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| Pope Francis and his hospital treatment: Monday: Pope is stable in hospital receiving treatment for bronchitis >> Tuesday: Pope Francis extends hospital stay due to ‘complex clinical picture’ >> Weds: The Pope has double pneumonia and a ‘complex treatment plan’ >> Thursday: Pope shows signs of slight improvement >> Friday: Pope is showing ‘slight improvement’, stable with no fever >> Cardinal Vincent Nichols assures Pope Francis of ‘fervent and heartfelt’ prayers >> Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell: I’m praying for Pope’s swift recovery >> Next week’s media briefing is on the launch of the British Muslim Network, a national body that will bring together individuals and organisations, well-known public figures, imams and lawyers, providing a voice for Muslim communities to engage with the government. Wednesday 26 Feb 1400 Get the link from [email protected] Churches resist as Trump turns on Ukraine, branding President Zelensky a dictator, holding unilateral talks with Putin and denigrating European allies. They take a stand on refugees, the WHO & religious freedom.US Episcopal News Service lists seven church statements condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine >> Ukraine archbishop warns against ‘blindly following Russian propoganda’ >> Patriarch Kirill exempted from EU sanctions against Russia >> US Catholic bishops sue Trump administration over refugees >> WCC expresses support for World Health Organisation >> JD Vance: ‘Basic liberties of religious Britons under threat‘ >> Reality check: only 3 in 10 Americans support white Christian nationalism >> CST says antisemitic incidents in 2024 the second highest annual total >> Tell Mama says record number of anti Muslim hate crime incidents in 2024 >> British Hindus have spoken out about government plans to set up a body to fight Islamophobia, saying its remit should be extended to include hatred of all religions. The Hindu Council says the selective focus on protecting one religious group over others disregards discrimination faced by Hindus and other communities. A government spokesman said it is “firmly committed to tackling all forms of hatred and division”. This week’s briefing was on how the CofE General Synod repsonded to a crisis at their first meeting since Welby resigned and the Bp of Liverpool retired. A vote on making safeguarding independent was fudged; clergy conduct rules were tightened; and proposals to appoint more working-class people were applauded. Guests were journalists who covered synod: Francis Martin, Susie Leafe and Andrew Carey. View the briefing or listen to the podcast via links here. Former Labour MP John Cruddas, says UK politics is shifting towards religion, with rising nationalist and faith-based movements seeking certainty and identity. Labour needs ‘politics of a different order’ Spectator article is here. Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, describes how her Christian faith informs her politics. Opposed to the Assisted Dying bill, support for the EU, equality for disabled people, compassion for immigrants and safeguarding reforms in the CofE. ‘Seen and Unseen’ article is here. Religious content is booming on TikTok, with top five ‘holy hashtags’ viewed more than 1.2 trillion times. But the evangelistic messages, scriptural readings & liturgical practices are changing religion, sowing division with self proclaimed preachers delivering a bewildering mix of unorthodox beliefs. Economist article is here. Actress Nicole Kidman has revealed that she once contemplated becoming a Catholic nun before pursuing her career in Hollywood. The Australian-American actress was raised in an Irish Catholic family and was taught by the Sisters of Mercy. Report here. |
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| Nominee for Bishop of Durham withdraws from process >> CofE ‘faces biggest upheaval since the Reformation‘ >> Clive Billenness, CofE synod member and safeguarding champion, has died suddenly >> Plans withdrawn for controversial annexe next to Ripon Cathedral >> Judge upholds Anglican school’s sacking of Catholic teacher >> Breakaway group hands back Pugin masterpiece church in Preston >> National Churches Trust chair says cuts to grants put ancient churches at risk >> Eco campaigners urge cathedrals to switch banks >> Hope and caution surround the Muslim / Jewish ‘Reconciliation Accords‘ >> Report says Jewish schools need radical intervention >> Number of children in Jewish schools may have reached its peak >> Farage: Britons must have more children to save Judeo-Christian culture >> ‘Split’ Ramadan start date again in Britain >> World’s first openly gay imam shot dead in South Africa >> Record number of anti-Muslim hate crime incidents in 2024 >> 70 people found beheaded in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo >> US Episcopalian church announces job cuts and reorganisation >> Church calls to ‘defend democracy’ in German elections >> Hillsong churches decline from 16 to 5 in America >> Tomb of a pharaoh discovered near Luxor >> Water and solar power – the benefits of having a new Mormon church in your village >> France considers ban on headscarves in sports >> |
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