THE TELEGRAPH: Christianity is being discriminated against by the Government in favour of Islam and other minority faiths, according to a landmark Church of England report.
The damning critique of Labour, which is endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, says ministers are only paying "lip service" to the Anglican Church while "focusing intently" on other religions.
It claims Gordon Brown's Government is failing society and lacks a moral vision for the country.
And in an end to decades of tension between the Church and the Conservatives, the comprehensive study praises the Tories for their "strident" approach to combating poverty.
Instead it says it is Labour which is failing to acknowledge the breakdown in society and excluding vital religious voices.
The report urges the Government to appoint a minister for religion, who would serve as the Prime Minister's faith envoy and utilise the untapped reserves of volunteers in churches and charities.
It states: "We encountered on the part of the Government a significant lack of understanding, or interest in, the Church of England's current or potential contribution in the public sphere.
"Indeed we were told that Government had consciously decided to focus...almost exclusively on minority religions."
The highly critical report, titled Moral, But No Compass - a twist on Mr Brown's claim to have a "moral compass" - carries significant weight as it has been endorsed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and expresses the views of three-quarters of the Church's bishops.
It echoes claims made by the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, last week that the decline of Christian values is destroying Britishness and has created a "moral vacuum" which radical Islam is filling. Christianity 'Discriminated Against by Gordon Brown's Government' >>> By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent | June 7, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
Archbishop of York Blames Labour Government for Selfish Society >>> By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent | June 5, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
Bishop of Rochester [Accused of] 'Doing the BNP's Work' >>> By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent | May 29, 2008
TIMESONLINE:
Church Attacks Labour for Betraying Christians: Strongest criticism of government in decades >>> By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent | June 7, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
Malaysian President Abdullah Badawi Calls for British Muslims to Live Under Sharia Law >>> By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent, In Kuala Lumpur | June 9, 2008
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers
The Dawning of a New Dark Age –Paperback, direct from the publishers
