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Church of England 'has a duty to debate politics' Church of England 'has a duty to debate politics'
(35 minutes later)
The Church of England "has a right and a duty" to speak in the political debate ahead of May's general election, Church leaders say.The Church of England "has a right and a duty" to speak in the political debate ahead of May's general election, Church leaders say.
In a letter to congregations, the House of Bishops has called for a "fresh moral vision" by politicians. In a letter urging congregations to vote, the House of Bishops calls for a "fresh moral vision" by politicians.
It says it does not endorse a political party but urges parishioners to vote and calls for debate on issues such as nuclear defence and the economy. It does not endorse a political party but encourages debate on issues such as nuclear defence and the economy.
Some Conservative MPs have criticised the Church's intervention. Some Conservative MPs have criticised the Church's intervention, but David Cameron said he welcomed the move.
The 52-page letter is the first of its kind to be issued by the Church.The 52-page letter is the first of its kind to be issued by the Church.
It 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".It 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".
It 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", referring to changes in government under Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher.It 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", referring to changes in government under Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher.
"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.
New politicsNew politics
The Church addresses issues in a number of policy areas within the letter.The Church addresses issues in a number of policy areas within the letter.
On the economy, it credits politicians for helping Britain avoid the same financial instability as other European countries, but criticises them for turning the banking crisis into a "political football".On the economy, it credits politicians for helping Britain avoid the same financial instability as other European countries, but criticises them for turning the banking crisis into a "political football".
It says the Church is in favour of the living wage and talks about a "burgeoning of in-work poverty", adding that "the greatest burdens of austerity have not been borne by those with the broadest shoulders".It says the Church is in favour of the living wage and talks about a "burgeoning of in-work poverty", adding that "the greatest burdens of austerity have not been borne by those with the broadest shoulders".
On Europe, the Church says there is an "enduring argument for continuing to build structures of trust and co-operation between the nations of Europe".On Europe, the Church says there is an "enduring argument for continuing to build structures of trust and co-operation between the nations of Europe".
When talking about defence policy, the letter says "shifts in the global strategic realities mean that the traditional arguments for nuclear deterrence need re-examining".When talking about defence policy, the letter says "shifts in the global strategic realities mean that the traditional arguments for nuclear deterrence need re-examining".
'Fresh look''Fresh look'
The Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt Rev Alan Wilson, who helped write the letter, said it was not a guide on how Christians should vote. 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.
"We're not telling people how to vote but why to vote," he said."We're not telling people how to vote but why to vote," he said.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, 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".Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, 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 Dories told the programme 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.Conservative MP Nadine Dories told the programme 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.
"The Church is always silent when people are seeking its voice and yet seems very keen to dive in on political issues when actually no-one is asking it to," she said."The Church is always silent when people are seeking its voice and yet seems very keen to dive in on political issues when actually no-one is asking it to," she said.
She said the bishops had a "very definite left-wing leaning to their message" and questioned whether the Church has the moral authority to discuss equality, having "only just accepted women as equals and brought in women bishops". She said the bishops had a "very definite left-wing leaning to their message" and questioned whether the Church had the moral authority to discuss equality, having "only just accepted women as equals and brought in women bishops".
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.
"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.
"Because work does bring dignity, it does bring self-reliance, it does enable people to provide for their families; it creates a stronger society as well a stronger economy."