As we confront mortality, why do our bishops have so little to say?
Holy Smoke - A podcast by The Spectator
![](https://is3-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts125/v4/4f/31/30/4f3130c7-691e-5d6a-f6b9-337e8bd2f5d9/mza_17036429073302536789.png/300x300bb-75.jpg)
Categories:
Do you sense that something is missing in the churches' response to the coronavirus? In this week's Holy Smoke episode, Dr Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to the Queen, argues that the bishop's attitude of 'wash your hands and be nice' reflects the churches' polite surrender to secularisation – but suggests that ordinary believers now have the opportunity to show the public what Christianity really looks like. The coronavirus, dreadful though it is, could mark a turning point – one that leads to a religious revival in which the old breed of bishop-bureaucrat gives way to more inspiring leadership. Presented by Damian Thompson.