Full marks and appreciation for the prophetic voice of the bishop of Liverpool, Paul Bayes (Bishop attacks Christians who back Trump, 28 December). The problem, however, with populist leaders and policies is that they are popular. There is much work to be done in exposing the delusional, self-indulgent, scaremongering and perverse manipulation by the likes of Trump and Farage. It is to be hoped that other bishops and church leaders will follow the example of Bishop Paul in proclaiming an authentic Christian (together with others of goodwill) critique of discriminatory policies, not least in respect of the poor, child poverty, homelessness etc, that deny a full and flourishing humane society. Such includes a condemnation of those who are rich and exploitative, remembering the words of Mary’s Magnificat, “He has scattered the proud … put down the mighty … and the rich He has sent away empty” (Luke 1:51-53).
There is much work to be done this side of the Atlantic, which includes a challenge to Christians and others who might be tempted to support the populist and oversimplified and inaccurate identification of societal problems.
Canon David Jennings
Canon theologian, Leicester Cathedral
• Bishop Bayes’ criticism of US evangelicals shows how the Church of England is always willing to attack safe targets. How about tackling religious hypocrisy closer to home? As a supposedly “Christian country”, led by a vicar’s daughter and an increasingly faith-obsessed monarch, shouldn’t we re-examine policies that cut welfare and disability benefits, starve education and healthcare services of resources, and exclude migrants and those seeking sanctuary? Perhaps Bishop Bayes should ask himself “What would Jesus do?” with a Church of England fund – worth £7.9bn in 2016 – which has as one objective “Paying for bishops’ ministry and some cathedral costs.”
Richard Gilyead
Saffron Walden, Essex
• Trump’s supporters are not “contradicting God’s teaching to protect the poor and the weak”, as Bishop Bayes would argue. There are two different traditions in Christian almsgiving: St John Chrysostom urged that charity should be indiscriminate; St Ambrose argued that Christians had a special responsibility for those closest to them, and that charity should radiate out as it were in concentric circles. Similarly, the great Jewish scholar Maimonides established eight levels of charity, the highest priority being given to helping a fellow Jew out of dependency. Meanwhile St Paul said that although Christians should be charitable to all, they should be especially charitable to fellow Christians.
There is therefore nothing unchristian about a Trump supporter wishing to come to the aid first of the American working class, second of Americans in general, third of non-American Christians, and placing non-American non-Christians in fourth place.
David Critchley
Winslow, Buckinghamshire
• The diversity in the demographic of Giles Fraser’s church (Loose canon, 29 December) is replicated in many places of worship, which bring together people across age, socio-ethnic class, nationality and other dividing lines. One of the compelling values of belonging to a faith community is that you are connected to other community members, not for transactional reasons or for gain, but through a common heritage and belief.
In my own synagogue, it is not uncommon to see four generations, with great-grandparents mixing with great-grandchildren. One can also see people from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds, as well as those from different countries. This diversity within faith communities is a strength but can sometimes cause friction, as we’ve seem with splits in the Anglican movement, Sunni-Shia in Islam or in other instances. How we deal with what Freud called “the narcissism of small differences” will be a mark of how strong and sustainable our faith communities are.
Zaki Cooper
Trustee, Council of Christians and Jews
• I have no religion, and do not agree with the theological aspects of Giles Fraser’s column; but I have always read it with great interest, appreciated its warm humanity, and am very sorry that it will no longer appear. Best wishes to him.
Ralph Blumenau
London
• Thank you, Giles Fraser, for so many wonderful and inspiring Loose canon columns over these past few years. But what will we get now? A manic street preacher? Some blue nun? Not a stinking bishop, please! And – more to the point – where will I get all the good bits for my sermons?
Fr Alec Mitchell
Manchester
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