Census shows baby boomers have raised the least religious generation ever
New data from the 2021 census into age, sex and religion shows that Christians have the oldest average age of all religious groups – 51 years, compared with 40 years for the overall population of England and Wales. Muslims have the youngest average age at 27, and for those who ticked “no religion”, the average age is 32. Among young people under 25, there has been a marked decline in Christian affiliation over the past ten years with most young people under 25 now ticking the non religion box. Comparing gender responses, the highest response for females was “other religion” at 56.1 per cent, followed by Buddhist and then Christian. Professor Abby Day from Goldsmiths, University of London, said baby boomers have raised the least religious generation ever, with current church attitudes “abhorrent to the young” not improving matters.
LSE wipes out Christianity from its calendar
The London School of Economics is changing the names of its term times and holidays to wipe out any reference to Christianity. From September this year, Michaelmas will become ‘autumn term’, the Christmas holiday will be ‘winter break’, Lent Term will be ‘winter term’ and the Easter break will be ‘spring break’. The LSE says the new names “better reflect the international nature of our community”. The LSE hosts a Faith Centre and the Religion and Global Society research unit, funded by £1.25 million from the Templeton Religion Trust.
The lies, manipulation and deceit of the founders of L’Arche
A report commissioned by L’Arche, a global network of communities supporting people with developmental disabilities, has uncovered the web of deceit and deviant “mystical-sexual” beliefs associated with acts of sexual abuse by its founder, Canadian theologian Jean Vanier and his associate, Thomas Philippe, a Dominican priest. Philippe died in 1993 and Vanier in 2019, but months afterwards, his sex abuse was unveiled in a report, to incredulous shock among his followers. This latest report examines the way the organisation was founded and continued to shield its founders. It said Vanier sexually exploited at least 25 non-disabled women from 1952 until just before his death. Tina Bovermann, national leader and executive director of L’Arche USA and a member of L’Arche’s international leadership team, said in a statement: “On behalf of L’Arche in the United States, I condemn, strongly and without any reservation, the insidious grooming, the psychological and spiritual exploitation, the intentional use and abuse of power, the sexual violence, the lies, manipulation, and deceit by which Mr. Vanier and Mr. Philippe caused hurt and harm to their victims. We were not able to prevent, identify or report the abuses, and, consequently, we were not able to stop them. We offer our heartfelt and sincere apologies for the suffering that these situations created.”
The Pope sets off on historic peace mission to Africa
The Pope sets off on his 40th international trip today, visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo and then South Sudan where he will be joined by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the moderator of the Church of Scotland the Rev Dr Iain Greenshields. It is the first ecumenical peace mission of its kind and has been dubbed “a pilgrimage of peace”. Christopher White, writing for ncronline, says the Democratic Republic of Congo is Africa’s most populous Catholic country, with more than half of its 95 million inhabitants professing the faith. In a letter to both countries, Pope Francis noted the DRC suffers from armed clashes and exploitation, especially in the east of the country, and that South Sudan, has been wracked by years of war and “longs for an end to the constant violence that forces many people to be displaced and to live in conditions of great hardship.”
Today at 1200, join our media briefing on the visit of three church leaders to South Sudan, with guests including the Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, the Archbishop of Western Equatoria Bishop Samuel Peni and Tom Delamare, CAFOD’s deputy country representative for South Sudan. Email [email protected] for the zoom link
Vicar guilty of antisemitism is barred for 12 years
The Rev Dr Stephen Sizer, who has been found guilty of antisemitism, has been barred from ministry in the Church of England for 12 years. A church tribunal last December considered evidence of social media posts and attendance at meetings, in a case brought by the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Marie van der Zyl. It decided that his conduct was unbecoming of a cleric and that he had provoked and offended the Jewish community over a sustained period. The Archbishop of Canterbury said Dr Sizer’s behaviour “undermined Christian-Jewish relations, giving encouragement to conspiracy theories and tropes that have no place in public Christian ministry and the church”. Dr Sizer, 69, was the vicar of Christ Church, Virginia Water, in Surrey, for 20 years until his retirement. He has declined to comment.
75 per cent of the public want church buildings to be kept open
A survey for the National Churches Trust suggests that three quarters of people in the UK believe churches, chapels and meeting houses are important for society, providing community facilities for activities and front line assistance. There are 39,000 such buildings in the UK, but the repair bill for Church of England premises alone tops £1 billion. Claire Walker, Chief Executive of the National Churches Trust, said churches are the responsibility of local people not the state, but the survey showed agreement that the Government should give financial support to help pay for building repairs to keep churches open and able to serve their communities.
Zara Mohammed re-elected at Muslim Council of Britain
Zara Mohammed has been re-elected as secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain for a further two-year term. Her deputy is Mohammed Kozbar, a master’s graduate in charity management and chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque. The Muslim Council of Britain has more than 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.
Imposing new mosque next to M6 in Preston given go ahead
A 12 metre high mosque, standing at the junction of the M6, M55 and A6 in Preston, has been given the go ahead after a public inquiry. Situated on raised grassland, the “Brick Veil Mosque” will accommodate 250 worshippers and will have an imposing presence, complete with 30 metre high minaret designed to look like a Victorian mill chimney. Public opinion was divided with fears over its size and impact on local traffic. But the housing and planning minister Lucy Frazer has approved the plans. The BBC reports that the mosque’s design won the international competition run by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
59 dead after mosque attack in Pakistan
At least 59 people have been killed after a suicide bomber struck a crowded mosque inside a walled police compound in Peshawar, Pakistan. Most of the casualties were police officers. A commander for the Pakistani Taliban admitted responsibility in a post on Twitter, but hours later another spokesman denied the claim, saying it was not its policy to target mosques, seminaries and religious places. The Associated Press said more than 300 worshippers were praying in the mosque when the explosion blew off the front of the building and the roof collapsed. There are reports of 150 people injured.
Marathon fundraiser becomes ambassador of anti hunger charity
Marathon runner Haroon Mota, who encourages an inclusive attitude to sport participation, has been named as the brand ambassador of Charity Right, an international anti-hunger charity. Haroon is known as the ‘Marathon Man’, a frequent marathon runner, who has set up clubs in the Active Inclusion Network, encouraging Muslims as hikers, bikers and climbers and raised millions for charity in the process. He paid tribute to his father who gave the example of being involved in charity work: “Charity work and fundraising is in my DNA, and I want to do impactful work to set an example for my children”.
Frank Field commits his long campaigning life to print
The former Labour MP Frank Field, known for his devout Christian faith and life of campaigning, has given a long interview to The Guardian, publicising his autobiography, which he thinks of as his “death mask”. Aged 80 and living with terminal cancer was, he said, a strange experience, “taking so long to die”. Through his many social justice campaigns on poverty, child benefits, the minimum wage and modern slavery, the reporter suggested that Frank Field’s “Anglican faith has underpinned his contrarian thinking”. Asked whether he had ever thought about the priesthood as a vocation rather than politics, he replied: “No, I never thought that I was good enough”. “Politics Poverty and Belief”, by Frank Field. Bloomsbury Press
