Bishop celebrates Burnley FC’s return to Premier League
THE Bishop of Burnley, Dr Joe Kennedy, is “delighted” about Burnley FC’s return to the Premier League, after a home game on Easter Monday, at which the club beat Sheffield United 2-1. Dr Kennedy said: “The story of the Clarets [Burnley FC] is also the story of the town: a friendly club and place where people of all ages and background are welcome. I know this personally because, since becoming Bishop of Burnley last year, my family and I have been made so welcome by the people who live here as we get to know the town and surrounding areas.”
Barred priest pleads guilty over indecent images
GEOFFREY BAULCOMB, 79, of Eastbourne, who was barred from ministry last year, has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to three charges of possessing indecent images of a 16-year-old boy, along with indecent images of another child, and almost 200 images of extreme pornography, including the abuse of animals. The Times reported on Wednesday that he had been in contact with Marius Gustavson, who was imprisoned for life last year for mutilating dozens of men, some as young as 16, and selling footage of the supposedly consensual acts online. The 16-year-old had been abused by Mr Gustavson’s group. Mr Baulcomb was last year prohibited from ordained ministry for life after receiving a police caution for possession of crystal meth and ketamine (News, 13 September 2024). He argued before the Bishop’s Tribunal that trying the drugs helped him in his pastoral ministry, but it concluded that there was “no realistic prospect” of his rehabilitation. A spokesperson for the diocese said on Thursday that Mr Baulcomb’s behaviour was “appalling”, and that this should be reflected in the sentence he receives.
African Bishops and MPs call on Government to cancel debts
CHRISTIAN leaders from Africa have echoed UK voices in imploring the UK Government to compel private lenders to cancel debts. In a letter to the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, Anglican bishops in Africa and the UK warn that “unsustainable debt has been inflicting immense suffering upon people across the African continent for far too long.” A report published in 2024 by Christian Aid suggests that African governments spent more than 50 times more on external debt payments than the entire UK aid budget to the continent in 2023. Thirty-two countries spent more on debt than health care, and 25 spent more on debt than education.
Drs Hartley and Walker take on Dr Smith’s posts
THE Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, is to succeed the Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, as the President of the Rural Coalition. Dr Smith retires next month (News, 10 January). The Rural Coalition comprises 12 national organisations that seek to promote a vision of a living, working countryside in England. The appointment underlined Dr Hartley’s longstanding interest in rural affairs, the Coalition said.
Dr Walker to be Convener of the Lords Spiritual
THE Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, has been appointed Convener of the Lords Spiritual, to take over from the Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, who is retiring at the end of May (News, 8 January).
Swansea & Brecon cleric sentenced for ‘abhorrent offences’
A RETIRED priest, the Revd Andrew Stephen Robinson, 76, at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court on Tuesday, received a 12-week suspended sentence for two years and was issued with a two-year Sexual Harm Prevention order, after admitting to 13 counts of possessing/making category A images, 20 counts of category B images, 196 counts of category C images, and 327 counts of possessing/making prohibited images of children. He was ordained deacon in 1995, and his ministry was spent entirely in the diocese of Swansea & Brecon. He retired in 2014 and held permission to officiate in the diocese until January 2024. A Church in Wales spokesperson said: “These are abhorrent offences which exploit and promote the sexual abuse of children. We condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms and we hold the victims of these offences in our prayers. We are grateful to the police and to our own safeguarding team for their work in this matter. There is no place for any form of abuse in the Church in Wales.”