Increasing concern is being expressed about the health impact of binge drinking, especially for younger abusers in the long term. In a week when Tesco has declared its willingness to co-operate with other big retailers on cheap booze special offers, another local licensing issue emerges with a letter from the chair of the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs to the City Council Licensing committee over a new licensing application for a retailer called 'Bargain Booze' in Canton.
You can read the letter here
and remind yourself of the last time a church based objection to the proliferation of alcohol retailing in the city centre was voiced publicly
Friday, 22 February 2008
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Archbishop's remarks a litmus test
The 'Thinking Anglicans' blog is an encyclopaedia of news reports on the media induced controversy surrounding a serious attempt by the Archbishop of Canterbury to contribute to current discussions on social inclusion.
The whole affairs is an astonishing exposure of media over-reaction, deep seated racism, and reveals the disturbing inability of people in the so-called communication industry to follow, report or sustain an argument of more than one sentence. But bullying our spiritual leader is more their style. No matter how much more carefully everyone thinks he should have expressed his views, he has pointed to important issues in need of discussion.
Even more astonishing is the egotism of elected members of the English General Synod, calling for his resignation. How they square that with the idea/belief that the church has consecrated him to lead in the footsteps of the apostles as a Bishop defies imagination.
After the death of Benazir Bhutto, how a leading Times religious columnist, Ruth Gledhill can say with certainty that leadership and martyrdom are incompatible, and not be laughed out of a job shows how gullible and powerless the public is before media maifioso might.
Such a hostile climate in which to be part of the church, and seek truth.
The whole affairs is an astonishing exposure of media over-reaction, deep seated racism, and reveals the disturbing inability of people in the so-called communication industry to follow, report or sustain an argument of more than one sentence. But bullying our spiritual leader is more their style. No matter how much more carefully everyone thinks he should have expressed his views, he has pointed to important issues in need of discussion.
Even more astonishing is the egotism of elected members of the English General Synod, calling for his resignation. How they square that with the idea/belief that the church has consecrated him to lead in the footsteps of the apostles as a Bishop defies imagination.
After the death of Benazir Bhutto, how a leading Times religious columnist, Ruth Gledhill can say with certainty that leadership and martyrdom are incompatible, and not be laughed out of a job shows how gullible and powerless the public is before media maifioso might.
Such a hostile climate in which to be part of the church, and seek truth.
Monday, 4 February 2008
Archbishop Rowan on just Wales
The Archbishop of Canterbury, interviewed on returning to celebrated the restoration of Brecon Cathedral calls for the creation of a just society in his native Wales founded on values of co-operation. He expresses concern about a housing economy which makes it extremely difficult for young adults to acquire their own home. He also has some interesting things to say about the establishment of the Church of England.
Read about it here
Read about it here
Friday, 1 February 2008
Latest churchgoing statistics
Decline has not been arrested across the U.K., but the picture is patchy, with some areas reporting growth, against the trend, according to the latest Anglican report.
The Church Times carries a an article on this.
The Church Times carries a an article on this.
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Archbishop of Canterbury on booze and embryology
The Archbishop of Canterbury expresses concern about the social impact 24 hour drinking laws. He also questions implications of current embryo research.
Read about it here
Read about it here
Monday, 28 January 2008
Armenian genocide denied forcibly
The first memorial in Britain to the 1915 Armenian genocide in Turkey was vandalised the night before it was due to be dedicated. A sign that the long standing dispute over the interpretation of historical events is far from ended, and knows no boundaries.
Read about it here
Read about it here
Friday, 18 January 2008
Analysis of decline
Decline in the number of Roman Catholics born and baptised into the faith in England and Wales is reported in the first statistical analysis of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales to use financial data publicly available through the Charity Commission.
Data taken from 1958 to 2005 published by the independent Pastoral Research Centre Trust is at variance with recent reports that Roman Catholic numbers were surging ahead, largely because of immigration from Roman Catholic areas of Europe, and are now comparable to the number of practicing Anglicans.
The Church Times report can be read here
Data taken from 1958 to 2005 published by the independent Pastoral Research Centre Trust is at variance with recent reports that Roman Catholic numbers were surging ahead, largely because of immigration from Roman Catholic areas of Europe, and are now comparable to the number of practicing Anglicans.
The Church Times report can be read here
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