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| Third anniversary of war in Ukraine A tumultuous week of geopolitics saw Britain standing full square beside President Zelensky. Keir Starmer’s support was shared by the Archbishop of York Pope Francis supported from his hospital bed Catholic EU bishops said Ukraine’s struggle is Europe’s too Vatican diplomacy continued despite the Pope’s hospitalisation, with Lithuania’s president in talks at the Vatican >>. And the Jewish Chronicle had an article about the importance of Jewish heritage for President Zelensky >>. As the turmoil accelerated, Pope Francis said ‘poly crises’ prompt questions about the end of the world >> US Christian protests at Trump Christians have been in the vanguard of early protests against the Trump regime. Rev William Barber, Poor People’s Campaign, called for mass resistance US Christian protest against Trump’s impact on the poor and vulnerable US Churches launch petition for refugees during Lent >> Trump’s diversity ban is ‘impacting religious freedom’ >> Lent letter attacks ‘brutal abandonment’ of the poor >> 20,000 letters support bishop who warned Trump >> There is a furious row over US travel ban against Muslim-majority countries >> The ambush of Zelensky by Trump and JD Vance in the Oval Office prompted articles about JD Vance and his Catholicism. He is outspoken against US Catholic bishops, but was in a conciliatory mood at the National Catholic breakfast. Pope Francis stabilised and was able to call the Gaza parish priest and broadcast an audio message thanking crowds in St Peter’s Square for their prayers >>. He has been in hospital since 14 February for double pneumonia. The Oasis Charity Trust celebrated its 40th anniversary and its growth from a small community charity in London, to a worldwide organisation that has changed thousands of lives. Lianne Kolirin reports on the breadth of its activities and the vision of its founder, the Rev Steve Chalke >> Lent began this week, leading up to Easter. The dates, however, vary each year because they’re based on the lunar cycle, which also determines the start of Passover and Ramadan. The key to it all is the pink moon, as Catherine Pepinster explains >> . The Easter dates also vary from Orthodox to western traditions – factsheet here >> On Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, clergy marked ashes in signs of the cross on shoppers and motorists driving by. And the Bishop of Blackburn showed some skill flipping pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. The first consultation by the British Muslim Network heard concerns on social mobility, mentorship, accountability, and philanthropy, emphasizing collaboration and better private-public partnerships. Maira Butt’s report here >> |
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| Significant’ management failures at Winchester Cathedral >> Bishop Ruth Worsley to be interim Bishop of Liverpool >> Bishop’s middle way to approach deep divisions in same-sex debate >> Commons debates CofE’s ‘inadequate’ safeguarding process >> Church library plan refused over font move >> Church Army restructure with significant reduction in workforce >> Wembley Arena Catholic youth event sells out >> First Catholic High Commissioner to the Church of Scotland >> Government sets up group set up to define Islamophobia >> Muslims invited into Windsor Castle state rooms for Iftar >> New government-supported Muslim group ‘must be accountable’ >> Chief Rabbi rates synagogues according to how they treat women >> New Jewish community in Huddersfield >> Holocaust memorial debate sparks ‘antisemitic’ criticism >> Religion and science: who understands them better? >> Stonehenge may be a lot older than previously thought >> Survey: British Hindus ‘do more to protect the environment than any other faith group’ >> Research on how The Jesus Prayer affects mental health >> Employment tribunal case of Christian teacher sacked over male pronouns >> CofE and Methodist unity talks now in 22nd year >> Former Co-op Bank chairman and Methodist minister Paul Flowers jailed for fraud >> 23 Ahmadiyya Muslims arrested in Pakistan mosque >> Israel takes on International Holocaust remembrance role >> French Catholic boarding school acknowledges widespread abuse >> Commonwealth Peace Prize awarded to former war rivals in Nigeria >> |
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