In politics it is more constructive to focus on policies and ideas than on individuals, says Bernadette Meaden. She suggests, however, that a politician may become so wedded to a policy that their personal reputation and the credibility of the policy become inextricably linked. She argues that this is now the case with Iain Duncan Smith.
Twenty-seven Anglican bishops, a Cardinal, an assortment of non-conformists and Quakers may have a ring of Edward Lear, but this coalition represents a growing momentum of faith-based anger and condemnation of the government's 'reform' of social security (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/20200)
The response of the Department of Work and Pensions to Archbishop Vincent Nichol's criticism of welfare reform has come under fire from the Free Churches.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics say they will continue to hold a regular mass despite being banned from their current venue by Archbishop Nichols.
Vitriolic attacks on marriage equality in Christmas sermons by senior Catholic figures in England and Wales have been criticised as unfair and inaccurate.
In a frankly inept example of a newspaper with a huge axe to grind engineering the story it then reports, the Daily Mail yesterday (9 June 2011) attempted to create a 'holy war' between the leaders of England's Anglican and Catholic communities over David Cameron's 'Big Society' - presumably with the aim of defending the latter.