Kim Leadbeater discusses assisted dying with Archbishop and Bishop of London
The Press Association reports that the MP proposing the assisted dying bill, Kim Leadbeater, met the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullaly, on Monday, to discuss their concerns. She told PA that meeting was “good and productive”, but it’s understood there was an agreement that no further details of their conversation would be made public. Justin Welby’s opposition is based on his fear of a “slippery slope”, with more people other than those terminally ill with six months to live, being brought into its scope. Dame Sarah Mullaly has Separately, Dame Sarah has spoken of “unintended consequences” for the most vulnerable in society. Kim Leadbeater has previously stressed the need to avoid “discord and division” in the debate. MPs will debate the issue on 29 November.
Warning that two thirds of Muslim private schools will close if VAT is imposed on fees
The Independent reports on a study commissioned by the Association of Muslim Schools, indicating that an imposition of VAT on school fees would leave 70 per cent unsustainable. The AMS represents all 184 Muslim faith schools, 141 independent and 34 state funded. The study, by a former HMRC VAT inspector, reviews 89 of them, a third of which are in deficit, and predicts this will rise to above two thirds with the imposition of VAT. The schools charge an average of £3,000 per year in fees, with some as low as £1,300, and many rely on community donations for survival. The government is being urged to allow an exemption for schools charging less than £5,000 a year. Ashfaque Chowdhury, AMS chairman, told the “i” that the changes were deeply disappointing and contradicted assurances given by Keir Starmer to support faith schools.
Church brawl in Ukraine ejects Russian Orthodox loyalists
A violent brawl has erupted on the floor of Ukraine’s largest church, St Michael’s in Cherkasy, as Orthodox priests and worshippers loyal to the Ukraine church, fought the incumbent and his allies loyal to the Russian Orthodox. The Times reports fire extinguishers were let off, chairs were thrown, glass was smashed, and there was even tear gas fired as fists flew. Those loyal to the Russian Orthodox are regarded with suspicion by Ukrainians, because Patriarch Kirill in Moscow has supported Putin and the war. St Michael’s had resisted change since a public vote against the Russian Orthodox presence in June, but it lost this violent confrontation and has vowed to create an underground catacomb church instead. Armed officers and soldiers have been standing guard since to prevent further fights. Police say four people were admitted to hospital and 20 were injured.
Cardinal Vincent welcomes Pope’s new Encyclical on love
Cardinal Vincent Nichols has welcomed the Pope’s fourth encyclical on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Letter’, saying it speaks of love for those who are broken-hearted, empty of heart, or yearning for love. He says love enables people to reach out to others, offer forgiveness, make amends for failings, and build healing relationships of faithfulness and service.
Rome synod designed to empower grass roots, draws to a close
The Rome “Synod on Synodality”, a gathering of more than 400 Catholics from around the world who have gathered to consider the future of the church, is due to end tomorrow with the publication of a document summing up their discussions over the past three weeks. Their debate was fuelled by a global consultation with all Catholics on their concerns and heralded an opening up of discussion including women and lay people, though decisions will still be made centrally. One of the key issues was whether women should be ordained to the diaconate, but this, as well as relaxing rules on celibacy, has been shelved for more theological work. Other issues in the document titled “Communion, Mission, and Participation” are on synod organisation enhancing parish and diocesan councils, church relationships, decision-making processes, the exchange of gifts and mission. More than 1,000 amendments will be voted upon on Saturday.
CofE bishops lobbied on same sex blessings
Church of England bishops met for two days this week and discussed, again, proposals for same sex blessings and the arguments which are dividing the church. There are four working groups discussing aspects of the change and a statement simply said that the outcome of the bishops’ discussion, which has not been revealed, will be fed back to the groups, which will report back to the February synod. The Church Times reports that two letters from opposing sides of the debate were sent to Bishops before their meeting began on Tuesday. One from “Together for the Church of England” encourages the bishops to address whether clergy can enter same sex marriages and says bishops must remain committed to unity in the church despite “a well-publicised and funded campaign” for separation among those who disagree. Another from “The Alliance”, representing conservatives, urges bishops to only allow change after a two thirds majority vote and appeals for a separate group of bishops for those who disagree with change. “Thinking Anglicans” has copies of both letters here. The Religion Media Centre has a timeline of the long CofE debate on same sex relationships here
The CofE is out of its depth – parish councils need to save redundant churches
Simon Jenkins suggests, in an “Opinion” for the Guardian, that local councils and parish councils need to take over redundant churches and use them for the community. He says “cratering” church attendance is leaving large, empty, often beautiful buildings locked and unused, with 3-5,000 closing or being used intermittently each year. The estimated cost of repairing all churches is £1bn which no one can afford. He says: “The Church of England is out of its depth. It is pretending that it can turn the tide of decline with evangelism, and so refill churches with people”, but it is unrealistic to expect it to find uses for thousands of churches. He says: “There is only one solution. Local councils should be given control of closed churches and the emerging reuse of church buildings should be encouraged, most obviously by social enterprises”. Churches were always intended to be used by the community and he says it’s obvious that saving churches should fall to the most local tier of government. He points out that “parishes and town councils already look after sports grounds, community centres, markets and gardens” and local people, should answer the challenge: “It just needs the church and local government to get together and get on with it”.
Helen Mirren: as a non-believer I am mesmerised by the power of belief
The actress Dame Helen Mirren has given an insight into her spirituality, during an interview with Evgeny Lebedev on his podcast “Brave New World”. “I know some people would look at me and they cannot comprehend living in a world without a belief in God. And I can totally comprehend it. You know, I have no problem with that at all. And it doesn’t mean that I don’t have a set of morals or a set of principles. My husband always laughs at me when I go into a church and I always cross myself and genuflect and take the holy water because I just love the theatre of churches. As a nonbeliever, I am mesmerised by the power of belief. And when you sit in a church, you’re surrounded by the power physically. The people who made the wooden pews, you’re sitting on the people who painted the beautiful frescoes, the statuary, the amazing architecture of the ceiling. All of that was made possible by people who believe.”
“What I believe”, by a selection of Humanists
Humanists UK is bringing out a book of essays by humanists describing their beliefs. “What I Believe” includes the views of Stephen Fry, Sandy Toksvig, Tim Minchin and Alice Roberts on their “guiding values, unique opinions, and personal convictions they live by”, which it says are “the mainstream values of the non-religious in contemporary Britain”. Adverts have been taken out on railway stations throughout Britain to advertise the book which goes on sale next month.
The Dean whose cat joined him for YouTube prayers during Covid, has died
Dr Robert Willis, the former Dean of Canterbury, who rose to fame during Covid for being filmed with his cat while offering Morning Prayer on YouTube, has died aged 77. He was Dean for 21 years and had a long association with Berkeley Divinity School, Yale, where he was at the time of his death. His partner, Fletcher, said he suffered a short illness and died of heart failure. The many tributes to him speak of a gentle man, loved by his community. His work during Covid led to the setting up of the online “Garden Congregation” a collection of films, pictures and words of spritual reflection.
