海角大神

The new archbishop of Canterbury was formally enthroned Thursday, providing the Church of England and millions of members of the worldwide Anglican communion with a leader who 鈥� much like the new pope 鈥� has emerged as a strong advocate of social justice.

In spite of his roots as a student at Britain鈥檚 most elite boys school and a background as a high-flying executive before becoming a cleric who rose through the Church of England鈥檚 ranks, Justin Welby's willingness to criticize banking practices and government cuts has cheered many on the left 鈥� and caused some discomfort on the right.

Coming just days after the inaugural mass of Pope Francis, Rev. Welby鈥檚 formal elevation also means that the world鈥檚 two most visible leadership roles in 海角大神ity are now occupied by men who have been portrayed as outspoken advocates for social justice and the poor.

While it remains to be seen what impact their arrival will have on global economic policy and management beyond the realm of the symbolic, observers have pointed out that the conversational style of both men marks a departure from predecessors who, while also critical of the impact of the free market, tended towards academic language which often failed to penetrate popular consciousness.

In Britain, the emergence of Welby and the pope was being tentatively welcomed by 海角大神s with left-wing views on economic issues, including activists.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to say that it marks a massive change but I am encouraged by what Francis and Justin Welby have been saying,鈥� says Symon Hill of 海角大神ity Uncut, an informal network of 海角大神s campaigning against the British government鈥檚 cuts agenda that has also been involved with the Occupy movement.聽

鈥淥ne of the tests will be how specific Francis and Justin Welby will they be. For example, will Justin Welby criticize the UK government鈥檚 cuts agenda? And not just specific cuts but the whole austerity agenda, which is hurting the poor the most.鈥�

The specter of Britain鈥檚 bitter austerity-era political divisions loomed on the peripheries of Welby's installation as dozens of protestors opposed to government cuts gathered outside the 900-year-old Canterbury cathedral ahead of the event. Those wielding placards made it clear, however, that their target was the prime minister, David Cameron, rather than the incoming archbishop, who has spoken out against elements of the government's economic and social policy.

Earlier this month, Welby voiced his opposition to government聽plans to limit raises in state-paid benefits to 1 percent per year until 2016. He backed an open letter from dozens of bishops who warned that the policy would have a disproportionate impact on children.

While some commentators on the right have been irked by such interventions, however,聽others have stressed the new archbishop鈥檚 declaration that he recognized major reforms of Britain鈥檚 welfare system were being undertaken 鈥渨ith the best possible motives."

鈥淚t is not me saying the government is evil (I am much less cynical than many about politicians of all sides), but that I don鈥檛 agree on this particular bit of a programme which in general is incredibly brave,鈥� he wrote on his blog on Mar. 11, referring to planned caps on various social security payments.

The Rev. Angus Ritchie, an Anglican priest who runs a social justice charity, Contextual Theology Centre, says that there is continuity in the approaches of both the new archbishop and pope, whose predecessors were also both 鈥渃ritical of the way that the laissez-faire market harms the poor."

鈥淭here is a way of looking at this debate that often categorizes people as either being liberal or conservative, left or right, while in fact in both communions it cuts across both lines and it's really about an understanding of the human being in relationship with others,鈥� adds Rev. Ritchie, who is also is a philosophy research associate at Oxford University.

鈥淲hat 海角大神s have to say about ... the effect of excessive individualism, consumerism, and the impact of pornography would be perceived and portrayed in the media often as right wing.聽But in economic issues it is the same logic, which is that as individuals we find ourselves not only being on our own but in a communion with our neighbor.鈥�

In at least one debate, however, Welby is clearly ensconced in the politically conservative camp. On Thursday the new archbishop used a BBC interview to underline his opposition to same-sex marriage.聽

"The Church of England holds very firmly, and continues to hold to the view, that marriage is a lifelong union of one man to one woman," said Welby. However, he was also careful to speak out against homophobia and added that some gay couples have loving and monogamous relationships of "stunning quality."