Media exposes the church with its halo around its ankles

The golden halo of silence clamped around dissenting voices by the church can only be released by the media exposure .Elizabeth Farrelly’s confronting article “When the church of England can’t follow its own code”finds the church with its Halo around its ankles holding an unflattering mirror to an organisation in need of intervention and reassessment.

It is painful to reflect on membership of a community that churns out such deafening strategic plans while quietly engaged in activities that compromise not only its own ideals but best outcomes for a range of vulnerable people .

Casualties such as the episcopal gagging of Keith Mascord and the support that he receives as an exile will end up as a “Sherwood Forest “re telling but unlikely to be publicised by Christian media with the same enthusiasm as opposition to marriage equality .

It is another chapter in a familiar narrative that includes the silencing of voices challenging slavery ,the subjection of women ,discrimination on the basis of culture or religion and putting the interests of institutions before the welfare of children .It is an ugly diagnosis that doesn’t make us proud but it may force us to be honest .

The church has often spoken for those who have no voice ,so it is an unexpected kindness when secular journalists and broadcasters tell the church’s story ,indicated only by the muffled screams of those trapped within the heavily padded cells of the institution ..and it is one more step toward a happy ending (for everyone ).
Archdeacon Peter MacLeod-Miller, Archdeacon of Albury and the Hume