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Bishops attack 'immoral' Labour Bishops attack 'immoral' Labour
(about 5 hours later)
Five leading Anglican bishops have attacked the government, calling into question the morality of Labour policy. Five leading Anglican bishops have attacked the government by calling into question the morality of Labour policy.
Bishops of Durham, Winchester, Hulme, Manchester and Carlisle made the comments to the Sunday Telegraph. Bishops of Durham, Winchester, Hulme, Manchester and Carlisle told the Sunday Telegraph the UK was suffering under family breakdown, debt and poverty.
They warned the country was suffering from family breakdown, an unhealthy reliance on debt and a growing gap between rich and poor. Bishop of Manchester the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch said Labour was "beguiled by money" and "morally corrupt".
The government defended its record of helping people out of poverty, saying fairness was at the core of its agenda.The government defended its record of helping people out of poverty, saying fairness was at the core of its agenda.
Meanwhile, in his New Year message next week, Gordon Brown is expected to say the recession will be a test of Britain's character. Meanwhile, in his New Year message next week, Gordon Brown is expected to say the recession will be a test of the country's character.
'Inevitable come-uppance''Inevitable come-uppance'
The Rt Rev Tom Wright, the Bishop of Durham, told the Sunday Telegraph ministers had not done enough to help the poor. The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Tom Wright, told the Sunday Telegraph ministers had not done enough to help the poor.
"Labour made a lot of promises, but a lot of them have vanished into thin air," he said."Labour made a lot of promises, but a lot of them have vanished into thin air," he said.
"We have not seen a raising of aspirations in the last 13 years, but instead there is a sense of hopelessness. While the rich have got richer, the poor have got poorer."We have not seen a raising of aspirations in the last 13 years, but instead there is a sense of hopelessness. While the rich have got richer, the poor have got poorer.
"When a big bank or car company goes bankrupt, it gets bailed out, but no one seems to be bailing out the ordinary people who are losing their jobs and seeing their savings diminished.""When a big bank or car company goes bankrupt, it gets bailed out, but no one seems to be bailing out the ordinary people who are losing their jobs and seeing their savings diminished."
In a separate interview with the paper, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, the Bishop of Manchester, accused Labour of being "beguiled by money" and "morally corrupt". In a separate interview with the paper, Bishop McCulloch accused Labour of being "beguiled by money" and "morally corrupt".
His comments echoed his Christmas Day sermon in which he said society was facing an inevitable come-uppance for its "buy now, pay later" culture. It is unfair and irresponsible of the government to put pressure on the public to spend in order to revive the economy Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, Bishop of Hulme class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7801665.stm">Recession 'a test of character' The comments echoed his Christmas Day sermon in which he said society was facing an inevitable come-uppance for its "buy now, pay later" culture.
It is unfair and irresponsible of the government to put pressure on the public to spend in order to revive the economy Rt Rev Stephen LoweBishop of Hulme Recession 'a test of character'
The Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, the Church's Bishop for Urban Life and Faith and also the Bishop of Hulme, said: "The government isn't telling people who are already deep in debt to stop overextending themselves, but instead is urging us to spend more.The Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, the Church's Bishop for Urban Life and Faith and also the Bishop of Hulme, said: "The government isn't telling people who are already deep in debt to stop overextending themselves, but instead is urging us to spend more.
"That is morally suspect and morally feeble. It is unfair and irresponsible of the government to put pressure on the public to spend in order to revive the economy.""That is morally suspect and morally feeble. It is unfair and irresponsible of the government to put pressure on the public to spend in order to revive the economy."
He suggested it was a cynical ploy to improve the economy in time for the next general election.He suggested it was a cynical ploy to improve the economy in time for the next general election.
He later told the BBC: "Our concern is the government is set on just returning us to the state of things as they were before the credit crunch.He later told the BBC: "Our concern is the government is set on just returning us to the state of things as they were before the credit crunch.
"In other words an over commitment by people to the money markets, to massive personal debt, over commitment in relation to their mortgages and a housing market dependent on people trying to buy property sometimes which they actually can't really afford."In other words an over commitment by people to the money markets, to massive personal debt, over commitment in relation to their mortgages and a housing market dependent on people trying to buy property sometimes which they actually can't really afford.
"It's as if no lessons have been learned from what's happened"."It's as if no lessons have been learned from what's happened".
'Robust' language'Robust' language
Meanwhile, the bishops of Winchester and Carlisle claimed ministers had squandered their opportunity to transform society and run out of steam. Meanwhile, the bishops of Winchester and Carlisle claimed ministers had squandered their opportunity to transform society and had run out of steam.
The Rt Rev Graham Dow, the Bishop of Carlisle, said: "I agree with the Conservatives that the breakdown of the family is a crucial element in the difficulties of our present society.The Rt Rev Graham Dow, the Bishop of Carlisle, said: "I agree with the Conservatives that the breakdown of the family is a crucial element in the difficulties of our present society.
"The government hasn't given sufficient support to that because it is scared of losing votes.""The government hasn't given sufficient support to that because it is scared of losing votes."
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said while it was not the first time the Church and state have clashed in recent times, the bishops' language was "particularly robust".BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said while it was not the first time the Church and state have clashed in recent times, the bishops' language was "particularly robust".
In 1985, a report commissioned by the then Archbishop of Canterbury partly blamed Thatcherite policies for growing spiritual and economic poverty in inner cities. This exacerbated tensions between the Conservative government of the day and the Anglican hierarchy.In 1985, a report commissioned by the then Archbishop of Canterbury partly blamed Thatcherite policies for growing spiritual and economic poverty in inner cities. This exacerbated tensions between the Conservative government of the day and the Anglican hierarchy.
And only last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury launched a public attack on the government. When times are tough we believe that people should be given more support, not less Government spokeswoman And only last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury launched a public attack on the government.
When times are tough we believe that people should be given more support, not less Government spokeswoman
Dr Rowan Williams said Gordon Brown's plans to spend more in order to tackle the recession were like an "addict returning to the drug", and suggested the economy had been going in the wrong direction for decades.Dr Rowan Williams said Gordon Brown's plans to spend more in order to tackle the recession were like an "addict returning to the drug", and suggested the economy had been going in the wrong direction for decades.
A government spokeswoman said "fairness" was at the core of its agenda, underpinned by the belief that everyone should have the chance to get ahead in life and realise their potential.A government spokeswoman said "fairness" was at the core of its agenda, underpinned by the belief that everyone should have the chance to get ahead in life and realise their potential.
She said: "The government has a strong record of helping people out of poverty. We have also made record increases in the amount invested in public services over the last decade.She said: "The government has a strong record of helping people out of poverty. We have also made record increases in the amount invested in public services over the last decade.
"When times are tough we believe that people should be given more support, not less."When times are tough we believe that people should be given more support, not less.
"That is why we are giving real help now to families and businesses during this global economic downturn, to help those affected retrain and get a new job and keep their homes.""That is why we are giving real help now to families and businesses during this global economic downturn, to help those affected retrain and get a new job and keep their homes."