Diane Abbott is missing

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn  Source: Independent/PA

Diane Abbott, Shadow Home Secretary and former lover of party leader, Jeremy Corbyn has been conspicuous by her absence in the General Election campaign. 

An Express report suggests: “They have hidden Diane Abbott from the cameras, not only because her son was arrested after allegedly biting a police officer, but because she literally makes no sense at all when she speaks. And yet she is the shadow home secretary, who in a few days might find herself in charge of the country’s police forces and MI5, which she once said should be abolished."

According to the MailOnline, Abbott's privately-educated son, 28, was arrested after 'biting one police officer and spitting at another outside Foreign Office' where he used to work. He was bailed to appear back in front of magistrates in February by which time his mother could be Home Secretary.

There have been too many instances when Abbott's bungling have given the impression that she is simply not up to the job, examples here and here, but old loyalties may prevail.

Many voters would feel more comfortable if Diane Abbott were missing from the political stage permanently.

Church in Wales Governing Body and Christian Aid

The Bishop of Monmouth at GB in 2017 (left) and the Bishop of Bangor (right), +Richard's cover for absence, in 2019     Source: Twitter #govbody

Christian Aid Week 12-18 May 2019

"This year’s Christian Aid Week focuses on standing together to help families weather future storms – #StandTogether."

Rogue report?

Bishop of Monmouth Richard Pain       Source: South Wales Argus

The Bishop of Monmouth farce continues. 

The South Wales Argus has picked up an obscure note from the Agenda of the Governing Body which meets at Cardiff's  City Hall 1 - 2 May for their headline Bishop of Monmouth Richard Pain should continue on church panel for 'another six years', report recommends.

Item 7 on the Agenda, Report of the Standing Committee (PDF) presents recommendations following the committee's meetings going back to to 29 November 2018 and 14 February 2019. From this the Argus has picked up, or, more likely, was fed:

"11. Under the procedure for appointing to the Panels of Chairs and Assessors members are reviewed after six years. This year two members of the Panel of Chairs came up for review, Mrs Helen Biggin and the Right Reverend Richard Pain. The Committee recommends that they are re-appointed for a period of a further six years. The Committee also recommends the appointment of His Honour Judge Andrew Keyser QC to the Panel of Chairs for a period of six years.                                                Recommendation 1 "

Translating a self-perpetuating old boy/girl system to imply a vote of confidence in the bishop of Monmouth is absurd. The bishops and their minions have become a self serving elite. They are completely out of touch with reality.

Bishop Richard Pain has been absent for ten months despite there being no case to answer in relation to the dispute. The 2019 Chrism Mass was celebrated in Newport Cathedral by archbishop John Davies.

The verdict of many Monmouth clergy was to travel to Bristol where the Bishop of Ebbsfleet was celebrating for the reaffirmation of their ordination vows.

Absent bishop

Bishop Richard Pain                                                                           Source: Twitter @ChurchTimes

Over the weekend a Church Times tweet reappeared with curious regularity suggesting a possible early end to the saga of the long absent bishop of Monmouth, Richard Pain.

Glowing tributes from the bishop's supporters after the story broke along with current publicity suggest a concerted effort to reinstate the bishop as the victim of unfounded allegations.

No details of his absence were made known until an article appeared in the Western Mail forcing the story into the open and ending a curious silence which gave rise to much speculation and damaging rumours.

Given the almost saintly qualities poured on him by his supporters it is difficult to imagine  how any possible grievance could have been raised against such a bishop, a procedure which is not used lightly.

According to the Church Times the bishop is "spoken well of by his flock", presumably following a statement by 'six area deans and eight ministry area leaders in the diocese' who described their bishop as "a deeply kind and caring pastor to his clergy" and "much loved and respected not only among the clergy of the diocese but also amongst the lay members of the church from across the diocese in the parishes and communities amongst which he has served."

Appointed assessors 'exonerated' the bishop of unspecified wrongdoing but he remains absent at the archbishop's request while mediation is in process.

The bishop of Monmouth along with the bishop of St Asaph and bishop of Swansea and Brecon (now archbishop) were together at St Michael's College, Llandaff 1982-83.

The bishops of Swansea and Brecon, Monmouth and St Asaph                Photo: South Wales Argus

To avoid any suspicion of an old boy's network in operation, clarification of the grievances made against the bishop of Monmouth is needed to eliminate any doubt and restore confidence if he returns to episcopal ministry.

Unholy row in Diocese of Monmouth

    The five months silence over the invisibility of the Rt Rev Richard Pain, Bishop of Monmouth, has been broken by an article in the Western Mail today headlined Parishioners left without a bishop after unholy row.

The absence of requests for prayers for the bishop and his family after missed engagements without explanation have been the cause of much speculation and rumours coming on the heels staff of movements with reports that the bishop was not sick.

A diocesan official has categorically stated that there is "no question of sexual or financial impropriety" adding to the mystery of why there has been no formal statement to end damaging speculation.

Apparently the Dean of Monmouth and other senior clergy in the diocese raised formal complaints that they could no longer work with the bishop.

Unable to resolve the impasse the Archbishop of Wales John Davies says that the bishop's absence will continue into 2019.

There is no mention of the situation on the Church in Wales web site or on the Monmouth diocesan site but the word on the grapevine is that the bishop will not be returning to work fueling further speculation.

Another shambolic episode in the recent history of the Church in Wales. 

As one onlooker put it to me, if priests and their bishop are unable to work together how do they expect others to follow their example?

Postscript [23/12/2018]

The Dean of Monmouth has defended his position in this message to friends and colleagues:

Dear Friends and colleagues,

I am sorry to trespass on your time at this busy season. 

I understand that some clergy in the diocese have, with the best of intentions, unwittingly been spreading erroneous report about me and the archdeacons within the diocese.  I had kept silent about this until now but it is further inflated and fabricated in today’s Western Mail.  These accounts appear to have their origins in malicious misrepresentation and I wanted you to be assured about this.  If you are in any further doubt the Archbishop of Wales will corroborate what I am writing and I therefore copy him in to this message.

My apologies to anyone who is not copied into this.  I do not have many people’s addresses and it is now getting late.  Do feel free to pass on this information to whomever you wish.

Please be assured that I bear no ill will toward anyone who has been misinformed or who has carried report with the best of intentions  Life is too short and there is a diocese to serve.

May you all have a wonderful Christmas

Lister.


The Very Reverend Lister Tonge
Dean of Newport
+44-(0)1633-259627