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The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called the Glastonbury session when Bob Vylan led chants of ‘death, death to the IDF’ a grotesque expression of mass hatred, and condemned the BBC for not halting the live stream of ‘vile Jew hatred’. The Campaign Against Antisemitism called for the BBC’s Director General Tim Davie, to resign. On Thursday, Tim Davie said he deeply regretted that the ‘offensive and deplorable behaviour’ had appeared on the BBC and apologised to the Jewish community. An MCB leader criticised ‘hypocrisy’ of British media outrage over Glastonbury chants compared to ‘deafening silence on atrocity’ in Gaza >>
The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, announced his retirement “with immediate effect”, after damning reports of excessive alcohol abuse and inappropriate sexual behaviour at Bangor Cathedral. The central management body of the Church in Wales has called for more reviews and investigations into Bangor Diocese and Cathedral, including an independent financial audit of three connected charities, a cultural audit of the Church in Wales and an external investigation into the behaviour, culture and activities of the cathedral choir. A safeguarding audit of all Cathedrals in Wales is also being commissioned. Substack analysis here.
Indulgences for the remission of sins, banned by Protestants during the Reformation, are returning to English cathedrals. On Monday, a Catholic Mass will be held at Canterbury Cathedral to commemorate the moving of Thomas a Becket’s relics to a shrine. Some relics held at the nearby Catholic church will be brought to the Cathedral for the mass. As this takes place within the 2025 Holy Year, when a visit to a place with relics, alongside spiritual practices, leads to an indulgence, the mass has huge significance. Catherine Pepinster reports here >>
The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, celebrated his 90th birthday and published a video message saying his successor must be appointed by the Gaden Phodrang Trust that he founded, asserting that “no-one else has any authority to interfere in this matter”. Beijing rejected his statement, saying his successor would be from inside China and must be approved by the government >>
The trial began of Chris Brain, leader of the Nine O’Clock Service, a nightclub-style worship event held at an Anglican church in Sheffield 40 years ago. He denies one charge of rape and 36 indecent assaults against 13 women between 1981 and 1995. The court heard he ‘sexually assaulted a staggering number of women’. The services were ‘extremely disturbing’, with scantily clad women. The then Archdeacon described how he confronted him about ‘inappropriate’ relationships’.
A report “Christianity in the Media 2025” says press coverage does not reflect the reality of the fast-changing and diverse UK church, with less than one per cent of stories about Christianity reflecting the Pentecostal church, which is said to be rapidly growing >>
Maira Butt reports on Everyday Muslim initiative to archive and document the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Islam that is often left unexplored or underappreciated in the West – the intricate geometrical designs, the poetry of Hafez and Rumi and the influences on William Morris and the Romantic poets. Read her report here.
A Church of England social media video of Alexandra Zhirnova reading the Nicene Creed in Old English, has racked up almost half a million impressions. View it here >>
More films from the Religion Media Festival 2025 have been uploaded to our YouTube channel here.
- Community relations and the media’s role – panel discussion with regional editors, local interfaith representatives, and adviser to Faith Minister, Lord Rook.
- Reporting Religion – panel discussion with top religion reporters on the challenges and need for religious literacy.
- Millennials, Faith and the Digital Space – panel of millennials on how people aged 29-44 communicate their faith.
More headlines ..
| Catholic Lib Dem MP denied communion after supporting assisted dying >> New Methodist president and vice-president for 2025-2026 >> Methodists prepare for conflict amid growing global security concerns >> Christians in parliament protest over welfare bill >> Communications manager takes top job at Church Action on Poverty >> Knife amnesty ‘a sticking plaster’ says Christian charity >> How grassroots interfaith activity helps refugee communities to heal >> Increased demand for peace education in schools since 2020 >> Diverse chaplaincies offer ‘dynamic’ expression of spirituality >> New UK Gurdwara Alliance to liaise with government on Sikh issues >> Gurdwara Aid launches handbook offering gurdwaras advice & support >> Church divisions ‘may block selection’ of next Archbishop of Canterbury >> Global conference in Liverpool on CofE’s role in slavery >> File on Four report on stalking case in Leicester >> CofE Bishop move – Stepney to Suffolk >> Lambeth Palace renovation project complete >> Pew Research: 1 in 10 adults under 55 have left their childhood religion >> Stampede at Rath Yatra festival in India kills three >> Syria Church Massacre sparks blame game as Christians live in fear >> Istanbul erupts in violence over ‘Prophet cartoon’ >> Pope warns creation has been turned into a battleground for profit >> Cardinal Becciu ‘claims he was framed’ >> World theologians urge church to stand against far-right nationalism >> Mamdani’s NY selection as mayoral nominee meets ‘appalling undercurrent of racism’ >> Televangelist Swaggart, brought down by sex scandal, dies aged 90 >> Pope elevates eight new US archbishops on course towards unity >> |
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