Archbishops leaps in to support the troops

Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, is set to take a "leap of faith" when he makes a parachute jump to raise money for the Afghanistan Trust, a charity which supports injured servicemen and women.

The Archbishop, an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, believes that Britain does too little to meet its debt to the Armed Forces and that the government needs to do more to look after servicemen and women. "That means paying them more when on active service," he says, "housing them better and providing for the best medical and respite care if injured."

As well as hoping to raise £50,000, the Archbishop also wants his jump to serve to encourage the general public to be more open in their support of the military. "These men and women risk their lives," says Dr Sentamu. "The least we can offer them in their return is to deliver on the covenantal promise of a welcome return."
"Our armed forces have my deep admiration and respect for what they strive to achieve in the name of this country and on behalf of others. They are second to none in their sense of courage and duty."

Well said, Bish, and good luck!

Link> BBC: Archbishop's leap of conscience