British Muslim Network officially launched today
The British Muslim Network (BMN) will be officially launched later today, aiming to liaise with the government on issues affecting Muslim communities such as health, education, immigration, equalities and the economy.. A spokesperson told The Guardian that it had been set up due to a “growing sense of alienation”. It will include public figures from the worlds of politics, media, business, entertainment and sport, as well as imams, lawyers, doctors and academics. Events will be held which will bring different Muslim organisations and communities together. The co-chairs are Akeela Ahmed, equalities campaigner, and Imam Qari Asim, Chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board. Successive governments have failed to engage formally with Muslim organisations since 2009, when links were broken with the Muslim Council of Britain. Ms Ahmed said the BMN aimed to complement the work of the Muslim Council of Britain, not replace it.
Jewish organisations alarmed at German election result
The president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Dr. Josef Schuster, says there is shock that the far-right populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) came second in the general election, with 20 per cent of the vote. Jewish News reports that he said: “It must concern us all that a fifth of German voters are voting for a party that is at least partially right-wing extremist, that openly seeks links to right-wing radicalism and neo-Nazism in its language and ideology, plays on people’s fears and offers them only apparent solutions.” He appealed for a stable government to provide realistic solutions from the political centre. The European Jewish Congress said: “The significant rise of a party with a history of extremism, xenophobia and historical revisionism is alarming, with some members openly engaging in antisemitic rhetoric”.
Arrest of immigrants in some US churches banned by district judge
A federal judge in Maryland USA, has blocked immigration agents from conducting enforcement operations in houses of worship for Quakers and a handful of other religious groups. The Associated Press reports that US District Judge Theodore Chang found that the Trump administration policy could violate religious freedom and should be blocked while a lawsuit challenging it is heard. The case was brought by Democracy Forward on behalf of 1,400 Baptist churches, a Gurdwara in California and six Quaker Meetings. They took joint legal action after a directive that operations should not take place in sensitive locations. This resulted in congregations bolting the doors during services and immigrants fearing to attend church in case they were apprehended. AP says more than two dozen Christian and Jewish groups representing millions of Americans have filed a similar but separate lawsuit in Washington DC.
Signs of improvement in Pope’s heath
The Vatican’s latest bulletin on the Pope’s health says his “clinical condition, despite its severity, has shown a slight improvement. No episodes of asthma-like respiratory distress occurred today, and some laboratory tests have shown improvement. The monitoring of his mild kidney insufficiency has not raised any concerns. Oxygen therapy continues, although with slightly reduced flow and oxygen levels. Given the complexity of the clinical picture, the doctors are prudently maintaining their cautious prognosis”. It says Pope Francis has resumed work and, once more, called the parish in Gaza, which he has done every evening since war broke out. The Vatican has announced evening prayers for the Pope’s heath will be said in St Peter’s Square every evening at 9pm, by cardinals and other clergy in Rome.
Conclave cast wish the Pope well
The cast members of the film “Conclave”, which is about the process for electing a Pope, have expressed concern for Pope Francis, as they won a Screen Actors Guild award for outstanding performance by a cast. Isabella Rossellini, who plays Sister Agnes, said afterwards: “We would like to wish Pope Francis a quick recovery. We are very, very worried for our pope. We love this pope – Papa Francesco, Pope Francis. We wish him well. We wish him to recover”. Sergio Castellitto, who plays Cardinal Tedesco, said: “For us that live in Rome … our relationship as Italians to the pope is much closer. I repeat, I really wish him well.”
Pagans and humanists prevented from speaking at Glasgow Cathedral interfaith event
Pagans and humanists were prevented from speaking at an interfaith service in Glasgow Cathedral, marking the 850th anniversary of Glasgow gaining “burgh” status in 1175, and the city’s connection to its patron saint, St Mungo. Dr Rose Drew, chief executive officer of Interfaith Glasgow, is quoted saying that Catholic and Church of Scotland leaders insisted neither group could speak. The Times reports there are 20,000 pagans in Scotland and more humanist weddings than all other religious groups combined. Twenty pagans did attend the service, in full robes, joined by members of The Druid Network, who took part in a silent protest. The Scottish Pagan Federation told “The Wild Hunt” Pagan news website that it has raised this issue with the Scottish Government’s Faith and Belief Representative Group for reflection on the way the interfaith event was handled.
More than 2,000 social work cases ‘linked to witchcraft’ in Britain in one year
The Guardian reports that the National FGM Centre has published statistics showing there have been 14,000 social work assessments linked to witchcraft accusations since 2015. It says in the year running to March 2024 alone, there were 2,180 assessments linked to witchcraft. The figures have been published alongside the release of the film “Kindoki Witch Boy”, telling the story of Mardoche Yembi, now aged 33, who was accused of witchcraft as a child aged 12, growing up in north London and subjected to an exorcism. The film’s release co-incides with the 25th anniversary of the death of Victoria Climbié, who was also subject to exorcisms and died aged eight after horrific abuse.
‘Cathedral of the Potteries’ to become educational centre
The historic Bethesda Methodist Chapel in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, one of the largest chapels outside London and known as “The Cathedral of the Potteries”, is to be re-purposed as an educational centre for neurodivergent young people aged 16-24. The Grade II listed building was constructed in 1819 as a base for the breakaway movement, the Methodist New Connexion, with gifts from notable pottery manufacturers. It seated 2,000 people and in its prime, was filled to capacity. But the congregation dwindled over time and in 1985, it was closed. It fell into disrepair but in 2023, Re-Form Heritage, the heritage development trust for Stoke-on-Trent, oversaw a public consultation and a decision was made to transform its future. Plans are now being developed for the work to start >>
