What is the church’s role in politics?

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that the Church of England is “not a passive observer of migration policy” after Boris Johnson criticised him for speaking out against government plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was accused by Conservative MPs of “misguided moralising” after using his Easter Sunday address to criticise the controversial proposal, while Boris Johnson is reported to have said that senior clergy had been “less vociferous” in criticism of Vladimir Putin than the government and its plans to process refugees in Rwanda.

‘Ethical questions’ over Rwanda plan

In a comment piece for The Telegraph, Welby addressed the criticism levelled at him by the government and parliamentarians, writing: “The Church of England is not a passive observer of migration policy. Some of my fellow bishops, clergy and worshippers came to the UK escaping persecution or conflict.

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“We welcome and serve asylum seekers at every level of society – from providing housing, food banks, social support and friendship, to scrutinising legislation in the Lords.”

He added that there were “serious ethical questions about using ‘deterrence’ to stop asylum seekers trying to reach our shores”, adding that the government’s hostile environment policy “does not lead to better or fairer outcomes for anyone. We can and must do better.”

Separating church from state

Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Telegraph that while the Church is “authoritative in all matters that pertain to God”, the same cannot be said for “day-to-day practical solutions”. Conservative MP Ben Bradley added: “I think we separated the church from the state a long time ago, so as I’ve said before, commenting on government policy is not Justin Welby’s job.”

“Really? When was that?” asked Giles Fraser, the Anglican priest and broadcaster, for UnHerd. “For a Conservative MP to have so poor an understanding of the British constitution is both laughable and depressing,” he said. Not only is the Queen the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, but 26 bishops – including the two archbishops, Welby and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu – sit in the House of Lords.

When “political” points are made by bishops, the press often regard them as “easy content, ripe for debate”, continued Fraser. “But there really isn’t an argument here, except between people who know something about Christianity and those who don’t. Must we rip out ‘blessed are the poor’ from our Bibles, or the idea that all of creation is from the Lord?” he added.

And other members of the clergy, such as the former vicar of Finedon and radio host, Reverend Richard Coles, who spoke to The Guardian, have also argued it is “perfectly valid” for the church to criticise the policy.

“People who question the archbishop of Canterbury’s right to criticise government policy need to acquaint themselves with the most basic rudiments of Christianity,” said Coles. “Christianity always insists, or should insist, that we uphold the dignity of every person, and I don’t think this policy is one that fully respects the dignity of people who are seeking asylum in this country.”

But Conservative chairman Oliver Dowden has said criticism levelled at the policy has failed to “scrutinise what the alternative is” if action is not taken to tackle Channel crossings. “The danger is that more lives will be lost and more criminal gangs will be enriched,” he told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme.