THE LIVING ROOMS

Eco Echo column July/August 2011

Shouting About Your Beliefs

Copious pages of newsprint have been given over recently to whether the Archbishop of Canterbury was right when he spoke out about Government policy.  His claims that the Coalition are enacting policies which were not voted for in a democratic way are contentious enough, especially given his own position at the heart of the Government process as a member of the unelected House of Lords.

I don’t intend to add to the debate about whether what he said was right or not – that will inevitably depend on your own political point of view.  So it’s inevitable that his comments have spurred on debate.

However, I was more concerned to see many commentators suggesting that he shouldn’t speak out at all, and that his position as the leader of one of the country’s major religions means that he should keep his opinions to himself.

Somehow many people seem to find a religious leader commenting on anything other than scripture an aberration.  I can’t agree.  If our faith leaders can’t speak out when they feel there is a matter of conscience, just what are they there for?

You may or may not agree with their point of view, but surely speaking out on what they believe in is their job.  If they are ashamed of their beliefs, or somehow think the world shouldn’t hear them, you would have to question the depth of their faith.

Of course, there are some religious leaders whose views directly contradict the tolerant and democratic basis of our society, and we should condemn these views.  But how can we even do that if they are driven underground and not exposed to the full scrutiny of examination?

The role of an Archbishop – or an Imam, or a Rabbi – is to provide leadership, to give guidance to their congregation about a whole range of spiritual, social and ethical matters.  Sometimes, inevitably, this will overlap with politics.  That is not a reason to keep silent.  If our religious leaders risk invoking the ire of The Daily Mail, or even The Guardian, then so be it.

What the Archbishop of Canterbury’s intervention has done is to stimulate a debate about the nature of our democracy.  I happen to believe that it is the best model we have, but that is not to say that it cannot be improved upon. 

It might stick in some people’s craw that someone unelected dares to voice an opinion, but then I can hardly condemn that – after all, no-one has ever elected me, and I voice my own opinion in every issue of Eco Echo.  If I lead you to think through the issues I am commenting on and come to a more considered or informed view, then I will have achieved my goal - even if you end up disagreeing with me.

Article published in Eco Echo July/August 2011