Christmas 2024 – Call to purity and renewal

Following her cries for the Archbishop of Canterbury to stand down after his failure to handle historic sex abuse allegations, the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, is now similarly calling for the resignation of the Archbishop of York, after it has come to light that, in his previous position of Bishop of Chelmsford, he allowed a known sex abuser to continue in ministry, and even to be appointed an honorary Canon of the cathedral!   Bishop Hartley says the safeguarding failures are so serious that, pending review, she is calling for the Church of England to be placed in special measures.  Commenting on the Archbishop of York’s position, she told the BBC, “It completely undermines his credibility that this case was not acted on … How can you have the moral and ethical authority to lead an institution with that?”

As the second most senior figure in the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of York is of course due temporarily to take over from Justin Welby, once he steps down, until such time as his replacement has been appointed. In light of the latest revelations, therefore, Bishop Hartley’s concerns about safeguarding seem justified.  But of equal, or even more, concern, surely, is her apparent omission to avoid all mention of the moral vacuum that demonstrably exists at the heart of the Church, and that has allowed such abuse to take root in the first place.

There have clearly in recent years been profound safeguarding failures in the Church of England, but the stories almost daily coming to light are evidence of a rot that goes far beyond the attempted cover up of physical and sexual misdemeanours by a handful of deviant priests. The truth is that the scandals that persist in emerging – to the acute discomfort of church leaders – are only the smallest tip of a very large iceberg, that the Church establishment has for years been vainly attempting to conceal … in the interests of ‘saving face’.

So, with the greatest respect to Bishop Hartley, safeguarding is not the core issue.  If anything, indeed, a focus on ‘safeguarding’ is a distraction, because the real problem starts way behind that, and is rooted in the church’s demonstrable lack of purity in an increasingly corrupt world, reinforced by its arrant failure to follow and obey the teachings of Christ.  Along with, of course, its cowardly preference for compromise.

Scripture is absolutely clear that anyone holding office in the church must be morally pure and above reproach; that he or she must follow in every respect the teachings of Christ; that they must be the servant of all and care for the flock with faithfulness and temperance; and, above all, that they must be bold in proclaiming the faith (see, for example, 1 Timothy).

Not just for its own survival, but for the salvation of our increasingly dark and corrupt world, it is imperative that the Church now recommits to following, without compromise, the teachings of Christ – who alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life – and to purity.  Which means, by extension, that the institution must jettison its slavering obedience to the unholy gospel of ‘woke’, and become once again a beacon of truth and hope to the lost. 

Purity and obedience, not safeguarding, are the real issues!  
The Church needs to repent.
May this season of Advent be truly a time for reflection for us all.  And as we contemplate anew the gift of the Christ-child, may His peace, joy, and strength be with each one of us, and those we love.  In power.
So may we go forth valiantly into the coming year, under His command, as soldiers of Christ!