A bill to abolish chancel repair liability has been successfully introduced into the House of Lords – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 18th, 2014 in bills, Church of England, ecclesiastical law, parliament, repairs by tracey

‘The proposed legislation seeks to ‘end the liability of lay rectors for the repair of chancels’ – in other words abolishing the demands for landowners to fund repairs to their parish church.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th July 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Women bishops vote welcomed by Archbishop of Canterbury – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2014 in Church of England, clergy, equality, news, sex discrimination, women by tracey

‘The Archbishop of Canterbury has welcomed the Church of England’s historic vote to allow women to become bishops.’

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BBC News, 15th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chancel repair liability: The ancient law that could hit house prices – BBC News

Posted March 13th, 2014 in Church of England, ecclesiastical law, news, repairs by tracey

‘An ancient law which can force homeowners to pay for their local church’s repairs is blighting properties and depressing house sales, say campaigners. But what is chancel repair liability and what is the best way to deal with it?.’

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BBC News, 13th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women bishops law: Church asked to back fast-track scheme – BBC News

Posted February 11th, 2014 in Church of England, equality, news, women by tracey

‘The general synod will be asked to approve plans later which could see the first woman bishop in the Church of England appointed by Christmas. It will be asked to fast-track the revision of the latest proposals and to cut the time given to individual dioceses to consider them. That could lead to a final vote in July and legislation in November.’

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BBC News, 11th February 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Same-sex weddings to begin in March – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2013 in bills, Church of England, equality, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

‘The first same-sex weddings in England and Wales will be able to take place from 29 March 2014, Equalities Minister Maria Miller says.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Christian coronations of future monarchs face legal challenge – The Guardian

Posted November 11th, 2013 in Christianity, Church of England, equality, human rights, news, royal family by michael

“Campaigners are to attempting to launch a legal challenge to the Christian coronation of future monarchs in an attack on the most powerful symbol of the union between church and state.”

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The Guardian, 10th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ombudsman could rule on Church of England disputes – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2013 in Church of England, clergy, complaints, equality, news, ombudsmen, women by sally

“Church of England proposes setting up an ombudsman to handle complaints arising from the introduction of women bishops.”

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Daily Telegraph, 25th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Diocese of York abuse inquiry opens clergy files – BBC News

“Church files on deceased clergy who served in the Diocese of York are to be opened as part of an investigation into alleged cases of child abuse.”

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BBC News, 17th August 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Retired priest jailed over sex attacks at children’s home – The Guardian

“A retired Church of England priest found guilty of a catalogue of historic sex attacks on children at a Barnardo’s home has been jailed for 10 years.”

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The Guardian, 20th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquiry into CofE cleric abuse claim set up – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2013 in child abuse, Church of England, negligence, news, sexual offences by tracey

“Archbishop of York John Sentamu is setting up an independent inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse made against a Church of England cleric.”

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BBC News, 12th may 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Voyeur Reverend Richard Lee walks free from court over indecent pictures of girls and woman – The Independent

“A Church of England vicar has walked free from court after admitting using secret cameras to spy on and film intimate pictures of three girls and a woman.”

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The Independent, 4th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Church of England vicar faces jail for spying on woman and children – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 12th, 2013 in Church of England, indecent photographs of children, news, voyeurism by tracey

“A Church of England vicar is facing jail after admitting spying on and filming
intimate pictures of three children and a woman.”

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Daily Telegraph, 11th February 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Months of frantic lobbying expected as women bishops debate is temporarily stayed by Church of England – The Independent

Posted July 11th, 2012 in Church of England, clergy, ecclesiastical law, lobbying, news, women by tracey

” Supporters and opponents of women bishops are gearing up for months of frantic lobbying as a potentially historic vote which might have approved legislation today was temporarily stayed following an impassioned debate on the crucial issue.”

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The Independent, 9th July 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

 

Church of England meeting ahead of women bishops vote – BBC News

Posted July 6th, 2012 in Church of England, clergy, ecclesiastical law, news, women by tracey

“The Church of England’s ruling synod is meeting in York ahead of a planned vote on whether to allow women bishops.”

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BBC News, 6th July 2012

www.bbc.co.uk

Civil partnerships should have been called marriage, says top divorce lawyer – Daily Telegraph

“The debate over same-sex unions could have been avoided if civil partnerships had been described as marriage by the Government, a top divorce lawyer has said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th June 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gay marriage gets ministerial approval – The Guardian

Posted June 13th, 2012 in Church of England, consultations, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

“Ministers have pledged to push through legislation to give same-sex couples equal rights to get married despite mounting opposition from within the Conservative party and the threat of a split with the Church of England.”

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The Guardian, 12th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Will the European Court force churches to perform gay marriages? – UK Human Rights Blog

“The Government’s Consultation on Equal Civil Marriage ends on Thursday 14 June: you can fill in the brief online survey here if you haven’t already. In the meantime, the Church of England is on the front pages this morning with its own response, which amongst other things, warns that ‘it seems extremely doubtful’ that the European Court of Human Rights ‘would uphold the right of a state to retain gender inequality in civil partnerships once the state had legislated for equal marriage’.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th June 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

No 10 sides with gay couples over full marriage – The Independent

“Gay couples will finally win the right to marry, Downing Street insisted last night, despite an escalating campaign of opposition led by a former Archbishop of Canterbury and some Conservative MPs.”

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The Independent, 21st February 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

St Paul’s protesters refused appeal – The Independent

Posted February 22nd, 2012 in appeals, Church of England, demonstrations, injunctions, news by sally

“Anti-capitalist protesters camping outside St Paul’s Cathedral were today refused permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge orders evicting them.”

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The Independent, 22nd February 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Power of Prayer or the Power to Pray – Hardwicke Chambers

“Bideford Town Council is a parish council in Devon. Each month it holds full council meetings in public. At the start of each meeting there are communal prayers. Prayers are deliberately placed before apologies so that those who do not wish to attend are not marked as absent and can attend after prayers. The prayers are always Christian, led by a Minister from one of the town’s eight Christian Churches. A motion to end prayers was proposed by Mr Bone, a member of the council, and twice defeated, once by 9 votes to 6.”

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Hardwicke Chambers, 10th February 2012

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk