Bishop Libby Lane launches anti-human trafficking campaign
Bishop Libby Lane launched a campaign on Monday against human trafficking, her first official engagement since becoming the Church of England's first female bishop. Bishop Lane, who was consecrated last month, visited Manchester Airport to raise awareness of the issue. Staff will be given training on the identification of at-risk passengers as part of the Travel Safe Week initiative in partnership with Border Force, the airport chaplaincy and local organisations who work with victims. Speaking to Sky News, Bishop Lane said the training would allow staff to ‘be alert to those indications that perhaps relationships between people are not all that they seem and to be able to spot the signs that people are at risk and are vulnerable. We hope that the publicity and the information in and around the airport will give those people the courage and hope to be able to turn to those who may be able to help them.’ (See also article in 04-2015 Prayer Alert.)
‘Assisted Suicide’ and ‘Dignity in Dying’
Lord Faulkner’s private members’ bill on ‘Assisted Dying’ was debated again recently. Some issues covered by the private members’ bill attract greater public interest than others. Discussions and votes are an important safety valve, people then express their views by e-mail, petition or demonstration and put pressures on the Government. If there is clear support for a Bill, there is a case for returning to the issue and persuading Government to bring in a Bill of its own. The Assisted Dying Bill is a good example of one attracting considerable interest. The ‘Dignity in Dying’ campaign supports the Assisted Dying Bill. They are generating much interest on line and in the media to make assisted dying happen. The implications of this Bill going through are huge. In 1967 an abortion bill was supposedly ring-fenced and safe; now millions of lives are destroyed. See also
Elderly care home residents auctioned off by councils on 'eBay-style' website
Councils are putting the elderly and disabled ‘up for auction’ on eBay-style websites where care homes bid against each other to offer them a bed. More than a dozen local authorities are listing vulnerable people’s details including their age and what care and medication they need. Care homes in the area are then invited to bid to offer the elderly person a home. Often, the cheapest offer wins. The bidding is sometimes open for only a few hours but at other times it can last for two or three days. It means the patient or their family often do not see the care home, and that those running the home do not see the patient before they arrive. One critic likened the system to ‘auctioning your granny’ and said it was like a ‘cattle market’. Others complained that computers are only interested in costs and should not be making sensitive decisions about an elderly resident’s final years.
Lift burden off rural clergy, C of E study recommends
An urgent review of parish structure - including the number of churchwardens and other office-holders - is needed to release the time and energy of clergy and lay people for mission in rural areas, a report has recommended. The report, 'Released for Mission: Growing the rural Church', will be debated at General Synod next week. Two-thirds of C of E churches are in rural areas, but fewer than half the clergy serve in them. The vast majority of rural churches are in multi-parish benefices or groupings. Clergy working in multi-church groups - some of whom have as many as 11 or more churches to look after - report feelings of exhaustion, as they rush to conduct as many services in as many churches as possible each Sunday. The Bishop of Knaresborough, the Rt Revd James Bell, said, ‘Rural ministry must be re-thought in a way that is authentic to the place and people to whom the Church is reaching out.’
