Crown Nominations Commission member Canon Andrew Cornes, steps back after Makin review
Channel 4 reports that ten clergymen and women criticised in the Makin review for their handling of allegations of abuse by John Smyth, have stepped back from ministry. One of them is Canon Andrew Cornes, a retired clergyman attached to All Souls Eastbourne, a member of the General Synod and the Crown Nominations Commission, which will appoint the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The Makin review said that in 1982, a victim discussed the abuse with Canon Andrew Cornes but there was no evidence that he took action to respond to this, saying he thought the matter was being dealt with. The CofE told Channel 4 that he could not take part in the process to appoint the next Archbishop of Canterbury, while his “permission to officiate” license was withdrawn. Another clergyman who has stepped back is the former Archdeacon of Horsham, Roger Combes, now retired, who said he chose not to read the report when shown it in 1982, but the review says it is likely he knew of the seriousness of the abuse. Channel 4 quoted a statement from Chichester Diocese saying both clergymen have stepped back from public ministry while an independent review takes place.
Professor Alexis Jay tells CofE bishops to ‘get a grip’ on safeguarding
Professor Alexis Jay, former chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that the fact that the Church of England had delayed the introduction of an independent safeguarding process, which she had recommended, was the wrong decision. She understood the reason was that the 42 dioceses wanted to retain control of safeguarding and not release it to an independent group. She declined to answer a question on whether the Archbishop of York should resign, following criticism of his handling of the case of abuser Canon David Tudor. But she did say that church leaders should get a grip of the safeguarding issue, confront the failings and enact necessary changes when synod discusses it in February. The CofE has released a statement saying “there are detailed proposals going to the Church’s February General Synod which include a new independent safeguarding scrutiny body and options for independent operational safeguarding”.
Prof Jay praises Bishop of Newcastle for courage in highlighting safeguarding failures
Professor Jay has signed an open letter to the Bishop of Newcastle, praising her for her courage in exposing safeguarding failings in the Church of England. The 12 signatories, including lawyers and safeguarding professionals, said it was imperative to introduce the radical change of establishing a fully independent safeguarding process. Referring to the resignation of Justin Welby and calls for the Archbishop of York to resign as well, the letter said the situation was “particularly alarming, knowing that 4,600 schools in England are run by the Church of England”. They hoped more people would follow Bishop Helen-Ann’s example “standing up to ensure the 1 million children in church schools in the UK are safe”. The letter has been published by The Survivors’ Trust.
How British Muslims adopt some Christmas traditions
Christmas is here and people of all faiths and none find meaning in the traditions. Some British Muslims have adopted customs such as shared family meals, chocolates, decorations and giving gifts to neighbours, but the activities are always limited so as not to celebrate the birth of Jesus as God made man. That would be “haram” – forbidden. In Islam, Jesus was a prophet, born of the Virgin Mary, known as Maryam, and the Christmas season holds some value because of that. Some Muslims volunteer at homeless shelters or cook Christmas meals for people living on the street over the holidays, as a way of giving back to the community. There are often lecture series or other educational meetings in mosques, for people who have the long holiday off work. Read our article by Maira Butt, for more on the story of British Muslims and Christmas.
Polarised world needs open dialogue, says new English cardinal
The Church – and the world – needs to get beyond conventional divisions between left and right, progressives and liberals, and fixed ideas, and find new ways of mutual flourishing, according to England and Wales’s newest cardinal, Timothy Radcliffe. Speaking at a conference in Oxford, he said the key to this new era is reciprocity. He said the recent Rome Synod offered new models of encounter to a “post-Western world” increasingly divided. He spoke of his concern about the polarisation of society, and how on a recent visit to the United States, following the presidential election, he found that “tension is palpable”. His focus on dialogue was also shared by Pope Francis on his recent visit to the Mediterranean island of Corsica when he spoke of “the need for dialogue, that is open, frank and fruitful” and the positive impact that “dynamic secularism” can bring. Read Catherine Pepinster’s article here
Oxford Union debate on Israel condemned as a “mess of antisemitism”
A Conservative MP has raised in the Commons, a recent debate at the Oxford Union, titled “This house believes Israel is an apartheid state responsible for genocide”. It passed by 278 votes to 59, but Conservative MP Gregory Stafford, a former treasurer of the Oxford Union, said it was a “mess of antisemitism”. Jonathan Sacredoti, one of the speakers against the motion, took to Twitter / X to describe an intimidating atmosphere with jeers, coughs, and outright abuse. During the debate, students voted by a majority that they would not have reported Hamas’s plans if they’d known them prior to the 7 October attacks, a vote which Mr Stafford said was “disgusting”. In the Commons, Women and Equalities minister Anneliese Dodds MP said there was no place for antisemitism in our society, including in educational settings. The Jewish Chronicle reports that more than 300 academics signed an open letter addressed to the new Oxford University chancellor William Hague saying the debate broke the law. The Oxford Union issued a statement saying it was a forum for robust, unfettered debate and remained committed to free speech, while also explaining why it had edited a film of the debate uploaded to social media.
Eddie Stobart, ‘lorry legend’ and committed Christian, dies aged 95
Eddie Stobart, Christian businessman and founder of the iconic UK lorry firm in his name, has died aged 95. Premier Christian News reports that he was born into a farming family in Cumbria with devout Methodist roots and was a committed member, with his wife Nora, of Gideons International. He built Lowmoor Evangelical Church in Wigton, Carlisle, and brought the Christian book distributor Send the Light to the region. He met Nora when she was 17, at a Bible rally in Carlisle, and they married on Boxing Day in 1951. Their son Edward built the company into a multi-million empire but died tragically of a heart attack in 2011. In a tribute, Premier says “Stobart leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond his business empire, reflecting his deep Christian faith and commitment to spreading the gospel”.
Justin Welby donates to The Children’s Society with his last Christmas card as archbishop
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and his wife Caroline, have sent out their last Christmas card with a note saying he has made a donation to The Children’s Society, which works with sexually abused and exploited children. He has resigned following criticism of his inaction in the case of John Smyth, who ran Christian camps and abused hundreds of boys and young men by beating them until they bled, in his shed. Dr Welby leaves the church on 6 January, having become the first archbishop to resign, forced out after an outcry over the church’s handling of the case and cover up of the abuse. His words on the card say: “May you find the welcome of Christ this Christmas and know His joy and peace in the New Year”.
