Archbishop of Canterbury Easter message “ Rwanda is an affront to God”

Very,very true whitewavemark2

I'm with you too.

An excellent sermon.

I am a proud upholder of British and of Christian values. This policy of selling souls to Rwanda upholds neither.

Well done archbishop.

I have been appalled to see some disturbing and frankly inhumane comments on threads lately, one thread in particular. What makes people become so uncompassionate? It's beyond me.

Excellent post Whitewavemark2.

Justin Welby speaks so well- thoughtful, considered and intelligent.

I'm not a Christian but when a person of conscience speaks about what is right, I appreciate it. Well done Archbishop.

You know the more I think about it the more utterly unbelievable this scheme seems

I'm in two minds. I'm a staunch Christian and listened to many of my grandfather's sermons and watched the thought process that went into them. (That was in the day where current affairs and politics didn't really enter the sermon, but encouraged the listener to reflect on their own personal lives). Things have moved on now, maybe for the better, and maybe Justin Welby is right. I just find it all too much to get my head round - bear of little brain - when I'm occupied thinking about the Easter story itself, though I do know the connection and the parallels.

Christians are meant to ask "What would Jesus do?" I think that the Archbishop of Canterbury has answered that. Well done him.

I doubt if any practising Christians support the Rwanda solution.

Well said, Welby. Pity your flock is small and Tory MPs have tin ears.

Riverwalk

I doubt if any practising Christians support the Rwanda solution.

We shall see….

I loathe what is going on with Johnson and his band of incompetents but I have no interest in what the archbishop of canterbury thinks of it all.

I think it is important what Welby says because people do listen. I've read it on here, it was in the papers this morning and on the BBC website, and it was the first item on the radio news.

So for people who hold the Archbishop in high regard, and for whom Christian principles are important, hearing him say what he has is an important thing.

In Russia, the Orthodox Church is still supporting Putin. Religion still plays an important place in moulding some people's attitudes.

True but not mine, his views have as much impact on me as if Ant and Dec had made a statement on it. I also dont think its a good idea to be cheering on religion becoming involved in politics. It is or can be dangerous.

Well said Justin Welby, speaking for so many in this country and across the world.

Actually I might rather hear from Ant and Dec

I think the archbishop was clear about how he was trying not to comment about the politics, but the principle. But I do agree about keeping politics and religion separate.

But sometimes everybody who has a voice should speak out.

I’m interested to know who you do listen to Galaxy? I’m not religious, but I do think Welby’s words will impact on those Christians who hadn’t thought about the Rwanda option in the light he has articulated. More generally, people of influence, whoever they are will surely impact on the public perception of this proposal.

I would listen to the people who agree with me Casdon obviously .
I dont think the church should have influence really, I mean he has freedom of speech the same as everyone else but I dont put any weight on his opinion. I would probably listen to democratically elected mps and experts in whatever field we were talking about.

Thank you for this thread Whitewave. The Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't often speak out on the government's statecraft; I am relieved that he is today.

I don't think that you have to be a Christian to understand the message of the resurrection. Imagining the flowers appearing in spring tells us what a positive message it is.

Politically and around the world, it feels like a time of darkness. A sense of the Christian"Good Friday". If you are a Christian, you will know it was the sins of men that created the need for Good Friday. "Sins" is such an old fashioned word but we know its meaning when we look at Mariupol and the Rwanda Plan.

The reminder that there will be an "Easter", that the flowers will peep out from the soil again, tells us we need to believe that what is given up by so many is worthwhile. This sacrifice is not on a cross but in the fight by the people of Ukraine for the freedom of their "neighbour". It's when, as the Archbishop has done, we place ourselves in the political firing line. It's when we hold the wickedness of people, toward their neighbour, to account.

The truths of most religions are universal. The reminder at this time about the resurrection of good after the death caused by evil is a very timely one.

Thankyou for that post daisyanne

I am a humanist, but that does not stop me from believing in the sort of values that we as a nation have evolved over the millennia, and in which Christianity and now all the other faiths play a part in developing, and which have influenced our rule of law.

Welby as the recognised leader of the U.K. Anglican Church has a duty to uphold and support these values.
I have absolutely no doubt that the leaders of all the other Christian denominations and faiths will support him.

Today he simply made these values clear - nothing more or less.

Jewish leaders and Rabbis have also condemned this plan:

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/15/plans-to-offshore-asylum-seekers-to-rwanda-are-cruel-and-disturbing