Blackburn bishop calls for voting reform (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Blackburn bishop calls for voting reform
10:24am Thursday 25th June 2009 in
THE BISHOP of Blackburn has joined the debate on the future of politics by calling for a rethink of the voting system.
The Rt Rev Nicholas Reade told Lancashire’s church leaders a change in the way MPs are elected should be “openly discussed” in order to solve the “constitutional crisis”.
The government has intro-duced a package of reforms following the MPs’ expenses scandal, and a new Speaker of the House of Commons took office this week.
But there have also been calls to scrap the current “first past the post” system of voting, which leads to so-called “safe seats” with large majorities in some parts of the country.
The Bishop was speaking at the Diocesan Synod of the Blackburn Diocese in Prest-on last night.
He said election to the Church of England’s central bodies was done using the ‘single transferable vote’ system, whereby voters list their favourite candidates in order in an attempt to avoid wasted votes.
He said: “I personally now believe the time has come when we should, at the very least, look seriously at our voting system.
“While I understand all the arguments for retaining the first past the post system, I see the strength of the argument for a change, and my hope is that a change in the voting system should be openly discussed.”
Bishop Nicholas also said he was “dismayed” by the election earlier this month of two British National Party candidates to the European Parliament, including party leader Nick Griffin to represent the North West.
Comments(27)
happycyclist
says...
10:48am Thu 25 Jun 09
DavidBurnley
says...
11:21am Thu 25 Jun 09
I think the church should stay out of politics as it is nothing to do with them. All they will end up doing is alienating even more people from the church as members of their prospective congregations are made up of all political shades of opinion.
Maybe they would be better concentrating on the job of running the church rather than trying to influence the running of the country - that's a situation we fortunately moved away from in this country several centuries ago.
Mike Costa
says...
12:51pm Thu 25 Jun 09
I'm not sure that Lifeinthemix is for real. However, in amongst all the verbosity, he does have some good points to make.
The bottom line, Bish, is that you should not go where you dont belong. In this case, that would be into politics.
The age when the clergy pulled the strings of their political puppets are thankfully long gone. Lets keep it that way.
One final point. Crowley was not the 'self confessed anti-christ, merely an extreme anti christian. Different.
Lifeinthemix
says...
12:55pm Thu 25 Jun 09
Mike Costa.
Real and not having it, I want old England back....
DavidBurnley
says...
1:09pm Thu 25 Jun 09
David Bradley
says...
1:23pm Thu 25 Jun 09
Who on earth is he trying to fool?
He states that, he was “dismayed” by the election earlier this month of two British National Party candidates to the European Parliament, including party leader Nick Griffin to represent the North West. Is it any wonder that churches are empty, when so called christians, bow down to multicultural diversity and turn thier backs on thier own flock. Get your compasses out Reade and Chivers, and start getting quotes to re-align the toilets. One thing is for certain, I won't be contributing to the fundraising. I will however be contributing to other worthy POLITICAL causes
Ken Shuffles
says...
1:38pm Thu 25 Jun 09
Ken Shuffles
says...
1:45pm Thu 25 Jun 09
retired one
says...
1:48pm Thu 25 Jun 09
Joseph Yossarian
says...
1:53pm Thu 25 Jun 09
If he wants parliamentary and / or electoral reform, maybe he should start by campaigning to have the 25 unelected god-botherers removed from their positions in the house of lords.
Having bishops in unelected positions in the legislature and executive of this country really is an affront to democracy.
But then again, he is waiting for a seat in the HoL himself so I doubt he would want to rock the boat.
Lifeinthemix
says...
2:08pm Thu 25 Jun 09
You are mistaken in blaming the Church itself for the madness the Church has expressed for a long time.
With the creation of the Scofield Bible in the 19th century, in England, the Church of England took on the new strain of Biblical thought, that of Christian Zionism.
It certainly did not take hold in England to the congregation's, but did so at Church high level, It was America that embraced the new creed of Christianity, the end product being the NeoCons.
Full details can be found in relation to Christian Zionism, its creation and rise on the New World Order page as a link to be found on the 'TREE OF DEATH',Here :
http://www.lifeinthe
mix.co.uk/new_world_
order.html
Ken Shuffles
says...
2:25pm Thu 25 Jun 09
tonygreaves
says...
2:31pm Thu 25 Jun 09
Tony Greaves
Lifeinthemix
says...
3:10pm Thu 25 Jun 09
What religion calls 'God', I would say is not something outside of you, it is your spiritual heart.
Institutions are another thing all together.
A moral code is not to be found in an institution, it is within, it is your moral code. The great thing to come out of Christianity in this nation was and still can be, we are English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish. We know how to exist as a great society, we are just forgetting, we believe all the wrong people, all the wrong messages.I think it is time we all remembered who we are and what we stand for?
Nuff said really....
Lifeinthemix
says...
3:32pm Thu 25 Jun 09
I researched the paedophile scandals,
of the 5000 or so priest's, there have been only 38 or so.
38 too many, but not beyond the thoughts given the sise of the institution and the amount of personell involved.
There is more to be known about the sickness that is paedophilia because it comes from the very top, and is protected by the same. There is a force which uses this very insanity to destroy people and institutions, a point not to be scoffed at given the fact we are facing a total reversal in our countries society by this very same force if we do not stop it.
Joseph Yossarian
says...
4:04pm Thu 25 Jun 09
tonygreaves wrote:ok then 26 god-botherers.
If there are "25 unelected god-botherers" in the house of lords, whci of the 26 bishops does not fit this label? Tony Greaves
The point remains valid.
Like you, they are unelected and their office (like yours) is an insult to democracy.
You are not elected and yet you sit in parliament. You should not. Neither should the god-botherers.
Ken Shuffles
says...
4:22pm Thu 25 Jun 09
An Atheist can say, with a God or without a reason I still feel Truly Thankful.
Ken Shuffles
says...
4:26pm Thu 25 Jun 09
Ken Shuffles
says...
4:38pm Thu 25 Jun 09
Ken Shuffles
says...
4:45pm Thu 25 Jun 09
NICEONESUNSHINE
says...
6:45pm Thu 25 Jun 09
How they manage to weave alistair crowley, atheists muslims, the anti christ, the Accy pals, peadophiles and neo-cons into this article is scary! (I'm aware that some posts may have been removed though)
Some of you need to seek help from a phychiatrist...Rapid
sidwaddo
says...
10:30pm Thu 25 Jun 09
Ken Shuffles
says...
10:33am Fri 26 Jun 09
As one of those very disturbed individuals I agree with you 100%
Ken Shuffles
says...
10:37am Fri 26 Jun 09
But unfortunately for you siddo I am not that disturbed I would pay £5.00 for a T-shirt!
Maybe though, if it said GOD IS AN ATHEIST I might get one. :)
sidwaddo
says...
8:01pm Fri 26 Jun 09
Ken Shuffles
says...
1:28pm Mon 29 Jun 09
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Andy B says...
10:48am Thu 25 Jun 09