The Archbishop of Canterbury is facing calls to bar clergy from joining the Green Party after it passed a motion declaring that “Zionism is racism”.
The Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally faces mounting pressure to act as critics blast her silence. Lambeth Palace has not spoken on the matter, despite the Church of England already banning its clergy from joining parties it deems at odds with its teaching on race. Despite repeated approaches from the Express, the Church refused to say whether it would impose a ban.
Church’s existing race policy
In 2014, the Church declared the BNP and the National Front “incompatible with the teaching of the Church of England” on the “equality of persons or groups of different races”. Clergy who join or back either party face disciplinary action and could be defrocked.
The Green motion states that Zionism will be “treated as any other form of racism” and dealt with through the party’s existing anti-racism procedures. Jewish Greens, a group within the party, had warned the motion could force Jewish members to “choose between their party membership and being a member of their Jewish community”.
Clergy and bishop respond
The Rev Marcus Walker branded the new policy as “shockingly antisemitic”. He said: “The House of Bishops have rightly placed the BNP and the National Front on the list of parties which clergy may not support; they have an obligation to add the Greens to this list until they reverse this shameful policy.”
The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Philip North, said: “Like so many others, I am alarmed by the decision made by the Green Party and, in particular, the impact it will have on a beleaguered UK Jewish population who are already suffering alarming and growing levels of antisemitism.” He did not call for a ban on clergy membership, but added: “I find it deeply sad that a party that was founded to address the climate crisis appears to have drifted so far from its core values. The decision is a new one and needs to be absorbed. But doubtless I am one of many Christian leaders who, with our commitment to building cohesive communities, will be reflecting on the compatibility of this decision with the Gospel.”
Commenting online, Rev Peter Ould said that “the Church of England (rightly) forbids its clergy to be members of the BNP”. He warned it was still “perfectly acceptable for clergy to be members of a party that is opposed to self-determination for a particular ethnic group and actually endorses terrorist attacks on them”. Mr Ould added: “The clock is ticking on the House of Bishops to speak out.”
Political and diplomatic reactions
Israel’s foreign ministry branded the Greens “a body that gives legitimacy to terrorism” and urged “every political party in Britain” to “unequivocally reject this twisted resolution”.
In a statement, Mr Polanski said: “Antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state are, and must always be, completely distinct – blurring the line between the two is not only wrong but antisemitic, and makes Jewish people less safe.” He added: “Under my leadership, no one will be made unwelcome because of their background, their faith, or where they worship.”
