Facing challenges: Notes from the Chair

by Alun Michael, Chair of CSM

Do politics and religion mix, or should they be kept separate? Well, Christians who believe in the politics of social justice say loud and clear that they cannot be kept apart.

That was easy ! So let’s try another question.
Is it right for an archbishop to speak out on a matter that is politically sensitive ?

Saying “yes” was a matter of life and death for Thomas Becket and Thomas Cranmer. It’s less dangerous nowadays, but it’s still sensitive and Radio Five recently asked me to discuss the issue on their morning programme.

Sadly, it didn’t happen. It was trumped by fresh piece of news, which is a pity because I wanted to say that if a bishop believes something to be wrong he not only has the freedom to speak out, but a duty to speak out.

But that isn't the end of the story .........
While the Press laud “the courage to speak out”, any critical comments are often reported a vicious attack rather than a call to reflection or action. So the immense power to be heard on issues of the day when many informed voices go unheard is a power to be used sparingly and carefully – by MPs and Ministers as well as by priests !

Pressing the Government to do more is what Labour’s policy-making process is for - but public comments are often covered as implying that the Government has done nothing ! That the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, is a “critical friend” of the Government is shown in his article in this magazine, but some of the coverage of his statements worries me. Usually his actual speech is much more interesting than the “spin” - and well worth reading in full. A good example was recent reporting that implied that Labour has undermined the sense of community at a local level. Our Government isn’t perfect, but far more has been done to empower and strengthen local communities during the last 11 years than would ever have happened under a Conservative government. Local people are being involved in regeneration projects. SureStart has empowered the parents of young children, as well as helping the children themselves. Examples abound. And there is a real drive by Ministers to recognize and engage faith communities in systems of community support.

Another illustration of the difficulties involved in “speaking out” came when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, put an enormous amount of time and effort into considering the implications of allowing Sharia law to be used in the UK in ways that would respect the UK's own law and institutions. Commentators ignored the fact that Archbishop Rowan had also warned about the difficulties – such as ensuring that there was no dilution of laws that protect women and children. His thoughtful and challenging speech did not deserve a trivial, critical and unhelpful response. Fortunately God's time isn't our time (or the Media’s time). Archbishop Rowan’s contribution is already bearing fruit and history will record it as a genuine effort find ways of removing the barriers that divide faith communities.

The churches have a particular role in speaking out on behalf of the most vulnerable in our society – but it isn’t always simple. For example, we must fight to retain the generosity to welcome the victims of violence who seek asylum – but it’s not us who pay the price when people abuse our systems of immigration and asylum. Those who cheat don’t just put the system under strain, they add to the obstacles for the vulnerable people for whom the system exists.

That’s why I have been increasingly concerned about the use of a particular case to criticise the government. Ana Sumani lived for a time in my constituency. Long before the Media took an interest in her case, I intervened to stop her being deported and to demand a full review of the case.

I am not going to discuss the personal details but what I discovered was more complex than has been implied in much of the media coverage. Officials were not acting like a bunch of heartless bureaucrats, but had been very careful and compassionate at every stage. Oh, I know that's not the “story” but it happens to be the truth. It’s not a good case on which to base an attack on the whole system. Is it defensive to make these points? I don’t think so. My point is that even well-intentioned and passionate criticism ought to be consistent with the principles of good journalism. As CP Scott put it in 1921 : 'Comment is free, but facts are sacred' and that ought to be true in spades for Christian commentators.

Ah, well, who said that politics would be easy .........?
Certainly not our new Director, Andy Flannagan. He takes over at a particularly interesting time in CSM's history. We have chosen somebody with unique gifts of leadership, but there will be many demands on his time and he will need all the support he can get.

Can you give some of that help ?

Can you help to get a new branch off the ground in your area ? Or develop regional meetings for those who share the Christian faith and a belief in the radical politics of social justice ? Our new director can't run a movement from one small office ……. but he can give you support as we work to deserve the title of “Movement” !

Archbishop John’s article rightly points to the success of Christians in founding a series of charities to alleviate the pain and misery of many human beings and the role of the churches in promoting the movement to “Make Poverty History” ......... but it’s only fair to remind the Media that it was “New Labour” that provided equal leadership because that was the priority for the Labour Party and for MPs and Ministers too. In recent years New Labour has delivered the minimum wage after 100 years of aspiration. The carbon target has now been increased from 60% to 80%. We don’t need to fight over the credit for such things – we succeeded BECAUSE we did it together!

Any “critical friend” needs to heed Aneurin Bevan’s advice to remember that a Labour Government – even when it goes in the wrong direction – is infinitely preferable to the alternative ......... But it’s even better for us to travel together in the right direction. CSM’s needs to enable Christians of all denominations and traditions to feel welcomed and supported in both their Christian and their political lives so that we develop the genuinely prophetic voice envisaged in Jonathan Cox’s article. It’s what CSM is for.

So please will you also help with your prayers? Believe me, political leadership can be a very lonely place, and it makes an enormous difference to know that the prayers of caring people are behind us.

We need your support ......... Will you help ?

Alun Michael is chair of CSM and Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Penarth

Alun Michael MP, 05/02/2009