Welby’s “frivolous” farewell speech in the Lords met with criticism
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has been criticised for the flippant nature of his final speech in the Lords yesterday afternoon, when he made jokes around his decision to resign and said that a head needed “to roll”. His decision followed intense criticism of him and other senior leaders, in the Makin review into John Smyth’s abuse of more than a hundred boys and young men, and the subsequent CofE cover up. Justin Welby told the Lords: “The reality is that there comes a time if you are technically leading a particular institution or area of responsibility where the shame of what has gone wrong, whether one is personally responsible or not, must require a head to roll. And there is only, in this case, one head that rolls well enough. I hope not literally”. He then went on to tell the story of his predecessor in 1381, Simon of Sudbury, whose head was cut off and peasants played football with it. He also joked about his diary secretary having to cancel entries for next year. When the Makin review came out, Dr Welby said he would stay. But after a weekend media storm he announced his resignation, saying he felt shame at historic safeguarding failures and taking personal and institutional responsibility for the period between 2013 and 2024 when the abuse was known about, but nothing was done. The Times quotes survivor Mark Stibbe, a survivor of Smyth’s abuse, saying he was dismayed by the frivolous tone of the speech and suggested Dr Welby was “questioning his personal responsibility”
Notre Dame re-opens, restored to former glory
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris opens to the public this weekend after a five year restoration programme following a fire which almost destroyed the building. The works cost €700 million, raised from public donations. The fire, in April 2019, started in or near the spire and then quickly raged through the roof, destroying the medieval roof timbers. There was a great cry from the crowd as the spire collapsed through the roof, now that too has been restored to its previous 19th century design. The firefighters managed to save the bells and miraculously, Notre Dame’s famed stained glass rose windows all survived, as did the cathedral’s many statues and a gold cross above the altar. The official opening ceremony takes place tomorrow at dusk, with prayers and song and a guest list including President Macron, President Joe Biden and his wife Jill, and at the last minute, president elect Donald Trump. But not the Pope, who has declined an invitation. The following day, the first mass will be celebrated, marking the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, referring to Mary the mother of Jesus, “Our Lady”. Read Catherine Pepinster’s factfile here
Aim for 1,000 street carol services this Christmas
More than 900 churches are planning to hold carol services on the streets this Christmas, promoted by the Shine Your Light organisation, which is endorsed by Churches Together in England and has won support from multiple church partner. Organisers hope to break the 1,000 barrier, buoyed by more interest in the initiative which only started last year. By signing up, churches can access printed carol sheets, music backing tracks, a music score for each carol and resources for following up new contacts. Convenor Dr Jonathan Oloyede said: “By taking the gospel onto the streets, churches reach the 80 per cent with little or no belief in Jesus. They can also engage in a neutral venue with those who have a nominal faith but lack a personal relationship with Jesus – whose birth we celebrate at Christmas!”
Catholic bishops say South Korea martial law declaration was “illegitimate”
The Catholic Bishops of South Korea have criticised President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent declaration of martial law, calling it “procedurally illegitimate”. In a press release, the bishops say: “The Catholic Church in Korea actively supports and stands in solidarity with the defence of our democracy, which has been achieved through the blood and sweat of many people over the years,” reads a press release by the Bishops’ Conference. Many people are asking the President whether it was a reasonable decision to declare martial law in the Republic of Korea in 2024, which was only declared during the military regime, and whether it was the right decision for him as the supreme commander to declare martial law in the middle of the night in the absence of an invasion by an external enemy or a visible threat of war. The president should personally appear before the people, explain the series of events, sincerely apologise to the people, and take responsibility for them.” Reported by Asia News here
Protests erupt over minority Hindu treatment in Bangladesh
Protests have been taking place against the Bangladeshi government over treatment of Hindus in the country. The Guardian reports that thousands of Hindu monks have marched to the Bangladesh border in West Bengal in protest at the detention of a Hindu monk, formerly a member of the Iskcon Hare Krishna movement, who is in jail on charges of sedition, over allegations he disrespected the Bangladeshi flag, On Monday a Bangladeshi consulate in the Indian state of Tripura was attacked by protesters. Tensions have been rising since the summer when Bangladesh’s Prime Minister was toppled. Since she fled, India has been accused of attempting to undermine the caretaker government, and there have been allegations of widespread attacks on the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country. The Bangladeshi government says allegations are overblown.
Largest rabbinical gathering in the world meets in New Jersey
6,500 Chabad Orthodox Jewish Rabbis, meeting in New Jersey for their international conference, sent their condolences to the family of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a 28-year-old “emissary” to the United Arab Emirates, who was abducted and murdered there two weeks ago. The Jewish Chronicle explains that it’s the largest rabbinic gathering in the world and draws together leaders from large and small communities. Rabbis are frequently sent abroad to spread their faith, as Zvi Kogan did, and now there are communities in more than 100 countries. At the gathering, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor, from Bangkok said their job was to transform Rabbi Kogan’s memory into action and growth. He said every person in the room shared the same challenges: “Whether on college campuses or in countries thousands of miles away, we’re all identified as Jewish. We’re all high profile. Our job is to bring people together. Our job is to be out there dressed the way we’re dressed, exuding the confidence that we exude, confidence only in Hashem (God),”
40th anniversary of Hallelujah, part of the “cultural air we breathe”
Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen’s song of despair, pain and hope, was composed 40 years ago but turned down by Columbia records and then ignored. Seen and Unseen reports that its adoption by top musicians and global popularity, has made its haunting melody part of the “cultural air we breathe”, drawing on the story of David, that brokenness is inevitable, but can be made holy. Article is here
