Removing whip from MP Rachael Maskell ‘like expelling Mother Theresa’
York Central MP Rachael Maskell, suspended by Labour over “repeated breaches of discipline”, has explained her political actions are based on her faith. She told York Press that the chief whip knew “her heart” and why she had acted the way she did: “I explained there are lines I can’t cross because of where I come from in politics with my faith”. A keen Christian and member of a New Frontiers Church, she has been a key voice against the cut to disability benefits, the cut to winter fuel payments, the cut to UK overseas aid, the abolition of NHS England and the dropping of proposals to compensate Waspi women. In a statement she said: “As a Labour Party member for over 34 years, I could not be more committed to the Party, one that upholds the values of equality and justice. As someone of deep conviction and faith, I bring these values with me in all I do in representing my constituents and ensuring that I advocate for them, keep them safe and ensure that their voices are taken into the very heart of politics”. She told Sky News that she “doesn’t see herself as a rebel” but someone holding the executive to account and speaking truth to power. She said: “I hold my hand out to the prime minister and hope he takes that and wants to reach back because I think it’s really important that we work together.” She lost the whip alongside Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff and their suspensions will be assessed at a future review. Journalist Robert Peston tweeted a response from a Labour veteran: “expelling Rachael Maskell is like expelling Mother Theresa. They are crackers”.
Humanists demand retraction of Bible Society’s claims of a Quiet Revival in Britain
Humanists UK is calling on the Bible Society to retract its findings of a “Quiet Revival”, based on research which suggests that the numbers of people attending church weekly had risen from 8 to 12 per cent since 2018, and among 18-24s (Gen Z), the numbers attending church at least once a month rose from 4 to 16 per cent in the same period. In a detailed 3,000 word rebuttal, Humanists UK casts doubt on the survey’s design and weighting, which it says, makes its conclusions unreliable. It points to an article by Prof David Voas saying he was surprised and sceptical of the findings. And it argues that other studies, the British Social Attitudes survey and Church of England data, found a decline in attendance. The Bible Society is not retracting its story and stands by the rigour of its survey which was undertaken by YouGov. It has already published a series of FAQS on its website answering questions about methodology. In a statement, it says: “Along with YouGov, we stand by the results of The Quiet Revival survey and are confident that our work reflects the reality on the ground.”
Doubt cast on US Gen Z religious resurgence
The chief executive officer of the US based Public Religion Research Institute, has challenged the idea of a Gen Z religious resurgence. In an article in the US publication The Hill, Melissa Deckman quotes the PRRI’s own research from a survey in 2024, which suggested 38 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 identified as religiously unaffiliated, a rise from 32 per cent in 2013. They found a growing gender divide, with 40 percent of young women saying they were religious “nones”, compared to 29 per cent in 2013. But among young men, there was no significant rend – 36 per cent were “nones”, compared to 35 per cent in 2013. Further research found young men were religiously conservative. Among Gen Z men who attend church regularly, 52 per cent agree with traditional gender roles, which, she says, may explain why young women are walking away. Her article is here
Baptist Union leader becomes first woman vice chair worldwide
The General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Rev Lynn Green, has been elected as the Baptist World Alliance’s vice chair, the first woman to have a role at this level in the church. She was also the first woman to be elected as the General Secretaryand her two roles will run alongside each other for a period of five years until the next World Congress, alongside the new chair, Karl Johnson from Jamaica. Lynn Green worked at the Royal Mail for several years before becoming a minister, and then served in Wokingham and the Southern Counties, while taking on more committee roles in the governance of the church. She has described most of her working life as bi-vocational, combining ministry with her life as a wife and mother. She said she would love to see greater numbers of women leaders and younger leaders flourishing in the church and hoped that being the first woman in such a leadership position, will inspire and encourage other women to “listen to God and to respond to God’s call.”
Division in US over allowing religious groups to endorse political candidates
Religious organisations in America are divided in their response to an Internal Revenue Service ruling that allows churches and other houses of worship to endorse political candidates without risking the loss of their tax-exempt status. The guidance is at odds with the Johnson Amendment, passed by Congress passed 71 years ago, that applies to all charitable nonprofits, whether they are secular or religious. The IRS ruling came in a Texas federal court which heard arguments that banning nonprofits from participating in political campaigns violates the First Amendment. It said religious congregations are like families, and their internal communications should not be deemed “participation” in a campaign. Those in favour include evangelicals and conservative groups, who support it for allowing churches to “speak freely. Those against say it is a threat to the division between religion and state, and warn it could open the doors to “dark money” into political campaigns.
United Church of Christ synod denounces ICE raids as ‘domestic terrorism’
The United Church of Christ, a socially liberal Protestant US denomination with one million members, has denounced the immigration raids as “domestic terrorism”. It has urged churches to disinvest from private companies participating in the raids and detention of immigrants. The Religion News Service reports that the UCC has set up a National Collaborative on Immigration, a group of immigrant welcoming churches, many of them in the Mexico border region. A church spokesperson said they are concerned about human rights violations in the detention centres, and there is a risk for churches which do support immigrants, as they face reprisals from local and national government, threatening their future
RMC briefing: The Church of England general synod July 2025
Our briefing on the discussions at the General Synod of the Church of England, held in York last weekend, is now published on our YouTube channel and as a podcast. Links via our website here. Hosted by Rosie Dawson, our panellists considered a Brigadier’s warning about the dangerous world and the need to support chaplains, the Archbishop of Jerusalem’s address on Gaza, assisted dying, the redress scheme for survivors of abuse, a bumper £1.36 billion funding package for dioceses over the next three years, a rise in clergy pay and pensions, more money for low-income and deprived parishes, more effort to work with children and young people and a striking agreement after a respectful debate on same sex blessings. Rosie Dawson hosted, with guests: Bishop Hugh Nelson, Bishop to the Armed Forces; Jane Chevous, Director, Survivors Voices; Bishop of Birkenhead, Julie Conalty; Tim Wyatt, journalist; Nathan Obokoh, youth leader; Ven Stewart Fyfe, Archdeacon of West Cumberland; Paul Waddell, lay representative from Southwark.
Faith leaders in Norwich pledge to combat climate change
Faith leaders in Norwich have signed a pledge to work together to combat climate change. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Baha’is and Pagans met at St Peter Mancroft Church, with three local MPs. They said they were alarmed at the breakdown of the climate: “As faith communities, we recognise there is an overriding duty to care for each other and the natural world on which we all depend. This means investing in nature, supporting nature-friendly farming and recognising the health and economic benefits of the natural world. It means backing UK jobs, securing a just, green transition and building a cleaner, healthier future for all.” Alice MacDonald MP, said she welcomed “opportunities like these to speak with local people about such important issues.”
Nick Cave and Sandi Toksvig for Archbishop of Canterbury
The “completely unofficial” poll run by Anglican Futures at the general synod meeting, for suggestions as to who should be the next Archbishop of Canterbury, provided 32 suggestions. The list included 17 bishops, campaigners and – unlikely – Nick Cave and Sandi Toksvig. Synod members were asked to put their choice in a ballot box and they favoured (in alphabetical order) the Bishops of Bath & Wells, Chelmsford and Blackburn, Nick Cave and the Archbishop of Sydney. The parallel online poll favoured the bishops of Bath & Wells, Chelmsford, Chester, Southwell & Nottingham and the Archbishop of Sydney. Susie Leafe, who organised the list, also found she had been nominated.
Thai woman accused of seducing and blackmailing Buddhist monks
The Independent reports that a Thai woman has been accused of enticing multiple Buddhist monks into sexual relationships, then blackmailing them to cover up their intimacy. Police say she had £8.83 million in her bank from the past three years, which had mostly been spent on online gambling. She is facing charges including extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods. At least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood for possibly violating celibacy rules. There are calls for laws related to monks, temples and their finances, to be tightened.
