Bishop of Liverpool urged to step aside after sex abuse allegations
Senior leaders in the Diocese of Liverpool say the position of the Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalath, is untenable following allegations that he sexually abused a woman in Essex and sexually harassed a woman bishop. In a statement last night, they said the Bishop should step aside from all ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool while allegations made by the female bishop are fully and properly investigated. The Church of England’s lead bishop on safeguarding, the Bishop of Stepney Joanne Grenfell, told Channel 4 News last night that she agreed he should step aside. She said the church faced a huge task to restore trust and confidence and the General Synod would vote next month, on a proposal for full independence around operational safeguarding. Full story on our website here.
Assisted Dying decisions could be made by panel instead of a judge
The Times reports that assisted dying campaigners are looking at dropping a requirement for a High Court judge to decide whether people should be allowed to end their own lives, and replace this with a panel of experts. The report says the change is being considered by the committee considering the bill this week, because the legal system may not have the capacity to cope with the extra work. Opponents say this will take away a key safeguard and the bill will lose support among MPs as a result. Full story here
German churches condemn anti-immigration law as likely to stir up prejudices
In Germany, the Bundestag has passed a law urging the government to restrict immigration and reject illegal immigration, despite strong opposition from combined churches. The new law will establish permanent border controls, allow people about to be deported to be detained, and turn back migrants entering Germany from another European country. Catholic and Protestant church leaders had mounted strong opposition, saying the measure, which passed by just three votes, would damage German democracy and was likely to defame all migrants living in Germany and stir up prejudice.
Thirty people die in crowd surge at Kumbh Mela festival in India
At least 30 people have died and at least 60 injured after a crowd surge at the Kumbh Mela festival in northern India, which attracts around 400 million people. Large numbers of devotees surged forward to bathe in the Yamuna and Ganges rivers, but many fell and were trampled underfoot, falling over others sleeping on the ground who were crushed. Police and local authorities are being blamed for failing to control the crowds.
Australian explosives find marks escalation in antisemitic attacks
Police in Australia have found a trailer packed with explosives and a list of Jewish targets in Dural, a suburb of Sydney, a quantity sufficient to blast a 130 feet zone. They say this marks an escalation in a wave of antisemitic attacks in Australia since 7 October 2023. There have been incidents of arson and graffiti targeting synagogues and schools in Sydney and Melbourne, where 85 per cent of the country’s Jewish population live. Counterterrorism officers have joined police in their investigations.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols to speak to staff at The Sun and The Times
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, is speaking to staff at News UK, publishers of the Sun, Times, Talk TV and Times Radio, on Tuesday 4 February. He’s been invited by the News Christian Fellowship and is billed as a prominent religious leader on matters of faith and current affairs and a significant voice on social and ethical issues.
The Year of the Snake celebrated across Britain
Chinese New Year – the Year of the Snake – is being celebrated across Britain with festivals, lion dances, red lanterns and the lighting of incense. In the capital, the London Eye was lit up in red, in Liverpool a festival and light show lit up the gate to Chinatown and in Edinburgh another lion dance took place in St James Quarter, with festivities lasting several days. The snake represents intelligence, intuition and critical thinking and babies born this year are expected to become problem-solvers and leaders. Around Asia, festivities take place in Buddhist and Daoist temples as incense is burned for good luck.
Ten foot painting of Jesus found in Cornish barn >>
