Political statements were slyly slipped into Thought for the Day this morning by Angela Tilby (Diocesan Canon of Christ Church, Oxford). Into a musing about the outbreak of the First World War and the German victory in the World Cup she repeated the dishonest argument that pan-European co-operation has kept the peace in Europe and that this is preferable to national policies by nation states. This is completely at variance with the reality - peace in Europe was achieved in 1945 by the military defeat of Germany and was ensured subsequently by the Allied armies of occupation based in Germany until this day (ostensibly to protect Germany from the Russians, but also to protect the Germans from themselves).
Political priests are not new, but there seems to be rather too many of them these days.
If the Reverend Tilby wants to be a politician she should stand for election in a constituency, not use the broadcast pulpit of the BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day slot to propagate her views.
Alternatively, perhaps we could have the Anglican clergy directly elected by the electoral rolls of each parish (that would stop obnoxious clerics being parachuted in by bishops pursuing agendas that do not have widespread popular support).
Political priests are not new, but there seems to be rather too many of them these days.
If the Reverend Tilby wants to be a politician she should stand for election in a constituency, not use the broadcast pulpit of the BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day slot to propagate her views.
Alternatively, perhaps we could have the Anglican clergy directly elected by the electoral rolls of each parish (that would stop obnoxious clerics being parachuted in by bishops pursuing agendas that do not have widespread popular support).
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