“Muslim Leadership Council” the government can engage with
The Times reports that plans to set up a national Muslim organisation which the government believes it can engage with, are far advanced. At present, there are no official links with any Muslim group, as successive governments stopped engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain in 2009, when its deputy general secretary signed the Istanbul Declaration on Israeli action in Gaza. The Times quotes Imam Qari Asim, chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, saying the government has been speaking to a variety of Muslim community leaders on an “ad hoc” basis and conversations were taking place to create a “Muslim Leadership Council”. Kaya Burgess reports this is likely to include lawyers, doctors, economists, accountants, charities and civic leaders. His report suggests it will consist of several projects whose scope is expected to be announced this Spring. The first steps in this development were reported in the Middle East Eye in July last year, naming several people involved including Asim Hafiz, adviser on Islam and Muslims to the Ministry of Defence; and Brendan Cox, from the Together Coalition
400 million pilgrims expected for Hindu festival in India
More than 400 million people are expected to take part in the six-week Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival, the largest religious gathering in the world, which starts today in the northern city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. They will step into the waters at the confluence of three sacred rivers – the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical, invisible Saraswati, an act which they believe absolves them of sin and brings salvation from the cycle of life and death. Reuters reports that the festival is rooted in a story that Vishnu wrested a golden pitcher containing the nectar of immortality from demons in a fight where drops fell to earth in the cities of Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, which host the festival by rotation. The pilgrims will stay in a tent city along the banks of the rivers, with 3,000 kitchens, 145,000 restrooms and 99 car parks. 98 special trains will make 3,300 trips transporting visitors. 40,000 police and cybercrime experts will provide security. The state government has allocated $765 million for the event.
Pope awarded US Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction
President Biden has awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the US highest civilian honour, presented to people who have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours”. This is the first time that President Biden has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction. The citation from the White House refers to the Pope’s lifelong mission serving the poor. It says: “Pope Francis is unlike any who came before. Above all, he is the People’s Pope – a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world”.
Grooming gang victims feel “angry and epxloited” at inflammatory language
The public debate over grooming gangs has continued this weekend. Nazir Afzal, former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, told Radio 4’s Sunday programme that it was true that many of the men he prosecuted were from Pakistani Muslim backgrounds and they, along with British Afghani men, were disproportionately involved at the time. But there was a different picture in other parts of the country. Responding to complaints from Sikh and Hindu organisations that the broad category “Asian men” implicated their members, he said they should look at themselves, pointing to a report on abuse against Sikh women which he described as “really bad”. Nervousness about confronting the issue was unfounded, because the communities themselves were desperate for the offenders to be brought to justice. He said victims who had tried to put their lives together since, were angry at inflammatory language and felt exploited. They just want action, he said.
Separately, journalist Barnie Choudhury, who writes for Eastern Eye, explains how the grooming gangs story developed and suggests the current concentration on 50 towns and cities where British Pakistani men disproportionately committed child sexual abuse, represents five per cent of the towns and cities in Britain: “In this wonderful country of ours, those who carry out unimaginable crimes are not limited to one religion, one community, one race, one ethnicity, one gender or one institution. Right now, white, black, and brown men, women, boys and girls are sexually abusing children. The police know this. The politicians know this. The priests know this. Most victims will know their abuser”. Linked in post here
“Massive escalation” of antisemitism in Australia
An attack involving attempted arson and red Nazi swastikas painted on a synagogue in Sydney, Australia, has been described as a “massive escalation” in antisemitic crime. The Sydney Herald quotes the state premier Chris Minns saying that the use of a fire accelerant was “very concerning” and the incident, coming after a spike in antisemitic hate crime in the past year, was of concern not just for the Jewish community but for wider society. Those responsible should feel the full weight of the law, he said. Last month, a Melbourne synagogue was firebombed with accelerant, and two men were seen in the building immediately beforehand.
Spain proposes repeal of blasphemy law
The government in Spain has proposed legislation to repeal a law that imposes fines on people who mock religious beliefs. Reuters reports the government view that the existing law rarely achieves convictions and yet it is constantly used by extremist and fundamentalist organisations. The bill follows a lawsuit brought by “Abogados Cristianos” (Christian Lawyers) against a comedienne who brandished an image of Jesus on which the head of the cow mascot was superimposed. The report says that the bill would prohibit cases based exclusively on news clippings and ban political parties or associated groups from launching or joining lawsuits. In 2018 a man was sentenced to six months in prison for interrupting a mass by shouting slogans supporting abortion.
Would be children’s TV presenter turned nun, in line for sainthood
A nun from Londonderry, who turned down a presenter’s role on the children’s TV channel, Nickelodeon, to go into holy orders, is on the first step towards being declared a saint. Sister Clare Crockett shocked her friends when she turned to the church, as she was known for a life in the fast line, wanting to become a famous actress, chain smoking and enjoying a drink. She became a nun aged 23 and was killed ten years later in an earthquake in Ecuador, where she was teaching. Since that time, in 2016, there is said to have been a “burgeoning of awareness” about her life and she has been associated with fertility miracles. To be declared a saint, a person must have been dead for at least five years, lived a holy life and have two miracles associated with them, for example in answer to a prayer for healing. A ceremony will take place today in the Cathedral of Alcalá de Henares in Madrid, to officially start the beatification process. Sky News report here
Post colonial Anglican communion structure
A report from a global Anglican committee into how the worldwide Anglican communion can organise itself so that it stays together despite differences over same sex relationships and the place of women, has resurfaced on Twitter/X and in the pages of The Times and Telegraph. The report proposes a shift towards a more diversified leadership structure within the Anglican Communion, reflecting a post-colonial era. It suggests reducing the centrality of the Archbishop of Canterbury in favour of a rotating presidency and broader leadership roles. This shift would open the possibility of appointing a woman to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The role is currently filled on an interim basis by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who indicated change in a letter as he prepared to take office: “We need to reflect deeply on what we expect from an Archbishop of Canterbury. It is at least four jobs wrapped into one. Spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. spiritual head of the Church of England. Primate of the Province of Canterbury, diocesan bishop”. The report, “The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals”, was prepared by the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order, chaired by Bishop Graham Tomlin and will be decided upon in 2026.
Tearfund CEO leaving after nine years
Nigel Harris, the chief executive of the aid charity Tearfund, is leaving the role after nine years. Tearfund has an evangelical foundation, an income of some £85million and works in 55 countries. It sees its role as a Christian relief and development agency helping to lift people out of material and spiritual poverty. He said: “It has been the greatest privilege of my working life to lead this extraordinary organisation.”
21 children baptised in the Sistine chapel
Pope Francis baptised 21 babies in the Sistine Chapel yesterday, in an annual tradition marking the end of the Christmas holiday. He made it clear that the children, all belonging to Vatican employees, were at the centre: “It is important that these children feel well. If they are hungry, feed them so they don’t cry. If they feel hot, change them. … But let them feel at ease, because today they are in charge and we must serve them with the Sacrament, with prayers.” AP report here.
