Brexit debate language ‘unacceptable’ say Anglican bishops

Anglican bishops have condemned MPs’ language over Brexit as “not worthy of this country”. All 118 of the Church of England’s archbishops and bishops said on Friday Sept 27, after a heated debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday Sept 25, “it is easy to descend into division and abuse — climbing out and finding unity again takes far longer.”

Oct 05, 2019

LONDON: Anglican bishops have condemned MPs’ language over Brexit as “not worthy of this country”. All 118 of the Church of England’s archbishops and bishops said on Friday Sept 27, after a heated debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday Sept 25, “it is easy to descend into division and abuse — climbing out and finding unity again takes far longer.”

As the prime minister Boris Johnson faced intense criticism over his provocative rhetoric, the bishops called on people both inside and outside parliament to treat each other with greater respect. They spoke after a host of MPs complained of receiving threats echoing similar rhetoric. The bishops said, “We should speak to others with respect. And we  should also listen. We should do this especially with the poor, with the marginalised, and with those whose voices are often not heard in our national conversation. We should not denigrate, patronise or ignore the honest views of fellow citizens, but seek to respect their opinions, their participation in society, and their votes.”

They offered thinly veiled criticism of the prime minister, who insisted the supreme court made the wrong decision in declaring his prorogation of parliament unlawful. “We call on politicians to adhere rigorously to the rule of law and on all to respect and uphold the impartiality of the courts and our judiciary,” the bishops wrote.

Their comments followed an emotionally  charged day in Westminster on Wednesday Sept 25, where Boris Johnson insisted he had every right to use the rhetoric of war when referring to Brexit, in the face of complaints from MPs that to do so would embolden those who might harm them and their families.

The statement came two days after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, appeared before the House of Lords where he urged them to ask the government to find “alternative means of setting a path” to making a decision on the Brexit debate. “The way forward must be, as we have done on numerous occasions, to work out how to get a decision, because the present means of handling it through parliament is not working” he said. --ICN

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