London summit considers how Christian organisations can ‘turbocharge’ their $trillions ethically
Financial experts and church leaders responsible for trillions of dollars in investments meet today at a London summit organised by the head of the Vatican Bank, on making investments more ethical and more effective. Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, president of the Bank, is joined by 90 financial sector and church leaders to discuss ways to develop the financial markets so that Christian organisations can be more confident that they are investing their portfolios in accordance with church teaching. Mr de Franssu, who talks of “turbocharging the market”, estimates that Christian funding could be worth as much as $1.75 trillion — a figure that includes the financial investment clout of religious organisations, charities and individuals as well as dioceses. Catherine Pepinster reports here. Press briefing recording here
Calls for Justin Welby to resign over John Smyth abuse
Three clergymen in the Church of England have launched a petition for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to resign over his failure to pursue complaints against serial child abuser John Smyth. The petition was started by the Rev Robert Thompson, Vicar of St Mary’s Kilburn and St James’ West Hampstead, and a member of General Synod; the Rev Dr Ian Paul, member of General Synod and the Archbishops’ Council; and the Rev Marcus Walker, Vicar of Great St Bartholomew, member of General Synod and chair and co-founder of Save The Parish. It follows the publication of the Makin review into abuse by John Smyth going back 40 years, when he groomed young boys at the evangelical Iwerne Christian summer camps and beat them in his garden shed. Justin Welby worked at the Iwerne summer camps as a young man, and knew John Smyth but has insisted he only knew about the abuse in 2013, after he became archbishop. He told Channel 4 that after consulting with colleagues, he had decided not to resign. The petition says his role is untenable: “With sadness we do not think there is any alternative to his immediate resignation if the process of change and healing is to start now”. The Times has further comment from senior clerics in the same vein. Isabel Hardman, writing in The Spectator, says she too attended camps similar to Iwerne as a teenager, and reports Justin Welby being told by a former camp leader: “You will protect the work?”, confirming her memory that “the work” of the camps, evangelism, was the thing everyone had to protect. Andrew Graystone, who reported the John Smyth abuse in his book “Bleeding for Jesus”, told the Sunday programme on BBC Radio 4 he wasn;t sure how much would be achieved by Justin Welby’s resignation: “My worry is that he would become a sacrificial lamb and in fact there are many others who also need to take their share of responsibility.”
Speculation underway for Archbishop of Canterbury’s successor
Justin Welby must retire by the time he is 70 in January 2026, and Andrew Graystone has also been commenting this week on the succession race. In an article for The Tablet he suggests there will be an announcement in the coming weeks that Justin Welby is retiring, but that the job is enormously stressful, even unmanageable. The article suggests that attitudes towards women, sex and money will be the key considerations, with same sex relationships anathema to many parts of the global Anglican communion and certain sections in the Church of England, probably ruling out bishops who have already come out in favour of inclusion. The process might rule out women bishops, with many parts of the Anglican communion against their appointment. “The Alliance”, a group of conservative evangelicals centred around Holy Trinity Brompton is expected to exercise its muscle and financial power. He suggests the favoured candidate will be in their 50s, able to complete 10 years in the job in order to make an impact. So his list is Leicester, Norwich, the women bishops in Chelmsford, Newcastle and Gloucester, with the bishops of Chester and Southwell and Nottingham as outsiders. Article is here
Amsterdam antisemitic violence against Israeli football fans “reprehensible”
The King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander , has said that Jewish people must feel safe in the country, and antisemitic behaviour cannot be ignored, after Israeli football fans were attacked in the centre of Amsterdam. Police said five people were treated in hospital and 62 people have been arrested after youths on scooters ran “hit-and-run” attacks on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, following the team’s defeat in their match against Ajax in the Europa League match. Fans were beaten up, and rocks and fireworks were thrown. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said the violence was a reminder of the pogroms against Jews in Dutch and European history, describing it as “reprehensible.”
Faith pavilion at Cop 29
More than 70 organisations are running a “Faith Pavilion” at the climate change summit Cop29 in Azerbaijan. A number of workshops, presentations, speeches and discussions will be held from 12 – 22 November under the title “Bringing Faith to the Climate Frontlines,” offering insights into faith, justice, and environmental stewardship. The programme includes aid organisations and global faith groups who will engage in interfaith dialogue with an emphasis on spiritual and ethical values in response to the climate crisis. The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, and the Catholic Bishop of Salford, John Arnold, have written a joint letter urging the government to ensure large polluters contribute more towards climate finance at COP29. They are calling for higher taxes on fossil fuel companies to help support countries most affected by the climate crisis.
Catholic bishops call for hour of prayer against assisted dying
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales are encouraging church members to join them in a “holy hour” of prayer on Wednesday at 5.30pm, to pray for the dignity of human life and that assisted suicide will not become law. MPs will debate and vote on a private members bill on Friday 29 November. The bishops say: “This would greatly diminish the importance and innate value of every human person, akin to saying that our life is not a gift of God”. Full statement is here
3,400 doctors and nurses sign letter to PM against assisted dying
Thousands of doctors and nurses have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister against the assisted dying bill and say they will refuse to take part if the law is changed. The letter was organised by the campaign group Our Duty of Care, which is funded by Care Not Killing, and was signed by more than 3,400 doctors and nurses, from every specialism, including 49 professors of medicine, around 100 palliative care doctors and nearly 700 GPs. It says: “Any change would threaten society’s ability to safeguard vulnerable patients from abuse; it would undermine the trust the public places in physicians; and it would send a clear message to our frail, elderly and disabled patients about the value that society places on them as people.” A private member’s bill to allow assisted dying will be debated and voted upon by MPs on Friday 29 November.
