A NUMBER of leading figures in the clergy are often accused of being out of touch with the problems of ordinary people in everyday life.

Falling church attendances in some areas have been blamed on a lack of awareness and connection with what is happening in the parishes. But by choosing to focus his Christmas message this year on the very real recessionary climate, the Bishop of Blackburn’s words will strike a chord with people right across East Lancashire.

Bishop Reade speaks about the possibility of “legitimate Christian protest” against cuts and talks of “those losing their jobs, seeing their public services undermined” and having “their hopes for higher education jeopardised.”

He also speaks about a “less caring, more brutalised society” in which “the super-tax dodger is seen as a legitimate moral code.”

These are strong words which will be welcomed by many who are becoming increasingly disturbed because they fear the poorest will be forced to bear an unjust burden as politicians try to find a way out of economic depression.

Many will now look to the Bishop and hope he will show us the meaning of “legitimate Christian protest” in his influential role as a member of the House of Lords.