Burford school agrees to provide alternative to Christian assembly – BBC News

Posted November 21st, 2019 in Christianity, equality, human rights, news, religious discrimination, school children by tracey

‘A couple who threatened to take a school to the High Court over its religious assemblies have won their fight for alternative activities for their children.’

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BBC News, 20th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Exhumation and the Permanence of Christian Burial: a review of recent consistory court judgments – Law & Religion UK

Posted November 13th, 2019 in burials and cremation, Christianity, ecclesiastical law, news by sally

‘The presumption of the permanence of Christian burial is well-known, as are the leading authorities on the test for granting a faculty for exhumation: In Re Christ Church Alsager[1] in the Province of York and In Re Blagdon Cemetery[2] in the Province of Canterbury. There have been a number of legislative[3] and common law[4] developments post these judgments, but they nevertheless remain the principal authorities on the topic.’

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Law & Religion UK, 12th November 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

First arrest and prosecution for praying in public case collapses after bungled police investigation – Daily Telegraph

‘The country’s first arrest and prosecution for praying in public has collapsed following a bungling police investigation.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Healthcare-workers and transgender clients: Mackereth – Law & Religion UK

‘In Dr David Mackereth v The Department for Work and Pensions & Anor [2019] ET 1304602/2018, Dr Mackereth had been recruited by Advanced Personnel Management Group (’APM’) as a Health and Disabilities Assessor (‘HAD’) on behalf of the DWP [3]. He was contracted to assess individuals on behalf of the DWP who were contemplating, undergoing or had undergone gender reassignment. However, as a result of his Christian beliefs he refused, in conscience, to refer to clients using the pronoun of their choice – as the DWP required. It later became apparent the issue also extended to styles and titles of address [8]. He was suspended and, ultimately, sacked [17].’

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Law & Religion UK, 6th October 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Christian doctor who refused to call transgender woman ‘she’ loses employment tribunal – The Independent

‘A doctor who refused to call a transgender woman “she” because of his Christian faith has lost his employment tribunal.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Inquiry – ‘Positions of Trust’ within faith settings – Law & Religion UK

Posted August 16th, 2019 in child abuse, Christianity, clergy, inquiries, news, parliament, sexual offences by tracey

‘On 15 August, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Safeguarding in Faith Settings issued a call for evidence for its second Inquiry on whether there should be a change in legislation relating to “Positions of Trust” within faith settings.’

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Law & Religion UK, 15th 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

Catholic priest jailed for sexual abuse at Lancashire seminary – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A Catholic priest has been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for sexually abusing two teenage boys at St Joseph’s College in Upholland in the 70s and 80s.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 30th July 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Christian preacher accused of racism gets wrongful arrest payout – The Guardian

Posted July 29th, 2019 in Christianity, freedom of expression, Islam, news, police, wrongful arrest by sally

‘A Christian street preacher who had his Bible confiscated as he was handcuffed by police has been awarded £2,500 for wrongful arrest.’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.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

Parish council fails in judicial review of assessment by planning officer of impact of 400-dwelling scheme on church – Local Government Lawyer

‘A parish council has failed in a High Court challenge to a decision by the development control committee at Arun District Council to grant outline permission for the development of a portion of land allocated for up to 400 dwellings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Parents launch legal action to stop Catholic school academy plan – The Guardian

‘Parents at a Catholic primary school have launched legal action in an attempt to halt academisation after the local bishop said he wanted all Catholic schools in the diocese to convert and join a multi-academy trust (Mat).’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

University conducted flawed disciplinary proceedings in removing MA student from social work over disapproval of homosexual acts: Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘A university conducted flawed disciplinary proceedings when it removed an MA student from a social work course for fitness to practice reasons, after he expressed religions views on a public social media platform disapproving of homosexual acts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Christian wins appeal after being thrown off social work course – The Guardian

‘A devout Christian thrown off a university social work course after being accused of posting derogatory comments about gay and bisexual people on Facebook has won the latest round of a legal battle.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Defamation and church discipline: Otuo – Law and Religion UK

‘In Otuo v Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain [2019] EWHC 1349 (QB), Mr Otuo had been “disfellowshipped” by the Jehovah’s Witnesses and an announcement to that effect had been made at a meeting of the Wimbledon Congregation [1 & 2]. Further, during a meeting at which he sought to be reinstated, he had recorded surreptitiously one of those present making what he alleged to be a defamatory statement.’

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Law and Religion UK, 20th June 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

GP who “involves his Christian faith” with patient consultations investigated by medical watchdog – Daily Telegraph

‘A GP who allegedly involves his Christian faith in consultations with his patients is under investigation by the medical watchdog.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd June 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Private burial vaults and adverse possession: Holy Trinity, Dalton – Law and Religion UK

Posted June 18th, 2019 in adverse possession, burials and cremation, Christianity, news, tribunals by tracey

‘The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has upheld the title of the descendants of the original grantor to a family burial vault in a closed church.’

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Law and Religion UK, 17th June 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Proselytising nurse’s dismissal upheld by the Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Kuteh v Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust [2019] EWCA Civ 818. The Court of Appeal unanimously ruled that a nurse’s dismissal for improper proselytising was not unfair and that the hospital trust’s decision was not in contravention of the claimant’s rights as guaranteed by Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 30th May 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Victims in religious institutions less likely to report sexual abuse, says inquiry – The Independent

Posted May 30th, 2019 in child abuse, Christianity, clergy, news, sexual offences, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Children who suffer sexual abuse are significantly less likely to report it if it is being perpetrated in a religious institution, according to a major analysis of survivors’ experiences. A study by the Truth Project, part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), drew upon the experiences of 183 individuals who were abused as children in religious institutions, or by clergy or church staff in other settings.’

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The Independent, 30th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk