Petition seeks recognition for chaplain killed on D-Day
A PETITION has been launched to recognise posthumously the bravery of the Revd George Edward Maule Parry, an Anglican chaplain killed at the age of 29 on D-Day while protecting wounded soldiers at a medical post attacked by Germans. It has been started by Jenni Crane, who learned of Mr Parry’s story after buying a suitcase last year branded with his name.
www.change.org/p/john-cryer-mp-recognition-for-brave-padre-murdered-in-cold-blood-on-d-day
Christian Legal Centre to pursue appeals
APPEALS against High Court rulings are planned by three plaintiffs supported by the Christian Legal Centre. Aisling Hubert will appeal against the High Court’s rejection of her challenge to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who refused to prosecute two doctors accused of agreeing to arrange abortions on the grounds of gender. Merv and Nikki Kenward will appeal against the Court’s rejection of their challenge to the DPP’s revision of its policy on prosecuting cases of assisted suicide.
New chairman for Catholic Group in Synod
THE Catholic Group in the General Synod has elected the Vicar of St Nicholas’s, Fleetwood, the Revd Paul Benfield SSC, as its acting chairman. He will serve for one year before the Group elects a chairman for five years.
Police response to ‘honour-based’ violence criticised
ONLY three of the 43 police forces in England and Wales are adequately prepared to protect victims of “honour-based” violence, forced marriage, and female genital mutiliation, a new report by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary suggests. The chief executive of Karma Nirvana, Jasvinder Sanghera (Interview, 5 September 2014), spoke of a “postcode lottery”.
Nobody is offended by Christmas, lay canon says
AN INDIAN restaurant was the venue for a multi-faith Christmas party in Bradford last month. A lay canon at Bradford Cathedral, Yaqub Masih, and the Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Tony Robinson, played host to 200 people, including community leaders of many faiths, at Aagrah restaurant. “It is good to celebrate each other’s faith events, because it strengthens the relationship between different faith communities,” Mr Masih said. “My brothers and sisters, nobody is offended by Christmas.”
Trustees of Ascot Priory weigh up its future
THE trustees of Ascot Priory have addressed reports that it may close. A statement issued this week said that they were considering its future “in the face of the considerable repair and maintenance liabilities of the extensive buildings and land and the relative underuse of the Priory’s facilities”.