January's issue of Cardiff University News

INFORMING POLICY AND PRACTICE
Uniting a church in law?
Uniting a disunited global Anglican church may have seemed an
unenviable and impossible proposition during the height of conflict
and chaos that engulfed the church over the issue of gay marriage.
Enter Cardiff Law School’s Professor
Norman Doe - one of the chief
proponents of a code of principles of
canon law common to the autonomous
Churches of the Anglican Communion
worldwide, his research solution brought
unity where disunity once reigned.
“Before 2009 the world-wide Anglican
Communion had no global legal
framework for its 44 autonomous
churches and their 80M members.
“Historically, the Communion has
been maintained by informal ‘bonds
of affection’ – which is changing,”
according to Professor Doe.
“A code of principles of canon law
would enhance the moral order and
perhaps reduce the possibility of future
conflict,” he added.
Because there is no common Anglican
law comparable with that of the Catholic
church, the Anglican church lacks a
“centripetal dynamic” according to
Professor Doe.
Each time a church enacts independent
legislation, the differences within
the communion grow. He argues,
the Anglican church worldwide is
condemned to what he refers to as
“centrifugal disintegration.”
Professor Doe’s proposed solution was to
establish a Covenant which would oblige
churches to maintain communion.
Professor Doe added: “Introducing
a Covenant – or a promise to engage
in or refrain from a specified action
– would help respect each other’s
autonomy, decide controversial matters
collaboratively, respect Communion
guidance, but leave final decisions on
covenant violations to each individual
church.”
Professor Doe’s research is recognised
as contributing to a change in perception,
posture and practice in global
Anglicanism – the principles of canon
law, an understanding of inter-church
relations which balances more evenly the
theology of communion with juridical
autonomy.
Shaping Welsh language legislation
Ffurfio deddfwriaeth y Gymraeg
Structural weaknesses and
inconsistencies in the implementation
of Welsh language legislation identified
by Professor Colin Williams from the
University’s School of Welsh have
prompted a major overhaul.
The University’s Language Policy and
Planning Unit (LPPRU) undertook a
major evaluation of Welsh language
legislation of public authorities, health,
police and environment agencies and
identified structural deficiencies in the
implementation of Welsh language
schemes – the principal mechanism of
the Welsh Language Act 1993.
“UK devolution opened up space for
new legislative initiatives,” said Professor
Williams.
“Our research has directly informed the
devolution of legislative competence by
identifying the key structural weaknesses
of the 1993 Welsh Language Act.
“Our evidence-based recommendations
have informed and underpinned the
development of core elements of the
2011 Welsh Language (Wales) Measure
and the replacement of Welsh Language
Schemes by National Standards and the
establishment of the Welsh Language
Commissioner for Wales.”
Professor Williams’ research found
four key problems: a lack of capacity
and resources, a lack of buy-in from
senior management, insufficient internal
communications and poor monitoring.
In a variety of evidence sessions to
key policy decision makers, Professor
Williams used his research in Wales,
Ireland and Canada to advocate a
national standard of bilingual services
and the need to create a Language
Commissioner for Wales.
On 1 April 2012
the office of
Welsh Language
Commissioner for
Wales was established.
Professor Williams
adds: “The Welsh
Government’s aim is to
use legislation to embed
bilingual practices
within national life
and public administration.
“Undertaking our research has helped
produce an evidence-base for this
policy.”
The LPPRU team is now undertaking
an ESRC sponsored analysis of
the operation of Official Language
Commissioners in Wales, Ireland and
Canada, a project which is due to be
completed by August 2015.
Professor Colin Williams
Mae gwendidau ac anghysondebau
strwythurol o ran gweithredu
deddfwriaeth y Gymraeg a nodwyd
gan yr Athro Colin Williams o Ysgol
y Gymraeg, Prifysgol Caerdydd, wedi
ysgogi adolygiad mawr.
Cynhaliodd Uned Polisi a Chynllunio
Iaith y Brifysgol werthusiad mawr
o ddeddfwriaeth y Gymraeg o ran
awdurdodau cyhoeddus, iechyd, yr
heddlu ac asiantaethau amgylcheddol,
a nodwyd diffygion
strwythurol o ran
gweithredu cynlluniau
iaith Gymraeg – prif
fecanwaith Deddf yr Iaith
Gymraeg 1993.
“Mae datganoli yn y DU
wedi gwneud lle i fentrau
deddfwriaethol newydd,”
yn ôl yr Athro Williams.
“Mae ein hymchwil wedi cyfrannu’n
uniongyrchol at ddatganoli cymhwysedd
deddfwriaethol trwy nodi gwendidau
strwythurol allweddol Deddf yr Iaith
Gymraeg 1993.
“Mae ein hargymhellion sydd wedi’u
seilio ar dystiolaeth wedi llywio a rhoi
sail i ddatblygu elfennau craidd Mesur
y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011, disodli
Cynlluniau Iaith Gymraeg gan Safonau
Cenedlaethol a sefydlu Comisiynydd y
Gymraeg ar gyfer Cymru.”
Canfu ymchwil yr Athro Williams
bedair problem allweddol: diffyg gallu
o ran niferoedd staff ac adnoddau,
diffyg cefnogaeth gan uwch reolwyr,
cyfathrebu mewnol annigonol a monitro
gwael.
Mewn amrywiaeth o sesiynau tystiolaeth
a gyflwynwyd i unigolion allweddol
sy’n gyfrifol am wneud penderfyniadau
polisi, defnyddiodd yr Athro Williams
ei ymchwil yng Nghymru, Iwerddon a
Chanada i eirioli dros safon genedlaethol
o wasanaethau dwyieithog a’r angen i
greu Comisiynydd Iaith ar gyfer Cymru.
Sefydlwyd swyddfa Comisiynydd y
Gymraeg ar gyfer Cymru ar 1 Ebrill
2012. Ychwanegodd yr Athro Williams:
“Nod Llywodraeth Cymru yw defnyddio
deddfwriaeth i ymsefydlu arferion
dwyieithog o fewn bywyd cenedlaethol
a gweinyddiaeth gyhoeddus.
“Mae cyflawni ein hymchwil wedi ein
helpu i gynhyrchu sylfaen dystiolaeth ar
gyfer y polisi hwn.”
Mae tîm Uned Polisi a Chynllunio
Iaith y Brifysgol bellach yn cynnal
dadansoddiad a noddir gan y Cyngor
Ymchwil Economaidd a Chymdeithasol
o weithrediad Comisiynwyr Iaith
Swyddogol yng Nghymru, Iwerddon
a Chanada. Disgwylir i’r prosiect hwn
gael ei gwblhau erbyn mis Awst 2015.
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