Jonathan Wynne-Jones had an exclusive in the Sunday Telegraph headlined Drive for multi-faith Britain deepens rifts, says Church.
The BBC followed up on this by interviewing the Bishop of Hulme, Stephen Lowe:
According to the Sunday Telegraph, “The Church of England has delivered an astonishing assault on ministers’ attempts to turn Britain into a multifaith society”. The criticisms are said to come from a confidential church document written by The Archbishop of Canterbury’s interfaith adviser and discussed at a House of Bishop’s meeting last week. The document is reported as saying that the drive to make minority faith communities more integrated has backfired, that the Muslim community has been given privileged attention and that the Church of England has been sidelined. Roger [Bolton] is joined by the Bishop of Hulme, Stephen Lowe, who was this week appointed as the first Church of England Bishop for Urban Life and Faith and who has seen the document.
Listen (4m 14s).
The BBC website reported this too: Bishop defends multi-faith fears
The Church of England issued this official response today: Community cohesion: a response to media coverage. More on the CofE’s Inter Faith Relations here.
Ekklesia’s report is headlined Church advisor complains of marginalisation by Government
Shades of the Pope here. An obscure speech or meeting designed to encourage internal dialogue becomes public knowledge and causes a reaction. This is not the first time Anglicans have gotten into trouble for how they talk about other faiths. There was furore in one diocese back in 2003 for how they were prosletysing around Jews. That Archbishop’s response was that they were there to save souls, and the concerns of other’s weren’t their problem. I suppose when you have a utopian vision that God is going to obliterate everyone else, you don’t have to worry about coexistence (we’ll just… Read more »
English bishops feel marginalised ……. Ahh, I am so sorry – I know just how they must feel ..
What utter rubbish!
Anyone who thinks the British Government’s attention to its Muslim community is a form of *privilege* hasn’t been paying attention (and I’d like to think that the ability to pay attention would be a necessary skill for a bishop.)
I call this self-marginalisation! As a body they are absolutely wet, inept and supine. What is their problem ? Do they fear losing their posts or what ? They should either speak up and out as a body– or else the liberal majority need to speak and act for liberal issues–women, role of so-called ‘laity’ (the majority!), lgbt people and issues of sexual understanding and relationships. As well as spirituality, Bible, social action, justice & peace in a liberal context. And especially, pastoral care and counselling –THE shamefully neglected tool of understanding and self reflexiveness. Theye were never too keen… Read more »
laurence roberts —
Considering how bishops are chosen in the C of E, I am not sure what you propose is possible — saying something besides platitudes (or growing shoulders) might make somebody you-pee-ess-ee-tee, and then what would happen? (Not that there’s much chance that this bench of bishops will give us a chance to find out)
I see what you mean PA.
but some of them are good individually, it seems to me, but something seems to grind them down.
Thinking of it maybe they feel unsupported themselves–that could be a great problem. If they are unhappy or stressed…
i do think disestablishment would have an amazing effect !
The CofE becomes more pathetic and deserving of contempt every day.
They are the bloody Established Church! Its not OUR fault if they can’t keep up with reality.
I heard a joke from a church leader a while ago. “No emotions please. We’re Anglican.” The appalling neglect of psychology and psychiatry in terms of theological contemplation reflects insular thinkers who think that whenever someone throws an insult their way (Freud threw a few) that they should throw out the baby, the water, and the bathtub. Shunning the world and reality because it isn’t nice to us hinders our ability to help the world. “We are in the world but not of the world and are here for the world” to quote/paraphrase a speech from a recent Christian women’s… Read more »
Thanks,Cheryl–and especially when one reflects that psyche means soul, as well as butterfly. And butterfly is an apt and beautiful image for the metamorphosis of soul.
Yes, Freud issued a challenge to religion. And CG Jung challeneged the very Churches themselves !