'Keep out of politics or we will kill you': Bishop reveals details of death threat
The Bishop of Worcester has revealed he received a death threat after speaking out about Dominic Cummings alleged breach of lockdown rules.
Bishop John Inge said the death threat had come as part of a stream of hate mail received following his comments on Sunday about the Prime Minister's "risible defence" of Mr Cummings.
Bishop Inge released a statement to clarify his comments about Mr Cummings and to reveal the details of the threat he had received.
He said: "On Sunday night, I commented that I felt the British people, who have made such sacrifices for the common good, deserved a better explanation for Dominic Cummings’ conduct during the lockdown than had been given by the Prime Minister that evening.
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"My intervention gave rise to much media interest, although for the sake of clarity, I did not call for the resignation of Dominic Cummings.
"In the last 24 hours, I have received a great deal of correspondence, much of it supportive, some opposed and some very offensive.
"This included a death threat which read simply 'Keep out of politics or we will kill you'.
"One of my favourite Desmond Tutu quotes is ‘When people say that religion and politics don’t mix, I wonder which bible it is they are reading.’
"He received huge numbers of death threats as a result of his conviction that the pursuit of justice is at the heart what Jesus asks of us.
"As it happens, I see this not as a matter of politics but of life and death.
"If trust in Government advice is not restored, we shall face a second spike in infections by the dreadful virus and thousands will lose their lives."
The Bishop has said he is planning to report the sender of the threat to the police.
The Bishop of Worcester is the head of the Diocese of Worcester, with Dudley, Kidderminster and Sandwell parts of the Diocese.
Elsewhere, police are looking into reports that another bishop was threatened online after speaking out Mr Cummings’s alleged breach of lockdown rules.
Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Ripon, reported the matter to North Yorkshire Police as some of the Church of England’s most senior figures reported receiving hate mail and death threats.
Bishop Hartley posted: “‘Stay out of politics or it will be the death of you’ was one of the emails I received today. Thank you to those who have sent supportive messages.”
