Tensions spilling over in British Jewish community over Gaza
A rally in London following a march of an estimated 5,000 people demanding the release of the Israeli hostages, was disrupted, when the co-heads of Progressive Judaism, Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy, were told to leave the stage by organisers. The iintervention came when the Rabbis were booed and shouted down during a speech where they said “The Palestinian people, like us, have the right to self determination. What we reject is a methodology that tries to force this future through violence, terror, and the suffering of civilians. Statehood cannot be built on the blood of innocents, and peace will never grow from the soil of fear”. Film of event here and transcript here. The Board of Deputies then released a statement saying it “deplored the way a section of the crowd treated the co-chief executive Rabbis of Progressive Judaism today, and that they were asked to leave the stage…It was disrespectful and self-defeating and should have no place in our communal life”. Masorti Judaism issued a statement condeming the “unacceptable behaviour .. and the clumsy way it was handled”. On Saturday night, Reform, Liberal and Masorti rabbis, including the co-heads of Progressive Judaism, gathered outside 10 Downing Street, dressed in black, to protest the continuation of the Gaza war, after Israel’s security cabinet decided to “take security control” over the Gaza strip and prepare to take control of Gaza City. The Rabbis said they were ‘standing in solidarity with Israelis and Palestinians for peace’, and ‘praying in solidarity’ with hostages and Gazans.
The rally was among a weekend of demonstrations following Israel’s decision.
- On Saturday in Israel, thousands flooded the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to oppose the military expansion and once more, appeal for the Israeli hostages to be returned.
- On Saturday in London, 532 people were arrested for taking part in the protest against banning Palestine Action, where placards denouncing “genocide in Gaza” were on full display.
- At meetings this weekend, the UN Security Council heavily criticised Israel’s plan, saying it risked “violating international humanitarian law”. On Sunday, UN ambassadors condemned Israel’s plan
War in Gaza must be ended not increased, says Cardinal Nichols
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has expressed his sorrow and condemnation after Israel’s security cabinet approved the plan to take control of Gaza City. He said: “I weep for the people of Gaza as they face not just a continuation of their immense suffering but an escalation in their hardship and desperation. There must be a better way. One that does not heap yet further suffering and misery on so many people who are not combatants but defenceless in face of the perpetrators of violence in their midst. Already too much innocent blood has been shed; too many lives destroyed; too much hunger and starvation. This war must be ended not increased.” He said his heart went out to the Catholics at the church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, which he described as a haven of compassion and prayer: “This centre of peaceful resilience and profound solidarity, in the midst of such devastation and inhumanity, must be protected and preserved as one sign of hope for the future”.
Civil Society Covenant backlash
Insight UK, a campaigning group for British Hindu and Indian communities in the UK, has criticised the government’s decision to include the CEO of the Muslim Charities Forum, Fadi Itani, on the advisory group for the Civil Society Covenant, which aims to enable partnerships between government and grassroots groups on projects for change. The Telegraph reported a spokesperson for Insight UK saying: “The Government’s decision to invite only a Muslim charity to participate in its Civic Society Covenant while excluding other faith groups is discriminatory and shows preferential treatment for one faith group”. The Muslim Charities Forum has responded sharply to the criticism in a statement saying: “We unequivocally reject these divisive tactics and reaffirm our commitment to a cohesive and vibrant society”. Fadi Itani said: “We must guard against rhetoric that divides us and instead focus on making the Covenant a success in serving communities.” The advisory group has seventeen members including major national charitable organisations and Daniel Singleton, a Christian and CEO of Faith Action, which pioneered covenants with faith groups. A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport told the Telegraph there was extensive engagement with faith and interfaith groups who helped shape the document: “Faith groups are explicitly recognised and valued partners under our Civil Society Covenant and on the Advisory Council – acknowledging faith organisations as essential to delivering our plan for change missions and tackling Britain’s biggest challenges”.
Midnight snooping exposed as curate cleared of affair
A complaint that a female curate had an inappropriate relationship with a man, has been dismissed by a church tribunal. The disciplinary process found the complaint against the Rev Anne-Marie Marsh was based on “false allegations, rumour and assumptions” and significant harm had been caused. The judgment criticised the Rev Steve Gold, vicar of St John’s Hillmorton, whom she was working with, for his late night and early morning visits to her home, to photograph a van parked there overnight, which belonged to the man she is alleged to have had a relationship with. However, the curate denied having such a relationship and said the van was parked to deter her estranged husband from visiting her, taking photos and peering through windows. Her ex-husband was rehoused by the diocese at their separation after a 27-year marriage, while no steps were taken to safeguard the curate’s wellbeing or vulnerability and she stood back from the ministry for 18 months. The judgment said she had received inadequate support from the vicar and hoped the Diocese of Coventry would support her now. The full judgment is here. Church Times article here
Archbishop speaks out against ‘escalating violence’ on Indian people in Ireland
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson has issued a statement against “sporadic assaults on Indian people in Ireland”, saying the violence is “escalating alarmingly” and urging all people to stand firmly against racism. He says the Church of Ireland have warm relations with many Indian Christian traditions and a number of churches in Dublin are used by a range of Indian Christian traditions for worship, and many parishes have Indian parishioners. He said: “It is essential that these people, irrespective of age or nationality, be safe and feel safe as together we build a community of hope, opportunity and equality”. He supports the chairman of the Ireland India Council, Mr Prashant Shukla, who has called for a coordinated, multi-agency response to the attacks and a cross-departmental response to hate crime and youth violence.
Christian resilience in Iraq as 1000 children are baptised
The Catholic News Agency reports on the resilience of Christians in Iraq, where 1,000 boys and girls have received their first communion, eleven years after ISIS forced Christians to leave Mosul and Ninevah towns. Georgena Habbaba reports on Christians in different regions of the country, including the story of Syriac Catholics, who witnessed a massacre in 2010 when dozens of worshippers and two priests were killed. She quotes the Archbishop of the Syriac Catholic Church of Mosul, Benedictos Younan Hanno, praising the Christians’ determination to stay on their ancestral land and their courage in returning after forced displacement. He said they were committed to preserving their faith and passing it to their children, “who have grown up in stable, united, devoted families”. Story is here
Thousands watch vibrant Hindu festival in Ealing
Thousands lined the streets of Ealing to watch the Hindu Rath Yatra vibrant festival yesterday, a chariot procession, led by floats with images of a trinity of three deities – Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu; his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and younger sister Devi Subhadra. Chariots covered in flowers, joined dancers, drummers, women carrying pots of milk, and bare-chested men rolling on the ground to signify their worship of the gods. Supplicants rushed to the chariots to ask assistants riding them for tokens which signified the gods would give them blessings. The tokens included gifts of grasses, flowers and dried cow dung. The chariot procession was organised by the Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman temple in Ealing, which worships in South Indian and Sri Lankan traditions. and drew huge crowds of Hindu pilgrims from across Europe. When the procession ended, the deities were returned to the temple, where offerings of flowers, incense, fruit and sweets were given in rituals led by priests in front of a congregation packed into the space. Read Catherine Pepinster’s report here
