When "CE" is used, it refers to after the birth of Christ and "BCE" before the birth of Christ. The refusal to use "BC" and "AD" is a terminology issue only, not having anything to do with realtime dating. It appears to be consistent with the PC movement to marginalize Christianity.
I can't swear to it, but I think I ran into it first in the early to mid-70's, while I was still in High School, or just shortly after...