This week we’re digging into the thorny question of whether church leaders should get involved in politics. The British government’s new policy of forcibly sending asylum seekers to be assessed and resettled in Rwanda has provoked unprecedented criticism from Church of England archbishops and bishops, and other prominent Christian voices. Justin Welby famously said in a sermon the plans would not stand up to the judgement of God. But, as normally happens, their intervention was met with a stern backlash from many MPs and ministers. Stick to religion, they were told, and don’t try to baptise your unpopular left-wing views in the language of faith. Is it right for Christian leaders to express political opinions and attack government policy? Is the allegation that bishops only criticise right-leaning governments actually true? And how can the church defend its right to speak into questions of morality and values, without antagonising its own members on either side of the political spectrum? Joining me this week to think these issues through are Sam Hailes and Emma Fowle from Premier Christianity magazine.

Released on 11 Jul 2022