The extraordinary and unmerited privileges enjoyed by the C of E come under the spotlight in this Newham Recorder opinion piece (for publication 5.2.20) <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
An \u2018unholy\u2019 row has broken out in our \u2018Mother of Parliaments.\u2019 It concerns prayer cards, seating and MPs\u2019 ability to participate. It\u2019s trivial in the context of, say, the climate emergency. But it speaks volumes about our outdated institutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\nforeign observer might be amazed to learn that, while there are 650 MPs, the\nCommons chamber only has 427 seats. It\nis virtually impossible for an MP to ask a question at PMQs unless they have a\nseat. The only way to reserve one is by attending morning prayers and leaving a\nprayer card on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\ncomplaint was made at the end of PMQs on 15 January by Tory MP Crispin Blunt.\nHe is also Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. Crispin pointed\nout to the Speaker that the practice is not only unfair to non-believers like\nhim. It is also unfair to those of non-CofE faith. They too may object to\nattending prayers they don\u2019t believe in just to guarantee the chance of taking\npart in the democratic process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile in the Lords 26 unelected bishops decide on our laws and even have the right to speak first. These bizarre, archaic practices might be ok in a theocracy like Iran. But they are at odds with a modern secular democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The argument for having an established church, let alone the many privileges it enjoys, gets weaker by the day.\u00a0 January also witnessed BBC documentaries on former Bishop Peter Ball. He abused children for years and was sentenced to 32 months in 2015.\u00a0 One rotten apple? The real scandal is the institutional attempt by Church leaders to protect him. Not least prospective \u2018Defender of the Faith\u2019 Prince Charles who provided Ball with testimonials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A backward stance on women and gay equality has no doubt also contributed to the sharp decline in church membership. Those who describe this as a \u2018Christian country\u2019 are kidding themselves. Just look around you in Newham. We are a country of many faiths and beliefs. And most of us have no faith. It\u2019s about time our institutions treated us all equally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul Kaufman, Chair East London Humanists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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