The top reports on faith in the news today.
Coverage of the debate at General Synod yesterday on Down’s Syndrome.
James Newcome, the Bishop of Carlisle, who moved the motion, is quoted in the The Sunday Times: “This is not a debate about the ethics of abortion. It is not an attack on medical discoveries or advances. It is not an attempt to tell women what to decide . . . but it is about saying that every human being is valuable and we want to show that in practical terms, in love and concern.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/downs-children-must-not-vanish-decrees-synod-kfb6f8p3k
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/downs-children-must-be-valued-church-says-amid-abortion-fears-x9cvkn6j6
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/10/c-of-e-backs-motion-valuing-people-with-downs-syndrome
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-5376037/Church-England-s-ruling-body-backs-motion-valuing-people-Down-s-Syndrome.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/10/rate-downs-syndrome-abortions-uk-europe-akin-nazi-eugenics-church/
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/uks-treatment-of-downs-syndrome-amounts-to-eugenics-synod-told/125624.htm
Reports on safeguarding presentations at General Synod yesterday; articles note that a silent protest by survivors of abuse beforehand was attended by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Reports on the debate include comments by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Peter Hancock looking ahead to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA, which has its first hearing into the Anglican Church (focusing on Chichester diocese) next month, saying: ‘We will hear deeply painful accounts of abuse, of poor response, and of cover-up.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43019766
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/10/clergy-still-believe-complainants-simply-money-abuse-expert/
https://www.channel4.com/news/church-of-england-synod-told-it-needs-to-do-more-to-protect-people-from-abuse
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/church-facing-years-of-shame-as-extent-of-abuse-emerges-bishop-warns/125619.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/10/church-of-england-faced-3300-sexual-abuse-claims-figures-reveal
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-5375459/Need-culture-change-church-abuse-complaints-General-Synod-told.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/10/clergy-still-believe-complainants-simply-money-abuse-expert/
Report on growth of informal religious communities debated at General Synod yesterday.
The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, chair of the advisory council for relations between bishops and religious communities and the Archbishop of Canterbury are quoted.
Ahead of its AGM in April, a report on executive pay at Persimmon, a company in which the Church Commissioners is a shareholder.
Article notes that the Church of England and the Methodist Church have expressed their dismay over the size of the company’s incentive scheme. Report notes that both churches are expected to publicly register their disapproval at Persimmon’s annual shareholder meeting in April
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-5376943/Church-leaders-condemn-Persimmon-boss-bonus.html#ixzz56n4vsOBD
Interview with the national minority ethnic vocations officer Rosemarie Davidson-Gotobed to mark Racial Justice Sunday, today. BBC Sunday, from 34 minutes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09r3ngb
Report that a number of more wealthy residents of Westminster have agreed to pay additional funds to Westminster City Council for services including visitors for lonely residents and internships.
The Archbishop of York is quoted: “May all of us who are willing to do this be given the facility to do so.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/westminster-council-targets-rich-residents-for-guilt-tax-hxqrwlhkn
Opinion piece by Christopher Howse on St Valentine, whose day coincides with Ash Wednesday this year.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2018/02/10/sacred-mysteriesa-valentine-flambe-ash-wednesday-dinner/
Opinion piece by Bryony Gordon on Lent.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/oh-lord-had-spiritual-awakening-sort/