church and society
current issues
The churches undertake work relating to a broad range of political, social and ethical issues. Here are some of the current topical issues, with details below:
- Abortion
- Child protection
- Embryo Research and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill
- Equality
- Gambling
- Human Trafficking and Sexual Slavery
- Law and order
- Mental Capacity Act, Living Wills and Assisted Dying
- Nuclear Weapons and the Arms Trade
- Prostitution
- Welfare
Abortion
Comment by Rt Rev Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds, on the result of the HFE vote on abortion ![]()
October 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Act which legalised abortion
Open letter
from the Cardinals of England and Wales and Scotland.
22 October 2007
Briefing paper (PDF)
prepared by the Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches.
Child protection
Catholic Church
Catholic leaders to make safeguarding central to Church life and ministry ![]()
Press release
welcoming the Cumberlege Commission review July 2007
Cumberlege Commission site
with links to the report
Church of England
Protocol for review of past child protection cases ![]()
Embryo Research and the
Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill
News
20 May 2008
On Friday 16 May, the Wellcome Trust hosted Science, Ethics and Faith - a conversation about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. This discussion about the Bill between religious leaders of various faiths, scientists and clinicians, ethicists, philosophers and representatives of medical charities is now available to view online
.
19 May 2008
Catholic leaders of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales back adult stem cell research with grant ![]()
9 April 2008
Rt Rev Robert Gillies, Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney, in favour of embryo research ![]()
4 April 2008
Cardinal Keith O'Brien welcomes embryo poll results ![]()
31 March 2008
Cardinal calls for "Faith and Science" forum
27 March 2008
Catholic Church in England and Wales welcomes free vote on three key areas of the HFE Bill ![]()
Comment from Parliamentary Officer of the Catholic Church in Scotland ![]()
24 March 2008
Welsh Union of Independent Churches want a free vote in embryo debate
29 February 2008
Bishop of Paisley urges "Free vote" on Embryology Bill ![]()
28 January 2008
The Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, on 28 January spoke in support of an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (3rd day of Report Stage) tabled by Baroness Williams to create a National Human Bioethics Commission. The amendment was debated but not pressed to a vote:
Hansard report ![]()
21 January 2008
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has called for the setting up of a regulated bio-ethics commission as the House of Lords debates the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill:
Diocese of Westminster web site ![]()
Briefings
Briefings from the Catholic Church on the Bill, for parishes (PDFs):
Catholic Church briefing on HFE Bill - 1 page
Catholic Church briefing on HFE Bill - full
Briefing from the Scottish Bishops for parishes:
Bishops warn of "scientific opportunism" behind embryo legislation ![]()
The Passion for Life
campaign draws together many 'pro-life' groups and aims to raise awareness of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill. On the website is useful information about the bill and its timetable through Parliament.
Equality
Equality Bill
This bill will be introduced in the UK Parliament in the next session. For more details see:
Government Equalities Office ![]()
Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which began operating in October 2007, is undertaking an initial consultation on their equality scheme, which is about how they will promote equality in everything they do. The consultation ends on 18 February and the scheme is due to be published on 1 April 2008. For more details or to respond to the consultation see the
EHRC website
.
Gambling
Church of England
Church encourages Government warning to gambling industry ![]()
Methodist Church
Methodist delight at decision to drop the supercasino ![]()
A quarter of a million problem gamblers is too many (Word)
Against the Odds (PDF)
- a joint Methodist Church/Salvation Army publication
Salvation Army
Response to Government decision against the introduction of a supercasino ![]()
Response to the Prevalence of Gambling Survey - 19 September 2007 ![]()
Salvation Army position statement
on gambling.
Human Trafficking and Sexual Slavery
CHASTE
Churches are encouraged to mark 18 May as Not for Sale Sunday 2008
, organised by Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking across Europe (CHASTE).
Salvation Army
What the Salvation Army
is doing globally.
A feature
on human trafficking and what can be done about it, with further links.
United Reformed Church
Article
on trafficking.
Methodist Church
Social Action project
on the trafficking of women and girls in Europe.
Church of Scotland
Human trafficking resource pack
.
Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and Humberside
"Look and see our disgrace!" A briefing paper on Human Trafficking, Nov 2007 (PDF) ![]()
Law and Order
Religious Hatred and Religious Offence
29 January 2008
James Callaghan Memorial lecture by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Incitement to hatred on grounds of sexual orientation
Responses:
Catholic Church in England and Wales ![]()
Church of England ![]()
Church of England responses to Government proposal to extend the detention of terrorist suspects without charge to more than 28 days
MPs briefed on Church of England's position on 42 day detention and the Counter Terrorism Bill ![]()
Government needs better case to extend detention of terrorist suspects ![]()
General Synod motion on Detention without Charge, passed in February 2008 ![]()
Mental Capacity Act, Living Wills and Assisted Dying
The Mental Capacity Act came into force on 1st October 2007.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has a booklet The Mental Capacity Act and ‘Living Wills': A Practical Guide for Catholics
. There are also some study days
relating to the Act.
United Reformed Church report and study guide on Assisted Dying (PDF) ![]()
Nuclear Weapons and the Arms Trade
Nuclear weapons
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland produced a briefing in 2006 to add to the public debate on the future of the UK nuclear weapons programme. It does not promote a particular position or seek to represent the views of all member churches.
Trident: UK nuclear weapons at a crossroads (PDF)
Position of the Methodist Church on nuclear non-proliferation ![]()
Campaign Against the Arms Trade
The Campaign Against the Arms Trade has a Christian Network
formed in 1989 to bring to the attention of national churches and Christian organisations, the immorality of the arms trade. CAAT holds regular events and meetings
.
29 May 2008
World Council of Churches:
Churches applaud cluster munitions agreement, expect more states to join ![]()
Prostitution
National Christian Alliance on Prostitution (NCAP) ![]()
(NCAP) has launched a Good Practice Guide for local community projects and organisations supporting individuals involved in prostitution.
Welfare
Church of England
Press release:
Von Hügel Institute: Government ‘moral without a compass' says report into Church and Welfare ![]()
