Home Secretary: new guidance on blasphemy
The Home Secretary is to draw up guidance to protect children from punishment over actions perceived to be blasphemous. It follows the case of a 14 year old boy in Wakefield, who, along with three others, was suspended from school after accidentally dropping the Quran. The police described it as a non-crime hate incident. The boy has since received death threats and his mother said he is petrified. Writing in The Times, Suella Braverman said she was alarmed and deeply concerned at the case. In a robust response she said: “Schools answer to pupils and parents. They do not have to answer to self-appointed community activists”. She said film of the mother having to address a group of Muslim men to answer for her boy “looked more like a sharia law trial”. She continued: “We do not have blasphemy laws in Great Britain and must not be complicit in the attempts to impose them on this country. There is no right not to be offended. There is no legal obligation to be reverent towards any religion”. She said accusing someone of apostasy or blasphemy was effectively inciting violence upon that person, adding that in this country, pluralism and freedom of belief must be robustly defended.
Sacred coronation oil consecrated in Jerusalem
Oil to anoint King Charles, made from olives grown on the Mount of Olives, has been consecrated in a solemn ceremony in Jerusalem. The “chrism” oil includes the essential oils from sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin and orange blossom. The Archbishop of Canterbury will use it to anoint the King on the head, chest and hands in a ceremony never before filmed or shown. The oil was consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where it is believed Jesus was crucified and the tomb located.
Ahmadiyya mosque – largest in Europe – reopened after a fire
The Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, south west London, has been re-opened after a fire destroyed its administrative centre in 2015. The mosque is the centre for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which has its world headquarters in the UK led by Caliph Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, in exile for fear of persecution. Ahmadiyya Muslims were founded in the late 19th by Mirza Ghulam Ahad, who said he was the Messiah expected at the end times. This is disputed by majority Muslims and the Ahmadiyya followers have been persecuted in many countries. Their headquarters in Morden has space for 10,500 worshippers and is the largest mosque in Europe, with an adjoining five storey complex with two large halls, offices and guest rooms. The redevelopment is across a five acre site and cost £20 million, donated by members. After the formal opening, a national peace symposium was held with 800 invited guests including MPs, civic and faith leaders.
Church of England plans to tackle housing shortage
The Church of England is setting up the Church Housing Foundation to advise churches on how to build collaborative partnerships with local partners in order to alleviate immediate need for housing and look towards longer term provision. Led by the Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, the foundation will encourage contributions from local leaders, housing professionals and those wanting to start local projects. She acknowledges that the church owns land which it has to steward, but says: “It is not just our land that is of value but our presence and agency in many different communities”.
Pope appeals for end to human trafficking
Pope Francis has said human traffickers must be stopped to prevent disasters such as the recent death of more than 70 people when their boat broke up off the southern coast of Italy. Speaking on Sunday, the Pope renewed his appeal to stop criminals operating in the Mediterranean, turning journeys of hope into death.
Largest United Synagogue considers redevelopment plans
The Jewish Chronicle reports that Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue, the largest United synagogue in Britain, is beginning a consultation over the possibility of creating another separate congregation. It has 2,500 adults and 1,300 children, in an area of considerable growth for the Jewish population in the area, with numbers rising by 70 per cent over 20 years, to 18,346 people. Plans to redevelop its main Croxdale Road site into a synagogue and multi-purpose community centre are under consideration, alongside the future of the Southside minyan, which started 15 years ago and for several years has been holding services at Yavneh College.
The source of Nick Cave’s creative energy, as told to Rowan Williams
The former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has written for The Sunday Times on his meeting with singer songwriter Nick Cave, who has just published a book Faith, Hope and Carnage. He says Nick Cave “speaks with raw clarity about how his creative energy has been fed by the experience of agonising grief and loss” following the death of his sons Arthur, aged 15, and Jethro, aged 31. Dr Williams sought to discover more about Nick Cave’s “reckless refusal to submit to the condition of the world”. The story is here
“Brownie Bells” re-written to remove reference to God
The Mail and Telegraph carried a story that Girl Guides have changed the words of a campfire song “Brownie Bells” to remove references to God. The original lyrics were: “Oh Lord, our God; Thy children call; Grant us thy peace; And bless us all; Goodnight.” But they have ben changed to: “Time for the end; our meeting’s past; Brownies is great; time flies so fast; Goodnight. I’m a Brownie; you’re a Brownie; Brownies all around the world; Goodnight Brownies everywhere.” The changes were referred to in a blog on the Girl Guides website, now deleted. The Telegraph quotes a spokesperson saying Girlguiding aims to be inclusive and girls must feel truly welcome.
