Why does our supposedly secular society listen to bishops? Why do the media bother to tell us what celibate Catholic bishops say about sex or what Anglican bishops living in rural palaces say about unemployment in the inner city? Why do non-believers believe the bishops, especially when some bishops are themselves constantly questioning the notion of the religious belief? Why did Runcie's resignation make headline news? In answering these questions "Believing Bishops" provides the inside story of religion's role in the 1990s. This book measures the performance of our bishops against Biblical standards. Are they prophets, pastors and peacemakers on the issues of our time, from women priests to Thatcherism, from test-tube babies to Northern Ireland. Based on interviews with the bishops themselves, this book provides a unique insight into the relationship between Church, State and society.