Calls for the Lords Spiritual to be removed from the House of Lords are nothing new. It is a frequent occurrence that only increases whenever the 24 bishops who occupy the Bishops’ Benches are perceived to be holding back the advance of progressive liberalism, such as the current Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. But it […]
Category: Religion
The Church of England is a tortoise compared to Rome’s hare
There are many ways of comparing denominations. There are so many differences of style, liturgy, customs and even doctrine. But such comparisons are always subjective. One man’s heresy is another man’s cornerstone. But recent events involving the leadership of the Church of England and the Church of Rome, overlapping as they have, provide us with […]
Police in Pakistan say Rimsha Masih is innocent
Police in Pakistan have submitted an interim charge sheet to the court in the case of Rimsha Masih, the young girl accused of desecrating the Qur’an, and have concluded that she is innocent of the charges. The charge sheet, lodged with the court on Saturday, suggests that Mohammed Khalid Chishti, the local imam, is guilty […]
More news from the Church in Wales Governing Body
University Chaplains Education chaplaincy was something “very worth while”, the Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, told the GB, as he moved a motion that urged “ways of supporting, developing, and enhancing chaplaincy provision to institutions of tertiary, further, and higher education”. The GB heard presentations from a number of education chaplains. More: […]
Church in Wales’ Governing Body debates women bishops
A consultation conducted earlier this year suggested that a majority of members of the Governing Body (GB) were in favour of women bishops, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said. “Seventy-nine per cent of lay members and 83 per cent of clerical members indicated either strong or broad support for legislation being brought forward to […]
Medieval monuments targeted by thieves
Medieval monuments have been stolen from four churches in the south Midlands this year. This has led to the suggestion that an organised gang may be stealing items to order. One of six reredos panels was stolen during a break-in at St Peter’s, Drayford, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in March. In April, the head-section of a […]
‘Bigot’ slip coincides with further same-sex rows
Teachers could face disciplinary action, including dismissal, if they fail to endorse same-sex marriage, suggests legal advice published by the pressure group Coalition for Marriage. The warning came in the week when the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, briefly labelled opponents of the Government’s same-sex marriage consultation “bigots”, and the Green Party expelled a Brighton […]
British Government lawyer: No religious discrimination at work if Christians can resign
Christians cannot claim that they have suffered religious discrimination at work if they have the freedom to resign and look for another job, a British-government lawyer told the European Court of Human Rights this week. James Eadie QC made his comments as he outlined the Government’s position in four cases: those of Nadia Eweida and […]
Church lawyers to review advice to PCCs on chancel repair liability
Church lawyers are to review their advice to PCCs on Chancel Repair Liability (CRL), after the case in Broadway, Worcestershire, where the Charity Commission ruled that it would be “reasonable” for the parish not to register liability against 30 householders. Under recent legislative changes, PCCs have just over a year to register CRL against affected […]
Strasbourg to hear religious-discrimination cases
The European Court of Human Rights, in Strasbourg, will next week hear the cases of four British people who claim that they lost their jobs as a result of discrimination against their Christian beliefs. Two of the cases concern the right to manifest religious belief, and whether this extends to wearing a cross or crucifix […]