Religious private schools warn against proposed fees VAT hike
The shortage of teachers, contraction of arts subjects at universities affecting departments of Theology and Religious Studies, and the continuing campaign to remove a 50 per cent cap on faith school admissions, were among the shared concerns of faith representatives who took part in a Religion Media centre briefing on the election issue of education. A third of all schools have a faith foundation and in the independent sector, Labour’s proposed 20 per cent VAT hike on private school fees is causing anxiety especially among smaller schools affiliated to minority British religions with lower fees, less affluent parents and determination to choose a faith school for their child, which for them is a matter of the freedom of religion. The briefing was told that any future Labour government should provide extra capacity in the state system before bringing in the tax change. This was the first in a series of briefings on religion and election issues. View it again on YouTube here.
Saudi heat kills hundreds of Haj pilgrims
Hundreds of pilgrims on the Hajj in Saudi Arabia have died as temperatures reached 51.8C (125.2F) in the shade of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, The Independent reports. A Saudi government health official said: “We haven’t noticed, thank God, any abnormal or deviation from the normal numbers of morbidities and mortalities.” The Indonesian health ministry, however, said 144 of its citizens had died. Hajj, which ends today (Wednesday) is one of the largest mass gatherings in the world and a duty once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it.
Pre-Olympic raids on French Muslim homes
French police have undertaken a series of raids against Muslims before the start of the Olympic Games next month. The interior minister Gérald Darmanin said measures should be taken to limit the “capacity to cause trouble” and to keep the most dangerous individuals monitored by the services “away from events”. Le Journal de Dimanche reports that homes of 250 Muslims have been raided in Paris alone. Last week the Islamic State group called on “lone wolves” to carry out drone strikes on Paris during the 2024 Olympics.
Number of Jews fleeing UK ‘will triple’
The chairman of the World Zionist Organisation believes the number of Jews emigrating from the UK to Israel to escape antisemitism will soar. Speaking on a brief visit to London, Yaakov Hagoel said he expected the total number of immigrants could triple the 2023 total of 391, the Jewish Chronicle reports. Since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, 226 British Jews have moved to Israel, joining a total of 18,000 from across the Jewish world.
School head denies promoting creationism
A secondary school head in Wales accused of promoting creationism has denied he is breaking the rules. Daniel Owen has written to parents of pupils at Llanidloes High School in Powys, telling them he will “continue to adhere to the law regarding collective worship”. He had been accused by the National Secular Society (NSS) of attempting to convert pupils to Christianity and promoting creationism. Teaching creationism as a scientific theory is banned in English state schools, but not in Wales. Mr Owen, a church leader in Newtown, denied the school was promoting evangelism and said the school taught creation, evolution and Big Bang theories in its religious education lessons. “Like other schools across the UK, we respect both the right of staff to withdraw from collective worship and the right of parents to excuse their child,” he said. The NSS claims to have seen wall displays from the school combining science and geography with quotes from the Bible, which it says “are intended to encourage creationist ideas”. Premier Christian News report here
Review into Winchester Cathedral
The Church Times reports that the Bishop of Winchester has commissioned an independent review of Winchester Cathedral after stories of disquiet in the music department. The director of music, Dr Andrew Lumsden, resigned unexpectedly after 22 years’ service on 2 May and now it is reported that the senior non-executive member of Winchester Cathedral Chapter, Mark Byford, a former Deputy Director General of the BBC, has also resigned, triggering the review. A professional singer is said to have raised “a perception of hypocrisy and gross mismanagement” at the Cathedral.
City’s only Hindu temple to be demolished
Bath’s only Hindu temple is to be demolished. Shree Jagannatha Temple opened as a temporary measure in 2021 in part of the former Culverhay School until a permanent temple could be built. Bath and North East Somerset Council plans will clear the site so two new schools may be built. Paul Roper, of the council, said: “We are not just kicking them out. We realise the sensitivities of it but the need for educational use is a strong one.” Susmita Rajhansha, a founding member of the temple, told ITV News: “This is, for us, a home, because every day we come here, sitting together, praying together, eating together, as a whole community. This is our first home.”
Methodists call for aid to Sudan
Methodists have urged the UK government to do more to support people struggling against food shortages and civil upheaval in Sudan. Gill Newton, president of the Methodist Conference, and her deputy Kerry Scarlett, say the need for money and volunteers is urgent. They add: “We urge the UK government to extend its fact-finding mission in Sudan. Cuts have seen the mission understaffed and underfunded, but … it is vital for the documenting and monitoring of the humanitarian crisis and the efficient provision of humanitarian aid.” In the past year 15,500 civilians in Sudan have been killed and 8.8 million people displaced. A third of the population has insufficient access to food and many communications systems have been cut across the country.
Trump targets black American churches
Donald Trump is visiting churches on his election trail, with a focus on winning the vote among black American worshippers. He claims that his presidency did more for the black American population than any president since Abraham Lincoln, telling a meeting at the 180 Church in Detroit: “We achieved the lowest African-American unemployment rate and the lowest African-American poverty rate ever recorded — ever, ever recorded — during my four years.” Both Trump and President Joe Biden are targeting voters in Michigan as a crucial state in the presidential election, My Christian Daily reports. Black Americans and evangelical Christians were credited with helping Biden win in 2020.
Visit to Dalai Lama outrages China
The visit to the Dalai Lama by a US congressional delegation including Nancy Pelosi, has been criticised by China. Delegates were greeted by members of the Tibetan government-in-exile at Dharamshala, where the Dalai Lama, 88, has lived since fleeing Tibet in 1959. Last week, the US Congress rejected China’s claim that its rule over Tibet dates to ancient times, The Times reports.
Obscene broadcast loop disrupts mourners
Funeral services in a small parish in Ireland are being disrupted by sexual vulgarities broadcast over a loudspeaker into the churchyard. Mourners at St Gobnait’s Church in Kilgobnet, Co Wexford, have complained to Gardai about the looped recording that can be heard during funerals and while the priest is saying mass. A parishioner told the Irish Mirror: “God forgive me, it’s like something from The Omen. That type of language has no place in or near a house of God. I don’t know what this person has against us but can they not let us bury our dead in peace without having to listen to this filth over and over again?”
