An incite to hatred is not just a man speaking loudly and banging his fist. It can be in sophisticated language and spoken softly. This letter has been sent:
Dear Sir, it seems that Peter Mullen of The Parish Church of St. Michael's Cornhill in London is preaching politics from the pulpit and preaching against the Conservative party. I'm an Anglican Christian and a conservative and I want this man stopped.
The St Michael’s Foundation for Spiritual Understanding is a registered charity (Charity Number 1092919) established to promote spiritual understanding in the Church of England by sermons, lectures and publications.
The Foundation’s Patrons include the Lord Bishop of London, Robert Tear, Fay Weldon, Peter Hughes, Dr Digby Anderson, Professor the Revd David Martin, Professor Dennis O’Keefe and Professor Paul Helm. Its trustees are the Revd Dr Peter Mullen, Dr Clive Strickland and Mr Stephen Paxton.
This is an excerpt from one of Mullens sermons but there are more,
Critics of socialism say that this equality business is precisely where socialism goes wrong: that the attempt to impose equality always results in the loss of freedom. Economic critics of socialism go so far as to say that this attempt to even things up results in things becoming a lot more uneven. Well, we’ve all read The Servile State and The Roads to Serfdom - haven’t we?
Some have even read Karl Marx’s Das Kapital. Though I remember what Harold Wilson replied to some young socialist firebrand who thought the 1966 Labour Government had sold out to the market. What does Marx say on this, Prime Minister? And Wily old Harold said, Never read it. Not past page two anyhow and that notorious footnote there. A lot fall at that footnote you know!
There is a theological argument against strict socialism and it is that socialists cannot bring about the equality they desire – because the world is not an ideal place but an actual place. It is not a world of pure theory but of unpleasant facts. And that human
beings who are imperfect creatures cannot bring about the perfect society. This is what St Augustine said in City of God
So what do the conservative politicians say? (You understand of course that I am not
necessarily talking about that nice Mr Cameron who has hjs own ideas). Conservatives say that if you work with the grain of human nature and not against it, people will end up better off. And what do the critics of conservatism say to this? They say it doesn’t work. They say it promotes obscene riches for a few and appalling poverty for the many. As Galbraith said in 1958, Private affluence and public squalor
So where does St Augustine come into all this? Where does Christianity come in? The Christian Faith says that all attempts at the earthly paradise must fail. All our politics are imperfect, because we are imperfect. This is true for the individual and it is therefore true for society
And this is where we might venture a few words of comment to conservative politicians. For while the ideological socialist might pride himself on his atheism, there is a great deal of practical atheism among conservatives – only it masquerades itself as respectability. Conservatives do not usually think of themselves as having Original Sin. They think pretty well of themselves on the whole. They don’t really think of themselves as sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. They’re quite proud of how decent they are.
I’ve lost count of the number of times conservative friends have confided in me: The Christian faith isn’t actually true, you know – all that miraculous stuff - but it’s a good basis for morality. And I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to reply: But something that’s not true isn’t a good basis for anything. And without all that miraculous stuff there is no Christian faith at all
For the Christian, politics is not the ultimate, is not what’s most basic. Politics needs faith. Men and women need Christ the Redeemer. There is such a thing as society. There is such a thing as community. You have heard me quote T.S. Eliot on this before:
There is no life not lived in community. But he adds: And no community not lived in praise of God. And our lives must first of all actually be lives with God.
This is forgotten, even in the City. Oh they love to think of themselves as traditional. You come here on Friday to the City Service. They love to sing I Vow to Thee My Country and Jerusalem. They love the prayers for the Queen’s Majesty and everything else that goes along with Speech Night and rugger and striped trousers and spotted dick and the School Song. They believe in making money and then, encouraged by theologically illiterate and politically naïve clergymen, going off to salve their consciences with some extravagant gesture in the East End.
But the real duty of Christians in the political world is not such confused gestures.
This man is not only using the Christian Church and knowledge of scripture to suit his political agenda but this is my faith he's abusing and he's preaching against the Conservative party (and only the Conservative party).
He should be stopped.
He is in an influential position and this incite to hatred should NOT be allowed.
Actually he should be arrested.
The website is: http://www.st-michaels.org.uk/index.htm
The sermon quoted from is: http://www.st-michaels.org.uk/Sermons%202005/Sermon%20Christian%20faith%20and%20politics.pdf but there are many more online to read - it's not a once only show.
He is also peddling a book through the Church website: http://www.st-michaels.org.uk/PC%20Gospel%20press%20release.pdf
