Late soldier’s father blasts bishop for funeral call for military funding
August 03, 2010
A late soldier’s father has criticized a Welsh bishop for calling for increased military funding during his son’s funeral Mass. Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia-- who served as Great Britain’s military bishop from 2002 to 2008-- made a similar appeal at an April funeral.
“I just feel there were very few words of comfort from the bishop whatsoever,” said Dennis Robinson. “This is the most difficult thing any of us will ever have to deal with, and I feel completely let down by the Church.”
“If that is all the support that religion can give at a time like this, then I want no part of it,” he added. “To use this kind of political propaganda was wholly inappropriate and totally diminished what was supposed to be an acknowledgment of my son’s life … It was an incredibly long diatribe, which centered on army funding and not the loss which we had suffered. It could not have been more inappropriate.”
“We were devastated that the service was hijacked in such a way,” added Corinna Robinson, the soldier’s sister. “The fact that Sam was killed by an explosive device and not through any lack of equipment or funding, just goes to highlight how unrelated the long sermon was to my brother.”
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Further information:
- Bishop hijacked my son’s funeral, says dad of dead soldier (Western Mail)
- Bishop: Increase funding of Afghan war (CWN, 4/30)
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