Stressed-out priests turn to trade unions for support
Catherine Pepinster reports in Religion News Service, religionnews.com, on the fact that some Anglican priests are joining trade unions.
She quotes Rev. Peter Hobson, who is head of the priests’ Unite branch, Church of England Clergy Advocates; “vicars are turning to the union because they are under pressure from all sides — from the people in the pews and from their bishops…….. the bishop, while he is a pastoral figure, is also managerial. And the managerial approach is coming more and more to the fore …….. this more managerial approach makes relationships between clergy and bishops more difficult, and clergy consequently need more advice and someone ‘on their side,’ as it were, from outside the church .”