More answers to queries and comments
Below is a further compilation of “Quick Answers” to questions which have arisen from searches of, or comments during the past couple of weeks, providing links to our blog posts addressing these issues.
As before, the topics covered in these occasional posts do not necessarily represent our most-read blogs, but reflects the current interests of readers accessing the site on (mostly) contemporary issues.
General searches
| Question | Quick Answer | L&RUK Answer |
| goddard review records | IICSA investigations here. | Safeguarding and the Goddard Inquiry, (150806) |
| kirking of council suspended inverness | Beyond Bideford – Developments in ‘Civic Religion’, (120919). | NSS currently campaign End Government prayers |
| diocese of Middlesbrough abuse cases | See Law and religion round-up – 15th January, (170115) | Three claims relating to the St William’s School were decided in December 2016. |
| marcus binney spotlight on churches | Closure of the HLF Grants for Places of Worship – Update, (170719). | The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced that from September 2017 it will support places of worship seeking grants for repairs through its open grant programmes rather than through its dedicated Grants for Places of Worship (GPOW) scheme. |
| pews, chairs, chaises longues cartoons | See Dave Walker’s Book “My Pew – things I have seen from it“, (080704) | We wouldn’t wish to infringe copyright, but the moral of the cartoons is to make a church seem full, replace pews with chairs, or better still, with chaise longues. |
| music copyright in church uk | Copyright and religion: an idiot’s guide, (131031). | “In short, don’t simply assume that just because something is old it is out of copyright – and do be careful”. |
| is wicca a recognised religion | Wicca and religious discrimination in employment, (140111). | See also Paganism, religion and human rights. (141020). |
| columbaria for storing ashes in Hampshire | Had not featured in consistory cases reviewed, at the time of writing. | …churchyard of St Mary’s Church, Broughton, contains a William and Mary columbarium, or dovecote! |
Case law related searches
| Question | Quick Answer | L&RUK Answer |
| judgment of unborn right of property | The rights of the unborn: a troubling decision from the [Irish] High Court? (160816). | PP v. HSE [2014] IEHC 622 and other cases reviewed by Máiréad Enright . |
| arbitration law 1996 and sharia courts | Sharia law, the Arbitration Act 1996 and the Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill, (121024). | See also: Reforming Religious Courts: A Comparison of Two Bills, (150712) |
| same sex couple adoption uk religious freedom | Dismissal for opposition to same-sex adoption: Mr R Page, (172026). | Mr R Page v NHS Trust Development Authority [2017] UKET 2302433/2016. |
| wrong plot burial | Unfortunately, this is a relatively common occurrence. | For burial in consecrated ground, falls within “mistake” category in Re Blagdon Cemetery [2002] Fam 299 |
| hamainen v finland | Transsexuals and marriage: Hämäläinen v Finland | Hämäläinen v Finland [2014] ECHR 787 |
Q&A on other areas of ecclesiastical law
Canon Law Made Easy, Cathy Caridi
- Can You Become Catholic If You’re in an Irregular Marriage? (171109)
- Can I Get an Annulment If My Ex-Spouse Refuses to Cooperate? (171026)
Links to sources of frequently sought data
- UK legislation, including CofE Measures: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/
- UK statistics, various areas: Office for National Statistics, (ONS)
Unless marked §, the questions are the search terms used, verbatim; questions arising externally to the blog, (twitter/other), are marked ‡; the dates in parentheses are in the format (yymmdd).
As stated in our General Terms and Conditions, at L&RUK we do not give legal advice, or purport to do so. This post is a summary of recent enquiries and comments, and links to relevant coverage in this blog and elsewhere. With regard to on-going issues, the date of this sourced material is of particular importance. For specific queries on the application of the legislation, professional legal advice should be sought.