Look ahead to religion in the headlines in 2023
Ukraine, refugees, and church divisions will top the faith agenda in 2023, according to a panel of commentators who heralded the new year in a Religion Media Centre briefing. Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, said the church in Ukraine is supporting a resilient people, while in this country faith groups are at the forefront of helping those who have fled. Other stories on the news agenda include faith response to the global challenge of refugees; religious organisations on the frontline helping people in the cost of living crisis; and a continuing watch on religious persecution, central to many stories from Nigeria, Iran and China. Stories of fractured Christian churches came under the spotlight with the United Methodists and Southern Baptists in the USA, the Orthodox in Ukraine and the Church of England over same sex marriage. In May all eyes will be on the coronation of King Charles and how his personal faith will be expressed. View the briefing on our YouTube channel here.
No state funeral for Cardinal Pell
There will be no state funeral for Cardinal George Pell, the former Archbishop of Sydney and Melbourne, who has died aged 81. He is to be buried in the crypt at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney alongside other senior figures from the Catholic church in Australia. Pell spent 13 months in prison after being convicted of molesting two choir boys while he was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996. He always denied the charges and his convictions were quashed in 2020. Speaking in Melbourne, Daniel Andrews, premier of the state of Victoria, said his decision not to offer a memorial service or state funeral was made out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse. The premier of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet, has also ruled out a state funeral but says there will be a memorial service arranged by the archdiocese.
Church of England response to IICSA recommendations
The Church of England has published its response to the recommendations made in the IICSA report on child sexual abuse. IICSA had said the secrecy of the confessional was problematic and the report confirms that a working party will meet to decide whether the privacy seal of a confessional should be abolished, upheld, or amended. The Inquiry recommended one single redress scheme in England and Wales, but in the response, the CofE confirmed it plans to continue to develop its own redress scheme for survivors of abuse. The response also says the CofE would welcome the opportunity to work with relevant government agencies to consider how a Child Protection Authority could provide independent oversight for safeguarding and hold the Church and other institutions to account. The response was from the Archbishops’ Council, the House of Bishops and the National Safeguarding Team. Church Times story here
Report finds Jewish students face hostile culture in the NUS
An independent report commissioned by the National Union of Students says Jewish students faced a hostile culture and were not protected from antisemitic abuse by pro-Palestinian activists. The report by Rebecca Tuck KC, says Jews were sometimes made to feel like pariahs because of their assumed connection to Israel and cites one example where the phrase “final solution” was used in a meeting, with no apology. The report makes eleven recommendations including appointing an advisory panel for five years to monitor reforms, as many previous recommendations have not been acted upon. The NUS said the findings were shocking it was committed to tackling antisemitism which has no place in the union.
Detroit allows animal sacrifice at home for religious reasons
The Associated Press reports that Hamtramck City Council in Detroit has approved a law allowing an area of Detroit with a large Muslim population to sacrifice animals at home for religious reasons. Livestock including goats or sheep are sacrificed during Eid al-Adha as part of a religious ritual, bounded by rules ensuring it is done in an ethical manner. Meat is shared with family, friends and the poor. The report says the Hamtramck council decision overturns a ban put in place only last month, after legal advice and objections. More than half the 28,000 residents in the locality are said to be of Yemeni or Bangladeshi descent.
Russian Jehovah’s Witnesses win refugee status due to Ukraine war
A Russian Jehovah’s Witness couple have won refugee status in New Zealand, after arguing that the husband would face certain jail if called up to fight in the war in Ukraine. His faith opposes military service, so he would be imprisoned, or forced to comply. The story, told by the New Zealand news agency Stuff, says police officers in Russia beat and threatened the man, who needed hospital treatment, soon after they were granted a visa to New Zealand. They now regard their new community as family and have started their own congregation.
Church giving should be priority – not Netflix or football tickets
Roman Catholics in Scotland are being told they need a reality check if they are spending more on Netflix and football season tickets, than they are giving to the church. Peter Kearney, director of the Scottish Catholic Media Office, told Premier Christian radio that people should prioritise. The church faces falling income – in some places halved – due to fewer people attending and the impact of Covid lockdowns. The situation is so stark that dozens of churches are said to be at risk of closure. Times story here
