Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs

Church of England vicars Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin get together to offer a spiritual perspective on current events being joined by special guest Laura Dodsworth. This week: How to apply the teachings of Christ on non-judgmentalism to unjust political situations and commentary on the ending of Covid restrictions and the Bishop of London's response to the situation. With Laura we discuss the ongoing totalitarianism of Justin Trudeau and the Canadian Federal Government with respect to the Truckers' Freedom Convoy including the seizing of citizens' bank accounts and the violent militarised police action taken to break up the protest in Ottawa. We talk about the way that Covid-19 restrictions are resulting in mission-creep particularly with respect to central bank digital currencies. We also ask how the Canadian government's response can square with notions of liberal democracy and respect for free speech and political expression. Is the term "liberalism" meaningful or should we be speaking more in terms of the individual and the collective? Laura also wants to know why the figureheads of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches seem to have very little conception of the notion of conscience with respect to certain medical treatments beginning with the letter "v".And, after a notorious billboard advocating the removal of JK Rowling from considerations of her own Harry Potter world, Laura goes full-on Old Testament prophetic. Not to be missed.Laura Dodsworth: https://lauradodsworth.substack.com/Timings:00:05:08 Luke 6:37-42, Applying Jesus' Teaching to Unjust Political Situations00:18:55 Email of the Week - Loss of Conviction in the Church of England00:23:58 The Bishop of London Responds to the End of Covid Restrictions 00:30:20 Conversation with Laura DodsworthNotices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Church of England Revs Daniel French, Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin get together to offer a spiritual perspective on current events. This week: a question on the experience of God, in the news Trudeau invokes emergency power to confiscate money from rogue truckers, the Archbishop of Canterbury says that he is not solely responsible for the closure of churches in March 2020 and that he does not like the competitive nature of the Great British Bake Off. We also review the ongoing controversy around a letter decrying the British government's banning of conversion therapy with 2,500 signatories drawn from sectors of the church in this country. It's fair to say that this has provoked quite a reaction on Twitter, not sure about the rest of the world.Links:Jane Stannus in The Spectator, Trudeau's Totalitarian TurnCraig Simpson in The Times, Archbishop of Canterbury denies sole blame for Covid Church ClosuresRoland White in The Times, Bake Off has more sustenance than a Welby sermonMinisters' Consultation Response on Conversion TherapyBishop of Dorchester Condemnation of Conversion Therapy LetterBBC, Oxford Pride Condemns Conversion Therapy Open LetterNotices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Church of England vicars Daniel French, Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin are joined by Lord Frost. Until recently David Frost has been at the heart of the UK Government and has been deeply involved in seminal moments in British history including the Brexit negotiations and the Covid crisis. A deeply principled man, he quit the government over his opposition to further Covid restrictions and has subsequently said publicly that he believes that lockdowns are a serious policy error. In this special interview, he addresses in-depth the Covid crisis and the real reasons for the government's response to it, the use of behavioural psychology, the relationship of the government to the UK media, Brexit, the green agenda, free speech and the online harms bill. We also speak about the Church of England and its failure to take the opportunity to offer hope in the midst of fear. Lord Frost ends this discussion with an exhortation to the Church to remember its true identity and to stop aping secular politicians.Daniel and Jamie also reflect upon the discussion with Lord Frost and catch up on this week's notable news: namely the ending of Covid restrictions in England, the Church of England bishops' plans to alter the nature of the Church by creating bishops for certain issues such as Brexit and Covid and the Archbishop of Canterbury's comment on the moral imperative to embrace radical collectivism. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing to us on your chosen podcatcher or subscribing to us on YouTube.Links: Daniel French, "A Covid Bishop is the Last Thing my Church Needs" The Times,  Behold the Bishop of BrexitNotices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Church of England Revs Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin get together to offer a spiritual perspective on current events. This week: NHS vaccine mandate U-turn, Canadian trucker rebels, an attempt to cancel some bloke called Joe Rogan, the Bible on trial in a Finnish court and a question on how Christians are meant to engage with a corrupt and immoral political system. Topics Covered and Timings:04:17 Philemon: Compulsion, Slavery and ForgivenessJames Bryson, The Ugly Business of Scapegoating the Unvaccinated25:02 NHS Vaccine Mandate Dropped https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/01/30/front-line-health-staff-no-longer-need-covid-vaccines/36:44 Canadian Rebel Truckers Parliament Protesthttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10458741/Canadian-truckers-stay-Ottawa-thousands-protestors-pledging-continue-create-chaos.html 53:33 Neil Young tries to Cancel Joe Rogan over Vaccine "Misinformation"Spotify backs Joe Rogan1:04:00 Finnish Court Puts Bible on Trial for Hate SpeechFinnish Government puts Christianity on Trial1:18:02 Question the Rev - How can Christians engage in democracy when all the parties so clearly and fundamentally lack any Christian values?1:27:00 Jews for Justice Letter to Justin WelbyNotices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

In this short clip, the Irreverend vicars respond to an email from regular listener Lizzie, who says that we must not allow ourselves to give in to recrimination and blame but must seek to tell a better story as we move beyond the trauma of the Covid-19 crisis in love and forgiveness.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Church of England Revs Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin get together to talk Scripture, news, the Church and pretty much everything else! Featuring this week more Boris partying during lockdown, NHS vaccine mandates, the Ukraine-Russian tension, the Bishop of London's comments on the end of Covid and the Church of England's mission to have ten global majority heritage bishops appointed to the House of Bishops.Topics Covered and Timings00:00 Banter/Notices06:19 Revelation 2:18-29, The Letter to the Church in Thyatira23:46 Question the Rev: Would you swim the Tiber? and Is the priority of the experiential an opening for the supernatural ministry of the Church?33:12 Birthday Cake-Gate: More Boris Party Antics38:49 NHS Vaccine Mandate Update41:18 Tension in Russia-Ukraine46:21 "Your sacrifices have saved lives" - Bishop thanks parishes and public as Covid-19 measures lift58:54 The Church of England's Aspiration to have Ten Global Majority Heritage Bishops in the House of BishopsAndrew Tettenborn, "The Church of England's diversity mission has gone too far"1:10:45 Email of the Week - How do we move beyond the Covid crisis in a spiritually productive way?Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

In this clip from the week's longer episode, Revs Jamie Franklin and Thomas Pelham reflect on the questionable ethical priorities that were involved in the decision to cause people to die alone in hospitals and elsewhere during the Covid-19 crisis. This relates to a broader conversation concerning the moral lostness of our culture: bereft of a code of ethics or unifying frame of reality as a guide, we have reverted to a crass and inhumane utilitarian outlook that treats human beings as means instead of ends. If you would like to listen the full episode, please find it here: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.com/1303861/9919616-boris-the-insatiable-party-animalNotices:If you love the podcast and would like to support us, you can do so on Patreon from £1.50 (plus VAT in the UK) a month. Please go to: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Church of England Revs Jamie Franklin and Thomas Pelham get together to talk about the news and issues of the day.Topics Covered and Timings00:00 Banter/NoticesBook into Church Under Fire? event here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/church-under-fire-tickets-25011735674700:15 Revelation 2:12-17, The Letter to the Church in Pergamum00:31 Question the Rev: The Implications of the Archbishop's New Appointment Secretary, Stephen Knott00:42 The End of Plan B, Boris the Insatiable Party AnimalBrendan O' Neill, We let people die alone01:05 Pope Francis, "Have Children instead of Pets"Pope Francis: Having Children instead of Pets is SelfishTim Stanley, We Must have as many Babies as PossiblePeter Stanford, The Unstoppable Rise of the Dog Baby01:15 Mask Wars: The Ongoing Case of The Rev'd Charlie BoyleNotices:Book into Church Under Fire? Advancing Christianity in Modern BritainThanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Church of England vicars Jamie Franklin and Daniel French are joined by Associate Professor of Healthcare at the University of West London Dr Paula Boddington to talk medical ethics in the context of the Covid-19 vaccination drive, particularly with reference to the recent comments made by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Topics Covered:- Divisions in society and the unethical weaponisation of rhetoric.- A holistic definition of health and the reductive definition that has replaced it.- The ethics of lockdowns and associated harms such as death from loneliness.- The importance of honest dialogue and of treating people respectfully as individuals.- The centrality to medical ethics of informed consent.- The comments of the Archbishop of Canterbury encouraging universal vaccination and how the notion of "loving your neighbour" functions in this context.- The complexity of decision making in the context of medical and health concerns. - Dr Steve James and the NHS vaccine mandates.- Coercive techniques and a return to paternalistic approaches to medicine.- Concerns about the unethical practices of the pharmaceutical industry.- The role of trust in conversations about public health.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Church of England vicars Jamie Franklin and Daniel French are joined by Associate Professor of Healthcare at the University of West London Dr Paula Boddington to talk medical ethics in the context of the Covid-19 vaccination drive, particularly with reference to the recent comments made by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Topics Covered0-48 Minutes: Jamie and Daniel- The Church's tendency to persecute itself.- The Church of England's near 50% decline over the last 30 years.- The turning of public opinion against lockdowns and the Church's failure to issue a prophetic voice in this context.- Signs of Christian revival in the West and why the Church must learn from it. - The relevance of the Jordan Peterson Phenomenon.Our Scripture this week is taken from Revelation 2:8-11: the letter to the Church in Smyrna.48 Minutes Onwards: Jamie, Daniel and Dr Paula Boddington- Divisions in society and the unethical weaponisation of rhetoric.- A holistic definition of health and the reductive definition that has replaced it.- The ethics of lockdowns and associated harms such as death from loneliness.- The importance of honest dialogue and of treating people respectfully as individuals.- The centrality to medical ethics of informed consent.- The comments of the Archbishop of Canterbury encouraging universal vaccination and how the notion of "loving your neighbour" functions in this context.- The complexity of decision making in the context of medical and health concerns. - Dr Steve James and the NHS vaccine mandates.- Coercive techniques and a return to paternalistic approaches to medicine.- Concerns about the unethical practices of the pharmaceutical industry.- The role of trust in conversations about public health.Links:Church of England attendance halves over the last 30 yearsThe Pope says vaccines are a moral obligationNotices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendJamie's Good Things Substack blog/newsletter: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.com Support the show