More answers to readers’ queries and comments
Below is a further compilation of “Quick Answers” to questions which have arisen from searches of, or comments during October and early November; we have provided links to our blog posts and other sources which address 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. In most cases, it is possible to provide an answer to the search terms used by readers; however, we cannot do so if the search is too broad, too cryptic or outside the scope or the T&C of L&RUK.
| Question | Quick Answer | L&RUK Answer |
| festival church | The Church of England and “Festival Churches” (160214) | The Church of England and “Festival Churches”: the Norwich model, (160218). |
| blood and transplant laws in the united kingdom | This is too broad a query for a quick answer. | NHS Blood and Transplant. |
| church of England – independent reviewer 2018 | Independent Reviewer’s Report for 2017. | See also Oxford job ad creates stir, (181008) |
| reserving a burial plot Swansea/exhuming body for burial elsewhere uk | Not sufficiently specific. | Depends upon whether burial is in municipal or other churchyard. |
| difference between European court of human rights and the European court of justice | They are the courts of the 47 states of the Council of Europe; and of the 28 Member States of the European Union, respectively. | The CJEU and the ECtHR: an idiot’s guide, (170227). |
| gender recognition act and the church | Gender Recognition Act consultation – CofE response, (181019). | Gender Recognition Act Consultation, (180704). |
| black hair discrimination uk | Cornrows, school uniform and discrimination, (180208) | |
| is paganism illegal | No. | |
| red book uk marriage reform/budget 2018 marriage law | See paragraph 5.52 of the Red Book | Marriage law, civil partnership – and Budget 2018, (181030) |
Case law related queries
| Question | Quick Answer | L&RUK Answer |
| sahyouni t. mamisch, 20 december 2017, c-372/16 | Sahyouni v Raja Mamisch (Advocate General’s opinion) [2017] EUECJ C‑372/16 | EU recognition of sharia divorce decrees: Sahyouni, (170918). |
| proportionality assessment in Conway case suicide | R (Conway) v The Secretary of State for Justice & Ors [2018] EWCA Civ 1431 | Assisted dying: Noel Conway loses his appeal, (180628) |
| nicklinson and lamb v united kingdom | Nicklinson & Lamb v United Kingdom [2015] ECHR 709 | Law and religion round-up – 3rd April 2016. |
| nadia eweida british airways | Nadia Eweida and British Airways: here we go again, (180818). | Update: Employment Tribunal, Watford: Decision in December 2018. |
| lee v ashers | Lee v Ashers Baking Company Ltd & Ors (Northern Ireland) [2018] UKSC 49 | ‘Gay cakes’: UK Supreme Court finds in favour of Ashers Baking, (181011). |
| e.s. v. austria blasphemy | ES v Austria [2018] ECHR 891 | Freedom of expression or criminal blasphemy?: ES v Austria, (181026). |
Q&A on other areas of ecclesiastical law
“Canon Law Made Easy, Cathy Caridi
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)
The architecture of the Church of England’s web site is much improved since it was relaunched almost a year ago. Nevertheless, it still appears to be problematic for some, and we have therefore posted some quick links to areas of potential interest to ecclesiastical lawyers (and clergy), here, (law & policy); here, (clergy and General Synod) and here, (legal opinions and other guidance).
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.