I’ve had conversations with people in the past that have gone something like this:
Me: “I’m an atheist”
Them: “I’m a christian”
Me; “Do you read the bible?”
Them: “No”
Me: “Go to church?”
Them: “Every christmas AND I was christened”
Me: “Grrr”

I’m very surprised to find myself defending a Vicar but I think some of the fault in this situation has to lie with the people who want a nice church and vicar as window dressing for their funeral but don’t actually believe in what he has to say. Imagine if I approached a mosque and said “Love the minaret and your funny little hat, I’d love to have my relative’s funeral here. Oh but none of that Muslim rubbish please, I’ll have Bryan Adams instead.” I think the Immam would have a right to be annoyed.

Having said all that, his comments around non-secular weddings are breathtaking has he no concept that there are people who don’t believe in a Christian god? “Forgive them, for they know no what they do” has never been used in a more patronising context.

I completely fail to understand how a humanist funeral – featuring music and readings that the deceased actually liked – can be something to look down on like that. Why would you even want a priest at your non-religious funeral anyway? Better to do both him and the deceased’s family a favour and bring in a humanist celebrant.

I also don’t really think he wants to invite a debate about how pastoral care is being tainted by people’s desire to make money, or we’re going to get into a lovely discussion about tax exemption and indulgences.