THE Church of England’s Bishop to the Forces has been forced to apologise for “incredibly insensitive” remarks he made in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.
The naïve Bishop Venner
The Rt Rev Stephen Venner had warned against demonising the Taliban and argued that the attitude towards insurgents in the conflict-ravaged country had been ”too simplistic”.
He told paper:
There’s a large number of things that the Taliban say and stand for which none of us in the West could approve, but simply to say therefore that everything they do is bad is not helping the situation. The Taliban can perhaps be admired for their conviction to their faith and their sense of loyalty to each other.
One MP accused him of offering ”comfort and succour to our enemies” with his remarks. Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat member for the garrison town of Colchester in Essex, said:
Why did he not talk about the loyalty of our troops? The bishop would have been well advised to concentrate on boosting the morale of our armed forces rather than boosting the morale of our enemy.
And Col Richard Kemp, a former commander in Afghanistan, said in this report that the bishop was being naïve.
We clearly need to understand our enemy but that is more of a military issue rather than a religious one. Elements in the Taliban do not act from a religious perspective and it is important to turn them around. But there are many others who will not be persuaded. Their central creed and ethos is about violent oppression.
He added:
In many ways it is a mistake to compare their faith of extreme holy war with the kind of religion of peace and understanding that the bishop follows. They wouldn’t show understanding of his faith.
In apologising, Venner said it was ”one small phrase in quite a long interview” intended to suggest that not all members of the Taliban were ”equally evil”.
He told the BBC:
If that has caused offence, I am deeply grieved by it because that’s the very last thing that I would want to do.
The bishop also issued a statement condemning the Taliban’s tactics and expressing his backing for UK forces.
The way that the Taliban are waging war in Afghanistan is evil, both in their use of indiscriminate killing and their terrorising of the civilian population. No religion could condone their actions. I give my full support to the British and allied troops who are engaged in the country, seeking to work with the Afghan government to bring stability, democracy and an enduring peace.
He added:
I acknowledge that long-lasting peace will not be achieved without both defeating the Taliban militants and, over time, by encouraging them to forsake the path of war and to be involved in the future of Afghanistan.
We have also to distinguish between the militant Taliban and those of their number who are fighting because they have been coerced into doing so and who fear for their lives if they do not. Clearly, it is only those who reject military action with whom we could talk.
Bishop Venner was recently commissioned in his new role by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
December 14th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
I wonder how long it will take him to catch on that ‘conviction to faith’ is not something praiseworthy, but a very bad idea.
Maybe never:(
David B
December 14th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Everytime either a CofE Bishop or a Catholic Cardinal open their collective gobs they either spout shit or put their foot in their mouths.
but they keep surprising silent about the abuse perpetrated by priests (on the catholic side) and about the “Kill the Gay” laws in Uganda.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
You should always look for the good in people, that’s what I say. The Devil may have made a lot of mistakes in the past, it’s true, but everyone knows that he always looks after his own!
December 14th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
He should be sacked, the lads and lasses out in Afganistan have a hard enough time without assholes like him. But, being a member of the clergy, he will probably be promoted.
December 14th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
You should have heard my dad’s views on military chaplains (based on his wartime experiences in the Royal Navy)! And I’m going to crack an old joke again, for the benefit of those who haven’t heard it before!!
Says the padre to the men: “Now God go with you all, and I’ll go as far as the station!”
December 14th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
‘not all members of the Taliban were ”equally evil”’
Cos, like, some are only a little bit evil.
Pillock.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I hope some serviceman frags the useless shite.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
It is a bit of an every day habit for a Bishop to open his mouth and spout nonsense but this prat has excelled himself; fortunately more people will now be anti religon because of it.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
What always annoys me is that no one praises athiests and humanists who strongly believe in the wonder of human achievement, the reachable mysteries of science and nature, especially since our ‘beliefs’ are based on provable evidence, unlike religion.
On a less intellectual point; what a pillock.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:19 am
I think it remarkably disingenuous of the antidisestablishmentarianists to suggest that the theocracy of Afghanistan and it’s de facto government were in any way ‘wrong’ when they would encourage our politicians to ‘wear their faith on their sleeves’ and promote religion in public life, unless they think that some religions are less valid that others…
December 15th, 2009 at 1:10 am
“No religion could condone their actions.”
Who is the authority on the religion of Taliban? Bishop Venner or Mullah Omar?
December 15th, 2009 at 9:10 am
You’re wrong there about Mullah Omar, @The Rational Fool. He is quoted as saying: “All Taliban are moderate”. I do wish people would get their facts right before slandering others on this site!
December 15th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Mullah Omar = Ha, a rum moll.
Of course, if it turns out that he HAS been supporting violence in any way, then he’s not a “real Muslim”, is he?
December 15th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
it proves once again that religionists prefer other people to be religionists and don’t actually care what religion that is or what they do in its name
December 15th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Am I the only one who thinks that Venner looks like Son of Frankenstein?
December 15th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
The bishop is correct ‘in someways it is bad but someways it is good’.
Just like Bundy, he was evil killing all those people but he was a nice guy who liked puppies.
He was tried & found guilty. Its too bad the ‘good’ part got dragged down by the evil part…but how do you separate them????
The same with islam or xtains..how do you separate the good from bad??
You can’t because that is the way religions are, like the body, they can’t be separated.
So get 100% good and teach good and throw out the bad!!!
Can’t do that ???? Well I know one way to stop the bad
too bad your theoretical ‘good’ goes out with it.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
What a crap apology.
We have also to distinguish between the militant Taliban and those of their number who are fighting because they have been coerced into doing so and who fear for their lives if they do not.
That is not his original point. He was praising the most committed and loyal, not the coerced. Hypocrite.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I’ve just posted a link on another thread to this item, where Rick Warren, of all people, also seems to think that any religion is preferable to none!
http://proudatheists.wordpress.....n-atheist/