Widespread speculation that Cardinal Vincent Nichols’ successor will be announced today
The Catholic Diocese of Westminster has announced that it will hold a press conference at Archbishop’s House today at noon, and there is widespread speculation that this will be the moment when Cardinal Vincent Nichols’ successor will be named. Cardinal Nichols has been the Archbishop of Westminster since 2009. He turned 80 in November – the usual retirement age is 75 – but he was asked to carry on and there has been much comment on his legacy and suggestions as to the person who will replace him. We are holding a zoom media briefing at 2pm today, on whatever is said at the press conference, with a panel of leading Catholics. Zoom link via [email protected]
Jewish children living in fear in Britain ‘has become normalised’
The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson, has told a Policy Exchange meeting that police are receiving calls from ten year old Jewish girls requesting armed officers at Hanukkah celebrations due to the rise in antisemitism and recent attacks on Jewish communities. He said Jewish children attending school behind large fences guarded by people in yellow jackets had become normalised and fear within Jewish communities has worsened. Things had escalated since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 in terms of the threat posed and the perception of the threat. He said: “The terrorist threat is worse. The number of atrocities and the efficacy of those atrocities has got worse. The fear, particularly amongst our Jewish communities, has got worse.” Manchester is home to the second largest community of Jewish people in Britain. He said there were incidents where people in Manchester were celebrating the mass shooting at Bondi Beach when 15 Jewish people were killed, which he described as “sickeningly distasteful”. The session was entitled “The Lessons of Bondi Beach: Anti-Semitism as a National Security Threat”, and speakers discussed the continuum of antisemitism and the need to take tough action to root it out. Recording is here
Sydney Catholic cathedral Christmas light show becomes memorial to Bondi Beach victims
Sydney’s annual Christmas light show at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral was transformed into an interfaith, community memorial for the 15 Jewish victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack, three days after the shooting. Each year, the façade of the cathedral lights up with a display of religious images and stories attracting thousands of families, but this year, it is a light show serving as remembrance. Leaders of Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities, the Prime Minister, the premier of New South Wales, and people from all walks of life gathered in front of the Cathedral to rededicate themselves to creating a peaceful society where everyone is respected. Fifteen candles were lit, one for each victim of the shooting. The climax of the light display is a menorah with the words “May their memory be a blessing”. The Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher said it is possible a permanent memorial could be placed at the site of the attack, which is now flooded with thousands of bouquets of flowers. Vatican News reports the Archbishop saying that a “very violent rhetoric has been boiling for the last two years” with tension over the war between Israel and Gaza, which has provoked violence. He said antisemitism is “a recurring hatred in human history – again and again, we’ve got to call people to love the Jews.” Vatican News report here
Imam says Bondi Beach killings were abhorrent – Islamist extremists ‘do not represent Islam’
Imam Qari Asim has written a passionate article reflecting on the killing of 15 Jews in Bondi Beach and the global rise in antisemitism, saying that “such violence targeting Jewish people is a profound moral outrage” and what happened in Australia was “utterly abhorrent”. Noting that the Australian prime minister, has said the murderers at Bondi beach were likely to have been inspired by Islamist ideology, as was the case at Heaton Park, he says: “These extremists do not represent Islam, Muslims or the faith as it is understood and practised by the overwhelming majority of believers. There is no theological justification, cultural excuse or political grievance that can legitimise the murder of innocents”. He says the action of the shopkeeper, Ahmed al-Ahmed, who confronted the attackers despite being shot, “reflects Islam’s true values: protecting life, defending the vulnerable and standing for justice.” He ends by affirming the importance of the Drumlanrig Accords, a document signed by Jewish and Muslim faith leaders providing a framework for practical co-operation, dialogue and mutual protection at times of crisis: “Our faiths and values compel us to stand together, particularly when it is hardest”. Article is here
Launch of research into conversion rates to Islam in Britain
The Ayaan Institute has announced the launch of the Great British Convert Study, a national research initiative designed to produce the most detailed portrait to date of Muslims who have embraced Islam in Britain. This project seeks to determine the scale and character of the convert population, currently estimated as being in a range between 160,000 and 200,000, the annual number of new Muslims, the reasons behind conversion, and the extent to which individuals later disengage from community networks or organisations. It says that no single institution currently holds comprehensive data, making a collaborative, sector-wide approach essential. The findings are expected to support the development of practical measures to strengthen support for converts across Britain. The Ayaan Institute “aims to stimulate fresh thinking and debate about the social, political, and economic situation of the Muslim world and solutions to current problems”. The study is commissioned jointly by the Islamic Education and Research Academy and the Convert Muslim Foundation, with lead researchers Yahya Birt and Dr Will Barylo.
Pope names progressive bishop to take over from Trump supporting Cardinal in New York
The Pope has named a progressive bishop to take over the archdiocese of New York from the conservative cardinal and President Trump loyalist Timothy Dolan. Bishop Ronald Hicks, 58, is the current bishop of Joliet, Illinois, and from the same suburb in Chicago as Pope Leo. He has supported the Pope’s recent criticism of Trump’s round-ups of illegal migrants, and endorsed a message from the US bishops’ conference which condemned the raids. In his first press conference upon his appointment, he said a lot of people were trying to figure out who he is and answered: “I love Jesus, with my mind, heart and soul and I try to love my neighbour as myself”, saying he would serve “with a shepherd heart” and accepted the appointment with deep humility. One of his first tasks will be to action a $300 million plan to compensate victims of clergy sex abuse. He is fluent in Spanish and has served, like Pope Leo, in Latin America. Detailed biography by EWTN here
FaithAction collecting concerns over impact of children bill on faith based education
FaithAction, a national organisation linking faith and community organisations engaged in social action, is seeking feedback from its members on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which seeks to tighten regulation around home schooling and religious institutions. The bill has sparked concerns about its impact, and a petition with 166,496 signatures led to a Commons debate earlier this month. FaithAction has summarised those concerns and asked for responses. It says a prime concern is that the Bill will make it more difficult for parents to home-educate their children. It quotes Conservative Peer, Lord Wei, who said it was an “unprecedented intrusion into family life” and warned that it treated Muslim communities with suspicion in its attempt to limit Islamist radicalisation outside of mainstream school settings. Jewish orthodox “yeshiva” schools may face increased oversight, raising concerns about government interference in religious education. The article says it is important to recognise the rights of all parents to make choices about their children’s education. As the bill progresses, amendments may be put, and Faith Action is seeking response in the meantime.
Chaplains offering comfort and cheer to overworked shop staff in the Christmas rush
Spare a thought for overworked shop assistants in stores up and down the land this Christmas, putting on festive cheer in a state of exhaustion and stress. These overlooked workers have however been clocked by one team of helpers – chaplains to the retail industry, who are to be found in mega shopping centres and town high streets across Britain. They offer a listening ear, calm advice and wise support in the Christmas rush when Britons are set to spend £24.6 billion pounds. Read our article hearing from chaplains in a festive market, vast shopping centres and small local shops, as they help shop staff cope, with gentle conversation and understanding. There’s only one drawback – the temptation to spend when they’re around shops all the time. Article by Angela Youngman is here
