Thursday 23 December 2010

Faith, Finance and Archbishop George Carey

The former Archbishop of Canterbury (1991 – 2002), Baron Carey of Clifton PC.FKC aka George Carey was in Jersey recently and recorded a video interview with Paul Milbank, the verger at the Town Church.


We at The Voice are very pleased to be able to show this seasonal interview here because it links in very well with our series looking at Faith, Finance and related issues in Jersey.

Our thanks to Paul for the use of the recording and to Stuart of Impact Video for helping to post it on YouTube.

Lord Carey was born in the East End of London, failed his eleven plus and went on from secondary school to National Service in the RAF.

He became a Christian at the age of 17 going to church with friends and after leaving the RAF studied for his GCE “O” and “A” levels - then for a degree in divinity at King’s College London.

George served as a curate for many years in England and was appointed as Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1988.

He is married and has four grown-up children (one is in the clergy).

He is described as an Evangelical Christian, supports the ordination of women, closer links with Rome and is opposed to homosexual relationships between serving clergy.

This year he provoked some controversy due to an intervention in an English Court of Appeal case (re McFarlane) that had to consider religious rights issues.

Lord Carey suggested that such cases should be heard only by hand-picked judges with religious knowledge. So much for the independence of the judiciary!

The issues raised then are central to the theme of our series on this blog. If judges are expected to leave their own beliefs outside of the court room – what about the rest of us – shall we leave our religious (or political beliefs) outside of the office or workplace or even government?

Or, would it be proper for an employer to recruit staff “who had a proven sensitivity to religious issues?”  but as always, we invite your comments.



Submitted by Thomas Wellard.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Christians are gone very quiet around these parts? Bit strange.
We expect Jersey politicians to run a mile whenever ethics, morality or leadership is mentioned but the believers usually have a cheerie word to say before the boat goes down.
Have we hit the iceberg yet?

Anonymous said...

Very good.
Pity the head of the local church does not embrace such a strong sense of community. Does the Rector of St Helier AKA the Dean of Jersey know all of his congregation? Would he personally be of any comfort to them in an hour of need? He is surrounded by so many helpers! Strange really - growing work force with depleteing congregation. Still, they have money to burn.
The musical interludes were a bit off putting and uneccassary.