Church pontificates while leaders live in luxury

As so often happens in the Church of England, we have once again been patronised by one of its ever-hypocritical leaders. Does the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, know what he is saying (Yorkshire Post, February 9)?

How can the Church of England pontificate on the needs of the poor when its leaders live in luxury and dress in a manner to put as much distance between themselves and the poor?

Also, it is totally wrong that the Church of England is given a privileged position in proclaiming its brand of the gospel “to every corner of the land”. Even a cursory reading of the Bible will tell the reader that there is very little in common between what the Bible says and Church of England doctrine.

As for the true assertion that “all men are equal in the sight of God” – how does this stack up against Dr Sentamu’s defence of the Church of England’s position as the privileged state Church and also that the unelected, unaccountable and hereditary monarch is at its head. How equal is that?

The influence and size of the Church of England will continue to decline as more people see that there are better alternatives to the hypocrisy of a state church run on expediency, false traditions and the self-interest of its leaders.