THE LOONY LEFT

Of 44 Church of England bishops, only 5 thought that the church bells should be rung to celebrate St George’s Day.

The bishops had been written to by Libby Alexander who believed that church attendances were falling due to ‘the lack of assertiveness or confidence emanating from the top’ and the ‘strangulations of political correctness’. Less than half the bishops replied and those who did were either unenthusiastic or hostile. Some claimed that there could be a backlash from other religious groups.

Mrs Alexander wrote:

‘What an uplifting, wondrous sound it would be if bells rang out to remind the country that Christianity exists and that churches are there to welcome.’

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, said: ‘I am not sure assertiveness is a Christian value’. The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Foster, said: ‘There would be dangers in putting on “public displays” of confidence.’

Assertiveness is definitely not a Church of England value.