Pope Leo concerned at ‘truly serious situation’ after Qatar attack
Pope Leo has expressed deep concern over Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar. Speaking to journalists as he left the Villa Barberini papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, he said: “The whole situation is truly serious. We don’t know where things are headed. It’s always serious. We must pray a lot and keep working, searching, insisting on peace.” He said he had tried to call the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza, after Israel’s order to evacuate the area, but had no latest news to report.
CAFOD says people sheltering in Gaza church will remain despite evacuation order
The Catholic aid agency CAFOD has issued a statement saying its partners at the Catholic Holy Family Church inside Gaza City, will continue to remain in place, despite Israel’s call for all residents to leave immediately in anticipation of a huge ground offensive. Elizabeth Funnell, CAFOD’s Middle East Programme representative, said it was heartbreaking for the hundreds of people exhausted and sheltering in the church compound. She said: “These are people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, and whose livelihoods have vanished. Vulnerable, elderly, hungry and disabled people, many unable to leave, and frightened to stay. There is chaos and confusion, and everywhere is overcrowded. They have nowhere safe to go.” CAFOD explains that the church is a shelter for Christians and Muslims, but previous attacks on the site has “shattered all sense of safety”.
Bangor Cathedral choir suspended after ‘Canticle of Indignation’
The choir of Bangor Cathedral has been suspended after singing a specially composed “Canticle of Indignation” during a communion service, in protest at a decision to make redundancies amid a financial crisis with a £300,000 shortfall expected this year. Five of eight non-clergy posts are at risk and choir members fear their jobs may disappear or their hours may be cut. It’s reported there were angry exchanges at the door after the service, with complaints that 20 members of the choir walked out while the clergy were ending the communion liturgy. The Cathedral’s chapter met on Monday and “paused choir activity for an initial period of one month”, and said that Joe Cooper, Director of Music, “is currently away from his duties.” The financial difficulties follow an excoriating report into the lack of financial controls, excessive drinking and blurred lines of sexual boundaries at the Cathedral, which led to the former Dean stepping down, and the retirement of the bishop, Andy John. The Cathedral’s new Dean, Canon Dr Manon Ceridwen James, starts work next week. Nation Cymru report here. Church Times story here
Archbishop resigns in dispute over ‘spiritual Disneyland’ development at Mount Sinai
Archbishop Damianos of the 6th century St Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai, is stepping down aged 91, after protests at his handling of a dispute with the Egyptian authorities. In May, an Egyptian court took control of the monastery and its lands, but the Greek Orthodox church retains control of the monks and fears this new ownership will threaten their way of life. St Catherine’s is the world’s oldest continually operated Christian monastery and a UNESCO world heritage site. But Egypt is turning the area into a tourist town, with five hotels, hundreds of villas, a visitor centre, a shopping complex, a cable car and airport expansion, a development which has come under fire from the Greek Orthodox church. Archbishop Elpidophoros, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, called the mega tourism development a planned “Spiritual Disneyland” and a violation of religious and environmental protections, commercialising a sacred and fragile site. The area, known locally as Jabal Musa, is the place where it is said Moses received the Ten Commandments, and is revered by Christians Jews and Muslims. People who know the local Bedouin tribes say a new urban world is being imposed on them, changing their homeland for ever. BBC report here. Details of the development in Egyptian Gazette here
Christians in northern Iraq hold festival to celebrate survival
Christians in northern Iraq are celebrating a festival over five days, proclaiming the vibrancy of their faith ten years after ISIS sought to eliminate the religion from the land. From 9 – 13 September, the Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean, Syriac Catholic and Syriac Orthodox, will join together in public events, including candlelight processions, gatherings in public squares, cultural events, sport and festivals leading to the vigil of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 13 September. Aid to the Church in Need says more than 120,000 Christians fled to Kurdistan in 2014 when ISIS took over, but since then they have returned to their villages and homes and rekindled Christian worship. The five-day festival is now set to become an annual event in the churches’ calendar. ACN says the number of Christians in Iraq has fallen from 1.4 million believers under Saddam Hussein, to below a quarter of a million.
UK’s oldest Jewish cemetery discovered at The Barbican
The UK’s oldest Jewish cemetery, dating back to 1070, has been discovered beneath the Barbican estate in London. It lies beyond the old Roman walls, dating from a time when Jews lived and worked within the city, but were required to bury their dead outside. The cemetery remained in use for over 200 years, until King Edward I expelled the Jewish population in 1290. After this, the site became known as the “Jews’ Garden” but fell into neglect. The area was bombed heavily in the war, and when the Barbican was built from the ruins, the Roman walls that remained were kept as a feature within the 60s architecture. The cemetery was uncovered by a group of amateur historians and local residents and marked with a dedication ceremony attended by Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis. Jewish Chronicle report here
