the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I declare an interest in that I have received a stipend and have some responsibility for the clergy and their posts. Nevertheless, does the Minister accept, as I believe he already has done, that it may not be appropriate to extend statutory employment rights to clergy if, for example, it can be demonstrated that to do so would be incompatible with their vocational character of...
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, this is a very serious issue. We must feel for the families involved. But does the noble and learned Lord agree that the law by itself cannot make us good and that the matter requires, as has already been indicated, not only education but a multi-pronged approach? Given the significance of the increase in sexually transmitted diseases and the possible problems of future infertility,...
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, is the Minister aware that when a child of school leaving age is received into prison, the prison is often not told of any information about that child's previous education? As appropriate education is important to their future, is the Minister willing to ensure that that information is passed through?
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I join other contributors in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Alton of Liverpool, for introducing this timely debate. We are slowly waking up to the seriousness of the challenge posed by the trafficking in human beings. In Bristol we have in recent years begun to work through the history of slavery, often painfully. We discovered that slavery took place not only in the 17th and 18th...
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I am sad that the noble Earl, Lord Onslow, is not in his place. When he hoped that he would leave a better--and I think that he meant more effective--House, we all knew exactly what he meant. I echo his sentiments. My noble friend the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Portsmouth spoke about the Church of England's response to the Wakeham report and the reform of your Lordships'...
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, the Deregulation (Sunday Licensing) Order 2000 is a sensitive issue for many Christians, as has already been indicated, and those of your Lordships who have been at the receiving end of the "Keep Sunday Special" campaign will know that the arguments are strongly made. I wish to assure your Lordships that I do not seek to oppose this order. I would like to make one comment and also...
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I join with others in thanking the noble Lord, Lord St John of Bletso, for giving your Lordships' House the opportunity to debate the serious challenges which face Southern Africa and our part in them. In December 1998, in Harare, the World Council of Churches celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in Amsterdam. The celebrations in Harare were marked by an African...
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, like other speakers, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, for introducing the debate this afternoon. I am perhaps a little less grateful for his description of the Church of England. Is it anachronistic? Perhaps the robes that we are made to wear in the Chamber convey that impression. I was grateful for the use of the word "perceived", as the media report the Church of England...
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, in light of the Prison Service targets for purposeful activity, will the Minister join me in congratulating Bristol prison on achieving 23.05 hours per prisoner per week during April--despite the plethora of bank holidays? More importantly, will the Government support and encourage the development of community prison chaplaincy as a contribution to a diminution in reoffending,...
the Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I join with noble Lords who have spoken in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Walker of Worcester, for introducing this issue. It is nearly 30 years since I had the privilege of meeting Dame Cicely Saunders and ensuring that clergy in training received the opportunity to experience ministry to the dying at St Christopher's Hospice. I was caught, and since then I have been involved in the...