Church Times


Archbishops warn of symbolic charge of blasphemy law THE criminal offence of blasphemy against Christianity is to be abolished in England and Wales. Read more	Ration your flights, airport protester tells churchgoers CHURCHGOERS should cut their flights to one a year, and then “only if essential”. Read more	Juvenile justice is ‘barbaric’ and worst in Europe PUTTING children into custody is effectively “state-inflicted violence” against them, a study of four European countries has concluded. Read more

Political action is a danger area for religious charities THE CHARITY COMMISSION has given more details of how religious organisations can prove public benefit if they want to keep their charitable status and... Read more	More than 100 die in Gaza offensive THE GAZA STRIP has endured one of its most violent weeks for years. Read more	Fears grow for kidnapped archbishop FEARS for the life of the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Mosul, captured by gunmen last week, were growing on Wednesday. Read more

Church’s burglar is a regular A BURGLAR was caught red-handed after he struck three days running at the same City of London church at the same time. Read more	CHP does new deal IN A NEW DEAL, announced on Tuesday, Church House Publishing will distribute all its books and products through Norwich Books and Music. Read more	CARE reports rise in ‘couple penalty’ THE Government’s fiscal policy undermines marriage and leaves couples who live together worse off than those who live apart, the Christian charity CARE... Read more

Muslims in poll seek harmony ONLY a very small minority of Muslims worldwide support terrorism, and most cite “narrow-minded fanaticism and violent extremism” as the aspect of the... Read more	Paisley plans to ‘bow out’ in May THE once hardline Unionist leader, the Revd Ian Paisley, who this week announced his intention to step down as First Minister in the Northern Ireland... Read more	Kunonga elevates associates THE deposed Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, is now reported to live with his wife in the caretaker’s flat in St Mary’s Cathedral. Read more

Broadcast times for The Passion BROADCAST TIMES for The Passion, a four-part drama about the events of Holy Week, were released by BBC1 this week. Read more	‘Feminist’ baptisms are not valid, says the Vatican THE USE of feminist language in the baptism liturgy renders the baptism invalid, the Vatican has ruled Read more	Viewing Image of Desideratum (2002-04) by Nicholas Charles Williams Read more

Bishop Forster: freedom-of-speech clause not necessary ANGLICAN and Roman Catholic peers failed on Monday to introduce a clause about freedom of speech into the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. Read more	Childhood over by 11, say parents A SURVEY commissioned by the publisher Random House suggests that more than half of parents believe childhood is now over by the age of 11. Read more	Stranded 11 Ukranian crew members on board the bulk carrier MV Lady East have painted their plea to go home on the side of the ship. Read more

News in Brief Northern welcome; Child-friendly; Family support described as chaotic, says Bishop; Pregnancy strategy ‘fails’; Jesus beaten by Virgin in poll; Ecumenical... Read more	Church could join state to aid countryside, says advocate LIFE in the countryside can offer great advantages, but the scale of poverty and disadvantage needs to be better recognised, says the Government’s Rural... Read more	Bishop of Coventry named THE next Bishop of Coventry is to be Canon Dr Christopher Cocksworth. Read more

Historic churches get £15m MORE than £15 million was allocated in grants to 160 historic churches across England this week to fund repair and conservation. Read more	Cambridge science don ticks off the teen rebels SCIENCE has not made religion redundant says the Director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion at Cambridge, Professor Denis Alexander. Read more	A century of chapel May Oakley celebrated a century of attendance at a West Midlands church this week. Read more

Church challenges school-bias claims REPEATED ALLEGATIONS of social bias in the admissions procedures of church schools have been challenged by the chief education officer of the Church of... Read more	Warm welcome The Archbishop of Canterbury opened the C of E Pensions Board’s new retirement home, Manormead Supported Housing, at Hindhead, Surrey, a fortnight ago... Read more	Christians call on Arroyo to resign As the Philippines sank deeper into yet another scandal, the beleaguered President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, faced fresh calls from a coalition of church... Read more

Peaceful start Image of the President of Kenya with Kenya's opposition leader attending prayers with the Anglican Archbishop of Kenya Read more	CMS backs Dawani in Holy Land row THE Church Mission Society (CMS) has issued a statement saying that its ownership of property in the Holy Land is not a factor in a heated public dispute... Read more	Serious support The US presidential contender Barack Obama said on Sunday that the Sermon on the Mount trumped “an obscure passage in Romans” when it came to backing... Read more