Church of England may have to pay out millions over child sexual abuse – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2020 in child abuse, Church of England, clergy, compensation, news, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘he Church of England could face a multimillion-pound bill after its ruling body voted in favour of compensating survivors of sexual abuse.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Peter Ball – the on-going legacy – Law & Religion UK

Posted January 14th, 2020 in child abuse, Church of England, clergy, inquiries, news, reports, sexual offences by sally

‘In 2015, Peter Ball, the former Bishop of Lewes and Gloucester, was jailed at the Old Bailey for sexual offences against 18 young men over three decades, the circumstances of which have been the subject of inquiries within the Church of England and externally. BBC2 has scheduled a documentary, Exposed: The Church’s Dark Secret, on the Peter Ball case for 13 and 14 January 2020. This post reviews the legal issues that have arisen in the case of Peter Ball, and comments on related ongoing enquiries and the legal implications for the Church.’

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Law & Religion UK, 13th January 2020

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Nicknames including “popsicle” banned on gravestones at Church of England church – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 11th, 2019 in burials and cremation, Church of England, ecclesiastical law, families, names, news by tracey

‘Nicknames on gravestones are not to be allowed, a Church of England court has declared as it bans the use of “popsicle” on a church’s headstones.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th November 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

CofE reviews Trevor Devamanikkam case – Law & Religion UK

‘On 22 November, the Church of England issued the following Press Release which announces the appointment of safeguarding consultant Jane Humphreys as the independent reviewer into its handling of the allegations relating to the late Revd Trevor Devamanikkam.’

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Law & Religion UK, 23rd November 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

5G – a new problem for consistory courts? – Law & Religion UK

‘On 12 October, The Times carried the headline Councils block 5G as scare stories spread, and commented “[c]onspiracy theorists spreading health scares about the 5G mobile network are pressuring local authorities to ban the technology from their towns. A number of Councils including Totnes in Devon, Glastonbury, Frome and Shepton Mallet, have imposed a ban on 5G installations, until they were satisfied that it was safe”. The issue is yet to be raised in the consistory courts, but in view of the Church of England’s recent encouragement for the introduction of this technology in churches, this is a timely point at which to consider the issues this raises.’

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Law & Religion UK, 1st November 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Churchwardens, pine cones and a cheeky squirrel – Law & Religion UK

Posted September 11th, 2019 in Church of England, ecclesiastical law, health & safety, news, trees by tracey

‘The short, 2-page judgment Re St Peter West Blatchington [2019] ECC Chi 4 will be of interest to those with the responsibilities for the care and maintenance of churchyards.’

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Law & Religion UK, 10th September 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

CofE commissions review into Smyth case – Law & Religion UK

Posted August 16th, 2019 in child abuse, Church of England, news by tracey

‘The Church of England has published the following Press Release announcing that its National Safeguarding Team has commissioned Keith Makin to undertake a review into the Church’s handling of allegations relating to the conduct of the late John Smyth QC.’

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Law & Religion UK, 13th August 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Events in 1995 and 2010 lead to lifetime CDM prohibition – Law & Religion UK

‘On 30 July 2019, the Clergy Discipline Tribunal of the Diocese of Portsmouth (“the Tribunal”) handed down a lifetime prohibition on the exercise of any function of the orders of the Reverend Simon Sayers, Rector of Warblington and Emsworth, Hampshire. The complaint was raised by the Ven Dr Joanne Grenfell on 23 March 2017 in relation to unbecoming or inappropriate conduct to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Orders within section (8)(1)(d) of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003.’

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Law & Religion UK, 6th August 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Statutory school worship – managing post-Christendom pluralism – Law & Religion Uk

Posted August 5th, 2019 in Christianity, Church of England, education, news, school children by tracey

‘In this guest post, Dr Jonathan Chaplin, an independent scholar specialising in political theology and a member of the Divinity Faculty of Cambridge University, looks at some of the background relating to the forthcoming High Court challenge to compulsory religious assemblies in schools.’

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Law & Religion Uk, 5th August 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Past Cases Review 2 – Church of England – Law & Religion UK

‘On 1 August, the Church of England announced the publication of protocols and practice guidance for its Past Cases Review 2, (PCR2).’

Full press release

Law & Religion UK, 1st August 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Atheist parents take primary school to court as they say assembly prayers breach children’s human rights – Daily Telegraph

‘Atheist parents are taking their children’s primary school to the High Court, claiming that biblical re-enactments and praying in assembly are a breach of their human rights.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th July 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Clergy Discipline – Rebuke administered in “an unusual case” – Law & Religion UK

‘On 14 May 2019, the Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Carlisle heard a complaint against the Revd Canon Cameron Butland by the Archdeacon of Westmoreland and Furness, alleging that the Respondent had been neglectful or inefficient in the performance of his duties. Since the misconduct was admitted, the only issue before the Tribunal was that of penalty. The Tribunal determined that the appropriate penalty was one of rebuke.’

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Law & Religion UK, 23rd July 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Church review of Bishop Whitsey case – Law and Religion UK

‘On 22 May 2019, the Church of England announced a review into the allegations of sexual offences against children and adults by the late Bishop Hubert Victor Whitsey.’

Full press release

Law and Religion UK, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Judge rejects claims by parish that nuns conspired to provide district council with false information to secure planning permission – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has rejected claims made by a parish council that an international congregation of nuns conspired to provide false information to a district council in order to obtain planning permission for a former school site.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th May 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Church rejects report which says clergy should be allowed to go to police with sex abuse confessions – Daily Telegraph

‘The Church of England is ignoring abuse victims, survivors claim, after it rejected a report saying that clergy should report sex abuse confessions to police.’

Full Church of England report

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Daily Telegraph, 8th May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Equal marriage in the Church of England – Law & Religion UK

Posted April 12th, 2019 in Church of England, equality, gender, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

‘On Friday 12 April, a new campaign was launched with aim of changing the teaching and practice of the Church of England to allow all couples to marry in church, regardless of their gender, sex or sexuality.’

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Law & Religion UK, 12th April 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

“Comprehensive and historical” safeguarding review – Salisbury Diocese – Law & Religion UK

Posted February 22nd, 2019 in child abuse, children, Church of England, news, pilot schemes by tracey

‘The Diocese of Salisbury has begun a pioneering safeguarding review – one that will include piloting the next stage of Past Case Reviews for the whole of the Church of England.’

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Law & Religion UK, 19th February 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Churches no longer have to hold Sunday services – BBC News

Posted February 22nd, 2019 in Church of England, ecclesiastical law, news by tracey

‘A weekly Sunday service will no longer be compulsory for churches after a vote to change a 400-year-old law was passed by the Church of England’s ruling body.’

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BBC News, 22nd February 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Church statements on Bishop George Bell – Law & Religion UK

Posted January 25th, 2019 in child abuse, Church of England, clergy, news, sexual offences by tracey

‘Today, 24 January 2019, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the National Safeguarding Team issued statements following a ruling by Timothy Briden, a senior ecclesiastical lawyer, relating to fresh information received about the late Bishop George Bell. The core group took the view that there were no safeguarding issues arising out of the fresh information and Mr Briden concluded that the allegations presented to him were unfounded.’

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Law & Religion UK, 24th January 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Bishop George Bell abuse allegations ‘unfounded’ – BBC News

Posted January 25th, 2019 in child abuse, Church of England, clergy, news, sexual offences by tracey

‘Further allegations against the late Bishop of Chichester George Bell are “unfounded”, a Church of England (CofE) appointed lawyer has ruled.’

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BBC News, 24th January 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk