Distrust pervasive in Church of England
The Church Times carries a report on a paper to the General Synod saying that distrust is pervasive in the church. It is most in evidence in relation to disputed issues such as racism, sexual abuse and same sex blessings , but social media is also blamed for fuelling motions. The bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Martin Seeley, and a small group of experts, made their conclusion safter interviewing 20 people over two years. They point out that many individual cases of distrust fuel decline. The paper will be discussed at synod. Church Times comprehensive report here
Catholic bishops appeal for politicians to address environmental concerns
The Catholic Bishops’ conference is urging the main political parties to prioritise climate change in the election, with Bishop John Arnold warning that failing to address the issues will have dire consequences especially for poorer communities. The bishop takes the lead on environment issues for the Catholic bishops and told The Universe that political leaders needed to demonstrate that they have “grasped the urgent need to address the climate crisis by demonstrating how they will reach net zero by 2050”. The issue figured highly in earlier elections but has not been so prominent this time. He said: “The climate crisis has not gone away. Indeed, warming seems to be accelerating faster than previous estimates suggested. Environmental issues such as energy and food security, biodiversity and sustainability are vital not just for our communities here in England and Wales, but also for the common good globally and for future generations.”
Pope’s opponent made papal nuncio to the Baltic states
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Georg Gänswein, one of his opponents, as the papal nuncio to the Baltic states. Gänswein was the former private secretary to Pope Benedict XVI, and is accused of stirring opposition to Pope Francis by writing a diary which revealed that Francis’ restriction of the use of the Latin mass had left Benedict “broken hearted”. Last year, things came to a head when the Pope said Gänswein lacked nobility and humanity and ordered him to leave the Vatican. Commentators say this latest move is either a sign of forgiveness and reconciliation, or a cunning move to appease Russia whose leaders liked Pope Benedict.
Irish bishops state opposition to assisted dying
Irish Catholic Bishops have published an open letter stating their opposition to the introduction of “assisted suicide or euthanasia”. In March, a parliamentary committee recommended that assisted dying be introduced, applying mainly to incurable, irreversible, progressive, and advanced illnesses or to people facing death within six months. But the Irish Catholic Bishops have now rejected the Committee’s final report. In their letter they say that the deliberate taking of human life, especially by those whose vocation is to care for it, “undermines a fundamental principle of civilised society, namely that no person can lawfully take the life of another”. They are concerned the proposal will offer no real protection and fear it will just be a matter of time before the most vulnerable are offered assisted suicide. They say that the process of dying can be a time where “old hurts are healed and people find inner peace”, and this is supported by palliative and pastoral care.
Tajikistan bans hijab in Muslim majority country
Tajikistan’s secular government is to ban hijabs and limit Eid celebrations, despite the fact that most people in the country are Muslim. Islam Channel reports that there has been an unofficial ban on hijabs for a while but the further ban on festivals has just been passed. The ban has been condemned by the Union of Islamic Scholars and Clerics in neighbouring Afghanistan and by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the US’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation, which said: “Banning the hijab is a violation of religious freedom and such bans on religious attire should have no place in any nation that respects the rights of its people. We condemn this draconian, repressive law and urge the Tajik government to reverse this decision.”
