What are your thoughts on LGBT+ inclusion within the Church Of England?

JUST before Easter we reported on our social media accounts that the Reverend Canon Dr Crispin Pauling, the Rector of Our Lady and St Nicholas Church (Liverpool Parish Church) in Liverpool City Centre, had accused the Church of England of:- "institutional homophobia and misogyny," claiming:- "perpetual bias and discrimination." We also reported that he then resigned from his post and had left the Church Of England. Over recent years many Bishops within the church of England have resisted any changes that would allow clergy to marry same sex couples, but some have proposed civil marriages can be blessed in Church. Back in January 2023, the Church of England did make a significant step forward in the area of LGBT+ inclusion, by issuing an apology to all LGBTQI+ people for the:- "shameful rejection, exclusion and hostility, and treatment" they had suffered from the Church. Then in February 2023 the Church of England's General Synod welcomed proposals which would enable same sex couples to come to Church after a civil marriage or civil partnership, to give thanks, dedicate their relationship to God and receive God's blessing. However, currently we are told that it is not legally possible for Church of England clergy to carry out same sex marriages. With more and more high profile cases like this, should the Church of England change its existing doctrine, and end decades of bitter and anguished division over sexuality?

This discussion within the Church over sexuality, relationships and marriage is proving to be extremely divisive for the Church, and but how we deal with everyone's views on sexuality is not just a problem within religious institutions. The issues over society's norms and values in general are increasingly becoming a major issue, both in public and within private spheres, but would we not be better off being more inclusive and supportive as a society? As a nation we are walking a very dangerous path, with division being used as a political weapon that could be more destructive than any physical weapon we could devise? Let us know your thoughts on this news topic... Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:-  Mastodon, Facebook or Twitter.

Housing company find £30,000 for 4 breaches of the HMO Regulations 2026

A housing management company has been fined £30,000 after an inspection by Liverpool City Council found an escape route at a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) was padlocked shut and blocked by a shipping container.

Newsham Park Estates Ltd has pleaded guilty to 4 breaches of the Management of House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) Regulations 2006 due to serious issues with tenant safety.

The Council's Private Sector Housing Service visited the property on Belmont Drive in Kensington in January 2023 after a tenant who lived in 1 of the rooms at the HMO made a complaint to the Council.

It was discovered that there was no safe secondary means of escape from the property as the back gate was padlocked shut, and it was obstructed by a large shipping container.

In addition, 9 fire doors were found to be in disrepair and holes and gaps were also found in the floor and walls of several rooms, compromising compartmentation and fire safety.

At a sentencing hearing at:- Liverpool Magistrates Court, on:- Thursday, 21 March 2024, the firm was fined £4,500 relating to the padlocked gate, £4,500 relating to the shipping container, £10,800 for the defective fire doors, and £8,100 because of the holes/gaps in the property.

With costs and a victim surcharge included, this totalled £32,694.00 payable by the company.

The property has since been reinserted and the issues that were identified have been remedied.

Louise Harford, Interim Director of Housing, said:- "This case demonstrates clearly that we will investigate and take action when there is clear evidence that landlords are not meeting their legal responsibilities. The action we have taken means tenants in this property are now living in much safer conditions, and the fine that has been issued sends out a really strong message to landlords who are not complying. We would encourage tenants who have concerns about disrepair and poor conditions to contact us, so that we can look into the issues and see if an offence is being committed."

Issues with private sector rented properties can be reported at:- Liverpool.Gov.UK.