Short reports and links
Councils handed ‘power of prayer’
BBC – The government is activating a power it says will allow most councils in England to hold town hall prayers.
Read more – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17082136
Eric Pickles, Community Secretary, Restores Council Prayers At Start Of Business
Sky – Read more – http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16172297
Lord Carey warns British Christians not to get carried away
The Spectator – Freddy Gray writes : The British need to talk about religion. The trouble is, every time God rears His head in the public square — as we have seen this week with the row about prayers at council meetings and Baroness Warsi’s speech on ‘militant secularism’ — everybody starts speaking in platitudes. The debate follows a familiar pattern: an anti-religion spokesman, probably a man from the National Secular Society, says something about Britain not being a ‘theocracy’. He then might mention America as an example of the theocratic menace, happily ignoring that the USA is, definitively, a secular country. In reply, somebody religious, probably Lord Carey of Clifton, says that ‘religious freedom’ is under threat. And finally, somebody who wants to sound reasonable — it used to always be Tony Blair — says ‘what a difficult and painful issue’ this is. We all agree and try not to think too hard.
Read more – http://www.spectator.co.uk/faithbased/7657513/lord-carey-warns-british-christians-not-to-get-carried-away.thtml
To defend the Church’s role is to defend faith as a whole
Telegraph – Charles Moore, ex-editor writes – The Queen is right – our national religion is a force for unity and a channel of peace. A conservative supporter’s view.
CNI note – Charles Moore is a practicing Roman Catholic and a “shooting in the Glens of Antrim” friend of David Cameron. He is a regular columnist with The Daily Telegraph
Read more – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9089041/To-defend-the-Churchs-role-istodefend-faith-as-a-whole.html
The Queen’s bold defence of the Church is vital to preclude a national lurch …
Daily Mail – By Abhijit Pandya The Queen has taken a brave, correct and bold move to protect our Constitution by supporting the Church of England in a strongly worded speech.
Read more – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2102352/The-Queen-s-bold-defence-Church-vital-preclude-national-lurch-moral-abyss.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Religious education in schools is ‘a priority’ say MPs
BBC – MPs have set up a new group to safeguard the teaching of religious education to pupils in England. The all party parliamentary group on RE wants the subject to be treated as a priority. Last year 115 MPs signed a motion demanding a debate on including RE GCSE in the English Baccalaureate.
Read more – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17068153
Also – Inspire Magazine –
http://www.inspiremagazine.org.uk/news.aspx?action=view&id=5915
What is the proper place for religion in Britain’s public life?
The Guardian – Britain became engulfed in a culture war last week as secularists and believers clashed over the role of religion in public life. Even the Queen intervened to defend the Church of England’s role. Richard Dawkins, whose survey about Christianity in the UK ignited the row, defends his position on secularism, faith and tolerance in conversation with Will Hutton of the Observer
Read more – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/19/religion-secularism-atheism-hutton-dawkins
Conservatives need to decide between the pulpit and the progressive agenda
The Commentator – Ken Livingstone was quite right: On homosexuality and the progressive agenda the Conservative leadership is schizophrenic. When it comes to homosexual marriage, the Conservative party is not only divided, Conservatives themselves are divided, often between their true values and natural instincts, and a quest for the popular vote. As recently as 2003 David Cameron voted against the repeal of Section 28 and reportedly voted in favour of civil partnerships only after advice on the importance of including gay rights in a third way political reform of the Tory party, by his more naturally liberal leaning wife. His 2010 interview with Gay Times is remembered for his desire and yet inability to agree, rather than his solidarity with the gay community. Section 28 itself is well within the living memory of even most young Conservatives, and was actively supported by the vast majority of the party who still look back on the Thatcher government as halcyon days when Conservatism reigned without compromise.
Read more – http://www.thecommentator.com/article/905/conservatives_need_to_decide_between_the_pulpit_and_the_progressive_agenda
Former Worcestershire rector loses employment tribunal claim
Crosswire – The Reverend Mark Sharpe has lost his case against the Bishop and Diocese of Worcester. Gavin Drake reports: The Revd Mark Sharpe, former Rector of the Teme Valley South benefice near Tenbury Wells, alleged that the bishop and diocese had failed to protect him from parishioners in his “toxic parish”. He claimed a catalogue of abuse and bullying, saying his dog had been poisoned, excrement had been smeared on his car, and his tyres had been slashed.The diocese rejected his claims and, at a five-day preliminary hearing at the Birmingham employment tribunal last November, argued that Mr Sharpe had no right to bring a claim to an employment tribunal because, as a Church of England parish priest with freehold incumbent status, he was an office holder, and not an employee or a worker.
In a reserved judgement, published today, Employment Judge Alan McCarry agreed. He said: “I do not see that within the complex statutory structure of the Church of England it is possible to imply that any relationship between a freehold rector in the Church such as Mr Sharpe and any identifiable person or body which could be said to be consensual and contractual. Certainly, Mr Sharpe has failed to demonstrate to my satisfaction that such a relationship existed with either of the respondents.” The judge said the Church of England, as the established church, “has occupied a central position in English Society for several hundred years.” He added: “Despite that, it has no legal personality. It cannot sue or be sued…
Read more – http://crosswire.org.uk/2012/02/17/former-rector-loses-employment-tribunal-claim-against-bishop/
http://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/news/news.php?i252
Hundreds attend service for vicar
BBC – Hundreds of people have taken part in a church service to mark the death of a vicar found murdered in his parish near Bristol.
Read more – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17081382
Rev John Suddards: The dangers of fulfilling a Christian duty
Telegraph – As a vicar is murdered after opening his home to strangers in need of help, we look at the risks that come with such charity.
Read more – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9086466/Rev-John-Suddards-The-dangers-of-fulfilling-a-Christian-duty.html
Vicar murder suspect arrested
BBC – A man wanted by police over the killing of a vicar near Bristol has been arrested in Kent. Stephen Farrow, 47, was arrested in Folkestone at 04:20 GMT on suspicion of the murder of the Reverend John Suddards.
Read more – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17088361