use their stalls to call in Ambassadors of rouge-countries etc.
DeleteThe DAILY COST of this bench of Peerage bishops - if they all attended on the same day - would cost the tax-payer £10,140 per sitting (£390 per day each tax free to then) plus 1st class rail travel and taxis to the House + 4-star accommodation and lavish subsistence. Thankfully Parliament has wisely decided against having any Welsh bishops on payroll (They being incapable of even tickling the surface of even their own parochial problems let alone global issues)
If the Lords Spiritual really represent the 'Anglican Church) then time for them to play politics and demand the same sort of HMG sanctions against Christian-hostile countries - China included - as the House of Commons does against Putin and his cohorts persecutions. A p*ss poor motley bunch of Bishops on the take.
Yes, wisely deployed, they have a powerful voice - but never use it except in matters of trivia.