Tory MP Jonathan Gullis attacks bishops for 'using the pulpit to preach'

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A Tory MP has launched an attack on Church of England bishops and faces ridicule after saying they should stop 'using the pulpit to preach".

< p>Jonathan Gullis was ordered to "look up the meaning of bishop in the dictionary" after criticizing high clerics for their "preaching" on refugees.

It comes after the Prelates criticized the government's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda and said the idea should "put us to shame as a nation".

In June, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, and 23 other bishops said refugees were "the vulnerable people the Old Testament calls us to be enjoyed".

They then urged the government to abandon the Rwandan plan, calling it "immoral" and contrary to Jesus' teachings of offering hospitality to foreigners.

< p>The High Court ruled on Monday that the policy was legal but the cases of eight asylum seekers on whom it was imposed had not been properly considered by the Home Office.

Mr. Gullis, MP for Stoke on Trent, appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today program following the judgment to defend the policy.

When the bishop's criticism was directed at him, he replied, "I don't think bishops not elected to the House of Lords should be preaching about politics.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby delivering a sermon from a pulpit

(Getty Images)

"I think that 'they should look internally at the many allegations of abuse that have taken place and the Archbishop of Canterbury should spend his time focusing on [inaudible] the reputation of the Church.

"And unfortunately I think too many people use the pulpit to preach."

Mr. Gullis said he thought the bishops were "disconnected from the overwhelming majority of this great country" - before noting that the UK had a "democratic mandate to leave the European Union".

< p>Lib Dem Cabinet spokeswoman Christine Jardine told The Independent: "Telling the bishops that they should stop preaching from the pulpit is a bit like telling Messi to stop scoring, come on...