THE Bishop of Blackburn has slammed a "blame culture" which he says is destroying society.

The Rt Rev Alan Chester hit out as he gave his Easter Day sermon at Blackburn Cathedral yesterday.

He said a negative blame culture was destroying society and was to blame for recruitment problems in the civil service.

Mr Chesters also revealed his disgust at people who he said were always looking for scapegoats and were not prepared to stand up and take responsibility.

He fumed: "Our negative, blame seeking approach is slowly but surely destroying our civilised society.

"It is one of the reasons why so few want to be teachers, why quality people shun standing for election, local or national, and maybe it is the reason why fewer offer themselves for the ordained ministry."

He said that if we lived in a culture of criticism "we destroy life because we fail to recognise the good and affirm those who do their best.

"If we live in that kind of person-destroying world how can we tackle those life-destroying issues which beset our world today," said the Bishop, who chairs the Church of England national board of education.

"The challenge for life giving experience is enormous and the church is called by its very Easter faith in the risen Lord to work for these things."

Mr Chesters said the Church's declaration of death to sin and selfishness was not itself a negative, but aimed at freeing people for the positive experience of life in all its fullness.

"I find so much negativity in our present day society, so many looking to blame others, for scapegoats, for compensation for what truly were accidents. Few seem to make allowances for the weakness of others.

"There is too much claiming of 'my rights' and too little recognition of our responsibility. On the cross Jesus abandoned his rights as the Son of God that we might have life," he added.