Bishop Blasts Sunday Shopping

Helping to demonstrate just why his diocese is the most "godless" in Britain, Bishop of Manchester Nigel McCulloch has attacked stores that open on Sundays so people can shop. Presumably, if the stores all closed people would be back in the pews, listening to McCulloch preach.

Manchester Online reports:

"The temple-like structures of some supermarkets and shopping malls suggest shopping is a new religion," he wrote in the Church periodical Crux. "But it has a heavy price, bringing extra strain on families, closure of local shops, and unwelcome increases in traffic and pollution. God knew what he was doing when he ordained a day of rest. But, sadly, the disease of activism had infected us all. No wonder most people have little time for God when even Christians ignore the psalmist's compelling reminder that to know God we need to be still."

How godless is Manchester? The population is 2 million, but fewer than 41,500 actually attend church at Christmas — and that's their busy time.

McCulloch is attacking the wrong thing. Stores are open on Sundays because they can do enough business for it to be worthwhile. If people didn't go shopping on Sunday, many (though probably not all) would close simply because it wouldn't be worthwhile. If McCulloch wants to reduce the pressures of commerce on Sundays (not necessarily a bad goal), he needs to focus on the people rather than the businesses.

Instead of expecting people to show up in church when the stores are closed, maybe he should convince people to come to church (or do other things) instead of shop. At least, that would be the smart tactic I think.

Read More:

• Christmas
• Anglicanism
• Archbishop Rowan Williams