Responding to the looting and arson that swept British cities this month, several top Church of England bishops condemned the violence and spotlighted moral failures that fueled the spiraling disorder. Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Wales controversially deflected the blame onto Britain’s “elite.”
Speaking before the British House of Lords on August 11, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams reflected on a loss of confidence in society, saying there was nothing to condone in the misbehavior in the streets, declaring “this is indeed criminality.”
“Over the last two decades, many would agree that our educational philosophy at every level has been more and more dominated by an instrumentalist model; less and less concerned with a building of virtue, character and citizenship – ‘civic excellence’ as we might say,” Williams noted. “And a good educational system in a healthy society is one that builds character, that builds virtue.”
Williams carefully added that seeking explanations for the violence was not the same as seeking excuses.
“One of the most troubling features, as I think all would agree, of recent days, has been the spectacle of not only young people, but even children of school age, children as young as seven taking part in the events we have seen,” Williams said. “And surely, high on our priorities as we respond to these circumstances must be the question of what we are to do in terms not only of rebuilding the skills of parenting in some of our communities, but in rebuilding education itself.”
The head of the Anglican Communion proposed that the moment “where there is sufficient anger at the breakdown of civic solidarity” was one that needed to be seized upon by the governing institutions of the country “to engage creatively with the possibilities that this moment gives us.”
Williams’ speech before the House of Lords was made after Bishop of London Richard Chartres issued his statement about the riots to clergy and churches across the British capital.
“The events of the past few days in London are appalling – but not wholly unexpected,” Chartres wrote in his August 9 statement. “Whatever the real motivations of those who have brought violence to our streets, there will be a proper time for sober analysis and an assessment of the role of gang culture in the capital.”
The London Bishop highlighted the work of churches in cleaning up debris, distributing meals and providing hot water and mobile phone charging for those left without electricity. Two days later, Chartres reflected on the causes for violence.
“It is obviously vital not to stigmatize a whole generation,” Chartres cautioned. “There are huge numbers of hopeful and high achieving young people in London but we do have a problem with a minority. Behind the opportunists who joined in the disturbances there is the reality of a criminal gang culture.”
Chartres specifically singled out “highly mobile groups of looters” who he said had been on the rampage while law enforcement had been occupied with the disturbances and instances of arson.
“What has occurred should be condemned unequivocally and as the first of those arrested appear before magistrates and as stolen property is already being recovered, it is right to pay tribute to the bravery of the police who have regained control of our streets.”
The Bishop of London said that he was appalled by “the utter disregard for life and livelihoods” shown to those we went on the rampage.
“They seem to lack the restraint and the moral compass which comes from clear teaching about right and wrong communicated through nourishing relationships,” Chartres concluded. “The background to the riots is family breakdown and the absence of strong and positive role models.”
The sharp words against the looters by Chartres and Williams contrasted with Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan, who quickly turned his criticism away from the looters and blamed the riots on others, including Britain’s “elite.”
“…We have to ask what sort of moral example is there being set by those in authority or positions of power?” Morgan posited to the Western Mail. “Headline after headline over the past few years has revealed a society made ‘sick’ by greed and selfishness from the top down.”
Morgan faulted the wealthy and powerful. “We’ve got bankers who’ve been helping themselves to excessively large and unjustified bonuses, MPs exploiting the expenses system and effectively stealing from the public purse, and senior police officers resigning over newspaper phone-hacking scandals,” Morgan said. “So any plan to tackle the ‘moral collapse’ is likely to fall on deaf ears without a clean sweep of the boardrooms as well as the streets.”
Archbishop of York John Sentamu of struck a different note, expressing concern about police ability to perform duties when he said they were under-resourced.
“If the police cannot do it, vigilante groups will,” Sentamu warned, saying that for the sake of responsible civil order, the police must be equipped and enabled to keep the peace, which he identified as the first responsibility of government.
“Nature abhors a power vacuum,” the Ugandan-born bishop observed. “Like everyone else, I am shocked and appalled by the behaviour of individuals this week who simply have no care and respect for other people.
Saying “these vile and evil acts can never be justified,” Sentamu decried the damage against “communities that have been torn apart by a selfish underclass that has little respect for hard work and decency.”
“Sadly, we have created an individualistic, disposable society, with weakened family and community structures, where the interests of me, myself and I have become paramount. In many ways, we have made a god of self and self-interest,” Sentamu concluded.
Seemingly, the senior prelates did not comment directly on their own Church of England’s declining influence and the resulting moral vacuum in Britain.
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