Archbishop should be a spiritual guide – not a political commentator
sir – As an Anglican, I read with dismay your report (September 12) on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s remarks about “holding businesses to account” at the Trades Union Congress’s annual conference.
Whatever merits the unions might have, the majority are highly politicised. Surely, rather than becoming another voice on an already overcrowded political stage, the Church of England should be offering guidance on spiritual matters.
If the Archbishop wants to make a political point, he should be an MP.
Brian Roberts
Torquay, Devon
sir – Your leader (September 13) says the Archbishop “is becoming less an observer of the scene than an activist”.
Jesus didn’t send his disciples out just to observe.
Brian Foster
Shrivenham, Oxfordshire
sir – The Archbishop says zero hours contracts are “simply the reincarnation of an ancient evil” (report, September 13). I wish he would tell us when zero hours contracts first became flesh. Was it during the Egyptian captivity? Or the Babylonian captivity? What does he mean by “simply”?
Arnold Burston
Burton-on-trent, Staffordshire
sir – I was part of the gig economy during my career as a violinist. I freelanced for the best part of 50 years and enjoyed it tremendously.
Yes, it was hairy at times, but I refuse to sing from the same hymn sheet as the Archbishop. Many people involved in our country’s highly successful arts scene work in this way.
Avril Wright
Snettisham, Norfolk
sir – One of my daughters likes zero hours contracts, as they give her flexibility. However, she doesn’t go to church any more. The Archbishop should review his priorities.
Jimmy James
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire sir – I can see why the Archbishop played to the gallery at the TUC conference with his eye-of-the-needle routine. Research suggests that just 14 per cent of the population are now part of the Church of England, and among those between the ages of 18 and 24 it’s an extinction-level 2 per cent.
However, as with most grown-ups’ attempts to be down with the kids, I fear Justin Welby’s venture will fail. Appealing to the Left is useless – the youth of today worship a new god, and the first verse of his hymnal is “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn”. Robert Frazer
Salford, Lancashire
sir – The Archbishop is right to speak out about political affairs, even using sensational language.
I just wish he would give similar attention to moral matters. The Christian model of marriage, for example, is under enormous threat. What is his view on that? Anne F Bloor
Leicester