The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on the government to take into account the 'human costs' of spending cuts in Greater Manchester.
Dr Rowan Williams, the Church of England's most senior cleric, also warned that those hit by the cuts may turn to extremist groups in their hunt for 'scapegoats'.
Speaking at the opening of a new bridge at Salford's MediaCity, the Archbishop said: "There's a problem here in that these cuts are happening very quickly without very much human costing.
"There's costing of the national budget but not very much costing of the human burden that people have to carry."
He warned: "What everybody is concerned about is that people will get angry and disillusioned, they won't want to get involved in local politics or local decision making.”
When asked about plans by the English Defence League to march through Rochdale this weekend, Dr Williams said: "Unfortunately, social pressures do lead some people to look for scapegoats."
The Archbishop said the way to combat extremism was to invest in projects like the 'inspiring' regeneration of Salford Quays.
He said: "What needs to happen is really what all of this represents, investment of real confidence in the communities so that people feel they have a future to trust."
Dr Williams and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, visited the the development as part of a four-day visit to Greater Manchester.
They cut the ribbon on the £11m bridge which connects MediaCity to the Imperial War Museum in Trafford and crossed it accompanied by the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, the Bishop of Manchester.
Clad in traditional clerical outfits, the two Archbishops sat at the captains' desk in the Question of Sport studio - seats usually occupied by former cricketer Phil Tufnell and former England rugby star Matt Dawson.
As they posed for pictures Dr Sentamu joked that that he might enter the next series of Britain's Got Talent.
He described the enormous BBC studios as 'marvellous', adding: "I've never seen anything like it in my life."
Archbishop of Canterbury warns of people being forced into 'extremism' by budget cuts
March 01, 2011
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I just find it impossible to take these peddlers of the supernatural seriously.
No. Archbishop. The way to combat extremism is for you and your religious collegues that punishing the weak and innocent is EVIL. Concentrating spending on remote areas as a sop to relocated London media people will INCREASE frustration. The reason people "can't be bothered" getting involved in local poitics is two-fold.
1. This country is dictated to by London, so local politics is irrelevant.
2. All mainstream parties have shifted so far to the right that those of us that don't "conform" by having a £25k+ job in the private sector; friends/relatives/buisness links in London, and most of all a car, no longer feel part of society. The point being that no matter how angry and frustrated we are, we will never take it out on anyone that isn't to blame.
How about cutting religious funding first?
That would give a sizable chunk of cash to be spread evenly across all people and from all walks of life....
People dont forced into 'extremism' because of budget cuts they vote for the "extreme" parties because they see the money being given to people who just walk into the country and steal off us because we are too generous.We see our very hard earned cash (taxes) being sent to very rich countries where the politicians use foreign aid to buy guns and luxury goods etc.
""His yacht will cost nearly three times what his country spends on health and education for its impoverished citizens each year.""Why should the taxpayers of britain struggle ...?Christian values only go so far,turning the other cheek isnt a option anymore.
Couldn't agree more MH.
Religion(s) and God(s) are the root cause of most problems in the world.
These dressed up storytellers should not be meddling in politics.
Judging by what they have been up to, they are on personal, high profile, ego trips.
I think His Grace should stick to his knitting and worry about why people are deserting the C of E in droves. There are more people going to Bingo per week than to church. Maybe his flock are disillusioned by he and his ilk sticking their clerical noses into things that don't concern them, like politics.
How about getting rid of him that would save some money for a start.Cant stand the man always poking his nose in, i think he is an attention seeker.
Religion is the root of all evil just look around the world
The Archbishop of York,however, Dr. John Sentamu, once of Uganda, is a very different kettle of fish. He seems to be a man with very firm Christian principles as distinct from pseudo, touchy feely, trendy platitudes posing as "caring".He is a more muscular christian prepared to defend his faith and its followers right to practice it. He is from the coalface where if one is too accomodating you get consumed.
You are all on a religious rant but the offensive statement in the article is " They cut the ribbon on the £11m bridge which connects MediaCity to the Imperial War Museum "
£11 Million.....For a functional bridge spanning how far..?
Why do all bridges have to have sails, rigging and reach skywards now? More to maintain in the future. Style over purpose.
I only take the peddlers of the superich seriously. There is no such thing as society or morality. Me, me, me and money, money, money. Toodle Pip! Richbags Alderley Edge. If you can not get a job, join the Army and die for the Queen. Do not say I do not offer a solution to your meaningless lives.
Good to see the majority of people commenting here are positively anti-religion. The people of Manchester are intelligent, and I hope this strange man reads this and then feels the need to keep out of our business in future. Don't need his supernaturally biased opinion the same way as I'm sure people don't want to know what Santa has to say.
"Dr Rowan Williams, the Church of England's most senior cleric, also warned that those hit by the cuts may turn to extremist groups in their hunt for 'scapegoats'."
The scapegoats are already out there and being offered up by politicians. They'll happily tell you that everything in your life is the fault of immigrants or bankers, depending on your preference.
Forced into extremism? I wonder to whom he is referring! Is he talking about white people being lured into the arms of the BNP or Muslims being persuaded into the arms of the Muslim extremists? Or even United fans being converted to City because there is more room and a better chance of getting a ticket?
The Archbishop is confusing accountancy which is well understood, audited and verifiable, with religion, which is not, when he makes the statement
"There's costing of the national budget but not very much costing of the human burden that people have to carry."
I do not have a problem with freedom of speech or freedom of religion, I believe in God....But I do have a problem with a "man of the cloth" insinuating that the people of this city are unintelligent buffoons who will turn to extremist groups because of budget cuts... Wow Sir that is some faith you have in the people...and you wonder why people are leaving the church.... you are not better then the people of this city, they are capable of making good decisions.... and not following just to follow... there will be not one extremist group who benefit from these cuts I have always thought that the separation of state and church was a good idea... and this is only a small example of why you should stay out of politics!
This is from the same "learned" man who this week turned round and refused to allow same sex unions to take place in churches. The hypocrisy of this group is astounding.
All the while you receive funding to peddle your myths and bile.
Don't forget in the forthcoming census to declare yourself non-religious if you do not practise a religion - as it can have an effect on the funding the church receives.
How much of our tax money goes to these wizards of the imagination??...
If it's more than 50p then STOP THE LOT!!
Religion has no part to play in politics...stick to hating minority groups or people that YOU don't think live the life that YOU want them to.