Still awaiting details of court dealings

Remember we are dealing with a very profitable and wealthy business, which in my opinion hides under the cloak of religion. When will this farcical haemorrhage of money to assist the Church of England be stopped?

The public should not have to attend meetings at the request of the Church of England local clergy to state we do not wish to contribute in any way to their religious business. If, as we have been told, the churches belong to us islanders, we ourselves should be holding the meetings without the presence of a Church of England representative, unless invited by ourselves. We are not performing animals to be called before the Dean of Guernsey or his representatives, and how they (CofE ) can be jubilant at the meetings to announce the vote is unanimous in favour of giving the money is just unbelievable, as only their own supporters turn up.

If asked, how many ratepayers on our island actually know the financial benefit the Church of England gains from the present system of funding? How many people here in Guernsey are actually aware the Church of England has assets to the value of approximately £8 billion pounds? Bear in mind that during the ongoing dispute with the Church of England, over £200,000 to date has been spent trying to sort the matter out. I find it completely confuses me how they can suddenly find this amount of money when just a few years ago, they also managed to find many thousands of pounds to pay compensation to the victims of their clergy convicted of abuse. Then of course there is the hundreds of thousands of pounds each year which is being paid to the Diocese of Winchester, which does not have to be sent and could have been used locally, the excuse used for sending it (as printed in the Guernsey Press, 30 December 2013) being that the local congregations were committed to sending £646,998 for the year 2013. This is utter rubbish as they could have decided not to do so.

Have these people no allegiance or commitment to Guernsey during this time of financial problems our island is suffering? We also have our pot of gold (Ecclesiastical Court), which of course the Church of England will not give up without a fight. It will be very interesting for the Guernsey public to take note how much stalling and delays occur during the present review into this court.

On looking at a copy of the Guernsey Press (13 July 2013), the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Canon Paul Mellor, said he would be more than happy to cooperate in giving details of this court's dealings. Well, Rev. Mellor, before you leave our island, would you please publicly advise myself and the general public where we can obtain copies of the financial dealings for this court, which I assume will have been audited by a local accountant?

Can I remind readers of this letter? This is about the fourth time I have requested a copy of the document from the Rev. gentleman, his usual reply being no comment. So much for cooperation Church of England style.

E.MAUGER,

Address withheld.

Editor's footnote: Canon Paul Mellor declined to comment.