Olympic competition has been triumph- Primus Chillingworth; Cardinal snubs gay marriage talks with Scottish government; Lichfield Cathedral announces tree festival; Sainsbury’s chief and Church leaders criticise plans for Sunday trading reform; UK churchgoers against Cameron’s policy on gay marriage, poll shows; Gay marriage costs Tories support in the pews, poll shows
Olympic competition has been triumph of body, mind and spirit
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church reflects on the impact of the London 2012 Olympics and says:
“The Olympics are over; now the talk is of legacy – how the inspiration of the games can be harnessed to make us all fitter and healthier. The athletes are going home to their communities in every part of the country – to be celebrated by the people who know them, who have supported them and who have been part of the journey of challenge and sacrifice which brought them to the Olympics.
What we have seen in the joy and tears of Olympic competition has been triumph of body, mind and spirit. What has moved us to tears has been more than just determination – it has been the sacrificial commitment of the whole person. To win a medal must be wonderful – but that doesn’t make the commitment and the passion of others any less.
Many commentators suggest that we have been changed by all this – lifted, encouraged, more together. It has been a triumph for a multi-racial and multi-ethnic society. It has also reminded a secular society that there are deeper levels of human experience to be explored and that our God-given potential is more than just what we see or think possible.”
Cardinal snubs gay marriage talks with Scottish government
Scotland’s Roman Catholic leader – Cardinal Keith O’Brien – has suspended direct communication with the Scottish government on gay marriage. The move is in protest at the Scottish government’s support for the introduction of same-sex marriages. The cardinal has turned down an invitation to discuss the issue, leaving any talks to officials.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19305232
Lichfield Cathedral announces tree festival
It may only be August but thoughts are already turning to Christmas at Lichfield Cathedral. Cathedral staff have announced their first Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival to take place later in the year and they are encouraging the whole community to get involved. Local businesses, schools, charities and community groups are being invited to decorate their own tree with a personal theme, message or simply their own interpretation of Christmas.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/lichfield.cathedral.announces.tree.festival/30490.htm
Sainsbury’s chief and Church leaders criticise plans for Sunday trading reform
Telegraph – The head of Sainsbury’s has stepped into the row over Sunday trading with a warning to ministers not to extend opening hours all year round.
Justin King, the group’s chief executive, said the restrictions on opening hours — suspended during the Olympics and Paralympics — were “a great British compromise” and should not be abandoned.
In a second attack, the Church of England teamed up with a union and a shopkeepers’ group to call for curbs on opening hours to remain in place.
The interventions — in letters to The Sunday Telegraph — come as some Conservative ministers seek to scrap the law that restricts big stores to six hours’ trading on Sundays, in a measure aimed at boosting economic growth.
In his letter, Mr King says the regime has “great merit” for both shoppers and workers.
He writes: “Maintaining Sunday’s special status has great merit for our customers and our colleagues, and relaxing Sunday trading laws is certainly not a magic answer to economic regeneration.”
In an unusual alliance, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, the Bishop of Oxford, signed a joint letter with the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and the Association of Convenience Stores, describing as “alarming” the indications that the Olympic relaxation could continue.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9484765/Sainsburys-chief-and-Church-leaders-criticise-plans-for-Sunday-trading-reform.html
UK churchgoers against Cameron’s policy on gay marriage, poll shows
Press TV – A new survey has found that almost three fifths of British churchgoers, 58 percent, will not vote for Prime Minister David Cameron at the next general election over his plans to legalise gay marriage.
The poll commissioned by campaigners Coalition for Marriage (C4M) also found that about two thirds, 63 percent, of churchgoers believe the Prime Minister was “intolerant” when it came to opposition to his plans.
“This is yet another blow for these ill-thought-out and undemocratic proposals. Churchgoers simply don’t believe the assurances from the government that these changes will not be forced on churches”, said C4M campaign director Colin Hart.
“The high levels of concern reflect those in the wider population”, added Colin Hart.
“This change is being pushed for by a tiny number of people. Only a minority of gay people believes that these plans are a priority”, said C4M campaign director.
“It also reveals high levels of scepticism amongst churchgoers, about Mr Cameron’s motives.”
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2012/08/19/257009/gay-marriage/#.UDEhZqlDt5g
Gay marriage costs Tories support in the pews, poll shows
Telegraph – David Cameron’s plans to introduce same-sex marriage could have cost the Tories the support of millions of churchgoers, polling suggests.
Almost six out of 10 people who attend services regularly say they are less likely to vote Conservative at the next election because of the plans to redefine marriage.
More than a third of those polled said it had no effect on whether they would support the Conservatives but most of them would never vote for the party anyway.
Support among churchgoers for Labour and the Liberal Democrats was also damaged by their stance on the marriage question but the biggest impact by far was on the Conservatives.
It suggests that the issue has caused a major breach between the party and religious voters, who have traditionally been viewed as part of its heartland.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9483273/Gay-marriage-costs-Tories-support-in-the-pews-poll-shows.html