Not so fasta with the pasta!

“Spaghetti can be eaten most successfully if you inhale it like a vacuum cleaner.” Sophia Loren "Tim made it clear that contemplating any form of theft was horrendous, but equally horrendous was the fact that any child of God should be driven to contemplate crime in order to exist." David Wilbourne, assistant bishop of Llandaff

Rev Tim Jones, caused an unholy row this Christmas past. His sermon suggested that it was better for the needy to pinch an 80p tin of ravioli from national chains (not small family businesses) than to resort to mugging, prostitution or burglary.  

This was too much for parishioner Martin Stot who hid in a phone box before throwing 30 tins worth of ravioli from Asda (not a small family business) over Rev Tim. Perhaps a phone call, letter or request for a chat might have been more appropriate!

Published this month, An Anatomy of Economic Inequality, says that the top 10% in the UK are 100 times richer than the poorest 10%.  Save the Children recently reported 13% of UK children are living in severe poverty.

Does Mr Stot get quite so angry about this? Do we? Both Rev Jones and his critics agree that stealing is a serious business. But so too is the situation of the poorest in our society and in the global economy. So too are the choices they have to make. Are we straining at gnats and swallowing camels (Mt 23:24)?

The response to the DEC appeal for Haiti has raised around £80million - a remarkable amount which will save and change lives. Those who give so generously want sustainable change not a return to life before the quake. Deuteronomy 15:4 says, 'However, there should be no poor among you...'. Harbouring inequality in an affluent society and in a global economy threatens the peace, security and the righteousness of us all. Generosity is more than charity. It requires that we open our hearts and our minds as well as our hands.

Rev Tim Jones in the news

Unequal Britain report

History of pasta and ravioli 

Egg throwing as protest

Politicians and protesters