Pope says remarks on Europe ‘trying to break apart a very important alliance’
Pope Leo has said the historical alliance between Europe and the United States may “unfortunately” be changing. Speaking to journalists after his meeting with President Zelensky where they discussed Trump’s peace plan, he said: “Unfortunately, I believe that some aspects of what I have seen would bring about a huge change in what has, for many, many years, been a true alliance between Europe and the United States.” Earlier in the day, the US President Donald Trump, criticised European leaders as “weak”, and accused “decaying European countries” of failing to control migration or take decisive action to end the war with Russia. The Pope said: “remarks that are made about Europe, also in interviews recently, I think, are trying to break apart what I think needs to be a very important alliance today and in the future.” He said Europe’s role is very important, and “it must be part of the security guarantees sought today and in the future. Unfortunately, not everyone understands this, but I believe there is a great opportunity for the idea of Europe to come together and seek solutions collectively.” He also confirmed that he had discussed the Holy See’s role in bringing home abducted children from Ukraine, work which he said was unfortunately very slow. He said he hoped to visit Ukraine, but was not sure when.
Methodist leader warns about Unite the Kingdom Christmas event in London
The Rev Dr Mark Rowland, Secretary of the Faith and Order Committee at the Methodist Church, has expressed caution at the Christmas event planned for Saturday afternoon in central London, under the title “Put Christ back into Christmas”. It is organised by Tommy Robinson and follows the Unite the Kingdom march in the summer, where speakers warned about immigration while attendees held crosses aloft, proclaimed “Christ is King” and sang worship songs. In a blog, Dr Rowland said “Christ is always with us .. When people claim that they will put Christ back in Christmas, I am even more wary: we do not control Jesus Christ and he is not ours to put anywhere”. Addressing messages about migrants, he said: “The Biblical law tells God’s people to treat the stranger in their land as one of their own… Alongside the claim we need to put Christ back in Christmas often comes something about Britain being a Christian country… The Christmas story is a story of different places and different peoples: it certainly doesn’t belong to any one country.” The Methodist Church says: “The Joint Public Issues Team (Methodists, Baptist Union and URC) has released guidance for churches to help them tackle the co-option of Christian language and symbols – including Christmas – for a nationalist agenda”.
7,000 CofE members ‘deeply disappointed’ that bishops paused same sex blessing process
Seven thousand members of the Church of England have signed an open letter expressing “deep disappointment” at the CofE bishops’ decision to pause the Living in Love and Faith process on same sex blessings and allowing same sex clergy to marry. The signatories include many members of churches belonging to conservative networks such as HTB and New Wine, and others under “flying bishops” overseeing churches opposed to women priests. The letter was organised by “Inclusive Church”, a group set up to end discrimination, and called on the bishops to “honour the decisions voted on by General Synod”, to offer prayers for blessing relationships, but not in special services, and a trial for stand-alone services, which is now paused. Responses came from every Diocese and every cathedral. 39 per cent were ordained, including 13 cathedral deans, 14 archdeacons and 7 bishops, and others serve at all levels in the church. The letter asks the House of Bishops to offer clear direction that honours the dignity of LGBTQ+ people.
UK Gospel Coalition to launch in 2026
A UK Gospel Coalition is set to launch in 2026, bringing together “complementarian evangelicals” who believe men should lead and women should not be priests. The movement started in the US, after concern that evangelicalism was moving away from historic Biblical beliefs and practices, with “theological and moral relativism” leading to the abandonment of biblical truth and “transformed living”. Similar groups are also to be found in Africa and Australia. “Evangelicals Now”, which broke the story, said a UK council had already been formed with 40 members, and early support has come from Graham Nicholls, Director of the evangelical umbrella group Affinity; Andy Mason, Mission Director of London-based church-planting movement Co-Mission; and Lizzie Harewood, of the Association of Christian Teachers. She said many churches already use US base d Gospel Coalition materials and the new organisation will reach a wider audience. The article says that Graham Nicholls had ongoing conversations with Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance. Who was well aware of the plans. He said that the EA seeks to serve “a wider evangelical constituency”.
Bishop warns vicars will have to pay new tax on £2million homes
The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, has warned that the mansion house tax levy on houses worth over £2 million could affect vicars in London and the south-east, whose vicarages are large and likely to be in scope. In a Lords debate on the budget, he said: “Few parishes will be able to pay this additional tax, nor can dioceses simply absorb the costs” – likely to be £2,500-£7,500. He told the Lords: “If we are to maintain the important principle of clergy living where they serve, including those from other denominations, I urge the Minister to meet with church representatives so that we can discuss how the existing tax exemptions applying to the residences of ministers of religion can perhaps be extended”. He also took the opportunity to ask ministers to secure a long term future for the listed places of worship repair scheme, and commit to withdrawing the £25,000 cap on claims for a grant. Times story here
‘Blue light hijab’ rolled out in Leicester
Hyphen Online reports on a “blue light hijab” with a magnetic design designed to protect Muslim police officers from strangulation when wearing hijabs. It has two magnets holding together two parts of the hijab, preventing it from being pulled over the face. The article quotes Fiona Shaik Umar, from the National Association of Muslim Police Met branch saying: “We did learn some quite sad stories of where people had had their hijab used as a means of strangulation or were pulled off. I’ve experienced that myself where people know that pulling your hijab is an easy way to distract you.” The design was a collaboration between Leicester police and de Montfort university, and is being given to every eligible officer before a national roll-out. Zahra Onsori reports here
Myanmar earthquake recovery shows importance of trust between religions in a crisis
The latest edition of “Peace Prospects”, an online magazine, tells the story of interfaith cooperation in the aftermath of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Sagaing city, Myanmar, which killed 1000 and flattened buildings. The article tells the story of interfaith cooperation in a society with a history of tension, with Buddhist monks, Christian young people, and Muslims joining together to rebuild the collapsed Myo Ma mosque, monks carrying injured Muslims to safety, Christian nurses setting up makeshift clinics under tarpaulins and Muslim elders opening their courtyards for food distribution. Sometimes, survivors gathered for shared prayers. The article concludes that building trust in the years beforehand, led to cooperation in a crisis. It suggests: “In deeply traditional societies like Myanmar, people often wait to see how their religious leaders respond before deciding what is acceptable. When monks walked into the ruins of a mosque, they were not only helping, they were redefining what moral courage looks like in public life. These symbolic acts, amplified through social media and word of mouth, signalled that dignity and compassion could transcend identity. Such leadership does not erase fear, but it shifts the social imagination of what is possible”. Article is here
Visa revoked for Pakistani influencer
The Home Office has cancelled the visa of the Pakistani influencer, Tuaha Ibn Jalil, who was due to start a UK speaking tour this week. It follows an investigation by The Times saying they had “exposed his extremist comments” on jihad and Jews. He helps run Youth Club Pakistan, which has a branch in the UK, and has 1.6 million followers on Instagram. He was due to speak in 12 cities or towns, including at a school and university, areas with substantial Muslim populations, starting on Thursday. Times report here
Hundreds of millions of dollars for survivors of US Catholic clergy sex abuse
The Roman Catholic archdiocese of New York has raised a $300m fund to settle with around 1,300 survivors of clergy sexual abuse who have sued the church. Its headquarters in Manhattan has been sold and the budget cut by ten per cent to raise the money. There are a reported 1,311 survivors from the past 70 years, and settlements are being negotiated while some cases will go to court next year. On the day of this announcement, the Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans said its insurers would pay $305m to about 600 survivors of clergy sex abuse.
US Commission makes Vietnam country of concern for religious freedom
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has designated Vietnam as a “country of particular concern”. nt its Vietnam Country Update, it says that “while Vietnam has made notable strides embracing recognized religious groups, these efforts are done at the expense of adherents of independent religious communities who continue to face repression of their faith”. In its 2025 Annual Report, it says indigenous Montagnard and Hmong Christians are particularly vulnerable to persecution. It cites the jailing of a missionary of the Central Highlands Evangelical Church, and the house arrest of the 92-year-old head of the independent Peng Lei House Buddhist Church. There was also repression of unrecognized Buddhist and Cao Dai groups, including the destruction of a pagoda.
