Bishops’ criticism of cap was justified (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bishops’ criticism of cap was justified

8:54am Friday 10th February 2012 in Readers' letters By Telegraph & Argus

SIR – When George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, said he supported the Government’s plan to cap benefits at £25,000, there were no complaints and considerable congratulation.

But when the Bishops of Bradford and Ripon and Leeds said they were unhappy because some families would be treated unfairly, there was, to coin a phrase, all hell let loose.

If the likes of Michael Hallam (Letters, January 30) had actually read what was said, they might have thought differently.

Neither Bishop objects to the cap in principal, but what they find objectionable is the inherent unfairness of the proposal. That is to say a childless couple’s benefit will be capped at £25,000 as will that of a family with three children by removing any child benefit that takes them over the limit.

Mr Hallam may well feel that churchmen are “meddling in politics”, but they are guided by the Bible. It has many references to social justice like, for instance, Luke 1 v53: “He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away”, or perhaps 1 Corinthians 13 v13 which ends “but the greatest of these is charity”.

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley