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UK news in brief

by
22 January 2016

PA

Stigma: an Iranian asylum-seeker, Mohammed Bagher Bayzavi, at his home in Middlesbrough, on Wednesday. G4S’s sub-contractors are to repaint the red doors of asylum-seekers housed in the city, after claims of targeted racial attacks

Stigma: an Iranian asylum-seeker, Mohammed Bagher Bayzavi, at his home in Middlesbrough, on Wednesday. G4S’s sub-contractors are to repaint the red do...

Commissioners challenge Exxon on carbon future

THE Church Commissioners are among the investors calling on ExxonMobil to disclose what it is doing to prepare for a lower-carbon future, in the wake of the Paris agreement on climate change. The head of responsible investment for the Commissioners, Edward Mason, said that they needed “more transparency”. Shell and BP have already complied with similar proposals co-filed by the Church Commissioners (News, 24 April).

 

Condolences for Archbishop of Wales

CONDOLENCES are being offered to the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, and his family after the death last Friday of his wife, Hilary, who had cancer. “She died without pain and at home as she and all of us wanted,” Dr Morgan said. “All we can do now is release her into God’s tender hands.” The funeral service for Mrs Morgan will take place today at 2 p.m. at Llandaff Cathedral.

 

Vicar ‘upset’ by pornographic film shot in his churchyard

THE Vicar of St Peter and St Paul, Water Orton, the Revd Paul Tullett, condemned a pornographic film company after it used the grounds of the church to shoot scenes, without permission. Reports say that he found the abuse of the public space “upsetting”. “Churchyards are important public spaces and so valuable for grieving families looking for space to think, remember, and pray,” Mr Tullett said.

 

Mr Corbyn opens up about his Christian upbringing

THE leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, has spoken to The Independent about his Christian upbringing. He went to church every Sunday until he was 14, knows the words to “most” hymns, and read the Bible because his mother told him it was “the greatest work of literature”. He compared the growth of mosques in the UK to that of churches in the 19th century: “Sometimes faith is the only thing people find welcoming in a hostile environment.” Despite being a “sceptic”, he had “huge respect” for all faiths. “I find faith very interesting, and the power of it.”

 

Lords pass Baroness Cox’s Bill to tackle discrimination

BARONESS COX’S Private Member’s Bill to protect Muslim women who are suffering from “religiously sanctioned gender discrimination” in sharia courts — The Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill — was passed by the House of Lords and will now move to the House of Commons (News, 10 April).

 

Correction: last week’s article “Criticism for Cameron’s agenda on poverty” should have referred to Church Action on Poverty not Christians Against Poverty.

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