George Pitcher
George Pitcher is a visiting fellow at the LSE and an Anglican priest.
OpinionWhen a priest is arrested for standing up for Palestine, Christians should be concerned
83-year-old Anglican priest, Rev Sue Parfitt, was arrested for holding up a sign in support of Palestine Action, recently proscribed as a terrorist group. Peaceful protestors are standing between the oppressors and the oppressed, says George Pitcher. But it’s an uncomfortable place to be
OpinionThe Lords must stop assisted suicide. Their moral responsibility cannot be overstated
This is a bad bill, one of the worst, says George Pitcher. To send it packing is precisely the level of scrutiny that the Lords should provide
OpinionWhere have all the Christian world leaders gone?
Western societal and political systems were built on Christian principles, but few Western leaders now profess even a nominal Christian faith. George Pitcher wonders when we’ll realise what we’re missing
OpinionI’m praying Pope Leo will bring Catholics and Anglicans closer together
Pope Leo XIV has been elected as the new head of the Catholic Church. Could the curious coincidence of a new Archbishop of Canterbury at the same time present a fresh opportunity for Anglicans and Catholics to work together? George Pitcher makes the case for reunification
OpinionJustin Welby’s BBC interview was a very bad idea. What was he thinking?
Perhaps the former Archbishop of Canterbury intended to convey remorse and accountability in his conversation with Laura Kuenssberg. But that’s not how it’s been received, observes George Pitcher
OpinionKathleen Stock and Laurence Fox are testing the bounds of free speech. I know who I side with
Free speech protects great minds discussing ideas, not small minds abusing people, says George Pitcher, as he looks at the recent cases of Laurence Fox and Kathleen Stock
OpinionCutting aid to fund defence won’t help us build a better world
In light of President Trump’s proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced cuts to foreign aid in order to boost defence spending. But ignoring the plight of the poor is a zero-sum game, says George Pitcher. Just look at the biblical story of the rich man and Lazarus
OpinionThe CofE cannot mark its own homework when it comes to safeguarding
To the bewilderment of many, the General Synod has voted against transferring oversight of its safeguarding to an independent body, a decision that George Pitcher says has shown it is well past time to purge the CofE of its hypocrisy
OpinionWhen tragedy hits, Jesus calls us to stand in solidarity
IIn the face of abhorrent evil, such as the Southport murders or the Nottingham attacks, the desire for revenge is a very natural one, says George Pitcher. But what does it look like to stand together, in hopeful solidarity; to acknowledge the pain and work towards something better?
OpinionWho would want to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury? It’s an impossible job
As Justin Welby lays down his bishop’s crozier, George Pitcher takes a stab at writing a job description for the next Archbishop of Canterbury
OpinionHow the trauma of advent brings God's healing
When God came into the world, it was traumatic, argues George Pitcher. But Advent reminds us that now, more than ever, the Church needs the healing balm of Jesus - even if it is painful at first touch
OpinionWhy Christian Nationalists defend the criminal Trump at any cost
George Pitcher takes a look at what Trump’s victory in the 2024 US presidential election means for Christian Nationalism around the globe, and the troubling precedent that it sets
OpinionThe Met needs to stop demonising the dead
The Met’s decision to release more information on Chris Kaba’s “character”, presents us with some worrying ethical issues, says George Pitcher
OpinionAtheists won’t find God in a church, so we must meet them where they are
George Pitcher might be an Anglican Priest, but he reckons a church-centric faith is no longer fit for purpose.
OpinionJerusalem is bitterly divided. It longs for its Prince of Peace to return
The Old City of Jerusalem contains within its walls thousands of years of religious conflict. Ahead of the first anniversary of the Hamas terror attack, George Pitcher reflects on the city where everyone prays, but where peace still seems elusive
OpinionYes, I’m a Christian. But my opposition to assisted suicide isn’t faith-based
A vote to legalise assisted dying across the UK could be imminent, according to some media reports. If passed, it could bring about one of the biggest social changes in the UK since the 1967 Abortion Act. George Pitcher says the issue deserves a proper, unemotional debate
OpinionThe Grenfell report shames us all. We are blinded to the plight of the poor
Today’s scathing report into the Grenfell Tower fire has blamed “dishonest” companies and failures by successive governments. George Pitcher says Christians can’t only mourn the 72 lost lives. We must also repent of our own blindness to the suffering of the poor, both at Grenfell and in the English Channel
OpinionAs a Christian I'm inspired by this Mosque's radical hospitality
When Muslims fed rioters who meant them harm, they were following in Abraham’s footsteps, says George Pitcher. And perhaps setting us all an example of how to better overcome extreme hostility
OpinionKamala Harris’ joyful laugh should be celebrated
Can’t we find better things to criticise our politicians over than the fact that they laugh too much? We need more joy in politics, not less, says George Pitcher. Long may the US vice president’s laughter remain
OpinionLabour says it's serious about change. The Church should be too
It’s time for the Church to get serious about the things that really matter, says George Pitcher. And that means less time on same-sex relationships and more on the lost, the poor and the marginalised
