Chief Rabbi says Assisted Dying bill presents ‘fundamental moral challenge to society‘
The Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, has written to all MPs opposing the Assisted Dying bill but saying he has respect for the deep humanity of those who have forward the bill, acknowledging that “the quest to bring peace to those who are suffering unimaginable pain is a noble one, undoubtedly rooted in compassion and empathy”. He says Jews believe life is a sacred gift and though he agrees with Lord Falconer that a minority religious perspective should not be imposed on others: “In my view, this is an issue which transcends the concerns of faith communities. It presents a fundamental moral challenge to our society which I believe should trouble people of all faiths and none…I feel a moral obligation to express deep concerns about its implications”. His statement is on Twitter / X here
Assisted Dying bill ‘would breach human rights laws‘
Former attorney general Dominic Grieve and four other former government law officers, have written to MPs urging them to vote against the Assisted Dying bill on Friday. They say the bill would breach Britain’s human rights laws and the rule of law, because it would empower the state to end people’s lives. They say it would have serious implications for the judiciary in the UK and judges are not given the right to opt out of making decisions on assisted dying cases, unlike doctors. Dominic Grieve predicts the bill will be blocked on several grounds by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Times story is here
CofE plans ‘affordable housing’ on its land
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, has launched a new Church of England development agency and “national capability team” to enable dioceses to provide “high-quality, affordable housing” on some of the church’s 200,000 acres of land. It comes from recommendations of Coming Home, a 2021 report published by the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing, which described the “national scandal” of eight million people in England living in overcrowded, unaffordable, or unsuitable homes. It recommended that the church formed partnerships with housing associations and councils to provide affordable housing. Church Times report here
Vatican looks at a new ‘spiritual abuse’ law
The Vatican is considering making “spiritual abuse” a crime in church law, to deal with priests who claim mystical experiences as an excuse for harming or abusing others. Pope Francis has told Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the church’s lead doctrinal official, to consider the issue. The Vatican has not named specific cases, but one high-profile scandal recently concerns Marko Rupnik, the former leader of a spiritual community in Rome, who has been accused of abuse by about 25 people. One former nun said in February that Rupnik forced her into having sex with him and another nun, justifying it as devotion to the Holy Trinity. Reuters report here
BBC celebrates Christmas without Welby
Justin Welby will not be featured in the Christmas programming on the BBC this year. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who resigned on 12 November, stands down from his official duties at Epiphany. In previous years, the BBC has broadcast his Christmas Day sermon from Canterbury Cathedral, and a pre-recorded message on New Year’s Day. Midnight Mass for Christmas will be broadcast live from St Mary’s, Warwick, and the Christmas morning service is from Halifax Minster. Carols from King’s, pre-recorded in the candlelit Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, will, as usual, be broadcast on BBC2 on Christmas Eve.
Schoolgirl sorry for lies that ended in teacher’s beheading
A Muslim schoolgirl who accused her teacher, Samuel Paty, of Islamophobia and began rumours that led to a jihadist decapitating him in the street in Francehas admitted lying and apologised to Paty’s family. Paty was murdered on 16 October, 2020, by Abdoullakh Anzorov, 18, an Islamist radical of Chechen origin. The girl, who was 13 at the time and is not being named, claimed Paty had ordered Muslim pupils to leave his classroom while he showed the rest of the class caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Yesterday, she told a court in Paris that she had not even been in the class and invented the lie. Seven men and a woman are accused in connection with Paty’s murder. Anzorov was shot dead by police shortly after the murder. Report here
Rayner stops tower from looming over oldest synagogue
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has halted a plan to build a 43-storey tower in the City of London which, objectors say, would overshadow the oldest synagogue in Britain, the Bevis Marks. Ms Rayner’s intervention was welcomed by Rachel Blake, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, who said the plan went again policies that protect accessibility, inclusivity and cultural heritage. The 300-year-old synagogue is Grade I listed and is important for its historic role in British Jewry, said its rabbi, Shalom Morris.
Muslim community leaders create action plan to combat rising Islamophobia
A National Islamophobia Strategy Meeting has been convened by the Muslim Council of Britain to bring together community activists, organisations, grassroots representatives and academics from across the country. The aim was to develop a unified response to rising anti-Muslim hate crime, up by 25 per cent in the year to March 2024, compared to the previous year. The meeting considered the rise of an emboldened right wing following the Southport attack in the summer, which it describes as a watershed moment. It agreed three initiatives on victim support and recording of Islamophobia; evidence gathering and research on impact on Muslim communities; and community empowerment to strengthen grassroots initiatives. The meeting called on the Government to formally recognise and combat Islamophobia by adopting a definition agreed by the APPG on British Muslims, and to establish independent monitoring mechanisms. that maintain Muslim community confidence.
Man guilty of bomb threats to synagogues
A man in Massachusetts has admitted in a federal court threatening to kill members of the state’s Jewish community and bomb synagogues. John Reardon, 59, now faces up to 30 years in prison. The court heard that he called Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro and left a voicemail making several threats to kill congregants and bomb the synagogue, including: “If you can kill the Palestinians, we can kill you.” AP report here
Interfaith commemoration of Guru Nanak’s 555th birth date
City Sikhs organised an event in parliament to remember the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The event was designed to bring people together from different traditions, honouring Guru Nanak’s teaching on compassion, equality, the oneness of humanity and justice. Speakers included Amrit Singh Bahia, founder of the “555 Acts of Kindness” initiative; Professor Eleanor Nesbitt, a distinguished academic of Sikh Studies; Dr Deesha Chadha OBE, lecturer at Imperial College London and co-chair of the Faiths Forum for London; and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Co-Rabbi in Chief of Progressive Judaism.
Sacred island given a fast connection
Iona, the cradle of Scotland’s Christianity and the resting place of kings, is getting ultra-fast internet connections. The telecoms company Openreach, funded by the government, says it will dig carefully along roads from the 19th and 20th centuries to ensure every home and farm is connected. Engineers know the cables will pass near three important historic monuments — Iona Nunnery, MacLean’s Cross and the Iona Abbey — and there is a high chance that they will find archaeological remains from the prehistoric, early medieval and medieval periods. St Columba was granted the island in 563 to establish a monastery that became an important centre for religion, learning and literacy. Times report here
