The importance of Jewish heritage for President Zelensky
Tash Mosheim, writing in the Jewish Chronicle, reports on what is known about Zelensky’s Jewish heritage and commitment. She charts his ancestry, describes the Jewish community in the region where he grew up and reports that his Jewish tradition was rarely mentioned in his political career. Ukrainians are quoted saying “Jewishness is important for him” and that his faith tradition inspired him to fight as “the right thing to do”. The article is here
JD Vance in conciliatory tone with Catholic bishops, hours before he attacked Zelensky
Hours before the shouting match against President Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday, the US Vice President JD Vance was in conciliatory mode at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. Since taking office he has engaged in a spat with US Catholic bishops over their objection to immigration policies, and offered a defence of America First, citing “ordo amoris” the order of love. The Religion News Service reports that at the prayer breakfast, JD Vance said: “I try to be humble as best I can when I talk about the faith in public, because, of course, I’m not always going to get it right, and I don’t want my inadequacies in describing our faith to fall back on the faith itself. So if you ever hear me pontificating about the Catholic faith, please recognize it comes from a place of deep belief, but it also comes from a place of not always knowing everything all the time….You know, sometimes the bishops don’t like what I say. Sometimes they’re right and sometimes they’re wrong.”
Government sets up group set up to define Islamophobia
The government has set up a working group to define Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia and tackle the rising number of incidents of anti-Muslim hatred, which stand at a record high. The group, chaired by Dominic Grieve KC, will support wider efforts to deal with religiously motivated hate crime, advising on how to understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeting Muslims. The definition of Islamophobia made by the APPG on British Muslims is “a type of racism that targets Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim”, and though widely adopted, it is criticised because Islam is not a race and the definition might have negative consequences for freedom of speech. Mr Grieve said a balance was needed in protecting Muslims and maintaining freedom of thought and expression under law for all.
New government supported Muslim group ‘must be accountable’
The Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Dr Wajid Akhter, has said the MCB is happy to work with the newly formed British Muslim Network (BMN), but cannot pre-judge the outcome of discussions. The BMN has been set up to consult widely on issues of concern among Muslims in Britain and then represent those views to the government. This fills a 17-year void, after the then Labour government broke relations with the MCB over a comment by one of its officers in relation to an Israeli operation in Gaza. The new Network launched last week at an event where the Health Secretary and Faith Secretary both spoke. Dr Akhter, who is a GP, told the Sunday programme on BBC Radio 4, that the community was “sick and tired of gatekeeper politics” and anyone seeking to represent Muslims must be elected and accountable. He said the MCB had not been consulted on the new network. The MCB’s strategy was to build from the grassroots up strengthening regional links. It was important to discuss common issues of concern in society but there was also a need to talk about difficult issues such as the war in Gaza. Sunday programme is here
Pope is stable but with ‘risk of deterioration’
The latest Vatican bulletin on the health of Pope Francis says he is stable, but the risk of deterioration remains. It reads: “The Holy Father’s clinical condition has remained stable. The Pope has not required non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only supplemental high-flow oxygenation. He does not have a fever. Given the complexity of the clinical picture, the prognosis remains guarded. This morning, the Holy Father participated in Holy Mass, together with those who have been caring for him during these days of hospitalization. Afterward, he alternated rest with prayer.” The Pope’s Twitter account sent his message of thanks for prayers and his wish for peace: “I pray for you, too. I pray above all for #Peace. From here, war appears even more absurd. Let us pray for martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and Kivu”. Vatican News says “there have been no direct consequences from last Friday’s isolated bronchospasm are evident. However, the risk of a deterioration in the Pope’s condition remains.” Pope Francis, aged 88, was taken to hospital on 14 February, suffering from double pneumonia.
Bishop Ruth Worsley to be interim Bishop of Liverpool
The Bishop of Taunton, Ruth Worsley, is to be the Interim Bishop of Liverpool, filling a vacancy caused by the “retirement” of Dr John Perumbalath, following sexual abuse allegations which he denies. Bishop Ruth has been appointed as the suffragan Bishop of Wigan with delegated powers to act as Bishop of Liverpool – the third time she will have stepped up in an interim appointment to fill a diocesan bishop’s role. A statement posted on the Diocese of Liverpool’s website says she will be installed in the next few weeks and will stay for two years, while the permanent position is filled.
Former Co-op Bank chairman and Methodist mnister Paul Flowers jailed for fraud
Paul Flowers, a former Methodist minister and chairm,an o,f the Co-operative Bank, has been jailed for defrauding his elderly friend of £100,000 between 2015-2017. Manchester Crown Court was told he had spent the money on holidays and drugs. Flowers, aged 74, had been given power of attorney for a woman in her 80s who was suffering from dementia. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of fraud and was sentenced to three years.
.23 Ahmadiyya Muslims arrested in Pakistan mosque
23 Ahmadiyya Muslims, including children aged 11, were arrested in the Pakistan for gathering in their local mosque. The APPG Secretariat for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community says this is one of the largest mass arrests of Ahmadiyya Muslims in a single incident in recent years. The arrests followed demonstrations outside the mosque which were so threatening, that the police were called who then arrested the worshippers.
How did Conclave do at the Oscars?
Overnight, eyes were on the Oscars where “Conclave”, the film about the process for electing a Pope, was up for eight awards: Best Picture, Best Actor (Ralph Fiennes); Best Supporting Actress (Isabella Rossellini), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Film Editing, Production Design and Costume Design.
