Trump has the advantage and Pennsylvania remains key
Donald Trump has the advantage in the US presidential election, with several swing states yet to conclude the count. Pennsylvania remains key to win and Jack Jenkins from the Religion News Service has a comprehensive report on how the many different religious communities have decided to vote. They spoke of morals and ethics, but also immigration and abortion as key factors. Christian Post reporter Ryan Foley, interviewed on its “Inside Story” podcast, pointed to key changes Trump has pledged including a ban on gender transition procedures on children, prohibiting trans women from competing in women’s sports, stopping birthright citizenship where a child born in the US automatically becomes a US citizen, requiring immigrants or asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their asylum claims are adjudicated, implementing a deportation force and finishing the border wall. But he reflects that when the history books are written, the key thing about this election was Biden’s late decision not to run and Kamala Harris’ late entry as a candidate.
America at prayer in the election that is dividing a nation
The national cathedral in Washington DC has been a focus for vigils by Christians, many of whom feel anxiety in an America bitterly divided in the US presidential election. Services were held throughout yesterday as voters went to the polls. Services and prayer sessions continue today, as the results continue coming in. The cathedral led a countrywide initiative, A Better Way, to encourage Americans to listen to and learn from one another, which the Rev Kelly Brown Douglas, canon theologian for Washington National Cathedral, explained was an alternative to “the violence of words … the violence of people demonising each other and the inhumanity of it all”. She added: “It is important to use all of our resources and to be a better people. And one of the resources of the church is prayer.” The Washington Interfaith Network held a “reservoirs of hope” meeting, inviting people of all faiths, ethnic heritage and cultures to join in reflection. Religion News Service report here
More unrest in Canada’s dispute with India
Police have broken up a demonstration at Hindu temple at Brampton, near Toronto, after weapons were spotted in the crowd. Violence at the weekend was condemned by the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, as a deliberate attack on a Hindu temple and an attempt to intimidate diplomats. It is the latest incident in the continuing bad blood between Canada and India after prime minister Justin Trudeau said last year there were credible allegations the Indian government had links to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. AP report here
‘Holocaust minimisation’ in schoolbooks
Schoolbooks in Ireland show signs of “Holocaust minimisation”, in which Auschwitz is portrayed as “a prisoner-of-war” camp, and Judaism appears as the religion which uniquely endorses violence, according to the Tel Aviv-based Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education. The findings are the first in a survey of eight European countries and says “referring to the Holocaust as the systematic destruction of the Jewish race” “does not adequately convey the systematic, industrialised murder of six million Jewish men, women, and children by the Nazi regime and its collaborators”. Jewish News report here
Patriarch’s death penalty outburst
Patriarch Kirill, the pro-Kremlin head of Russian Orthodox Church, has claimed that Jesus was not against the death penalty and there could be no Christian objections if Russia wanted to introduce the death penalty. Kirill, who once called Vladimir Putin’s rule “a miracle of God” cited New Testament scripture — “You must remove the evil person from among you” — as purported evidence for his statement. The Times reports that his statement made no mention of the Sixth Commandment: “Thou shalt not kill”.
Cathedrals on Christmas stamps
Christmas stamps this year feature original illustrations of five UK cathedrals: St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh; St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh; Liverpool Cathedral; St Deiniol’s Cathedral, Bangor; and Westminster Cathedral. The designs, by Judy Joel, were revealed yesterday. The inclusion of Westminster Cathedral delighted its archbishop, Cardinal Vincent Nichols. “We’re so proud because it means that the image will be seen by many, many people,” he said. “I hope that seeing the image, they’ll understand that a church is a place where God dwells and where that sense of God’s presence is intense, comforting and consoling.” Report here
Sex toy link to Vatican mascot
Is nothing sacred, conservative Catholics are asking. Luce, a new mascot commissioned by the Vatican for the 2025 Holy Year Jubilee, is a girl dressed in a yellow rain jacket and boots with a crucifix around her neck and a pilgrim’s staff in her hand. Now it has been disclosed that its creator, Simone Legno, had previously worked on merchandise linked to Gay Pride events and a line of sex toys. “Ten million artists in Europe, and the Vatican picks this one. It’s not an accident,” one critic said on the Catholic Vote website. Telegraph report here
