@harriettmb Not only does the Untied Kingdom have a state religion, it is also one of only 2 countries in the world that allows representatives of that state religion automatic seats in the legislature, i.e. the CofE bishops in the House of 'Lords'.
The other state is Iran.
@wood5y @harriettmb I never understood why the Church of England was the UK state religion until I realised England thinks it IS the UK and that the rest of us are irrelevant to UK decision makers.
@CloudyMrs @harriettmb That English attitude dates back even to before the Untied Kingdom came into existence.
Henry VIII's Acts of Union made the Welsh 2nd class citizens in their own country by e.g. imposing English as the sole language of government and the administration of justice.
@wood5y @CloudyMrs @harriettmb@mastodon.ie
To clarify. In Wales, we have the Church in Wales (CiW which was disestablished in 1920 following the 1914 Church in Wales Act.
Beginning in the 1980s, the CiW embarked on an increasingly open stand on various issues including economic justice, the ordination of women and inclusion of homosexual people which makes the CiW significantly more liberal than the CoE.
@wood5y @CloudyMrs @harriettmb@mastodon.ie
I agree that clerics have no place in the House of Lords.
@TCMuffin @wood5y @CloudyMrs @harriettmb@mastodon.ie I think there is a useful role for having spiritual thinkers in any nations revising chamber. They generally take a longer term view of matters, though how we get such people in is as yet an answered question, but successful hierarchy climbers of one selected religion must be the worst way!
@epistatacadam @TCMuffin @wood5y @harriettmb 1. England isn't a nation. 2. The Church of England doesn't even represent most people in England, never mind in the UK. 3. The House of Lords is mince.