The Catholic bishops of England and Wales – and the separate hierarchy for Scotland, for that matter – have long been uncritical, even sycophantic, supporters of the European Union. The question isn’t whether they will try to persuade Catholics to vote to stay in, but how they will go about it – and whether they will succeed.
The campaign is already under way. It has been kicked off by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the English churchman closest to Pope Francis and a genial fellow who never met a canapé he didn’t like. He has already said…
… though Christian churches will not take position on the referendum vote, Catholics should vote for Europe…
… which sounds awfully like taking a position to me. True, Cardinal Cormac is a retired Archbishop of Westminster (and a vigorous retirement it is, too: lots of ‘those look delicious’, ‘don’t mind if I do’, ‘top of the morning to you, Duchess’ and ‘as I was explaining to the Holy Father…’).
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in