Chief Rabbi opposes redefining marriage; C of E message to Rio+20 Conference; Who will find David Cameron a pro-gay marriage archbishop?; Cameron told to expect heavy defeat on House of Lords reform; Cameron’s Europe veto cost Britain credibility, Church claims
Chief Rabbi opposes redefining marriage
The Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, has broken his silence and made known his opposition to Government plans to change the meaning of marriage.
It follows a strong response to the proposals by the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, and Muslim groups.
A carefully worded submission to the Home Office consultation states that same-sex unions are “against Jewish law”.
The submission was made in the name of the London Beth Din (the Chief Rabbi’s court) and the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue.
The Chief Rabbi’s Office confirmed with the Jewish Chronicle that Lord Sacks supports the submission.
The submission states: “Marriage, by definition in Jewish (biblical) law is the union of a male and a female.
“While Judaism teaches respect for others and condemns all types of discrimination, we oppose a change to the definition of marriage that includes same-sex relationships. Jewish (biblical) law prohibits the practice of homosexuality.”
C of E message to Rio+20 Conference
On the eve of the United Nations Rio+20 Conference (June 20-22) church leaders called for action on sustainable development now to protect future generations.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, recorded a video message in advance of the conference on Sustainable Development and asked, “What kind of world do we want to leave to our children?” (www reference below)
The C of E’s diocesan environment officers have issued a public statement “at a time of immense and grave challenge” following last week’s national conference in Bristol.
“We urge the church to re-engage with God’s Creation at a time of immense and grave challenge. We remind ourselves of the need to act humbly but fairly in living more lightly on the earth as we face increasing poverty, inequality and environmental destruction. These days we recall the huge pressures on the planet – climate change, growing population linked to unsustainable economic growth, damage to ecosystems and loss of biodiversity, amongst others – and re-affirm that our biblical heritage pushes us towards radical action to care about the whole created world and to share more equitably the resources God offers to all life.
“We echo the recent words of the Ecumenical Patriarch, that ‘the world is a sacred place, as well as our home’ and urge the church to develop partnerships of action with others to continue to address these pressing issues.
“Indeed, some of us recognise that our Christian communities are called to be “counter cultural in our challenge to the current creed of everlasting growth” (Bishop James Jones) that prompts the greed which is driving untold harm to the Earth’s resource base. We cannot sustain current aspirations to infinite economic gain on a finite planet.
“It is clear that vulnerable communities are already experiencing displacement and death and future generations will be facing immense challenges. It is vital that world leaders at Rio take action now if the growing threats to the planet’s ecology are to be halted and reversed and we move towards a more environmentally sustainable society.”
David Shreeve, the Church of England’s national environment adviser said: “Our DEOs are at the front line putting the Church of England’s environmental commitments into action. With the encouragement of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Rio message, DEO’s are looking to their churches and dioceses to support their role in developing and supporting local awareness and action.”
The Church of England is commited to act in reducing its carbon emissions by 42% by 2020 through projects in each diocese, parish and school to make energy savings, introduce efficiencies and develop appropriate renewable energy resources as part of the national ‘Shrinking the Footprint’ campaign. www.shrinkingthefootprint.org
Archbishop’s video at:
http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2523/archbishop-what-gift-do-we-leave-our-children
Who will find David Cameron a pro-gay marriage archbishop?
Telegraph – Gordon Brown left a poisoned chalice by abandoning the prime minister’s right to choose the head of the Church of England
The search for a new Archbishop of Canterbury is under way in earnest – just as No 10 and the Church of England seem to be shaping up for an unholy battle over gay marriage. So what are the chances that David Cameron could reclaim his right, as Prime Minister, to nominate the next archbishop?
The question occurred to me while reading Distilling the Frenzy, the latest volume from Peter Hennessy, constitutional expert and cross-bench peer. Lord Hennessy charts how the number of jobs “dumped” on the PM has grown from 12 in 1947 to 48 last year. They include appointing ministers and chairing Cabinet. One of the few things prime ministers have given up is the right to have a final say in the appointment of bishops and archbishops.
Surprisingly, however, Lord Hennessy tells me that there is nothing to stop the PM taking back this power. And there are those in the Church who believe Mr Cameron may well be tempted. He wants to legalise gay marriage, but the Church is against the present proposals, arguing that they are confused and that if they go ahead then clergy might ultimately be forced by human rights legislation to marry gay couples. Although all the bishops are formally opposed to the Government’s plans, some are much more sympathetic to gay rights. A new, liberal-minded archbishop might make it much easier for Mr Cameron to push through his proposals.
David Cameron told to expect heavy defeat on House of Lords reform
Guardian – Chief whip tells PM that large numbers of Tory MPs will rebel - Defeat could delay government’s entire legislative programme
David Cameron has been told by the government’s chief whip that he is on course to suffer a heavy defeat on House of Lords reform, threatening to “gum up” the government’s entire legislative programme until the next election.
In a sign of the collapse in relations between Downing Street and large sections of the Conservative parliamentary party, more than 100 Tory MPs have indicated to the whips that they are prepared to rebel. “This is visceral for many Tories,” one MPs said.
Patrick McLoughlin, the chief whip, warned Downing Street that the government is heading for a defeat after a series of parliamentary aides indicated in private that they will resign when MPs are asked to vote on the House of Lords reform bill in three weeks’ time. It is estimated that as many 110 Tory MPs will rebel, dwarfing the rebellion of last October on whether to hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.
The Tory rebels are confident of defeating the government because Labour, which favours lords reform, is indicating that it will vote against the “programme motion” when the bill is debated in the week before the Commons rises for the summer recess on 17 July.
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jun/20/david-cameon-defeat-lords-reform
Cameron’s Europe veto cost Britain credibility, Church claims
Telegraph – David Cameron’s historic European Union veto made Britain look “unreliable” and “without credibility” among fellow nations, the Church of England has said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/9339684/Camerons-Europe-veto-cost-Britain-credibility-Church-claims.html