Archbishop of Canterbury criticises ‘paranoid’ Britain; Christian sues NHS over ‘totalitarian’ stance on abortion; Young Christians must be able to explain their faith; ChurchCare – Diamond Jubilee ‘Royal Map’; C of E and UK charities turn to unconventional investments; Vicar breathes fire during sermon; Church of England inquiry into Sussex abuse bishop; Charity jobs go as budgets shrink
Archbishop of Canterbury criticises ‘paranoid’ Britain
BBC News – The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he is disappointed by the direction the UK has taken in recent years.
Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight, Dr Rowan Williams raised concerns about the gap between rich and poor and the lack of cultural cohesion in the UK.
Dr Williams is stepping down as head of the Anglican Communion in December.
“There have been moments in the last decade and more when, perhaps, we might have been able to take a different line,” he said.
He was referring to the way the British think and feel as a society and told Newsnight’s Stephen Smith that British society had “put up the shutters” and retreated into “corporate paranoia” in the wake of terrorist threats.
A culture has developed, he said, in which people are fearful of those above and below on the social ladder and are becoming “fist-clenching, anxious, not generous”.
Dr Williams said a “sense of hopelessness” had developed at the bottom levels of society.
“The gulf between the top and the bottom of the economic ladder has grown and is growing, that’s not something we really tackled.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18237812
Christian sues NHS over ‘totalitarian’ stance on abortion
Telegraph – A Christian mental health worker who was sacked over her opposition to abortion is suing the NHS accusing it of having a “dangerously totalitarian” approach to dissent on the issue.
Margaret Forrester was dismissed for “gross professional misconduct” after giving a colleague a booklet highlighting potential physical and psychological damage some women suffer after an abortion.
She was told that the booklet, in which women who had terminated pregnancies in the past spoke of their regrets, could amount to “offensive” material.
Yesterday the 40 year-old, from Battersea, south London, launched a human rights challenge against her former employer at the High Court.
She accuses the Central and North West London NHS Trust of breaching her freedom of religion and freedom of speech in its treatment of her.
Mrs Forrester, a Roman Catholic, was disciplined after an informal conversation with a colleague in which she discussed her views on abortion while working as a “psychological wellbeing practitioner”.
She was worried that women seeking medical advice were routinely offered abortions without fully considering other options, and passed the colleague a booklet.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9295718/Christian-sues-NHS-over-totalitarian-stance-on-abortion.html
Young Christians must be able to explain their faith
Christian Today – Without apologetics youngsters in the church will fall away by the time they reach university
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.must.be.able.to.explain.their.faith.apologists/29937.htm
ChurchCare – Diamond Jubilee ‘Royal Map’
C of E media – To celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, ChurchCare – a Church of England online resource – has woven together individual church histories to create a ‘Royal Map’ around England’s churches and cathedrals, celebrating the unique links between churches and the monarchy in this remarkable Jubilee year.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/05/churchcare-diamond-jubilee-%E2%80%98royal-map%E2%80%99.aspx
C of E and UK charities turn to unconventional investments
Pensions & Investments – Investment officials at the Church of England — one of the UK’s largest non-profit organizations by investment assets — are adamant about their contrarian stance. In restructuring the £5.2 billion ($8.2 billion) portfolio during the past …
http://www.pionline.com/article/20120528/PRINTSUB/305289973/uk-charities-turn-to-unconventional-investments
Vicar breathes fire during sermon
BBC News – A fire-breathing vicar lights up his Gloucestershire church with a red hot illustration to mark Pentecost.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-18226394
Church of England inquiry into Sussex abuse bishop
BBC News – The Church of England has carried out an investigation into a former Sussex bishop, the BBC has learnt. The Right Reverend Bishop Peter Ball resigned in 1993 after receiving a police caution for committing an act of gross indecency against a teenager.
Files kept at Lambeth Palace about the former Bishop of Lewes are being scrutinised by police.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-18240733
Charity jobs go as budgets shrink
BBC News – Charities are cutting posts and services, and are at risk of shutting, because of reduced budgets from government cuts, a new report suggests.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18245690