Pete Hegseth ‘tests Constitution in Pentagon worship services’
Critics of the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, believe he may be breaching the US constitution by mixing his fervent Christian faith with the activities of his department. The Religion News Service reports on the ways he has displayed his faith, including organising a worship service at The Pentagon, billed as “SecWar’s Prayer Service”. Hegseth is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches group, and the service was led by his pastor, Doug Wilson, co-founder of the group, who is regarded as a Christian nationalist and advocates for America to adopt Biblical moral teaching. The Religion News Service quotes Rachel Laser, head of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, saying Hegseth’s actions are “more the behaviour of someone who is running an ultra-conservative Christian, Seven Mountain Mandate, muscular Christianity, spiritual warfare group”. The Seven Mountain Mandate is an ideology which says Christianity must dominate society in seven aspects – family, religion, education, media, arts and entertainment, business, and government. Yesterday, President Trump and Pete Hegseth attended a hastily arranged gathering of hundreds of US military officials at the Marine Corps base in Virginia. Hegseth announced an end to “woke culture”, the rowing back of diversity and inclusion policies, and new “male-level” physical standards fitness tests, which women will have to reach in order to go into combat roles.
Gaza parish priest pleads for war to stop
Fr Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest at the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, which is sheltering more than 400 people, has pleaded for the war to stop. In a video posted this week, he says: “Everyone here is pleading for mercy: to take pity, for mercy, for compassion, for them to stop this war, for them to stop shooting… for them to stop killing people, for them to stop bombing,” The video shows people praying in a church with loud explosions in the background, which he says is a frequent occurrence. Clearly exhausted, he says sometimes he doesn’t know what to say to those who have lost loved ones: “I’m dying without words, we’re falling apart without words, tiredness is also felt. There’s no real progress.” He thanks church leaders for their appeals for peace and promises to continue helping those in his care and praying “that God in his mercy takes care of everyone and grants us the end of this war.” Independent Catholic News report here
UK Armed Forces recruits first Humanist ‘pastoral carer‘
A Humanist celebrant has been sworn in as the UK Armed Forces first-ever non-religious “pastoral carer”, equivalent to a chaplain. Dr Neil Weddell has been an Army instructor, leadership and cultural adviser since 2003 and co-chair of Humanists and Non-Religious in Defence (HAND). The decision to recruit non-religious carers was made in 2023. He said: “I am privileged to be part of the MOD’s drive to widen the diversity of its chaplaincy team so that it better reflects the changing faith and belief needs of its personnel. With over 55,000 service members identifying as non-religious, I am looking forward to supporting their spiritual needs in a manner that authentically and genuinely aligns with their worldview.” Humanists UK says the appointment is ground breaking.
Charity Commission concludes case into Nottingham Islam Information Point
The Charity Commission has concluded its compliance case into Nottingham Islam Information Point. The regulator opened the case in November 2023 following concerns over a sermon delivered on the charity’s premises by trustee Harun Abdur Rashid Holmes, which it found to be inflammatory and divisive, without appropriate context to its source material. Mr Holmes was disqualified from trusteeship for three years. The charity, set up to support victims of Islamophobia and address misconceptions about Islam, was given an official warning and told to strengthen governance, speaker policies and trustee training. The regulator has since confirmed compliance and closed the case.
Police appeal after woman raped in Banbury churchyard
Police are investigating an attack on a woman in her 30s, who was attacked in the grounds of St Mary’s Church in Banbury, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Thames Valley Police have issued a statement saying there is no information to link the rape to migrant accommodation, quelling online speculation. The church cancelled Sunday’s worship and the vicar, Rev Serena Tajima, told the BBC that the church was “greatly saddened to hear of the horrific incident that happened at our graveyard. Our prayers are with the victim at this difficult time.” Detectives are appealing for witnesses who may have seen something around the area between midnight and 02:30 BST on Sunday to contact them.
Miranda Threlfall-Holmes becomes chair of CofE Racial Justice Board
The Archdeacon of Liverpool, Miranda Threlfall-Homes, has been appointed as the chair of the Racial Justice Board, overseeing the work of the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit. It is responsible for implementing the recommendations of a recent report which called for “a robust structure of governance to ensure that racial justice becomes a normal part of the policy and practice of the Church of England.”
Chair appointed to lead new CofE safeguarding governance structures
Dame Christine Ryan has been appointed as the executive chair of the CofE’s new Safeguarding Structures Programme Board, overseeing new governance structures, including an independent scrutiny body and new arrangements for safeguarding delivery. Her CV includes chair of Ofsted, chief executive and chief inspector of the Independent Schools Inspectorate, and board member of Ofqual. Her new role begins today.
Closure of Latin Mass signals shift in Brooklyn
The Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn, Robert Brennan, has ordered an end to the Traditional Latin Mass at St Cecilia Church, New York, taking effect on 12 October. It is understood to be an application of Pope Francis’s 2021 decree Traditionis custodes, which placed celebrations of the liturgy under direct diocesan control. The Catholic Herald reports that no explanation was offered locally, and neither the parish nor diocese has issued a statement. The move reflects the varied ways US bishops are applying Traditionis custodes, with some allowing the rite to continue under restrictions, while others have stopped them happening at all.
Yom Kippur, a day of atonement, starts this evening
Jews are observing Yom Kippur today, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It begins at sunset tonight and is observed with a 25-hour fast and abstinence so as not to be distracted from prayer and to be as pure as angels who do not need to eat. By tradition, it falls on the day when it is believed Moses came down from Mount Sinai for the second time. The first, as described in the Bible, is when he descended with the Ten Commandments and found the children of Israel worshipping the golden calf — leading him to smash the sacred tablets. He ascended the mountain again and came back down after 40 days. It is said to be a day of forgiveness, prayer and contemplation when God grants worshippers a fresh start and the opportunity to start again. Read our factsheet here
