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December 22, 2008

Prime Minister, Archbishop Spar Over U.K. Stimulus

Rowan Williams says spending plan is "the addict returning to the drug."

Rob Moll

The global economic troubles are an opportunity to emerge from the spiral of debt and me-first consumption, says the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. He complained to the BBC last week that such "moral questions" are not being considered as the government plans jump start the economy.

Rather than restart old habits of mass consumption, Williams said, "I'd like to think that in this sort of crisis, people would be reflecting more on how we develop a volunteer culture, where people are willing to put their services at the service of the needs of others so that there can be a more active and vital civil society."

But Prime Minister Gordon Brown is having none of the Archbishop's criticism. Brown is taking the argument to Williams's own turf by recalling the parable of the Good Samaritan. "Every time someone becomes unemployed or loses their home or a small business fails it is our duty to act, and we should not walk by on the other side when people are facing problems."

posted by Rob Moll | Comments (4)

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Reading the two Telegraph articles, it does not really seem there is much of a "spat" as the Telegraph calls it. They seem mostly to be in agreement and amicable with each other. Sounds to me like two Christians both reflecting thoughtfully about economic policy.

Books & Culture had a provocative piece on economics a year ago which is worth a read:

The Government We Deserve
Who's conning who?
Eugene McCarraher | posted 1/01/2008
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2008/janfeb/17.34.html

I also like the articles of Steven Pearlstein at the Washington Post on economic issues:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/03/24/LI2005032400138.html

Posted By: Andy Rowell | December 22, 2008 12:16 PM

Just what the British economy needs, some damned fool moralizing preacher.

Posted By: Chuck | December 26, 2008 1:59 PM

The parable of the good Samaritan lends itself better to what the Archbishop suggests, "a volunteer culture, where people are willing to put their services at the service of the needs of others so that there can be a more active and vital civil society."

The goverment bailouts (or "stimulus" packages) work by means of coercion (since not everyone wants to bailout the economy). I don't see where this conforms to the parable of the good Samaritan... Perhaps if the Samaritan went home, gathered a committee and then decided that they would tax the public for the robbed and beaten man Prime Minister Brown would have a better point.

Posted By: Red Monkey | December 28, 2008 4:41 PM

Chuck says, "Just what the British economy needs, some damned fool moralizing preacher."

Uh right, the last thing we want in this economic cricis is morals... By the way, is that a moral observation or just a statement of what you don't want (...fool moralizing preachers) which is neither here nor there?

Posted By: Red Monkey | December 29, 2008 10:42 AM