A daily online review of the main news reports on faith, society and politics.
Police officer who swapped places with hostage was a practising Catholic
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/03/25/police-officer-who-swapped-places-with-hostage-was-a-practising-catholic/
BBC News: Newspaper headlines: Vote Leave claims and Alabama rot
The papers report on allegations made by Brexit volunteer Shahmir Sanni against the Vote Leave campaign.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-43530057
BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme
Discussion to mark the end of the IICSA three week hearing into the Anglican Church in England and Wales focusing on the diocese of Chichester. Bishop Mark Sowerby (Bishop of Horsham and deputy lead bishop for safeguarding) is interviewed along with survivor Phil Johnson and Bishop Alan Wilson.
BBC
The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, speaks to the BBC about upcoming changes to Universal Credit that will affect families with more than two children. He says he is ‘deeply concerned’ about the changes.
Independent
Andreas Whittam-Smith authors a ‘long read’ about the three-week IICSA hearing and why the diocese of Chichester had so many perpetrators.
Mail BBC
Articles about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding noting the Archbishop of Canterbury will marry the couple and the service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, David Conner.
Sunday Express
Article about St George’s Chapel in Windsor in light of the forthcoming royal wedding.
Sun
Article about the significance and events of Palm Sunday
Express
Article about a Catholic charity warning Christianity is on the brink of being decimated in the Middle East.
Sun
Report that nine out of 10 Easter Eggs won’t say ‘Easter’ on the box.
BBC
Film about the strangest items stolen from churches which include a zorbing ball and a one tonne bell. Features St John the Baptist church in Sussex
Sunday Times: (money section)
Further report that the Church of England is trialling contactless payments in some churches
Christian Today/ Premier Radio
Further reports that a Church of England vicar and a survivor of church-based child sexual abuse have been named ‘Securalist of the Year’ by the National Secular Society.
Week in Westminster
This week in the House of Lords bishops tabled a question on the social harm of fixed-odds betting terminals and spoke and voted on changes to free school meal entitlement for those on low incomes. Bishops spoke in debates on domestic abuse, the Commonwealth, the EU Withdrawal Bill, and paid tribute to a former Leader of the House of Lords. They asked questions about modern slavery, and religious persecution, and took part in votes on a Private Member’s Bill on hereditary peer by-elections. Five Church of England Measures were debated and approved by the House of Lords. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a question on wi-fi and broadband and use of church buildings.
https://churchinparliament.org/2018/03/23/week-in-westminster-19th-23rd-march-2018/
Coverage of the closing sessions of IICSA’s three week hearing into the Anglican Church in England and Wales (focusing on the Diocese of Chichester as a case study). Lawyers for survivors, David Greenwood and Richard Scorer, are quoted as is the CofE legal representative, Nigel Giffin QC.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c-of-e-should-not-have-care-of-children-n9w09jjbn
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/23/child-abuse-inquiry-collusion-and-cover-up-rife-among-c0e-clergy
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/church-of-england-made-conscious-effort-to-treat-survivors-badly-inquiry-hears/127769.htm
Report on Peter Ball’s witness statement to IICSA, noting his links with Bishop George Bell and Peter Ball’s denial that George Bell had ‘overruled’ the selection board allowing him to be ordained. The article also notes Peter Ball’s comments that Bishop Bell was “fond” of him.
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/george-bell-was-fond-of-paedophile-bishop-peter-ball-and-sponsored-him-through-ordination/127773.htm
Profile of First Church Estates Commissioner Loretta Minghella and the work of the Church Commissioners.
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2018/23-march/features/features/interview-with-loretta-minghella-new-first-church-estates-commissioner
Report of results of a survey, Europe’s Young Adults and Religion, by Prof Stephen Bullivant at St Mary’s University in London, that says young people are turning away from Christianity. Figures for the UK show that the percentage of young Muslims is on the verge of overtaking young Anglicans.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/21/christianity-non-christian-europe-young-people-survey-religion
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5536431/Losing-religion-Christianity-Europe-dying-study-finds.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Further coverage of the recent announcement that the CofE is to accept donations by contactless payments. John Preston, CofE national stewardship officer, is quoted.
https://www.ft.com/content/f90a3eb6-2def-11e8-a34a-7e7563b0b0f4
Report that the National Secular Society has named, the Rev Graham Sawyer, as secularist of the year along with abuse survivor, Phil Johnson.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/secularist-year-award-vicar-graham-sawyer-church-england-sexual-abuse-expose-campaign-a8266956.html
Report of comments made by Lord Carey at the Oxford Literary Festival on the increase in personality as a force in political leadership styles.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/24/churchill-attlee-would-not-succeed-today-britain-prefers-bounders/
Reports that the remains of prisoners buried in a former prison, now due to be redeveloped for housing in Dorchester, Dorset, will be given a Christian reburial. A spokesperson for the Diocese of Salisbury is quoted.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-43520290
Reports that the family of Ken Dodd have asked for fans of the entertainer to line the streets of Liverpool ahead of his funeral which takes place at Liverpool Cathedral on Wednesday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-43519208
A piece on food traditions associated with Good Friday and Easter.
http://metro.co.uk/2018/03/23/easter-2018-eat-fish-good-friday-7411144/
Christopher Howse on the origins of how the date for Easter is set and why having a variable annual festival is in keeping with the reality of the natural world.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/23/not-dumb-little-surprises-easter-falling-early-late/