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Journalism of Courage
It was apparent, as the bishops cited obscure religious clauses this week, that refusing female access to the higher reaches of a Church that claims to represent England in the 21st century, is an outdated, discriminatory and illegal, I would have thought practice. No matter what the doctrine says. Just because it was obvious doesn8217;t mean that it was easy to change. So the Church and the Archbishop of Canterbury deserve a resounding cheer, for facing down resignation threats from the traditionalists, and for refusing to compromise over women bishops8230; David Cameron has yet to experience such a moment. He feels that he has decontaminated sufficiently the Conservative brand that it is now safe for him to show his hard Tory core. So this week he excoriated the poor, the fat, the drug-addicted, the poorly educated, the drunk and the indebted as feckless, irresponsible, 8220;twisted8221; 8212; as no less than immoral8230; Compassionate? How dare this man with every chance in life from the start, tell an overweight and pregnant teenager with little literacy, whose own mother is an illiterate drunk, and whose only chance in life are the teachers, social workers and benefits staff trying to help her 8212; how dare this man tell that woman she doesn8217;t deserve that help?
Do not tell me that is not what Mr Cameron meant. His language could not have been starker. Enough of understanding, time now to judge. His speech was embraced by the Tory evangelical Tim Montgomerie, who linked it with a church view of poverty 8212; something that can be defeated by morality. Christian conservatism comes to the UK.
Excerpted from a comment by Alice Miles in 8216;The Times8217;
