CofE a declining voice?

Although the recent votes on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill were lost in the House of Commons by the pro-life lobby, the nature of the debate has highlighted a much more worrying trend in modern society. That trend has been highlighted this week by the Christian Broadcasting Council, which highlighted media prejudice against a Christian argument. There is no doubt that throughout the entire process of this piece of legislation there has been a bias against any moral or ethical consideration.

This was evident even in the select committee that refused to take evidence that was not what it deemed ‘scientific’. On that premise, any voices that were thought to be ‘un-scientific’, ie religious, were barred. In the House of Lords, despite the eloquent contributions of a number of bishops, the three key votes — on admixed embryos, the need for a father in the provision of fertilisation treatment and saviour siblings — were all lost. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that in a previous generation their Lordships would have listened carefully to the contributions of the Lords Spiritual. No longer, it seems. And so it went on when the Bill passed to the Commons.

But the prejudice of which the Christian broadcasters complain is not restricted to the media, or even to legislators. The impact of the new atheists, led by Richard Dawkins, has led to a situation where any faith claim is treated by the wider society with distrust, if not contempt.
But all is not lost. Read more

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