Priest backs colleague over Father
Christmas
A CHURCH of England priest has offered his support to a Roman
Catholic priest who has come under fire for telling schoolchildren
that Father Christmas did not exist. Fr Dennis Higgins, from St
Anne's RC Church in Buxton, Derbyshire, made the remark last month,
which led one parent to describe him as "plain mean" to the local
paper. The Revd Lee Townend, however, who was assistant curate of
Buxton with Burbage and King Sterndale from 1998 to 2001, wrote on
Facebook that Fr Higgins was a "thoroughly decent man", and
condemned those trying to undermine his ministry.
Buy from charity shops this Christmas, says
Archbishop
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has urged poorer families to buy
presents from charity shops this Christmas rather than feel
pressured into spending too much money. Writing in the Christmas
edition of the Radio Times, Archbishop Welby said that
people could also demonstrate their care by offers of babysitting,
volunteering in the community, or inviting the elderly to dinner,
not just by buying presents. "In order to have a great Christmas,
we need not run up crippling debts," he wrote.
Immigration officers investigated after trial
collapses
IMMIGRATION officers who gave evidence against a priest accused
of arranging hundreds of sham marriages are being investigated. The
trial of the Revd Nathan Ntege, a priest in Thornton Heath, south
London, collapsed in October after the judge decided immigration
officers had lied on oath and manipulated evidence (News, 31
October). The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said
that it will look into the actions of officers, three of whom have
been suspended.
Quakers register under new Act
THE Quakers have decided to register themselves formally as a
non-party campaigner under the Lobbying Act, even though they have
"reservations" about the Act itself, which tightens regulations on
charities' lobbying politicians. The clerk of the trustees of the
Quakers in Britain, Jennifer Barraclough, said that registering
would not stop the Quakers from speaking the truth and seeking to
influence the powerful.
University calls for balanced funding for
research
LIVERPOOL Hope University, which was founded in the 1990s partly
through the effort of the former Bishop of Liverpool David Sheppard
has launched a campaign for Government research funding to be
allocated more widely. In 2012 to 2013, 31 universities out of a
total of 162 received three-quarters of the total money given out.
Liverpool Hope's campaign Growth by Research wants the next round
of funding to go to good researchers wherever they are, not just at
the historically successful institutions.
Students ask for inclusion in C of E vision
THE Student Christian Mission has challenged the Church of
England to incorporate student voices within its vision. SCM's
National Co-ordinator, Hilary Topp, issued the challenge during the
recent Westminster Faith Debates. In a 2013 study by researchers
from the University of Durham it was stated that only a minority of
Christian students are involved with a church or student group
during term-time.
Leaving EU 'deeply regressive', says former
Primate
THE former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams has warned of
the danger of leaving the European Union. In comments made to the
Church of Ireland Gazette, Lord Williams described the
prospect of withdrawal as "deeply regressive". He cited concern for
aid agencies and the fear of over-reliance on financial services as
factors motivating his stance.