US decline of religion has led to a search for identity, says Biden’s faith adviser
A decline in religion in the US has caused people to find identity and a sense of belonging in political movements, or even sport instead, according to Professor Stephen Schneck. He was speaking at a breakfast organised by the think tank Theos, on “the state of our politics”, based on his lifelong experience as an advocate for Catholic social justice teachings in public life, and roles as an adviser to Presidents Obama and Biden. He said US society was polarised with class, education, race, economics, culture and religion playing into the chasm. He could not imagine society breaking down, but the polarisation, he said, was unsustainable. The professor, now serving as chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, also observed that globalisation has caused a dislocation in people’s identity, a loss of community, which has given rise to both intense new versions of sectarian religion, and an abandonment of beliefs. He said the next US president would have to bridge the divide in society and believed that the way forward must be pragmatic action, practical steps to build community. Read Catherine Pepinster’s report here
Bullying claims against Scotland’s first female bishop thrown out
Allegations of bullying made against Scotland’s first female bishop, Anne Dyer, have been dropped by the Scottish Episcopal Church. The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney was suspended in August 2022, in what is known as the Canon 54 process, and was due to face a disciplinary tribunal after three complaints were made against her. She always denied the allegations and said she had faced “significant bullying and harassment” since taking up the role in 2018. Paul Reid KC, the independent procurator to the church, concluded it was not in the public interest to continue with this prosecution. Bishop Dyer said she believed justice had been served. BBC report here
Oxford freshers trained to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia
Training courses in recognising and preventing antisemitism and Islamophobia will be held during Freshers’ Week at Oxford colleges this month. The Jewish Society (JSoc) said it sent invitations out to common rooms over the summer and 12 had shown an interest in taking part. The Islamic Society (ISoc) contacted 30 colleges, 16 of which agreed to hold workshops for new students. ISoc said it was working with Oxford’s equality, diversity and inclusion team to produce training “designed to educate students on recognising and addressing bias … and discussing specific challenges faced by Muslim students”. JSoc president Kai Ogden told Cherwell magazine it was working on ways to support colleges to make them a safe and inclusive space for Jewish students. Meanwhile the government has announced £7 million funding to tackle antisemitism in schools, colleges and universities.
Arson attack on Catholic churches after ‘children’s graves found’
Up to 80 churches across Canada have been burnt down, vandalised or desecrated since the discovery three years ago of possible burial sites of hundreds of indigenous former pupils of a Catholic boarding school. The latest fire destroyed the 110-year-old church of Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allégresses in Quebec city. The possible remains of 215 children who attended the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia were discovered in 2021 with ground-penetrating radar. The alleged graves have not been excavated, nor has there been confirmation of any bodies being found. The school opened in 1890 and was run by the Catholic Church until 1969, when the federal government took over to operate it as a residential day school. It shut in 1978. Catholic Herald report here
1,200 protest against Tesco Sunday opening in Outer Hebrides
More than 1,200 people have signed a petition against Tesco’s plans to open on a Sunday on the Presbyterian stronghold of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The supermarket chain took over the site in 2008 and it is believed to be its only store in the UK that shuts on Saturday nights and reopens on Monday morning, respecting the long tradition of maintaining Sunday as a day of rest. The Rev Kenneth Stewart of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Lewis said: “This is a place which has historically observed the Lord’s Day. It’s woven very deeply into the fabric of the place and the heritage of the people. Even those who are not committed Christians or churchgoers still value the distinctive nature of the Lord’s Day.” Times report here
Archbishop opens church beer festival
The Archbishop of York has been invited to open a beer festival in a church on Friday. Stephen Cottrell said he was delighted to accept the invitation to pull the first pint at Coptoberfest, held in St Giles’ Church, Copmanthorpe, saying it was a “wonderful opportunity for the community to come together”. He said the festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, “reminds us that life is to be enjoyed, much like a well-brewed ale”. Premier Christian News report here
Bishop, 54, mistaken for ‘suspicious youth’ on church roof
The Bishop of Norwich, 54, has been reported as a “suspicious youth” on a church roof. Bishop Graham Usher has praised the public spiritedness of a passer-by who called the police to report seeing him, Canon Edward Carter, his verger, and a BBC reporter on the roof of St Peter Mancroft Church in the city on Sunday morning. The Church Times tells how he and the others were inspecting new solar panels, batteries, lighting and an air source heat pump. Bishop Usher told the congregation at harvest festival in the church later that day: “It’s been great to be up on the roof to be able to see your new installation … It’s great to be called a youth.” He praised the passer-by’s vigilance, adding: “We have seen a huge spate in this country of lead theft from the roofs of our churches, and the contents of these churches, treasure troves of memory for the community, have been ransacked by thieves.”
