Christianity is in decline in the west but remains critical to a humane culture
Author Rupert Shortt argues in his latest book “The Eclipse of Christianity: and why it matters”, that Christianity is being harmed by increasing secularisation in Britain and the attacks of dogmatic atheists seeking to further damage it. He says mainstream churches are faltering, or even at risk of dying out, in their Western and Middle Eastern heartlands, but Christianity remains critical to the survival of a humane culture. The last census showed 46 per cent were affiliated to Christianity in Britain, a steep decline over the last 30 years and a pattern matched in neighbouring societies. Yet he maintains that church teaching remains intellectually robust, and points to more young people turning to religion in the west, and a transformative presence in the world, with Christianity on the rise in the global south. He shared the platform at his book launch with Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born activist and Muslim by birth, who announced her conversion to Christianity last year after previously being an outspoken atheist. She told the audience that Christianity is being pushed out of institutions like universities. She believes that morality and spirituality is being abandoned and Christianity has been forced into a corner by a woke culture. Catherine Pepinster’s report on the book launch is here.
Muslim Council of Britain raises concern over Sir Robbie Gibb’s involvement in BBC Middle East coverage review
The Muslim Council of Britain has written to the BBC raising concerns over Sir Robbie Gibb’s role in its investigation of Middle East coverage. Sir Robbie was formerly the BBC’s Head of Westminster and editor of live political programmes. He now sits on the BBC editorial standards committee. In 2020, he led a consortium which saved the Jewish Chronicle newspaper and became its director. The paper is now facing turmoil with four senior columnists quitting over its publication of a report on the Israel Gaza war which is said to have been “fabricated”. The MCB has published an open letter to the BBC chairman saying that the episode calls Sir Robbie’s impartiality into question. The MCB Secretary General, Zara Mohammed, said: “Sir Robbie Gibb’s connections with the Jewish Chronicle, an outlet criticised for its bias and false reporting on the Israel-Gaza war, raise significant concerns about his ability to impartially review the BBC’s Middle East coverage. For the sake of credibility and fairness, it is essential that the BBC reconsider his involvement in this investigation.” Letter is here.
Process for appointing bishops set to change after deadlock and division
Church of England bishops have pushed forward with plans to reform the system that appoints bishops and archbishops. At a special meeting yesterday, which unusually was open to the press, the bishops said they regretted the difficulties in the system, whereby members of an elected Crown Nominations Commission decide on nominations. Recently, the commission has been deadlocked and failed to appoint bishops for Carlisle and Ely. It is widely held that internal disagreements reflecting increasingly bitter national church politics, blocked the process. The bishops discussed a report from Bishop Sarah Mullaly, who said: “There is a lack of diversity on the CNC, including gender, race, and theology, which has led to a loss of trust in the process”. The paper suggests several changes to the system: removing the secret ballot, changing the threshold required for a nomination from two thirds to 60 per cent, giving the presiding archbishop an additional vote in the event of a deadlock and requiring the mandated resignation of committee members voted on by the general synod, should they fail to make a nomination on three occasions during a five-year term. The proposals will go the General Synod for debate. Press release here. Detailed Church Times report here.
82-year-old climate activist priest refused permission to officiate
Retired priest, the Rev Sue Parfitt aged 82, who is a persistent climate activist and campaigner, has been refused permission to officiate – fulfil duties as a priest – after recent criminal charges against her. She has been charged with causing criminal damage by chipping the glass box containing the Magna Carta at the British Library, in a protest to claim the government was in legal breach of its climate policy. Church Times reporter Joe Ware, quotes Ms Parfitt saying the decision, made by the Bishop of Bristol, Vivienne Faull, came as a shock and the church was now part of the “powerful forces of opposition” closing down truth telling about climate change. Bristol Diocese made clear that Ms Parfitt has not held permission to officiate since 31 December 2022. Her most recent application to return has been refused because she faces criminal charges: “The Diocese recognises everyone’s legal right to protest. We support the call for more urgent action to combat the environmental crisis and advocate for the changes in peaceful and lawful ways.”
Catholic bishops condemn buffer zone legislation as discrimination against faith
The Catholic bishops conference of England and Wales has condemned legislation to ban any form of protest or activism around abortion facilities. Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, which comes into effect on 31 October, will bar protests including silent prayer, within a buffer zone of 150 metres of a clinic or facility providing abortion services. Bishop John Sherrington, auxiliary bishop of Westminster. said this constitutes discrimination and disproportionately affects people of faith. It would curtail freedom of speech and criminalise a range of activities. It was unnecessary and disproportionate and there were already laws to protect women from harassment and intimidation. It would be a new form of discrimination and authoritarianism.
Former army officer on trial for silently praying near Bournemouth clinic
Adam Smith-Connor, a former army officer, is on trial at Poole Magistrates’ Court this week, for praying silently near an abortion clinic in Bournemouth. He was within a designated “buffer zone” near the clinic, an area covering several streets in the town. His defence is that silent thought cannot amount to a crime. He is being supported by Alliance Defending Freedom UK, a legal campaigning group.
Four in five British Jews have unfavourable view of Netanyahu
A report from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research has found that four in five British Jews hold an unfavourable opinion of Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The report “What do Jews in the UK think about Israel and its leaders, and how has this changed since October 7?” followed a survey of 4,500 adult British Jews. 74 per cent described Israel’s situation as “bad”. 80 per cent held an unfavourable opinion of Netanyahu. Jews who intended to vote for the Conservative Party or Reform UK in the general election, were 22 times more likely to approve of Netanyahu than those who voted for all other political parties. Members of the strictly Orthodox community were over three times more likely than others to approve of Netanyahu. These were initial findings reported by the Jewish News. The full report will be published in time for the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October.
Scottish Sikh detained in India on terror charges, is denied bail again
Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh from Dumbarton, Scotland, has been refused bail in the latest appeal against his detention. He has campaigned for Sikh rights in Punjab and was arrested for alleged terrorism offences seven years ago, when he returned to India for his wedding. His family, still in Scotland, have been campaigning for his release and allege he has been tortured in detention and forced to sign statements to make it stop. The BBC reports that the campaigning group Reprieve said the latest refusal of bail by the High Court of Delhi is at odds with the Supreme Court ruling and subject to challenge.
Jewish couple marries at Jesus College, Cambridge, for the first time in its history
Former undergraduates at Jesus College, Cambridge, Stephanie Posner and Johnny Harounoff, have become the first Jewish couple to married at the College in its 500-year history. The Jewish Chronicle tells the story of how they met in their kosher halls of residence, when Stephanie was reading classics and Johnny was studying Arabic and Middle Eastern history. It reports: “There was a chupah, there was a chazan, there was glass-breaking and Israeli dancing. And, after that, grace was recited in Latin”.
