Report on the Religion Media Festival 2025: how faith can set the agenda
Newsroom editors do not always grasp the significance of religion when it comes to global affairs, Sir Mark Thompson, chief executive of CNN, told the Religion Media Centre Festival in London. This is despite the overwhelming majority of people having some commitment to religion, motivating action and belief. His interview was part of a packed agenda including a panel discussion with reporters specialising in religion discussing the challenges, for example when covering the Pope’s death, the conclave and election of his successor. Channel 4 journalist Cathy Newman reflected on her coverage of the Makin report and Welby’s resignation, saying he had not been “across all of the details.. I saw someone who was just overwhelmed by it all, and he’d arrived in this deluge of abuse allegations. He didn’t have enough of a grip to keep across it all.” Our comprehensive report includes top lines from panels discussing Muslims in Britain, British Jews and the media, community cohesion and the role of local journalists, football linked with religion at grass roots level, the winners of our community reporting award and how faith is brought to new audiences of all age groups online. Our mega report is here
Theos report tackles criticism of religious ideas in assisted dying debate
A report from the think tank Theos has challenged the “shadow side” of the debate on assisted dying, which it says was an attempt to undermine religious contributions to the discussion. It has identified criticism of arguments made by religious politicians, leaders and campaigning groups as: religious belief is too intellectually inadequate or disfiguring; religious belief is insufficiently willing to adapt and compromise; religious belief is ill-fitted or even inadmissible in a secular polity or culture; and religious contributors are fundamentally dishonest about their motivations and objectives. The report tackles each criticism and concludes that the real dividing line is between good strong arguments, and weak ones. It says a religious argument bases its approach to policy on underlying principles, grounded in an understanding of humanity which is itself grounded in an underlying philosophy. It concludes the answer to the question ‘how much have your religious views influenced your decision?’ is that all decisions are influenced by the philosophy or worldview that underpin them. The assisted dying bill comes back to the Commons for debate on 13 June and a vote on 20 June. The report, published today, is on the Theos website here
Christian charity criticises spending review and calls for a wealth tax
The Christian charity the “Just Money Movement” has criticised the UK government’s spending review for its deep cuts to disability benefits and overseas aid, which it says will herald tough times for many of the most vulnerable people in the world. It is calling for a fundamental rethink and a national conversation about what kind of society people want to live in, against a backdrop of growing inequality, high rates of poverty and the continuing climate crisis. Patron, Bishop Mike Royal, said: “An appropriate tax on wealth would help to protect the services those most in need rely on now more than ever.”
Church of Ireland bishop: ‘No excuse for violence in Ballymena’
Leaders in the Church of Ireland, the Bishop of Connor, George Davison, and the Rector of Ballymena, Mark McConnell, have issued a statement on the recent violence in the Northern Ireland town of Ballymena, which followed a sexual assault on a teenage girl, and the appearance in court of two Romanian teenage boys charged with oral rape. In the statement, the leaders say they have been distressed at the violence, destruction and fear, and they warn of danger as protests turn against migrant communities. They say that the majority of such crimes in Northern Ireland are committed by people who are not from ethnic minorities. “The racism and violence that we have witnessed on our streets cannot be excused or explained in this way”. They call for calm and an end to further violence and fear on the streets. Last night, a leisure centre in Larne, was set on fire. Statement here
Faith leaders pledge non-violence in Los Angeles as officers train guns on them
Faith leaders came together in Los Angeles to urge non-violent resistance to President Trump’s deployment of the military in an immigration crackdown, which ECUSA’s presiding bishop Sean Rowe has called “a dangerous turn”. In a gathering of leaders on Tuesday night at Grand Park, Rabbi Sharon Brous likened Trump to the authoritarian Pharoah who oppressed Jews in the Bible and said: “We will not answer violence with violence”. The LA Times reports that the group then marched to the Federal Building and took the knee as officers “trained pepper ball guns on clergy members, and National Guard members tensed their riot shields”. The Rev Eddie Anderson, pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church, addressed the officers: “The people have gathered together to remind you there is a higher power. To remind you that in Los Angeles everybody is free, and no human is illegal.” A city curfew came into effect on Tuesday from 8pm to 6am and Los Angeles had its quietest night in a week.
Chief Rabbi says cancellation of European Conference is display of ‘shocking hatred’
The Swissotel in Sarajevo has cancelled a group booking for The Conference of European Rabbis, which was due to meet next week but has been forced to call off its gathering. Jewish News reports that the decision was taken after an open letter by a government minister saying it was morally offensive for Sarajevo to host a meeting which is giving support to Israel, “the occupier who, every day, in front of the eyes of the whole world, commits genocide against the innocent civilian population of Gaza.” The Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has issued a statement saying he was due to attend the conference and its cancellation is a cause for deep concern: “Today, Jewish communities around the world are increasingly being targeted and marginalised, as part of the broader campaign of demonisation against the State of Israel. There can be no justification for such shocking hatred”. The hotel chain says it regrets the inconvenience caused but is cancelling the event to ensure the safety of participants and protection of staff and property. Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the CER, said: “This last-minute, ministerial boycott of Jewish European citizens, dedicated to purely to promoting Jewish life in Europe and furthering dialogue and democracy across the continent, is disgraceful.” CER statement here
Southern Baptist Convention calls for repeal of same‑sex marriage ruling
The Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Dallas, has overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging repeal of the 2015 US Supreme Court decision legalising same‑sex marriage, among a series of other demands re-affirming conservative Christian views. The resolution wording is: “On restoring moral clarity through God’s design for gender, marriage, and the family” and is a theological statement on the created order, marriage, abortion, fertility, family, gender, sexual orientation, free speech and miscarriage. It called for the overturn of court judgments that deny the biological reality of male and female. Baptist News Global explains that Convention resolutions are considered “nonbinding statements of the beliefs of those gathered in a particular year and particular place. However, there have been increasing demands to use resolutions more like doctrinal and political talking points”. On Tuesday they adopted resolutions on the harmful and predatory nature of sports betting, banning pornography and against abortion pills.
CEO of Christianity Today takes over at the John Templeton Foundation
The John Templeton Foundation has announced that it has appointed Dr. Timothy Dalrymple as its new president and CEO. He is currently CEO of Christianity Today, where he presided over expansion and new ventures. He holds degrees from Stanford University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Harvard University, where his doctoral work focused on the nature of suffering and religious knowledge. The Foundation says “Dalrymple brings an innovative spirit and a vision deeply aligned with the Foundation’s mission to support interdisciplinary research and catalyse conversations that inspire awe and wonder”. His CV includes his success as a former national champion gymnast.
New Archdruid for US based organisation with global growth in sight
A global Druid organisation based in America has elected an Archdruid aged 38, who has vowed to bring it into the modern age with technological changes and educational initiatives. The Religion News Service reports that the Rev Jan Avende says the organisation, the ADF Druid Fellowship, is at a tipping point and needs to connect with people in a diverse world. The article says that the Fellowship has 1,024 members and 47 “groves”, congregations, in 22 countries and on six continents. The previous leader had “sought to build bridges with other Druid organizations, such the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and the Anglesey Druid Order, based in the United Kingdom”. Profile and story here.
