York Fairness Commission Report; Media review – Judge in abortion case is part of religious group; Banks; Homophobia in the church; Manchester shootings, Archbishop qualities required
York Fairness Commission Report
The York Fairness Commission will present its Final Report to the leaders of City of York Council on Thursday 27th September at an event at Bishopthorpe Palace.
The presentation of the report will be the culmination of months of work to see how inequality and unfairness can be tackled across York, in the face of a difficult economic situation nationally.
Whilst research shows two fifths of York residents are relatively well off, living in the best 20% of places in the country, around 13,000 residents in the City live in the most deprived 20% of the country. In addition , City of York Council must make £19.7m worth of savings over the next two years due to cuts imposed by central government.
Attending the event will be a number of invited guests including: community and voluntary sector groups who took part in the consultation process; leaders and Chief Executives from local authorities across the Yorkshire and Humber region; representatives of all Fairness Commissions nationally; and representatives of national organisations that campaign for social justice.
Dr Sentamu, Sponsor of the Fairness Commission, said: ”Research has conclusively shown that a more equal society is a happier society. If we want to see York prosper and flourish we must look to reduce the societal divide that currently exists. It is our duty and our responsibility.
“The final report of the Fairness Commission will help to set out in some detail the hopes and aspirations of the residents of York for how we achieve that fairer society. Many individuals and organisations came to the meetings to give their views. Others emailed, wrote or telephoned to explain the challenges being faced across the city. We are extremely grateful for their participation, and without them this report would not have been possible.
“I hope our elected representatives, from across the political parties, will consider the recommendations being put forward in a spirit of shared endeavour. I am sure, regardless of our backgrounds, we all want to see a fairer and more prosperous York where everyone is encouraged to play an active role.”
MEDIA REVIEW
Judge in abortion case is part of religious group
By John Bingham, Telegraph – A judge who made an outspoken attack on the culture of “abortion on demand” is one of at least five members of the judiciary who belong to a Christian group that has campaigned for more conservative termination laws, it has emerged.
Mr Justice Cooke criticised the “liberal” and “wrong” application of the Abortion Act while jailing Sarah Catt for eight years earlier this week for aborting her own baby days before it was due to be born.
He told her that “all right thinking people” would view what she had done as second only to murder.
Sir Jeremy Cooke, was for several years a vice president of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, which describes itself on its website as dedicated to “applying God’s justice on the ground”.
The group, founded in 1852 as the Lawyers’ Prayer Union has around 2,500 members including a string of judges.
Its aims include promoting Christianity within the legal profession as well as working for “godly laws”.
Sir Jeremy has represented the group at conferences and next month he is due to give a lecture at Swansea University on the relationship between faith and the law entitled “Judge Not” – a reference to Jesus’s warning “judge not lest ye be judged”.
‘Banks corrupt the people who work for them’: Church of England submits …
Daily Mail – Last week Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, told more than 100 business bosses that ‘Too many people in big business are living a divided life, ignoring the moral values that they …
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2207470/Banks-corrupt-people-work-Church-England-submits-scathing-report-life-City.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Institutional homophobia in the Church: Why I would break the law in support …
The Independent – Ian Stubbs, a C of E vicar writes – That a church could discriminate in this way is in thrall to ancient prejudices, rather than filled with a liberating and transforming Gospel. I would go farther and accuse the Church of England, from my long association with it, of institutional …
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/institutional-homophobia-in-the-church-why-i-would-break-the-law-in-support-of-lgbt-people-8160139.html
Reports of comments of RC Bishop of Shrewsbury in Hattersley Manchester during a prayer service that the Police are holding the line “against the savagery of the jungle”. Also reports of Chief Constable of Manchester on last night’s Songs of Praise on the importance of his faith during this time.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/sep/23/police-community-murders-bishop?INTCMP=SRCH
William Taylor in The Observer on ‘Give us an Archbishop of candour and charm’
Sacred Mysteries: Christopher Howse on “A strange life in a suppressed society”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9559363/A-strange-life-in-a-suppressed-society.html
Obituary – The Rev Christopher Evans – Biblical Scholar
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/15/rev-christopher-evans?INTCMP=SRCH