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Church of England urges 'fresh moral vision' from politicians Church of England urges 'fresh moral vision' from politicians
(about 2 hours later)
Politicians need to deliver a "fresh moral vision" ahead of the general election, the Church of England says.Politicians need to deliver a "fresh moral vision" ahead of the general election, the Church of England says.
In a letter urging congregations to vote on 7 May, the House of Bishops does not endorse a political party but encourages debate on issues such as nuclear defence and the economy.In a letter urging congregations to vote on 7 May, the House of Bishops does not endorse a political party but encourages debate on issues such as nuclear defence and the economy.
It rejected suggestions politics and religion should not mix. It speaks of Britain's "almost moribund political culture".
Conservative MP Conor Burns said the letter was "naive", but David Cameron said he welcomed the move.Conservative MP Conor Burns said the letter was "naive", but David Cameron said he welcomed the move.
The 52-page letter - an unprecedented intervention by the House of Bishops - says "it is the duty of every Christian adult to vote, even though it may have to be a vote for something less than a vision that inspires us".The 52-page letter - an unprecedented intervention by the House of Bishops - says "it is the duty of every Christian adult to vote, even though it may have to be a vote for something less than a vision that inspires us".
The Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham James, said there was "disengagement with the contemporary political culture" and rejected the pleas of some, such as comedian Russell Brand, for people not to vote. The Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham James, said there was "disengagement with the contemporary political culture" and rejected the pleas of some, such as comedian and actor Russell Brand, for people not to vote.
He told reporters: "We as bishops are not as sexy as Russell Brand but we say do vote, do engage and do use the hard-won political freedoms that you possess." 'New approach'
He told reporters: "We as bishops are not as sexy as Russell Brand but we say 'do vote, do engage and do use the hard-won political freedoms that you possess'."
The letter says the country needs "a new approach to political life that will change the political weather as decisively as did the administrations of 1945 and 1979".The letter says the country needs "a new approach to political life that will change the political weather as decisively as did the administrations of 1945 and 1979".
"The ideals that the Big Society stood for should not be consigned to the political dustbin," the letter adds."The ideals that the Big Society stood for should not be consigned to the political dustbin," the letter adds.
The Big Society was among the Conservatives' flagship 2010 election policies and encouraged greater personal responsibility and community activism in shaping society and running public services.
But by January 2013 charities expressed "huge frustration" at a lack of progress with the idea, which they said appeared to be "going nowhere".
The document covers various issues including:The document covers various issues including:
AnalysisAnalysis
By Caroline Wyatt, religious affairs correspondentBy Caroline Wyatt, religious affairs correspondent
The bishops are well aware that their pre-election letter will be seen by some as a left-wing document - although they have been at pains to stress that their intention is not to back one party over another, nor to create a wish-list of policies - although they do ask voters to back the "living wage".The bishops are well aware that their pre-election letter will be seen by some as a left-wing document - although they have been at pains to stress that their intention is not to back one party over another, nor to create a wish-list of policies - although they do ask voters to back the "living wage".
They say that the two UK administrations that offered genuinely new visions - Clement Attlee's Labour party in 1945 and Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives in 1979 - changed the way people in Britain looked at society, politics and the role of government and human relationships - but that today, neither vision addresses contemporary needs, at a time of increasing public alienation from mainstream politics.They say that the two UK administrations that offered genuinely new visions - Clement Attlee's Labour party in 1945 and Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives in 1979 - changed the way people in Britain looked at society, politics and the role of government and human relationships - but that today, neither vision addresses contemporary needs, at a time of increasing public alienation from mainstream politics.
In recent weeks, the Archbishops of York and Canterbury have asked questions about the increasing divides between North and South, or richest and poorest in the UK.In recent weeks, the Archbishops of York and Canterbury have asked questions about the increasing divides between North and South, or richest and poorest in the UK.
So this latest intervention, questioning what kind of society an increasingly diverse Britain wants to be, and what kind of power it wishes to wield on the world stage, is a sign of a Church more willing to use its position to speak truth unto power, even if it is not always welcomed.So this latest intervention, questioning what kind of society an increasingly diverse Britain wants to be, and what kind of power it wishes to wield on the world stage, is a sign of a Church more willing to use its position to speak truth unto power, even if it is not always welcomed.
'Fresh look' 'Left-wing leaning'
The Bishop of Buckingham, the Right Reverend Alan Wilson, who helped write the letter, said it was not a guide on how Christians should vote - but why they should. Conservative MP Nadine Dorries said she believed the letter had "glaring inaccuracies" regarding the economy and the Church should be more concerned with issues people wanted to hear its views on, such as abortion.
He said the letter was to address the problem of people's "cynicism and disenchantment with professional politicians" and help them "take a fresh look at things".
Conservative MP Nadine Dorries said she believed the letter had "glaring inaccuracies" regarding the economy and said the Church should be more concerned with issues people wanted to hear its views on, such as abortion.
She said the bishops had a "very definite left-wing leaning to their message".She said the bishops had a "very definite left-wing leaning to their message".
However, the prime minister said he was "keen for anyone to intervene in politics".However, the prime minister said he was "keen for anyone to intervene in politics".
Mr Cameron said: "We want to have a political debate in this country.Mr Cameron said: "We want to have a political debate in this country.
"We've created an economy with genuine growth, real jobs and real security and I would say to the bishops, I would hope they would welcome that.""We've created an economy with genuine growth, real jobs and real security and I would say to the bishops, I would hope they would welcome that."
'Honour the meek' Labour leader Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg have not commented on the letter.
But Stephen Timms, Labour's shadow employment minister, tweeted that he welcomed the "thoughtful and authentically Christian reflection on the election debate".
'Bishops vindicated'
Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West, said the letter was "naive" in not taking into account the recession and the risk posed by countries like Iran.Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West, said the letter was "naive" in not taking into account the recession and the risk posed by countries like Iran.
Paul Whiteley, professor of government at the University of Essex, said the letter's policies were a combination of the Green Party, SNP and "perhaps a bit of Labour".Paul Whiteley, professor of government at the University of Essex, said the letter's policies were a combination of the Green Party, SNP and "perhaps a bit of Labour".
He said it had been a "long time since the Church of England aligned with the Conservative Party".He said it had been a "long time since the Church of England aligned with the Conservative Party".
But Bishop James said he thought it was "much more even-handed than that" and said there were people of "all political traditions" in the Church.
He added: "In the sermon on the mount, it is the poor, it is the meek, it is the peacemakers who are blessed, that is the good news, so we do seek a society in which the poor, the meek and those who make peace are honoured."
The director of public affairs for the Archbishops' Council, Malcolm Brown, rejected suggestions the letter was an attack on coalition policies and criticised responses to the document.The director of public affairs for the Archbishops' Council, Malcolm Brown, rejected suggestions the letter was an attack on coalition policies and criticised responses to the document.
"The media response is to interpret it as attack on the coalition," he said. "The media response is to interpret it as an attack on the coalition," he said.
"David Cameron has reacted as if the letter was a rehash of earlier disputes about welfare reform."David Cameron has reacted as if the letter was a rehash of earlier disputes about welfare reform.
"In short, the bishops have been thoroughly vindicated. If the responses of the media and the PM are typical of our political culture, it is unfit for purpose.""In short, the bishops have been thoroughly vindicated. If the responses of the media and the PM are typical of our political culture, it is unfit for purpose."