AS A churchgoer I have concerns regarding clerics becoming involved in politics.

Some months ago, I was surprised when a visiting priest informed our congregation, which included a number of impressionable youngsters, that he always voted Labour during his sermon.

While accepting that he is entitled to his political beliefs, it has always been my understanding that priests should not abuse their position of trust by promoting them from the pulpit.

But lo and behold, we now learn that the church is openly meddling in the affairs of State, as evidenced by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s intervention.

It transpires that he has been consulting with the Left-leaning Institute for Public Policy Research, which assisted in preparing his recently published “sermon”.

Coupled with this, his new friends were more than happy to let him promote the questionable ideology to which they subscribe.

Surprise, surprise.

In my view, against a background where the country is locked in negotiations with the EU and the political arena is in a state of instability, this intervention was ill considered, if not manipulated.

Doubtless, Comrade Corbyn and his acolytes saw this gift as “manna from heaven”.

To be honest, some of the proposals advanced have merit but regrettably in the space available it is not possible to examine them.

Suffice to say, that thousands of Christians throughout the country, who pay their taxes without demur, support their families and contribute to society, are fed up with watching “fat cats” pocketing vast sums of money and taxavoiding multinationals.

They are also fed up with being branded as inherently wicked, because they have prospered through their own endeavours, and being called upon to support, those that abuse the system by other means, the feckless and those that are not prepared to earn their living.

Over the years, we have witnessed thousands of people leaving the Christian community for a variety of reasons.

Many Christians have felt abandoned as the traditions of the church have come under attack and their beliefs have been undermined in the name of diversity and being inclusive, which I see as code words for not confronting thorny issues.

Against this background, it occurs to me that the Archbishop’s time might be better spent putting his own house in order.

Neil Kelly
Tredcroft Road, Hove