CAFOD ‘strongly condemns’ Israel’s proposed military expansion in Gaza
The Catholic aid agency CAFOD has issued a statement strongly condemning Israel’s announcement “to expand its military operations and seize large areas of Gaza, a month after blocking critical humanitarian aid, after forcibly displacing 140,000 people in the last fortnight, and issuing forced evacuation orders yesterday for parts of northern Gaza”. It declares that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is catastrophic. Spokesperson Elizabeth Funnell said “Any proposal to seize land and forcibly displace Palestinians is in violation of International Humanitarian Law and is unacceptable. Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes and rebuild. There can be no permanent Israeli presence in Gaza without breaching International Law.” She called on the government to suspend arms sales, hold Israel to account and urge a return to dialogue.
Newcastle Cathedral withdraws from hosting Archbishop of York on his ‘Lord’s Prayer tour’
The Church Times reports that Newcastle Cathedral has withdrawn from the Archbishop of York’s Lord’s Prayer Tour. The Dean of Newcastle, Lee Batson, is quoted saying that he was “deeply proud of the Cathedral’s ongoing ministry to those who have suffered abuse in their lives. It was this that informed the unanimous decision made solely by the Dean and Chapter to inform the Archbishop that we will not be hosting him as part of his Lord’s Prayer tour. This decision was made independently by the Cathedral’s governing body and applies specifically to this event”. In February, the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen Ann Hartley, criticised the Archbishop of York, saying he was the wrong person to be leading the Church of England due to his own record on safeguarding when he was the Bishop of Chelmsford. The Church Times quotes the Archbishop of York’s office saying the tour involves a number of cathedrals and other locations across the north of England. It is part of the wider “Faith in the North” project, encouraging prayer, storytelling and church planting inspired by the Northern Saints.
Catholic Spain no longer exists, says archbishop
Archbishop Luis Argüello, president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, told its assembly that the church “can no longer take for granted that Spanish people are converted or initiated into the Catholic faith in the society of today”. 35 per cent of adults in Spain, raised as Christian, are now religiously disaffiliated, the highest proportion in Europe. In the UK, the figure is 26 per cent. The Catholic News Agency reports that during his talk, the archbishop “highlighted the worrying situation indicated by baptismal fonts: that while there are 23,000 baptismal fonts distributed over the country’s 22,921 parishes, many of them have no water due to lack of Christian community that can help the Holy Spirit engender new Christians”. He also noted that in more populated areas there is “a very weak awareness of the responsibility entailed in having a baptismal font”.
Man charged with 64 offences after search of funeral premises in Hull
A man has been charged with 64 offences following a police search of the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors’ premises in Hull in March last year, after concern had been expressed over care for the deceased. Police removed 35 bodies and a quantity of ashes belonging to 50 people. Robert Bush, 47, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, is charged with 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, 30 counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of theft from charities, one count of fraud and another of fraudulent trading. He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Hull Magistrates’ Court on 25 June. A 55-year-old woman, who was arrested in July 2024 on suspicion of money laundering offences, has been released with “no further action to be taken”. BBC report here
Jagtar Singh Johal, jailed in India for seven years, now in solitary confinement
A British Sikh, Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been jailed in India on terror charges for over seven years, without being convicted of any crime, has now been placed in solitary confinement. His brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, gave the details while addressing an All-Party Parliamentary Group on arbitrary detention. He criticised the UK government for its lack of urgency in addressing his brother’s situation, saying there was a narrow window of opportunity following Jagtar Johal’s acquittal of one of the charges against him, but the UK government lacked political will to act. Jagtar Johal, from Dumbarton, was arrested in 2017 during a visit to Punjab, weeks after his wedding. He was accused of transferring money for a series of attacks in Punjab between 2016 and 2017, but his family say there is no evidence and a confession was extracted under duress.
US public opinion against arresting illegal immigrants in church
The latest Pew Centre research suggests that 65 per cent of Americans believe illegal immigrants should not be arrested from a church. Similar results show agreement that arrests should not take place in schools (63 per cent) or hospitals (61 per cent). There is agreement that some or all immigrants should be deported, but the public would prefer to see this from workplaces, homes and protests or rallies. 52 per cent of Republicans say arrests should be allowed at places of worship, against 15 per cent of Democrats.
Washington interfaith vigil on immigration raids
The Episcopalian church in the USA is organising an interfaith prayer vigil at the National City Christian Church in Washington DC this evening, as it prepares for a joint lawsuit with other denominations, to protect houses of worship from immigration enforcement actions. The Episcopalian News Service says the lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of violating First Amendment protections of both freedom of religion and freedom of association. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe is quoted saying that the prayers would especially be for the most vulnerable members of church communities, many of whom are migrants and refugees. He said: “We know that we cannot worship freely if some of us are living in fear, and I pray that this lawsuit enables us to gather and fully practice our faith in loving our neighbours as ourselves.”
Southern Baptist ethnic churches’ statement against immigration policy
Leaders of 11,000 US Southern Baptist ethnic groups have signed a statement on immigration seeking religious liberty protections, compassion without demonisation and enforcement options including fines or other penalties in lieu of deportation churches. They say the Trump administration’s plans will impact Southern Baptist Haitian and Hispanic congregations in particular, ending their temporary protected status. They share the desire to promote legal immigration and safeguard the borders, but enforcement must not demonise those fleeing oppression, violence, and persecution.” The statement was signed by Haitian, Hispanic, African American, Chinese, Filipino, Nigerian, Liberian, Ghanaian, Korean, Burmese, Thai and Vietnamese Baptist leaders.
India proposals for governing Muslim owned land and property
The Associated Press reports that India’s parliament is discussing a controversial proposal to amend laws governing Muslim land endowments. Under the plans, non-Muslims would be appointed to state-level boards to administer waqf land endowments and give the government a greater role. Waqfs are a type of Islamic charitable foundation in which a donor sets aside property for religious or charitable purposes. The Washington Post explains that waqfs in India “control 872,000 properties that cover 405,000 hectares (1 million acres) of land, worth an estimated $14.22 billion”. The Indian government says the changes will help to fight corruption and mismanagement. Critics fear it will undermine the rights of the country’s Muslim minority and could be used to confiscate historic mosques and other property.
‘Adolescence’ shows that Yeshiva are ahead of their time
Shimon Cohen, director of a campaign which advocates for Yeshiva, Charedi Jewish establishments for children, has used the hard-hitting Netflix drama Adolescence to argue that Yeshiva are ahead of their time. The series tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who murders a schoolgirl and explores the impact of social media on young lives. Writing for Jewish News, Mr Cohen says that in Yeshiva, “smartphones are practically absent. Children spend their time playing, studying, socialising, talking to family. It’s the very vision of childhood that millions of anxious parents want back”. Children attend Yeshiva for religious instruction, alongside home schooling but the government’s education bill will reclassify them as independent educational establishments, which the campaign says is an attempt to change the Charedi community. Mr Cohen says the Yeshiva model works and, “shockingly”, the government is targeting the very communities which have already solved the problem.
