The debate about the Von Hugel report on church and welfare looks as if it is heading down a familiar cul-de-sac.

A clash between one group of people trying to grab a bigger slice of the governance and service provision cake for the churches, and others hoping to exclude communities of faith from civic life altogether, misses the real opportunity -- which is to question both the major parties on their technocratic 'welfare agendas'; to challenge the churches to practice what they preach on equality, justice and human rights; and to renew a radical civic-based tradition that brings together people from different backgrounds and world views to develop a practical vision of social justice.

More comment here: http://ekklesia.co.uk/node/7262

Thinking Anglicans ran my earlier remarks: http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/003123.html