Fesshole 🧻
I'm a vicar in a small rural village. I could never say this to my flock because of the outcry, but Reform are blatantly opposed to genuine Christian values and it's clear that anyone considering voting for them has not been listening to a single word I say each week
Mar 6 at 8:20pmWeb
Show threadFrancis ☑️Mar 6
@fesshole the bible has quite a few things to say about how to treat foreigners
Show threadJeniParsonsMar 7
@wtfrank @fesshole that’s what I tell them
Show threadGeoffMar 6
Say it. The outcry proves the point.
Show threadBen O'SteenMar 6
@fesshole the lack of people saying this "for fear of the outcry" helps keep Reform popular and their fascist ideas unchallenged
Show threadNot The LBC GuyMar 6
@fesshole how many weeks in a row can you make the parable of the Good Samaritan the gospel?
Show threadBen CurthoysMar 6
@fesshole you have one job
Show threadMichael CookMar 6

@fesshole This is _exactly_ so many people look down on religion.

If you won’t say stuff because it makes people unhappy, they’re not real beliefs are they?

So what’s left?

Show threadNathan A. StineMar 6
@fesshole I don't know how it works in the UK, but here in the US the popular churches are the ones where you don't have to sacrifice anything to be a good person. The hatred you feel for people who don't look like you, think like you, or behave like you is justified and God hates them, too.
Show threadnickaposMar 6
@fesshole This could be said for many self proclaimed Christians
Show threadLuke HarbyMar 6
@fesshole Preach
Show threadColman ReillyMar 6
@fesshole do your job.
Show threadChrisMar 6
@fesshole Just say it. It’s literally your job.
Show threadMatt PalmerMar 6
@fesshole finish this famous quote: "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is..."
Show threadJimmyMar 6
@fesshole You are a Vicar; the people's connection to God. You have a duty to guide them, because without the Holy Spirit, they might err. If your 'congregation' do not listen then it is they who err, not your failure. You only fail in not preaching the word.
Show threadMidgePhotoMar 7
@sjcooke66
There are no gods despite the troubles they cause.
But the weekly practical philosophy and headcount session does have its points.
Show threadRasmus LindegaardMar 8

@sjcooke66 @fesshole well, if we are going to be pedantic about the bible, then the vicar is not the people's connection to God.

But be that as it may, the bible does have stern warnings for those teaching the word of God who deliberately mismanages their ministry.

Show threadJimmyMar 8
@rasmus91 @fesshole Did anyone say anything about the bible? I don't think so! I thought we were talking about the role of Vicars...
Show threadGJ Groothedde 🇪🇺Mar 6
@fesshole To where it's hot with the outcry. You have a duty!
Show threadHannekeMar 6
@fesshole someone they trust and respect should tell them, could just be you…
Show threadsiderealMar 7
@fesshole -- Religious leaders when it's time to provide religious leadership
Show threadsiderealMar 7
@fesshole "And then Jesus of Nazareth was going to condemn the Romans and the moneychangers and all that, but then he was worried about the outcry so he didn't." -- Not the Bible
Show threadsheislaurenceMar 7
@fesshole meanwhile the Pope https://www.patheos.com/blogs/publiccatholic/2025/10/pope-leo-says-the-church-cannot-be-silent-about-ice/
Pope Leo Says "The Church Cannot Be Silent" About ICE

Pope Leo is urging America's Catholic bishops to stop sitting on the sidelines in the fight against Trump's abuses of human rights. I know some of

Public Catholic
Show threadRobert PickeringMar 7
@sheislaurence @fesshole
Yeah, but that's the Catholics, this guy or gal is from protestant C of E.
Show threadDavid WestonMar 7
@fesshole There is a vicar in mid Wales who said he preferred "conversations" rather than stand against fascism. All to no effect. Imagine the OT prophets but just 'having' conversations' instead. Imagine Jesus's ministry as 'a quiet word'. You are at a point of choice.
If you are within the Anglican church, how much support has your Bishop given? If that gives you a hollow laugh...
Show threadAngharadHafodMar 7
@drdave89 @fesshole I found myself a little bit uncomfortably in an Anglican church in mid Wales simply because just about all the chapels around me have closed. And we have a retired vicar who is so traditional it's out of my comfort zone. Nonetheless he's absolutely prepared to call out the fascists, and does so; and for that I admire him very much.
Show threadjackdaw delilaMar 7
@fesshole your way to redemption is to speak your truth, they need to hear it.
Show threadMartin GleadowMar 7
@fesshole you could say it obliquely, by teaching what Christian values have to say in direct opposition to reform policies without announcing that. Obvious example would be a sermon derived from the good Samaritan, and providing context of the Samaritan then compare to today's world
Show threadA-nom-nom-nom-aly BSC SSCMar 7

@fesshole

Then I would say that you are pandering to your flock rather than guiding them... If they would be upset by those kinds of words they are no longer christians and need to be remind of what it actually means.

You are failing them in your role.

Show threadDavid BridgerMar 7
@fesshole Tell them, for fuck's sake. Otherwise what are you even for?
Show threadAngharadHafodMar 7

@foobarsoft @fesshole the most effective way for people to learn is to be led to the answer so they work it out for themselves, not to be given the answer straight. I say, as a former lecturer.

If people want to discuss afterwards, because it started them thinking, then they can get given the answer.

After all, isn't this what parables were about?

Show threadJennifer C J RadtkeMar 7

@fesshole

I really recommend JPIT for helping churches engage with politics:
https://jpit.uk/
Lots of resources for preachers, small groups and individuals to use.

The law around charities supporting or opposing political parties is quite clear... most churches are charities and so can only support/oppose policies etc, not parties. This is the Scottish version but sure England has one too:
https://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-a-charity/managing-charity-trustees/charities-and-campaigning-on-political-issues-guidance/#campaigning

#ukpol #faith #religion

Show threadnotsoloudMar 7
@fesshole
WWJD?
Show threadДими́трийMar 7

@notsoloud @fesshole

he'd flip those fucking tables, that's what!

Show threadJoan of Contention 😷Mar 7
@fesshole "The only thing nec­es­sary for the tri­umph of evil," etc.
Show threadAlaric Snell-PymMar 7
@fesshole let me add my voice to the many pointing out that you're kinda supposed to be the moral guide here, so get out there and make these people see how selfish and horrible they're being...
Show threadJyrgen NMar 8
@fesshole Oh, please do!
Show threadInc Hulk 🧪Mar 8
@fesshole Adolph relied on religious leaders not decrying the attacks on jews in 1930s Germany (because they feared an outcry).