Online publication in the Political Quarterly April 2013
Controversies over women bishops and same sex marriage have
emphasised the anomalous position of the Church of England which acts as a
state church open to all but which is reluctant to accept the values of contemporary
society and of Parliament which ultimately has legal control over it. It is now
a rare example of a national enterprise that is not subject to the disciplines
of the market. Its monopoly of state religious ceremonial seems increasingly
unjustified in a society that questionably or barely has a Christian majority
but its attempts, with the support of successive governments, to widen
religious diversity in state representation and ceremonial, privileges eight
minority non-Christian religions and excludes other forms of religion and belief. Such actions also conflict with the Church’s founding articles and emphasise
its failure to achieve its official Christian mission. In an arena where citizens
have a choice they overwhelmingly reject the Church and choose secular civil
registration over marriage with Anglican rites. The ending of the Church's current monopolies and unique privileges would promote a freer and more vigorous market in religion in England.
Political Quarterly, 84, 2, July 2013, 256-264
Political Quarterly, 84, 2, July 2013, 256-264
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