Dad accuses bishop of hijacking funeral service with 'awful' war comments
A SWANSEA bishop has apologised to the father of a Carmarthen soldier killed in action in Afghanistan after offending him during the funeral service.
Bombardier Samuel Robinson, of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, died in an explosion while on foot patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province on Thursday, July 8.
-
Hero: Bombardier Samuel Robinson
The 31-year-old, from Pentre Morgan, Bronwydd, was deployed on his fourth operational tour in Afghanistan at the time of his death.
His funeral took place at a packed St Mary's Church in Carmarthen's Union Street on July 30.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
The Right Reverend Thomas M Burns, Bishop of Menevia, led the service.
However, comments made by Mr Burns on armed forces funding during the service attracted condemnation from Sam's father Dennis Robinson.
Mr Robinson said he was "horrified and disgusted" by the bishop's comments, which he described as "a political diatribe".
He added: "He completely missed the fact that the family were there. It's not that I disagree with the views, but he made the whole thing into a media circus.
"Instead of turning his attentions to supporting Sam's family he launched into this political diatribe.
"It was just disgusting, I was sat in the front pew absolutely fuming.
"He should be there supporting the family. As a fellow priest pointed out, the idea of the service is there to bring comfort and closure."
However, Mr Robinson praised the support given by Sam's former colleagues, especially two injured in the explosion which claimed Sam's life.
"It was a superb turnout, his colleagues and comrades did him proud," he said.
"Peter and Robert, who were both injured in the explosion, came along.
"Robert, who has lost his sight, had only just got out of hospital. He wanted to attend for Sam.
"It was a wonderful turnout, I have no issues with anything else. All the Army, from the top to the bottom, couldn't have been more supportive.
"I have no problem with any of the Army side, he was Army through and through, it was all he wanted to be.
"I just think the bishop was way, way out of line.
"While I don't disagree with what was said, my son was not killed due to a lack of funding, he was killed by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). Comments like that from the bishop don't help. As I told him after the service, he made me proud to be an atheist."
Bishop Burns, of the Mid and West Wales Roman Catholic diocese of Menevia, later said: "If what I said in my sermon added to Mr Robinson's distress, which I did not intend, I ask him to accept my apologies, without excuse or reservation."
bruce.sinclair@swwmedia.co.uk
Comments
by Alun, Chepstow
Thursday, November 11 2010, 10:17AM
“I was at the military funeral of a naval friend recently and that service was also highjacked by the minister (his ship's chaplain). In that instance, though, the minister was intent on using it as an opportunity to evangelise to the congregation, particularly the non-believers. It completely ruined the service, which should have been about my friend, but turned into an exercise in proselytising.”
by Jerry, Penllergaer
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 10:41PM
“As the base of this story is about some brave person loosing his life in active service why does the evening post allow comments? Not needed! Post - get a grip!!!!!!!”
by Hal Jordan, Oa
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 9:54PM
“Andrew - are you a moron?
The father was clearly upset as during a service to bury his son the bishop decided to highjack it to go off on some rant about underfunding in the forces.
And your comment "I'm sorry his son is dead of course, but there's never any excuse for rudeness" is incredibly patronising and insulting. I'm sure the last thing on his mind as he buried his child was not coming across as rude. If people like you are representative of the church then its no wonder its becoming a laughing stock.
If you don't possess the intelligence to grasp the crux of the article then please dont comment with your inane ramblings!”
by rob, graveyard of ambition...
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 8:32PM
“The bishop was providing a service, a "paid" service where he is "paid" to provide "words of comfort" for a grieving family, and not his own "opinion" of the war in afghanistan.
We do not know, and never will know what this brave soldier experienced and went through so that we have our freedom. Andrew your comments are a disgrace..”
by john, swansea
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 8:21PM
“Bishop Burns got it wrong again,he said the same thing in another soldier's burial service last month.What comfort did this grieving family get from his words?There is a time and a place for such opinions this was not it.Andrew,what was an atheist doing in a Christian service?”
by Bob, Kidwelly
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 4:40PM
“How silly, of course this bishops words were well out of order. The family and friends were gathered to say goodbye to a very brave man, not listen to some diatribe by an attention grabber wanting to milk the opportunity to make political comment.
If the bishop wants to do that then let him call a press conference, not use this very sad occassion as a soapbox.
If Andrew Thomas does not understand that simple concept then I feel sorry for him.”
by Steve, in exile
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 4:29PM
“Andrew Thomas, you really have a nerve.
There was nothing "perfectly valid" about the comments about armed forces funding because - as his father says - they were completely irrelevant to the cause of this young guy's death.
It would be as appropriate as decrying the fact that chocolate bars have got smaller over the last few years. True: yes, relevant: no. To discuss that, as in this case, would just be to shoehorn something in for the sake of it.
The bishop has made a total fool of himself and has offered what we often term a 'non-apology'. He uses the "if what I said has caused offence" line, which is usually interpreted as "I don't think I've done anything wrong but I suppose I'd better use the word sorry so I look less like the villain".
I can't help thinking that the family of the deceased have been let down very badly by this pompous prelate. He ought to have felt honoured to be asked to take the funeral, not seen it as a soapbox for his own views.
But then, when did religious leaders ever miss a chance to give us the benefit of their usually anachronistic and irrelevant opinions?”
by vic, the church
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 4:05PM
“andrew swansea-go on and bash the bishop thats all your fit for pathetic fool”
by U Muppets, Biyermun
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 3:30PM
“To quote from the article:
"He should be there supporting the family. As a fellow priest pointed out, the idea of the service is there to bring comfort and closure......Comments like that from the bishop don't help".
He's a grieving father. Grief. Look it up. Furthermore, the bishop said "If what I said in my sermon added to Mr Robinson's distress, which I did not intend, I ask him to accept my apologies, without excuse or reservation."”
by Andrew, Swansea
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 3:22PM
“U Muppets, so what sid the bishop do wrong? Why should I "bash" him? Tell me.
The truth is, the bishop did absolutely nothing wrong. He said the armed forces were underfunded, and the father agreed!!
In fact, the bishop sounds like an intelligent and perceptive man to realise our armed forces are underfunded. I wish the government would listen to him!”