NZ judge appointed to lead sex-abuse
inquiry
A JUDGE from the High Court of New Zealand, Justice Lowell
Goddard, has agreed to chair the UK Independent Panel Inquiry into
Child Sexual Abuse, the Home Office announced on Wednesday. She
previously chaired the Independent Police Conduct Authority in New
Zealand. The Home Secretary also announced that the inquiry will be
placed on a statutory footing under the 2005 Inquiries Act, with
the power to compel witnesses to give evidence. The current panel
will be disbanded.
Bishop Baines questions loss of BBC religion
job
THE axeing of the job of Head of Religion and Ethics at the BBC
has been queried by the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines.
In a shake-up announced last month, four jobs will be lost, and
three new commissioning appointments will be created. Religion will
be combined with science, business, and history. "At a time when it
is impossible to understand the modern world . . . without
understanding religion, why is religion not being prioritised as
needing expert interpretation in the public and broadcast sphere?"
Bishop Baines wrote on his blog last week.
Canon Saward dies, aged 82
CANON Michael Saward, author, hymn-writer, and former radio and
television officer of the Church Information Office, has died, aged
82. He was Canon Treasurer of St Paul's Cathedral from 1991 to
2000. Obituary to follow.
Christian Soldiers of UKIP leaflet 'not
acceptable'
UKIP has distanced itself from a publication by the Christian
Soldiers of UKIP which refers to gay people as "depraved",
The Guardian reported on Tuesday. The article
describes the event Manchester Pride as "thousands of people
proclaiming their pride in their depravity". A UKIP spokesman said
that the group was "authorised but not official. . . They do not
represent the party or its policies. . . We do not consider that
this leaflet is of an acceptable standard to be associated with the
UKIP brand."
Grants of up to £5000 available for Passion
plays
GROUPS planning to stage new Passion plays and biblical dramas
are being urged to apply to the Passion Trust for a share of
£20,000 of "pump-priming" grants. The grants of up to £5000,
offered by the Sainsbury's Foundation, were announced at the
Trust's annual conference at Liverpool Cathedral. For information
about initial applications, visit www.passiontrust.org, or write
to: Passion Trust, Sinclaire Cottage, Portsmouth Road, Ripley,
Surrey GU23 6EW. The deadline is 8 February.
Human-trafficking links to FTSE 100
LINKS between human trafficking and FTSE 100 companies will be
investigated by academic researchers part-funded by Us. (formerly
USPG), it was announced on Monday. The global-relations director of
the charity said that the research would "dig deep into the
phenomenon of human trafficking, taking as our focus the supply
chains of the FTSE 100 companies. . . We want to see FTSE 100
companies better informed to help them ensure there is as little
risk as possible that their supply chain is somehow touched by the
traffickers' trade."
Accepting Evangelicals has new head
A FORMER member of the Archbishops' Council, Jayne Ozanne, will
be the new director of Accepting Evangelicals. A press release
issued on Monday said that she had "struggled with her
sexuality, and was ministered to many times in the hope of
'healing' or change. In 2009, following years of internal struggle
and severe bouts of depression and physical illness, Jayne finally
embraced her full identity in Christ. Despite knowing the high cost
she would pay, she came out to her friends, family, and senior
church leaders. What followed was a very bruising time, and it is
only more recently that Jayne has felt ready to re-engage with the
Church."