A REPORT by the government adviser
Louise Casey, calling for greater intervention in "troubled
families", must not be used to lay the blame for the country's
problems "solely at the doors of parents", the Children' Society
has warned. Launching her report for the Department of Communities
and Local Government on Wednesday, Ms Casey said that social
workers must help 120,000 dysfunctional families break a "grim"
cycle of abuse. The Children's Society's policy director, Enver
Solomon, said that the impact of austerity measures and the
recession had been "largely overlooked", and would lead to a rise
in the numbers of children "forced to live in families blighted by
deprivation and hardship".
WORK on a building site is seen as a
job to avoid, but is more attractive to teenagers than ordination,
a survey suggests. The survey of 14-18-year-olds, carried out by
CITB-Construction Skills, found that manual jobs in construction
were in the top five least popular career options, as well as
careers in the clergy, agriculture, hairdressing, and beauty.
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL and the
University of Kent have joined forces to prevent the break-up of
the Mendham Collection, an assortment of 5000 manuscripts, early
books, and pamphlets. The collection, formed in the 19th century by
Joseph Mendham, an Anglican clergyman, has been looked after by the
university and cathedral for nearly 30 years, but is owned by the
Law Society of England and Wales, which has announced plans to sell
its most valuable items as part of a fund-raising drive.
A RETIRED priest from Eastbourne,
Canon Gordon Rideout, accused of multiple sex-offences against
children, appeared at Mid Sussex Magistrates Court on Monday. No
plea was entered. The Canon was first arrested in March on
suspicion of sexual assaults committed against nine young people
between 1965 and 1972 (News, 9
March). He was arrested again in April after four new
allegations were made (News, 4
May). A hearing will now be held at Lewes Crown Court on 19
October.
STEPHEN FARROW, the man charged with
the murder of the Vicar of Thornbury, the Revd John Suddards, has
pleaded not guilty. He entered the plea at Bristol Crown Court on
Friday 6 July. The trial will begin on 8 October. Mr Suddards was
found stabbed to death at his vicarage in Thornbury, Gloucester, on
14 February (
News, 17 February).
ANGLICAN CATHOLIC congregations across
England are to be supported by a National Adviser in Catholic
Evangelism. The new post, combined with the incumbency of St
Matthew's, Carver Street, in Sheffield, was created after
discussions between the Bishops of Sheffield and Beverley, and the
Church Army, and is being supported financially by Catholic
charities. The appointment will be based at the Church Army's
Wilson Carlile Centre, and is likely to be advertised in the
autumn.
Correction. Our
General Synod report (Synod, 13
July) incorrectly attributed a speech by the Archdeacon of
Tonbridge, the Ven. Clive Mansell (Rochester), opposing the
adjournment of the debate on the draft women-bishops Measure, to
Canon David Felix (Chester). Canon Felix did not speak on the
adjournment, and voted for it. We apologise for this error.