Welby warns of bankers ‘lynch mob’; Church of Scotland attacks fracking tax breaks; Rowan Williams praises ‘generosity of the vulnerable’; Cameron unveils online porn curbs; Young British Catholics in Rio to see Pope Francis
Welby warns of bankers ‘lynch mob’
The Archbishop of Canterbury has described the naming and shaming of bankers in the wake of the financial crisis as “lynch mobbish”.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby admitted sympathy for former bankers when hearing evidence as a member of the Banking Standards Commission.
He admitted “thinking, ‘I’m not sure I would have been very different,’ rather than thinking how bad they were”.
But he also said some senior bankers had tried to avoid accountability.
“Certainly one of the trends that has been very unfortunate, to put it mildly, is that in some financial services companies there was a clear policy of not telling the top people – they made sure they weren’t told things – because then they could plead ignorance, and that’s just unacceptable.
“But this business of somehow saying that one individual bears the whole blame as opposed to simply the accountability – it feels lynch mobbish,” he said.
Archbishop Welby was an oil executive before becoming a priest.
He was speaking to the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, as part of the BBC Radio 4 series The Bishop and the Bankers, in his first public comments since the commission published its report on banking standards last month.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23330477
Church of Scotland attacks fracking tax breaks
The Church of Scotland has criticised Government plans to introduce tax breaks for the controversial gas-extraction method known as fracking.
Convener of the Kirk’s Church and Society Council, the Reverend Sally Foster-Fulton accused the Government of being “deaf to the cries” of countries experiencing rising sea levels and climate chaos, like Tuvalu, Bangladesh and Malawi.
Instead of pursuing fracking, she said the Government should concentrate on reducing the nation’s carbon footprint and move away from a carbon-based economy.
She also called for more investment in green energy solutions.
“Instead of embracing a new low carbon future the Chancellor is signalling a return to the old carbon economy, at the expense not only of those people who will be affected by fracking operations in Britain but those around the world who suffer most from the effects of climate change,” she said.
“In a country rich in potential renewable energy and with great opportunities to reduce our energy wastage by better home insulation there are many alternatives to fracking.”
She added: “It is a sad day for climate justice.”
Rowan Williams praises ‘generosity of the vulnerable’
The former Archbishop of Canterbury has praised the North East for its generosity despite the prevailing economic challenges facing the region.
Dr Rowan Williams was visiting the North East on Sunday to celebrate the charitable work of Christian Aid and people in the region who continue to support its work.
“This is not a prosperous part of the UK but its people have shared life and reached out to help others come alive. That is what we are celebrating, the generosity of the vulnerable,” he said.
Dr Williams became chair of Christian Aid’s national board of trustees in May and was speaking as guest preacher at a special service at Sunderland Cathedral organised by Christian Aid’s North East team.
The service was held in partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Durham and Sunderland Churches.
In his sermon, Lord Williams spoke of the power of love and partnerships that contributed to more than £500,000 being raised in the North East towards Christian Aid’s development work.
“Nothing will truly, lastingly be achieved without partnership and friendship,” he said.
Dr Williams also praised the dedication of volunteers who give up their time to support the charity and its fundraising activities.
“Love is to be swept up by a tide of energy so enormous that it can be frightening,” he said.
“We are involved in Christian Aid not through a stern sense of duty but through a sense that we are sharing in God’s project, God’s life-giving plan. God calls upon our volunteers and our partners to share in his work.”
He added: “What we are celebrating is something that we pray will deepen and flourish within us all.”
Judith Sadler, Christian Aid’s regional manager, said: “This event was a huge affirmation of the significant work that is done by Christian Aid’s volunteers and partners in the North East. They do amazing work. The service was a reminder of the theological basis to the work that we do.”
The service was attended by a number of dignitaries from around the region, including the Right Reverend Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow, who gave the final blessing.
Cameron unveils online porn curbs
Most households in the UK will have pornography blocked by their internet provider unless they choose to receive it, David Cameron announces.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23401076
Young British Catholics in Rio to see Pope Francis
Hundreds of British Catholics have travelled to Brazil to take part in World Youth Day and see the Pope.
The 800 pilgrims come from across the UK, with sizable groups being sent by the Dioceses of Westminster, East Anglia, Birmingham, Liverpool and Aberdeen.
Five bishops from the UK will be attending World Youth Day – Archbishop of Birmingham, Bernard Longley, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, John Sherrington, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, William Kenney, and Bishop of East Anglia, Alan Hopes, and Bishop of Aberdeen Hugh Gilbert.
World Youth Day gets underway in Rio on 22 July. For Pope Francis, the first Latin American Pope, the seven-day visit to Brazil is his first international trip as pontiff.
A highlight of the trip will be the celebration of Mass with 1.5 million pilgrims.
This year, the English version of the World Youth Day anthem – Go Be Missionaries – will be performed by English electropop band Ooberfuse.
British singer-songwriter Edwin Fawcett will also be performing at WYD Rio.
Young Catholics unable to travel to Rio will be gathering for two “WYD @home” events, with the Kent Brightlights festival at Aylesford Priory in the south, and Rio’s Coming to Castlerigg in Keswick, Cumbria, in the north.