Bishops report death threats after PM views
THE Bishop of Newcastle has reported a death threat to the police, after she was apparently targeted for criticising the Prime Minister.
The Bishop, the Rt Rev Christine Hardman, received the threat in an email.
She’s one of a number of bishops across the country who have received death threats after speaking out about the Government and Dominic Cummings, who is Boris Johnson’s chief adviser.
In a Tweet on Sunday night, after Mr Johnson spoke at the daily Downing Street press conference, she said: “I am deeply troubled tonight by the Prime Minister’s briefing.
“We can forgive mistakes and poor judgement and can understand and admire loyalty but forgiveness and understanding need openness and we did not see this tonight.”
This appeared to be a reference to Mr Johnson’s defence of Mr Cummings’ decision to drive to Durham with his wife and son, in what many people argue was a breach of the lockdown rules. Mr Cummings has denied breaking any rules.
The Bishop has declined to make any further comment about Mr Cummings, or her Tweet.
But she later revealed that she had received a death threat.
The Bishop of Worcester revealed on Twitter that he had received an email threatening to kill him, and the Bishop of Newcastle responded: “I too received such an email. I feel concern for the person who sent it and will hold him or her in prayer.”
The Bishop initially intended to take no further action but has now formally reported a crime, on police advice.
Her spokesman said she is not making any further comment.
But she is only one of a number of bishops to receive threats after speaking out about Mr Cummings.
The Rt Rev John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, said on Twitter: “Received a delightful e-mail earlier: ‘Stay out of politics or we’ll kill you.’ For me the whole Cummings drama is not about politics but life and death. If trust in Government guidance is eroded we’ll have a second spike and 1000s of lives will be lost.”
The Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Ripon, reported a death threat to North Yorkshire Police. She has posted: “’Stay out of politics or it will be the death of you’ was one of the emails I received today. Thank you to those who have sent supportive messages.”
The Rt Rev Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Liverpool, said that he had also received abuse, writing: “Public life in Britain today. Many of us have received this sort of message. It doesn’t work.”
They were among a number of Church of England representatives who condemned the PM for standing by his adviser over the trip from London to County Durham during the national lockdown.