A Church of England vicar has been arrested as part of an investigation into bogus marriages.
Reverend Canon Dr John Magumba was arrested at his home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, as part of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) inquiry.
The 58-year-old, originally from Uganda, is team vicar for three churches in south Rochdale.
A spate of these stories from the UK now -at least the third involving the Church of England in its “state church” role. At least one vicar has complained about his bishop’s failure to lead properly on this.
Actually two more priests who were arrested last August were charged with offenses yesterday.
http://tinyurl.com/5r8pjxo
Our bishop writes in his recent ad clerum that he couldn’t get many takers for the “How to spot a Sham Marriage” course put on by the UK border agency.
“5. SHAM MARRIAGE
As I have explained in previous emails the UK Border Agency are offering awareness training. As so few in this diocese expressed an interest we have asked Llandaff if we can join in with them. They are arranging a session and when I have details I will give them in another email.”
Martin, could one of those signs be “more than one of either sex”? No, I guess not.
Martin Reynolds, I thought you were in Wales, and that the ability to side-step registry office Notification of Intent certificates by marrying in church applied only to the Church of England. Can you clarify for me? I am curious.
Terry Tee, although the Church of England was effectively disestablished here in Wales in 1920, in marriage law it is as if that never happened.
Marriage law pertaining to Wales remains as it was.
Everyone resident in a parish irrespective of nationality or faith has an absolute right in law to be married in the parish church (unless they are divorced).
Clerics of the Church in Wales retain the legal authority to officiate at a wedding after Banns or licence, both ecclesiastical and civil by virtue of their ordination alone. All other religious marriages require civil sanction.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s licence still holds sway and has legal force here. This licence might allow a marriage in any place and at any time.
I hope that helps
Thanks Martin. That was a revelation to me.
As an RC priest in inner-city London I am just so grateful that we have to get authorization from the registry office for every couple, via Notification of Intent to Marry. That makes it the responsibility of the registry to make sure that the marriage intent is serious. I do have great sympathy for vicars under pressure on this one – in a multi-ethnic area how do you tell who is genuine and who is not? Well, if they have to speak through an interpreter, perhaps (this does happen, I gather!) but otherwise a tough call that could have damaging pastoral consequences if you get it wrong.
Your welcome Terry.
One of my mates Alec Brown, is serving four years for rather obviously getting it wrong!
There are a lot of people who would like us to be in your situation. I think the government were hoping to move that way the last time they looked at the whole marriage law – but most of what was the proposed never happened. Our American cousins can hardly believe that you can’t get married at home for instance and the last govt had made proposals that would have allowed that and other things …. they just never followed through – almost certainly due to opposition from the Church.
One of the positives is we can and do marry failed asylum seekers – the State will not – As you suggest this can be a minefield – but when they present with three healthy children and another on the way, I have a feeling they have a reasonable chance of being genuine!