Church compensation is not enough, apparently!

Money would be better spent on preventing or helping the victims of modern day slavery rather than wearing a hair shirt about things which happened generations ago and are not the fault or responsibility of people alive now. Acknowledgement of past ills is not the same as constant guilt money

MaizieD

It's not 'taxpayer funds', though, is it? It's church funds. The C of E is very wealthy.

Slave owners were compensated for fir loss of their 'property'. Slaves were abandoned to fend for themselves. No compensation for them for loss of liberty and being forced to work for their 'owners'.

No one today , unless trafficked by unscrupulous criminals, is a slave, or suffering from the effects of slavery. Wonder if Portugal, the starter,well apart from the Africans themselves, of the European slave trade, are navel gazing as much as us. No reparations.

Those slaves are long, long gone.
It’s stupid to keep giving in to this wokery.Most black people in the UK chose to travel here to live from the West Indies and have benefited, as is their right to an education here and a wide choice of jobs and careers.
The Church of England lost it’s way years ago and is reaping as it sowed to use a biblical saying.
I’m not a member but would refuse to contribute in church if that’s what they spend the money on.Churches nearly always need refurbishment, new roof or whatever and clergy at the lower end poorly paid.

MaizieD

It's not 'taxpayer funds', though, is it? It's church funds. The C of E is very wealthy.

Slave owners were compensated for fir loss of their 'property'. Slaves were abandoned to fend for themselves. No compensation for them for loss of liberty and being forced to work for their 'owners'.

Well said!

MaizieD

It's not 'taxpayer funds', though, is it? It's church funds. The C of E is very wealthy.

Slave owners were compensated for fir loss of their 'property'. Slaves were abandoned to fend for themselves. No compensation for them for loss of liberty and being forced to work for their 'owners'.

If there was any moral obligation to the freed slaves it rested with the former owners, not present day taxpayers or the CofE. It's not exactly true that the CofE is a wealthy institution. The money is held by the Church Commissioners who are not controlled by the clergy or laity. Some decades ago the Commissioners saw their investments take a nosedive which had an adverse effect on clergy salaries and pensions. It's not clear whether Mallet wants the Commissioners to divert money to slave-related causes from their primary responsibilities or expects the CofE laity to divvy up. Given falling church attendances I suspect the latter would result reduced membership.

Totally agree maizeD horrendous times The church should pay (also for all the children abused by priests, vicars, bishops etc)

Very true MaizieD

It's not 'taxpayer funds', though, is it? It's church funds. The C of E is very wealthy.

Slave owners were compensated for fir loss of their 'property'. Slaves were abandoned to fend for themselves. No compensation for them for loss of liberty and being forced to work for their 'owners'.

I agree Grantanow. All churches are having to increase their 'free will offering' in 2025 and those unable to pay the increase may well face closure. This money should be spent on helping to sustain the churches that are still open.

The Bishop is wrong. What about putting up clergy wages and spending on church renovation? I believe the UK taxpayer only finished paying the debt on compensating British slave owners to free the slaves in 2015: I see no case for taxpayer funds going to compensate former slaves/countries/investments given that massive contribution to their freedom. And the British kept the West African Naval Squadron in place to prevent slave shipping for many years at public expense. There may be a moral case for the descendents of slave owners to contribute but they are not responsible for the actions of their forefathers.