If Not Them, Then Who?

Wow - two blog posts in less that 24 hours, something must be wrong?

This kind of a loose follow-up to last nights post. Since a number of church leaders, Bishops and Archbishops criticised the coalition governments welfare reforms earlier this week, there have been a number of articles in the majority of the mainstream newspapers claiming that these Bishops are out of touch with their congregations, the majority of whom (apparently support welfare reform), and as always when the church speaks out against the establishment, how the Church shouldn't meddle in politics.

Firstly, just for the record, I am willing to admit I am not fundamentally against welfare reform. However, the word 'reform' means to make something better, that obviously isn't happening in this case. I also believe that you can't reform the welfare system without also tackling raising the minimum wage, zero-hours contracts, corporate welfare and social justice.

The main question I would like to ask (and I'm not promising any answers.), Is around the age-old statement that is always brought up in this situations - 'The Church shouldn't meddle in politics'.

If the Church shouldn't meddle in politics, the who should (apart from politicians obviously)?

Unelected Journalists and newspaper editors?
Multinational  and Large Ltd Companies whose heads often don't live in the UK and often don't pay tax here?
Lobbyists? Getting paid to try and persuade ministers to change government policy for the benefit of a few, not the many.
Charities?
Other members of the Media?

Or, in a 21st century democracy, should everyone be allowed to be involved in the political debate? Can we really have a proper debate whilst we have a largely biased right-wing media?

There's no easy answers. What do you think?