Dear Ms Badenoch,
Thank you for your honesty.
In your recent BBC interview, you shared how the horrors of the Josef Fritzl case caused you to lose your belief in God. You spoke with painful clarity about the haunting image of a woman praying for rescue and not receiving it. And you said: “It was like someone blew out a candle.”
First, let me say, what you shared is deeply human. Many believers, including mature Christians, have faced similar moments of crisis. You’re not alone in asking, “Where was God when evil walked in?” That question echoes across time, from the Psalms of David to the cries of Jesus on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
And that’s the point. Christianity doesn’t sidestep suffering, it centres on it. Jesus doesn’t offer us a faith that avoids pain, but one that confronts it. On the cross, Jesus entered our suffering, bore our sin, and opened the door to hope, not by eliminating every injustice now, but by promising one day to end all injustice forever. He is not absent in the darkness – He has been through it.
The tragedy of Elisabeth Fritzl’s ordeal is beyond comprehension. It should disturb us. It should grieve us. And yes, it should leave us asking why. But we must be careful not to equate the silence of God with the absence of God. He does not always answer as we want, but that doesn’t mean He isn’t at work.
You said you still consider yourself a “cultural Christian” - someone who honours the Christian roots of Britain and wants to preserve the values that have shaped our nation. Thank you for saying that. But Kemi, may I gently suggest: cultural Christianity is not enough. Christianity is not just a moral framework or a civilising influence, it’s a relationship with the risen Christ.
You’ve defended religious freedom, spoken out for conscience, and protected space for faith in public life. You’ve done more than many who claim deep belief. And yet, the Christian faith is not merely something to defend, it’s Someone to know. Jesus is not an idea. He is a Person. And He still calls your name. You may feel the candle of faith has gone out. But even a smouldering wick, Isaiah says, He will not snuff out. The smallest flicker of belief is enough for God to work with. The door back to faith isn’t locked and the One who stands behind it still welcomes prodigals, doubters, and strugglers with open arms.
We don’t need to have all the answers to walk with Jesus. We just need the courage to let Him walk with us.
With grace and hope,
J.John
Reverend Canon
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