Archbishop of West Africa dies suddenly
THE Archbishop of West Africa, Dr Solomon Tilewa Johnson, died
suddenly on Tuesday while playing tennis. The Anglican Communion
News Service reported that many Christians across Africa had
written of their shock at his death on his Facebook page.
Archbishop Welby has written to Dr Johnson's widow, Priscilla, to
offer his condolences.
EU regulates to stop banks betting on hunger
EU MINISTERS agreed to limits on food speculation last week
after three years of campaigning by the charity World Development
Movement (WDM). The new limits will prevent banks' and hedge funds'
driving up global food-prices, which has pushed more people into
poverty. WDM hailed the decision as a "historic step forward", but
said that limits need to be set at an EU, not national, level to
prevent countries' setting weaker limits.
PM speaks about religion and son's death
DAVID CAMERON called himself "a classic Church of England
member", and spoke of family life with his three children at
Downing Street in an interview with the Mail on Sunday
last week. He described wanting to "thump" anyone who told him that
"some good" would come of the death of his eldest son Ivan in 2009.
Mr Cameron also spoke of using the Bible as a "handy guide" for
knowing right from wrong, and his respect for Islam as a religion
of peace. Press
Government defeated again on Lobbying Bill
AN AMENDMENT to the Lobbying Bill, proposed by the Rt Revd Lord
Harries, was voted through, against the Government, on Tuesday. The
amendment aimed to reduce the regulatory burden on political
campaigning by charities within individual constituencies. The
Bill, which a coalition of charities has said will stifle
democracy, returned to the Commons for MPs to consider the Lords'
amendments on Wednesday, as we went to press.
York Minster intruder sentenced
A MAN who attacked staff at York Minster last July has been
jailed for 15 months. Scott Apps, who is 42, was found guilty of
common assault and actual bodily harm, in December at Leeds Crown
Court. He punched a steward at the cathedral and assaulted the
Archbishop of York's chaffeur at the start of the sung eucharist
for members of the General Synod (News, 5
July).
New Principal for theological college
THE South East Institute for Theological Education has appointed
the Revd Dr Alan Gregory as its next Principal. Dr Gregory, who is
currently the continuing ministerial development officer for the
diocese of Newcastle, is also the author of several books,
including one on Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Correction: There was a wrongly attributed quotation in last
week's story about Lord Bannside. The copy should have read: "Mr
Mallon disputed Lord Bannside's claim that political leaders from
the Republic bear responsibility for the bombings in Dublin and
Monaghan in 1974." Our apologies.