The Archbishop of Canterbury has today spoken out in the Financial Times acknowledging the frustrations of the Occupy movement but calling for a “more specific” response to what are seen as the failures of global capitalism. He broadly affirms the so-called “Robin Hood tax” which would tax transactions within the financial sector in order to fund public services.

There will no doubt be a flurry of outcry at him once again “interfering in politics”. However, as research conducted by Theos, the religion and society think tank, has shown, the Archbishop is in fact continuing a long-standing tradition of mixing religion and politics in a thoughtful and persuasive way. Whether you agree with his assessment of the required action, having a key religious figure willing to speak about the most pressing social issues of our day is vital for our public conversation. Arguments around the occupy movement reveal how moral concerns are moving to centre of political debate and the Archbishop’s most recent intervention shows that church can steer that.

Coming hard on the heels of the dramatic events at St Paul’s, where the church of England was accused of shirking its biblically mandated concern for economic justice, this move is welcome. It’s a pointer towards the ongoing speaking and acting on behalf of the poor undertaken by the churches day in and day out, whether the cameras are on them or not.

Elizabeth Hunter, director of Theos commented “As our recent report ‘Turbulent Priests: The Archbishop of Canterbury in Contemporary English Politics’ shows, whether politicians “do God”, the Archbishop certainly does politics. He is better able to start, and crucially inform, a ‘national debate’ than almost anyone else in the country.

“The report also shows that far from defending narrow church interests or speaking on controversial moral issues like sexuality and abortion, the Archbishops have spoken out primarily on behalf of the poor.”

Turbulent Priests? can be downloaded here.

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Notes:

1.      Theos is a religion and society think tank which offers research and commentary on issues of politics and religion. It was launched in November 2006.

2.      Theos is hosting a debate in parliament on 17th November entitled Faith, Hope and Charity; Is the church addicted to the Welfare state? which will be recorded and available to download as a podcast.

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