The Archbishop of Canterbury

How can anyone think John Sentamu doesn't care for and speak up for those in need

I find these high church clerics totally alien.

But surely they preach the same message?

Depends what you mean by speak for Scotland

I'm not at all sure any Anglican bishop would speak for Scotland. The C of E is not a significant entity north of the border and I find these high church clerics totally alien.

Dr Soper was appointed to the House of Lords because he was regarded as a person who would make a valuable contribution to debates, which he certainly did. He did not get there automatically because he was a bishop in an established church.

I expect that will change with a change on government . I never had a problem with Methodist Donald Soper speaking there, as a Christian I naturally want the Christian views put forward

If this is not a Christian country, and the very low levels of church attendance seem to show that, how can we justify giving preferential treatment to the CoE?

But this is not a Christian country, it just happens to have some Christians living here

I have every sympathy with the point of view of the vicar in your story, varian.

There may be wonderful individuals within the tory party who live by their christian principles but, as a whole, the Party itself has always seemed to me to be completely at odds with the second of Christ's commandments. 'Love thy neighbour as thyself...'

Doesn't trouble me, I am glad the bishops do sit there , I am quite sure they will speak for all not just for English anglicans. They are part of the world wide Church

Given that Wales also has devolved powers I wonder why issues like this haven't been pushed harder (think EVEL ). All about higher priorities I guess.
Mind you the fiasco of Brexit looks like an opportunity for Westminster to attempt to grab back some of those devolved powers.

The Church in Wales is disestablished and Wales is much more under the thumb of England than Scotland is , our Arch Bidhop doesn't sit in the lords

26 may not be many but why should they have any say at all in anything involving Scotland?
C of E is not the established church here.

Not the same here in England though Paddyann and that may have been the case in Ireland and Scotland years ago, but now people are not subservient and will vote for who they choose.

in the last century ministers and priests told their congregations WHO to vote for from the pulpit on a Sunday ,it wasn't unusual certainly in Ireland and in the West of Scotland ,and the political divide became a religious divide too,Catholics voted Labour ,protestants voted Conservative and Unionist.To some extent it still happens here with the Orange Order being the most vocal of Conservative voices ....as the DUP are in NI ..same roots

The Anglican Church is a mix

Many believe Christ was the first socialist, his teachings have guided me to socialism but I know lovely people who are Christian and conservative, Christian and liberal, never met a UKIP priest.

We can't and in my opinion forget Dr Donald Soper, pacifist, Methodist preacher and socialist

I thought the Church of England used to be called the Conservative Party at prayer

If he believed it then yes he should say it. It wasn't in confession

There are Christian Conservatives and Christian Socialists.

Some years ago a friend of mine, on election day, was on his way to the polling station when he met the local vicar. He told him that he couldn't decide how to vote, and the vicar said "you can't be a Christian and conservative"

I'm not sure what I think about this. Was the vicar right? Even if he was right, should he have said it?

Better late than never I suppose.

All ArchBishops dabble in politics and always have done,
As long as they are not unduly influencing the government of the day ( I don't mean merely trying to) then that's alright.

I agree Cindersdad . Seems the good done by christians is easily forgotten, William Wilberforce. Elizabeth Fry, Dr Barnardo , so many

The Bishops are free of party politics and can say what they feel is right. True 26 out of 800 is not very many but they are well respected and listened to.

I do agree that government should be secular but it should also have humanity and compassion.