Archbishop Welby to address UN Security Council
THE current Archbishop of Canterbury will be the first to address the United Nations Security Council, the Anglican Communion News Service has reported, when he addresses a debate on “mediation and its role in conflict prevention” on 29 August. He was invited by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Karen Pierce. “I do know that he comes often to the United Nations and takes his contribution to it seriously,” she told ACNS. “I had a very good chat with him before I took up my job as ambassador.” The Anglican Communion has observer status at the UN.
Public schools ‘prioritised reputation over children’ IICSA finds
THERE was “a culture of acceptance of abusive behaviour and the prioritisation of monks and their reputations over the protection of children”, at Ampleforth and Downside public schools, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has concluded, after its investigation into the Roman Catholic Church. “For decades, Ampleforth and Downside tried to avoid giving any information about child sexual abuse to police and social services,” Professor Alexis Jay, Chair of the Inquiry, said last week. “Instead, monks in both institutions were very often secretive, evasive, and suspicious of anyone outside the English Benedictine Congregation. . . Even after new procedures were introduced in 2001, when monks gave the appearance of co-operation and trust, their approach could be summarised as a ‘Tell them nothing’ attitude.” A statement from the Roman Catholic Church said that the Church “condemns without reservation any such crimes, and the perpetrators of these crimes must be brought to justice”. Read Andrew Brown’s press column on the subject, here
MICHAEL TAYLORA different angle: the winner of the People’s Choice award in the this year’s Capture the Cathedral photography competition was A View from the Pew by Michael Taylor, who also won the overall prize for his photograph Red. The winner of the People’s Choice award was decided by more than 1335 votes cast by visitors to Manchester Cathedral and the cathedral’s Facebook page
Church Army expands mission in Aberdeen
A CENTRE for mission is to be established in Aberdeen, in a partnership between the Church Army and the diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney. It will build on the work of two Church Army evangelists — the Revd Captain Gerry Bowyer and Jo Bowyer — and draw on resources from St Devenick’s, Bieldside; the missional community Caf4e in the Bridge of Don; and Caf4e at Credo in the city centre. Captain Bowyer will become Rector of St Devenick’s. A pioneer evangelist is sought for the team.
Vicar and his curate disciplined after affair
THE Vicar and Assistant Curate of All Saints’, Lanchester, and Burnhope, the Revd Rupert Kalus and the Revd Ali Miller, have been prohibited from public ministry for 18 months and 12 months respectively, under the Clergy Discipline Measure, after an adulterous affair that has ended, the diocese of Durham has confirmed. They had both had to resign their posts, the statement said. “We are deeply saddened that this situation has arisen and ask that you respect the privacy of both families and hold them in your prayers.”
Nurse permitted to practise again
A NURSE, Sarah Kuteh, dismissed from Darent Valley Hospital in Kent for gross misconduct in 2016 (News, 16 December 2016), has been permitted to return to practice by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which had imposed restrictions on her. Before her dismissal, one cancer patient facing surgery complained that she had told him that if he prayed he would have a better chance of survival. At an NMC panel last month, her supervisor at her new job in a nursing home praised her as a “a kind, caring, honest, friendly nurse” and “a valuable member of the team”, the BBC reports.
Latest feat: the Vicar of St Francis of Assisi, Kew, the Revd Alex Galbraith, who is blind, and his Methodist colleague, the Revd Marie-Anne Kent, cycled by tandem to Liverpool Cathedral and back to raise money for the church. In previous years, Mr Galbraith has abseiled down the cathedral, performed aerobatics in a light plane, gone whitewater rafting, descended into Gaping Gill, and travelled on the fastest zip wire in the world