Church Stands with Falkland Islanders in Poll
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E I D S A man and his robot IN E6 THE SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013 No: 6168 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 CHURCH OF ENGLAND THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Row over bishops’ letter opposing welfare caps SUPPORT by the Archbishops of Canter- telling Sky News that “there is nothing should be felt more than ever, not disap- opposed to only three per cent of savings bury and York for a letter to the Sunday moral or fair about a system that I inherited pear or diminish. It is essential we have a from the wealthiest households. Nearly Telegraph by 43 bishops claiming that cap- that trapped people in welfare dependency. welfare system that responds to need and nine in 10 households with children will be ping welfare benefit to one per cent a year One in every five households has no work. recognises the rising costs of food, fuel and hit, including 19 in every 20 single families. will have a ‘deeply disproportionate’ on That is not the way to end child poverty”. housing. “If this bill is passed it will make life so children has caused controversy. Lib Dems who are opposing further wel- “The current system does that by ensur- much harder for 11.5 million children and By convention, the two Archbishops do fare cuts welcomed the intervention by the ing that the support struggling families their families,” claimed Matthew Reed, not sign letters to the press written by bish- Church. Tim Farron, a evangelical Chris- receive rises with inflation. These changes Chief Executive of the Children’s Society. ops but their support for this letter drew tian and Lib Dem President, described mean it is children and families who will Both The Times and the Daily Telegraph criticism from Conservative politicians and Archbishop Welby’s words as ‘incredibly pay for high inflation rather than the gov- published editorials criticising the views support from Labour. important’ and said he had strengthened ernment.” expressed by Archbishop Welby. The Daily The intervention by Archbishop Welby is the Liberal Democrat position. Former Lib Shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, Telegraph said ‘high taxes and spending seen as a sign that he will not hesitate to Dem leader, Paddy Ashdown, who has said the Archbishop was right to speak out. are moral issues too’ and The Times enter political debates on issues where he been less outspoken against Government She said Labour would like to see benefits argued that the Archbishop’s critique of believes the Church has an interest and a welfare cuts than Tim Farron, also wel- rise with inflation funded by restricting tax welfare plans would be stronger if he sup- responsibility. As he has shown in his con- comed Archbishop Welby’s involvement in relief on pension contributions by the high- plied alternatives. tribution to the debate on banking, his old the debate. est earners. “Clerics are stronger on moral outrage Etonian background does not mean that he In a statement released by Lambeth The Children’s Society welcomed the let- than they are on practical politics,” said the will take the side of privilege. Palace, Archbishop Welby said: “As a ter and the support of the two Archbishops. editorial in The Times. It accused the Arch- Work and Pensions Minister, Iain Dun- civilised society we have a duty to support It estimates that a total of 60 per cent of the bishops and Bishops of not being able to can Smith, a practising Catholic, was quick those among us who are vulnerable and in savings brought about by the cap will come say where money should come from in a to hit back at the Archbishops’ comments, need. When times are hard, that duty from the poorest one-third of households as time of austerity. Church stands with Falkland Islanders in poll AS THE PEOPLE of the Falklands voted in a referendum about their future as a British overseas territory on Monday, the Church expressed its solidar- ity with them. The Rt Rev Stephen Venner, Bishop of the Falkland Islands, put out a statement in which he said that the people there ‘will be much in my thoughts and prayers as they seek to determine their future under the world’s spotlight’. The most iconic building in the islands, the Cathedral, found itself used as a backdrop for TV cameras filming the referendum and the announcement of the result on Monday evening. The Rector of the Falkland Islands, the Rev Dr Richard Hines, reported that over 60 extra reporters and media people were in the Falklands to cover the referendum. He wrote a special prayer for the event: Creator God. Lord of all, bless and guide the people of the Falkland Islands, and every one who reports or comments publicly on this weekend’s historic referendum. Grant that all may be undertaken here and around the world with care, with mutual respect, and with the highest regard for truth- fulness. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. It was perhaps not coincidental that the referendum took place on Com- monwealth Day. LETTERS 8 • ALAN STORKEY 9 • COMMENT 9 • CLERGY MOVES 12 • ANGLICAN LIFE 13 • SUNDAY 15 • PAUL RICHARDSON 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 17, 2013 News Inside... Church ‘alienating people’ Britain’ s leading evangelical newspaper By Amaris Cole much else have led us all too often to view Lords in 2008, he has been active in issues our fellow believers as enemies, rather than of reconciliation, contributing to peace-mak- THE BISHOP of Bath and Wells delivered exploring how staying committed to one’s ing in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Zimbab- his last Presidential Address to the Dioce- principles, people can reach out and even we. san Synod last week, giving a more personal find common cause with those who believe He is due to retire as Bishop of Bath & and reflective speech than has been heard differently from them. Wells on 22 June. previously. “What is for sure is that the methods that Bishop Peter added: “I will shortly move Speaking of the Church of England in we are employing are not finding common from the front benches to the time-hon- ‘The perfect church: perfect in all its imper- cause, and we are alienating many people,” oured back pews of my local Church of Eng- fections’, the Rt Rev Peter Price noted the he said. land. I am not looking for it to be perfect. I recent divisions and said in its difference “Sexuality, ordination and other ecclesial know, however, that it is good. the Church will find shared experience and subjects are not ‘fundamentals’. Love, com- “I don’t plan, immediately at least, to offer common ground. passion and humility are.” my services for theirs, or anyone else’s, News . 1-7 The Bishop said: “Our conflicts over Since becoming the Bishop of Bath and services. I am looking forward to a time of Your Church . 2 issues of sexuality, women bishops and Wells in 2002 and a member of the House of just ‘being in church.” UK News . 1-5 World News . 6-7 Comment Letters . .8, 11 Leader . .9 Bristol vicar found guilty of voyeurism Alan Storkey . 9 THE BRISTOL Crown Court has handed down England on Sunday an eight-month jail term, suspended for two Canon Andrew White . .E1 years, to a Somerset vicar found guilty of Andrew Carey . .E2 voyeurism. Whispering Gallery . .E2 Judge Neil Ford QC sentenced the Rev Richard Bishops’ welfare letter . .E3 Lee, (49), the former vicar of St Augustine’s Judy West . .E3 Church in Locking and St Mary’s Church in Hut- Lee Gatiss . .E4, E5 ton last week after the suspended clergyman pled Arts & Media . .E6 guilty to eight counts of voyeurism and 18 counts Books . .E7 of making indecent images. Janey Lee Grace . .E8 According to the prosecution Mr Lee compiled Crossword . .E8 a collection of several hundred photographs by secretly spying on three girls and a woman in his The Record parish over the course of 10 years. The vicar was College Street . .10 arrested in July 2012 after the images were spot- Classifieds . .11 ted on his laptop computer. Clergy Moves . .12 Mr Lee, who is married to the Rev Ann Lee Latimer Trust . .13 (47) and has two children, acknowledged his Baptismal Integrity . .13 crimes before court and pleaded for mercy from Henry Whyte . .14 the judge. In his summing up, Judge Ford said he Spiritual Director . .15 Rev Richard Lee (second from right), is would withhold imprisonment but Mr Lee had Sunday Service . .15 pictured outside Locking's St Augustine's lost his calling as a clergy. He was also banned Bob Mayo . .15 Church in 2008 with his wife Rev Anne Lee from working with children indefinitely and must Paul Richardson . .16 (left), former Archbishop of Canterbury complete a sexual offenders’ programme. People . .16 George Carey and his wife Eileen. The diocese of Bath and Wells stated Mr Lee Milestones . .16 had been suspended from the ministry following Next week’s news . .16 his arrest last year. News from Your Church your diocese Durham: St Mary’s in Heworth, Gateshead, has decided 35 other local authorities including Newark and Sherwood it increasingly unequally. The gap between richest and to spend part of a donation given by a donor on felling two and Mansfield by giving all 2,291 people a Living Wage of poorest is greater than it has been for over 30 years. Dur- mature trees, probably self-seeded, which had been reduc- £7.45 per hour.