Justin Welby’s turbulent 10 years as Archbishop of Canterbury
Justin Welby marked his 10th anniversary as Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday. In a RMC briefing, he was described as a “gentle leader” whose self-deprecating humility meant he was not afraid to ask for help when multiple controversies piled up. Deep division over issues of sexuality had proved there were irreconcilable differences and intransigence had emerged. Centralisation and managerialism alongside a parallel structure of 10,000 new “plant” churches could have catastrophic implications for the parish system, the briefing was told. But he was praised for his fearlessness in public engagement and progress made in tackling racism. View our briefing again on our YouTube channel here and read our report by Tim Wyatt on our website here
Ten minute rule bill tabled on same-sex marriage in church
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw introduced a ten minute rule bill in the Commons yesterday, to allow Church of England clergy to conduct same-sex marriages in church. It follows the CofE’s decision not to change the rule that marriage is between a man and a woman, while accepting that blessings for same sex couples are allowed. In reply the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP said directing the Church of England on doctrine is not the job of Parliament and the bill was in any event unworkable. The bill was a means to raise the issue, there was no vote, and it is unlikely to progress any further due to lack of time in the parliamentary session. Full report here
Conference of Muslim leaders in Europe launched in London
A new organisation for Muslims in Europe has been launched in London to promote bridge-building and peaceful global existence. The Conference of European and British Muslim Leaders held its inaugural gathering under the auspices of the Muslim World League, whose secretary-general, the former Saudi justice minister Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Karim al-Issa, chaired the event. Speaking to the 300 religious leaders gathered from all parts of Europe, he commended the Charter of Makkah, which he said was the most important Islamic document in the modern era, advocating coexistence within and between religions, while denouncing terrorism and hatred. This event came at the end of his whirlwind visit to London where he met the King, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop Justin Welby and parliamentarians, as well as visiting the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence. Report on our website
Calls for the Islamic Centre of England to be shut down
MPs have called for the Islamic Centre of England to be shut down after its links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were exposed by journalists at The Times. The Foreign Affairs select committee chair Alicia Kearns told the Commons that the IRGC has “cut-outs” operating in the UK and the House wants the IRGC proscribed for “silencing critics of Ayatollah, inciting hate, celebrating terrorists, and recruiting for a terrorist state”. In reply, the Home Office minister for security, Tom Tugenhadt, said the government was taking action against the IRGC and he promised to meet British-Iranian campaigner Vahid Beheshti who is on his 27th day of a hunger strike outside the Foreign Office, asking for the IRGC to be proscribed saying it kidnapped his friend, journalist and activist Ruhollah Zam, who was later executed in an Iranian prison.
Second Muslim man set on fire after worshipping at the mosque
A second elderly Muslim man has been attacked and set on fire as he walked home from the mosque in Birmingham on Monday night. Police say he was approached by a man who spoke to him briefly before spraying an “unknown substance” on his jacket and setting it on fire. The man, who was in his 70s, was taken to hospital with burns to his face and serious injuries which were not life threatening. A man has been arrested. Counter terrorist police are involved because of the similarities with an incident in Ealing three weeks ago, when an 82-year-old Muslim man was doused in petrol and set alight. Telegraph story here
Ramadan expected to start overnight today
Ramadan is due to begin on Thursday, according to Muslim authorities in Saudi Arabia and several other Middle Eastern countries, based on the expected sighting of the crescent moon just after midnight. AP reports that the moon was shrouded in cloud on Tuesday but astronomers expect to see it this evening. It heralds a month- long period of fasting from sunrise to sunset followed by community gatherings as the fast is broken. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam.
