Archbishop attacks Blair's 'unforgiving, materialistic' Britain (Religious left update)

Sunday Telegraph ^ | 03/25/2007 | Jonathan Wynne-Jones

[atomic conspiracy]

The Archbishop of Canterbury has attacked Britain under Labour, claiming that society has become "fantastically materialistic" and "deeply unforgiving".

Rowan Williams with John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, on a march in London yesterday People have become suspicious and mistrustful of the Government, disillusioned with New Labour's failure to fulfil its promises to improve the education and health services, and feel isolated from the political process, he argues.

Rowan Williams says that far from seeing Britain transformed since Tony Blair came to power, cynicism and greed are now the pervading sentiments of the country's culture.

"We don't feel that the great institutions of our society are working for us," he says in a book published this week.

"We are unhappy and mistrustful about our educational system, our health care services and police - let alone our representatives in government."

He warns that the public increasingly feel that the political system does not work for them: "We sense ourselves caught up in international economic and political patterns we can't control and which we don't believe work for our advantage."

His comments - in a passionate defence of the importance of Christian beliefs - will come as a fresh blow to the moral authority of the Prime Minister, who came to power promising to introduce a new style of politics.

advertisementMr Blair, who is a member of the Christian Socialist Movement along with the archbishop, welcomed his appointment in 2002, but the leader of the Church of England has become increasingly critical of the Government over the past year.

He has attacked its decision to go to war in Iraq as "morally flawed" and "short-sighted", accused it of undermining marriage and condemned its prison policy as "lethally dangerous".

[atomic conspiracy]

You can almost hear the old druid floundering for relevance, and undermining his case with cultural-left drivel in the process. He probably has no idea that church leaders like him are part of the very problems he laments.

[Paleo Conservative]

The Archbishop of Canterbury has attacked Britain under Labour, claiming that society has become "fantastically materialistic" and "deeply unforgiving".

The Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't seem too forgiving himself.

[marron]

The Archbishop of Canterbury has attacked Britain under Labour, claiming that society has become "fantastically materialistic" and "deeply unforgiving".

That would seem to be the Church's jurisdiction, not the Prime Minister's. He seems comfortable "speaking truth to power". He doesn't seem to have a clue how to speak to human souls, or what to say to one if he could find one.

It must be tough to be the head of a church once you no longer believe in it. They wave "God" about like a placard but they have no idea who God is or what he intends for their lives or anyone else's life. The only thing he knows for sure is he doesn't like Tony Blair, and he doesn't like committed believing Christians.

[rod1]

This is the head of the church that is presently coming apart at the seems right??? as the Episcopals head down their very gay way.

Must be a "I'm still relevant, look at me" moment from the Archibishop as he cheap-shots Blair.

[Alia]

British Marines were kidnapped by a nasty regime, and this is when Rowan decides to speak out in denigrating his own government.

[The Great RJ]

Perhaps the good Archbishop should go to Cuba where perfect socialism has been achieved and where both materialism and religion have been wiped out.