BISHOPS’ WARNING TO BLAIR

TWO top bishops last night warned Tony Blair must answer to God for toppling Saddam Hussein.

By TREVOR KAVANAGH Political Editor

THE SUN

February 1998

The Bishop of Durham and the Archbishop of York blasted the war in newspaper interviews.

In an astonishing grab for the moral high ground, they admitted Saddam was wicked but claimed the allies were not the right people to oust him.

Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, accused the PM and President George Bush - both devout Christians - of a strange distortion of Christianity to justify action.

He compared them to white vigilantes going into Brixton to stop drug dealing. Dr David Hope, Archbishop of York, reminded the Prime Minister of the higher authority he will have to face one day and urged churchgoers to pray for his soul.

Referring to Saddam, he said: Undoubtedly a very wicked leader has been removed but there are other wicked leaders. His words echoed Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams’ warning that Mr. Blair would be called to account.

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