Lawyers reject calls for Christian-sensitive judges – The Guardian

Posted April 16th, 2010 in Church of England, equality, judiciary, news by sally

“Attempts to have religious rights cases heard by hand-picked judges would set a dangerous precedent, lawyers said, amid mounting unrest about legal clashes between religious representatives and equality rights campaigners.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Civil unrest’ warning over ‘un-Christian’ rulings – Daily Telegraph

“A top judge was warned that court rulings against Christian workers risk causing ‘civil unrest’ as he heard the case of a relationship counsellor who was sacked after refusing to give sex advice to homosexual couples.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th April 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lichfield diocese burial rule change after grave mix-up – BBC News

Posted April 8th, 2010 in burials and cremation, Church of England, news by sally

“Burial rules in a West Midlands diocese have been changed after a mix-up with grave plots which led to a court ordering an exhumation.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th April 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government insists vicars will not be sued for refusing ‘gay marriages’ in churches – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 24th, 2010 in bills, Church of England, civil partnerships, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

“Ministers have assured clergy that they will not face legal action if they refuse to carry out new ‘gay weddings’ in churches.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th March 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Vacancies in Suffragan Sees and Other Ecclesiastical Offices Measure 2010

Posted March 22nd, 2010 in Church of England, ecclesiastical law, legislation by sally

Vacancies in Suffragan Sees and Other Ecclesiastical Offices Measure 2010 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Gay weddings to be allowed in church – The Independent

“Gay men and women will finally be allowed to marry in churches after the House of Lords dramatically voted in favour of lifting the ban on religious premises holding same-sex partnerships.”

Full story

The Independent, 3rd March 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Church of England General Synod extends pension rights for gay partners – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2010 in Church of England, civil partnerships, homosexuality, news, pensions by sally

“The Church of England may not allow its clergy to have their civil ­partnerships blessed in church but it voted tonight to allow the survivors of same-sex ­partnerships the same pension rights as other spouses. The church’s General Synod, meeting in London, voted in favour of what supporters of the move described as ­big-heartedness at odds with the church’s public reputation for homophobia in its wrangles over gay clergy.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Discrimination law change is dropped after Pope’s opposition – The Independent

“The Government will not push through proposals that churches argue would restrict their ability to deny jobs to gay people and transsexuals, Equality Minister Harriet Harman confirmed today.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th February 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government defeated three times over church gay plan – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2010 in bills, Church of England, equality, homosexuality, news by sally

“The government has suffered three House of Lords defeats over moves churches said would prevent them denying jobs to gay people and transsexuals.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Equality bill: churches and campaigners demand clarity on religion’s exemption – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2010 in bills, Church of England, equality, news by sally

“The government is facing allegations of duplicity over changes to the equality bill after a leaked document showed conflicting statements about the position of churches and other religious organisations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bishops fight for right to criticise gay lifestyle – The Guardian

Posted May 26th, 2009 in Church of England, homosexuality, incitement, news by sally

“Church of England bishops are on a collision course with the government over its plans to amend the incitement to hatred laws, claiming they will stifle what they believe is legitimate criticism of homosexual lifestyles.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Church of England faces compensation bill over women bishops – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 16th, 2008 in Church of England, clergy, compensation, news, women by sally

“The Church of England could face paying out millions of pounds in compensation to opponents of women bishops who quit their posts over the issue.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Spitting vicar’ ordered to leave parish – The Independent

Posted April 11th, 2008 in Church of England, clergy, news by sally

“A Church of England vicar accused of intimidating and spitting at parishioners was ordered to vacate his post by his bishop today.”

Full story

The Independent, 10th April 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Catholics could join the royal succession – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2008 in Church of England, constitutional law, news, royal family by sally

“Gordon Brown is to consider abolishing the Act that prevents Roman Catholics marrying into the Royal Family or becoming king or queen, in a move that could lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Church told to play pipes of peace as organists get workers’ rights – The Times

Posted February 20th, 2008 in Church of England, employment, news by sally

“Organists have been second-class citizens in the church hierarchy since before Bach and bridal marches, but organists are to receive full employment rights after a landmark ruling.”

Full story

The Times, 20th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Synod calls on minister to scrap planned casinos – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2008 in Church of England, gambling, news by sally

“The Archbishop of Canterbury last night dismissed the government’s ‘extraordinary, not to say ridiculous’ claims that gambling was a means for regeneration and urged the gaming industry to take responsibility for its ‘human pollution’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

666 church motion doomed – The Independent

Posted January 11th, 2008 in Church of England, news, parliament by sally

“A motion calling for the disestablishment of the Church of England appeared on the House of Commons order paper today – bizarrely numbered 666, the number associated with the Antichrist.”

Full story

The Independent, 10th January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Church suspends adulterous vicar – The Times

Posted November 26th, 2007 in Church of England, clergy, disciplinary procedures, news by sally

“The first vicar to appear before a new Church of England disciplinary tribunal has been suspended for four years for having an affair with a married woman.”

Full story

The Times, 24th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Organ donation a “Christian duty” – BBC News

Posted October 9th, 2007 in Church of England, human tissue, news, organ transplants by sally

“The Church of England has declared organ donation to be a Christian duty, in keeping with giving oneself and one’s possessions freely.

 It [the Church] was taking part in a House of Lords consultation on whether there should be an EU-wide position on organ donation.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th October 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Adulterous’ vicar first before secret court – The Times

Posted October 4th, 2007 in Church of England, clergy, disciplinary procedures, news by sally

“A vicar who allegedly had an affair with a married parishioner became the first member of the clergy to appear before a secretive new Church of England disciplinary tribunal yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 4th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk