Archbishop Jonathan Blake

The Most Reverend Jonathan Blake, Presiding Archbishop of the Open Episcopal Church B.A. (Hons), Dip. Pastoral Studies. Mobile: 07767 687711 www.bishopjonathanblake.com archbishopjonathanblake@gmail.com www.openepiscopalchurch.org The Church is a member of The International Council of Community churches and the World Council of Churches. Married and a proud Dad.

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Location: London, Kent, United Kingdom

Gassed Tehran, seized Kabul, helped Mother Teresa, funded TB hospital, priest 1981, went Auschwitz, wrote on Parliament, convicted, began 1st inter-faith NHS chapel, 12 yrs Anglican cleric/vicar - left, baptised 1000's in homes/Mt Snowdon/at circus, wedding underwater, wrote ‘For God’s Sake Don’t Go To Church’, nailed 95 Theses 2 Canterbury cathedral, arrested, co-founded the Society for Independent Ministry, consecrated a bishop, co-founded the Open Episcopal Church, did 1st gay wedding on morning TV, sued Associated Newspapers, co-consecrated 1st women bishops 4 England,Wales,Scotland, accommodated the homeless, posted Mass/took it 2 sex workers, elected Archbishop, arrested 4 climbing with sons,founded ‘When No One’s Watching',made ICV, did Jade Goody's wedding,invited 2 Downing St, wrote 'That Old Devil Called God Again', conviction 4 campaigning against child abuse quashed on appeal, convicted 4 successful blogging 2 stop paedophile. His Christmas Lights raising £79,000 4 Water in 4 Gambian villages. Published "The Tales of Henry the Lovable Hedgehog", the SAFE New Testament + Psalms + radical Book of Common Prayer, ordained priests for UK,US,Thailand,Spain,Ireland

Friday, March 20, 2009

THE STOLEN YEARS - Sean Hodges

How can 27 years be replaced? Who has the right to remove a man's life, deny him his children and grandchildren and send his parent's to the grave knowing their son is in prison for murder?

Is it the police, the judiciary, the forensic science service or some other toxic mix of officials making mistakes that cost others their lives?

I shudder each time I read that someone has been sentenced, because while it may appear superficially that justice has been done and society is a safer place, my doubts remain. Am I witness to another murder, the resolution of which will only be achieved in an appeal court's decision 27 years hence?

Except with this murder, no one is charged. The police, the judges, the forensic science service and others can play with their children and grandchildren and nostalgically recall their life's memories. After all, do they muse, a large compensation award will make up for their mistakes?

Our 'civilised' society can no longer tolerate these aberrations.

Perhaps there needs to be an independent appeal body set up to scrutinise routinely every sentence. Then those which are unsafe may be detected sooner and those who may have played their part in a miscarriage of justice might face penalties themselves.

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