A minister in Britain sparked a heated legislative debate when he declared that God was undoubtedly a liberal, pointing in particular to the four Gospels in the Bible.
Steve Webb, the pension minister, said that biblical Gospels suggest God has the same values as Lib Dems, the party of Nick Clegg, the Telegraph reported. He made the claim in a written introduction to a new book: “Liberal Democrats Do God.”
“The most fundamental reason why Christians should feel at home in the Liberal Democrats is that the character of God, as revealed in the Christian Gospel, would suggest that God must be a liberal,” Mr. Webb said.
“This assertion will shock or offend some, but I believe that these is no other conclusion that can be drawn from a reading of the New Testament.”
Don’t be ridiculous, said conservatives.
“Everyone knows that God is a Somerset Conservative,” said Jacob Ress-Mogg, the Conservative MP for North East Somerset, in the Telegraph. Mr. Rees-Mogg also said he admired Mr. Webb for at least bringing his faith to the forefront.
“I think he’s a first class minister and I think that in his role you would want to think that what you were doing was the Christian thing to be doing,” he said. “So I rather admire Steve Webb for saying it, but I’m not going to let him get away with the idea that God … in a Lib Dem.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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