Tag Archives: Bishops

The upside-down debate on assisted dying

Posted on 13th Jul 2018 by Jonathan Clatworthy

Logically it ought to be the other way round. As David Seymour’s proposed assisted dying bill divides New Zealand, Jonathan Rees describes the debate between Anglican bishops. Two retired and one assistant bishop think assisted dying is ‘a good and … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Ethics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The upside-down debate on assisted dying

Are liberals illiberal about women priests?

Posted on 14th Mar 2017 by Jonathan Clatworthy

Exclusive inclusives! Intolerant tolerance! When Philip North announced his withdrawal from the post of Bishop of Sheffield, it was open season for his supporters to accuse liberals of being illiberal. This post is a defence of liberalism, inclusiveness and tolerance.

Posted in Churches, Gender, Theology | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Sheffield’s women and Christian sacraments

Posted on 9th Mar 2017 by Jonathan Clatworthy

This is the third of three blog posts responding to the appointment of Philip North, an opponent of women priests, as Bishop of Sheffield. In the first I described Martyn Percy’s argument that the appointment should not proceed as long … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Gender, Theology | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Sheffield’s women: who should tolerate what?

Posted on 5th Mar 2017 by Jonathan Clatworthy

Outcry all round. Philip North, the suffragan Bishop of Burnley who opposes the ordination of women, is to become the next Bishop of Sheffield. This is the first of three posts on the subject. It is a diocesan post, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Gender, Theology | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Here we go again

Posted on 2nd Feb 2017 by Jonathan Clatworthy

‘My primary feeling on reading the document was “here we go again”‘, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes remarks on her excellent response to the latest report from the Church of England’s House of Bishops on the apparently never-ending issue of same-sex relationships. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Ethics, Marriage & sexuality, Theology | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

How do bishops move?

Posted on 6th Apr 2016 by Jonathan Clatworthy

This post is at Laura Sykes’ request. In a Facebook dialogue she published a cartoon, as below, mentioning that bishops move diagonally. I haven’t completely forgotten my chess-playing days, so here is some more information. It may or may not … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches | Tagged , | Comments Off on How do bishops move?

Liberal theology and bishops’ beliefs

Posted on 2nd Sep 2015 by Jonathan Clatworthy

Should bishops publicly state their religious beliefs, even when they differ from church teachings? Rowan Williams, when he became Archbishop of Canterbury in 2003, as an Anglican Catholic took the view that his duty was to represent the faith of … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Theology | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments