Mass shooting at Minneapolis Catholic school kills two children
In the first mass shooting at a Catholic school in the United States, a gunman opened fire through the stained glass windows of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, during a Mass to mark the opening of the school year, killing two children aged 8 and 10. More than a dozen others were wounded, and the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis-St.Paul, asked for prayers, and Pope Leo sent condolences and prayers and said his heart was broken at the news. Early local reports named the gunman as Robin Westman, aged 23, whose mother had previously worked at the school before retiring in 2021. More in an article in the Catholic Substack publication “The Pillar”.
Former leader of Iona community, Kathy Galloway, has died aged 73
Kathy Galloway, former leader of the Iona Community, has died aged 73 after a recent cancer diagnosis, complicated by sepsis. In a statement on its website, the Iona community said “We mourn with the world the loss of a truly prophetic voice of faith for justice, peace and the radically urgent transformation of unjust structures”. She was co-Warden of Iona Abbey in the 1980s, editor of the Coracle magazine in the 1990s and in 2001, and the first woman to be elected as leader of the Iona Community. Ordained as a Church of Scotland minister, Kathy was also a prolific hymn-writer, poet and writer. She is described as a writer. mother, sister, grandmother and friend, whose death will be mourned by many around the globe. Iona tribute here
Law firm apologises for data breach in CofE’s safeguarding Redress Scheme
The Church of England has said that email addresses belonging to individuals who have registered for updates on the Redress Scheme for safeguarding issues, have been disclosed in a data breach by Kennedys Law LLP, which is administering the scheme. In a statement, Kennedys says “Regrettably on Tuesday evening, a message was sent from law firm, Kennedys, to 194 individuals and law firms who had registered to receive updates in relation to the Church of England Redress scheme. Due to human error, the email displayed the email addresses making them visible to all recipients. No further personal details of individuals were shared. Attempts to recall the message were only partially successful”. Kennedys says it is deeply sorry for the hurt and concern caused to everyone affected and the incident has been reported to the relevant authorities. The CofE says it recognises the distress caused and is discussing this with Kennedys to ensure robust steps are in place to prevent future occurrences.
Ten dioceses at risk of identity theft after DBS software data breach
The Church Times reports that a cyber attack on software used by APCS, the company used by many dioceses to carry out DBS checks, has left hundreds of parishioners at risk of identity theft. It reports that the attack happened on 31 July and at least ten dioceses are affected: Derby, Ely, Guildford, Hereford, Newcastle, Oxford, Salisbury, Southwark, Winchester, and Worcester. The diocese of Southwark said on 17 August 2025, APCS were notified by Intradev, their external software supplier, of a potential data breach when unauthorised access and certain files that relate to personal data were copied from their systems during a cyber-attack. Further details here
Newly ordained vicar disciplined over failures at Cardiff church plant
A disciplinary tribunal of the Church in Wales has issued a warning to a newly ordained vicar who was put in charge of St Teilo’s, relaunched as an HTB church plant called Citizen Church, in Cardiff. The Tribunal heard three charges against the Rev Ryan Forey – that he had authorised payments from PCC funds to himself and his wife of £300 a month for occasional services, and £500 a month in clergy spouse payments, which he said he thought was permissible; setting up an online app, Citizen App, despite concerns it was a safeguarding risk for naming children; and establishing a church outside of the Church in Wales structure called “Be Church, Cardiff” , which had staff and members of his own Citizen Church and where he accepted a position as pastor. He admitted all three charges. The Tribunal said he had taken “responsibilities in Citizen Church for which he had not been adequately prepared and during which his support, supervision and guidance were significantly absent”. It ordered him to work for two years under an experienced vicar and to undergo safeguarding training. He was further admonished for sharing details of his penalty before the decision was finalised. He has since said that he hopes to return to ministry in England. The Church Times reports on other cases where inexperienced new clergy are given church plants to oversee.
Farage says Christian leaders are out of touch with their members
The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has swept away the idea that Christian leaders will criticise his proposals to return asylum seekers back to their home countries, saying the leaders are out of touch with their members. He was speaking at a press conference on Reform’s immigration policy, responding to a question from Dave Burke, political correspondent of the Daily Mirror. He was asked how he would respond to senior leaders challenging him morally on the policy, and how this would square with his own defence of the Judaeo Christian foundation of law in Britain. He said: “Whoever the Christian leaders are at any given point in time, I think over the last decades, quite a few of them have been rather out of touch, perhaps with their own flock. Given the types of people appointed to be the Archbishop of Canterbury, that is probably the biggest understatement of the day.” He said no fundamental change in society came without a battle with the establishment.
Home of Hasidic Chabad rabbi in Bournemouth daubed with a Swastika
Rabbi Benzion Alperowitz, who lives in Bournemouth, has published a video showing himself next to a Swastika which was painted onto his house on the eve of the Sabbath. He said the incident only strengthened his resolve to boost Jewish pride in the community. Local police have removed the sign and police have been informed. He told Jewish News that when he and his wife saw the graffiti, they were shocked and concerned but went ahead with Shabbat plans. The report says that Rabbi Alperowitz was born in Bournemouth, and is an associate rabbi at the city’s Hasidic Chabad commmunity, which was started many years ago by his parents, Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Alperowitz. He said: “This incident cast a shadow over our town, but it will not define us. Bournemouth’s true character is kindness, unity, and light and we all have to make sure it shines brighter than ever.”
Cardinal Parolin: ‘We are appalled at what is happening in Gaza’
The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has expressed “deep concern” over the Israeli bombing of Gaza, saying it makes no sense and warning of the worsening humanitarian crisis. “We are appalled by what is happening in Gaza, despite the condemnation of the whole world.” Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Liturgical Week, a gathering where church members reflect on the liturgy, the Cardinal referred to the Israeli strike on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which killed 20 people, including five journalists, saying “It makes no sense”. He added that the situation is becoming “increasingly complicated and, from a humanitarian perspective, increasingly precarious, with all the consequences we are seeing day by day.”
Christians Against Poverty warns of harmful effect of energy price cap increase
Christians Against Poverty is warning that the two per cent increase in the energy price cap will mean that millions of people of households on the lowest incomes will struggle to afford their energy bills this winter. Combined with the 6.4 per cent rise in February, CAP says this will add an extra £35 per year to an average household’s energy bills, increasing them to £1,755, and potentially pushing more families into hardship. CAP’s Chief Executive Officer, Stewart McCulloch, said many millions are in financial crisis and he is calling on the Government to establish an Essentials Guarantee, a protected minimum amount of social security that ensures the basic rate always covers life’s essentials. He says: “Support must never be pulled below a level where people can afford to eat and heat their homes”.
Thousands gathered in Sweden for 100th anniversary of ecumenical movement
Thousands of Christians from churches across the world gathered in Sweden to celebrate the 100th anniversary of theUniversal Christian Conference on Life and Work, also held in Sweden, which heralded the ecumenical movement. A week of activities included a servicein Stockholm Cathedral attended by the King and Queen, and a peace festival in downtown Kungsträdgården in the Stockholm city centre. Its theme was “Time for God’s Peace” as compared to 1925, when more than 600 leaders from 37 countries met to work for peace and Christian unity in the aftermath of the First World War, under the theme “service unites”. Pope Leo sent a message of support saying he believed that their shared confession could overcome division and foster communion. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, attended and reflected on the legacy of the 1925 unity call: “In our own troubled times, we need that same courage, generosity, and imagination to work together as one body of Christ for the sake of the world.
Painting looted by Nazis spotted on a living room wall in Argentina
The Times reports that an Argentinian police search for a painting looted by Nazis in the Second World War, hit a dead end when it mysteriously disappeared. The painting Portrait of a Woman by Giuseppe Ghislandi, was stolen from a Dutch Jewish art collector in 1940, and was spotted hanging on a wall in a photo of a house put up for sale in Parque Luro. The house was owned by Patricia Kadgien, 59, the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, a senior Nazi financier. Police raided the house looking for the painting, but it had vanished when officers arrived.
