Faith minister moved after 22 days in the role – and no confirmation of successor
The Faith Minister Lord Lemos was moved to the Ministry of Justice last Wednesday, after just 22 days in the role. He was the tenth faith minister in as many years. Known as a Catholic who had set up a housing association and publishing company, he had only just started meeting people round the country and answering questions in the Lords, including on the aftermath of random attacks on Muslims in Edinburgh. His replacement as faith minister, based in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), has not been announced.
There is a new set of ministers in the MHCLG and a new Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, listed here. They include Florence Eshamoli, MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, a Catholic who is a member of Christians in Parliament. She was chair of the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government select committee before this appointment. Sir Stephen Timms continues as Minister in the Department for Work and Pensions, but has also been given a role as a Minister in the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, with an equalities brief.
2025 was the deadliest year for antisemitic attacks in the diaspora in over 30 years
The J7 Task Force Against Antisemitism, comprising Jewish organisations in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Argentina and Australia, reports that 2025 was the deadliest year for antisemitic violence for the Jewish diaspora since 1994. That was when 85 Jews were killed in an attack on a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires. The J7 Taskforce report documents more than 23,000 antisemitic incidents across J7 countries in 2025, comprising over 90 per cent of the Jewish diaspora. Total antisemitic incidents were up 136 per cent and violent incidents up by 97 per cent compared to 2022, the year before Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel. Last year, 20 people were murdered in antisemitic attacks in Sydney, Manchester, Washington DC and Boulder, Colorado. The report also includes a chapter examining rising antisemitism in Ireland. In a joint statement, the J7 task force said that antisemitism is the new normal and governments must act. More details here.
Twelve Torah scrolls stolen from Paris synagogue
Jewish News reports that twelve Torah scrolls have been stolen from the Grand Synagogue of Levallois, in north-west Paris, in what is regarded as a targeted antisemitic attack. Rabbi Chalom Lellouche discovered the theft on Monday morning and said the burglars bypassed the synagogue’s security cameras and other systems. The Rabbi, joined by Philippe Cohen, president of the Levallois Jewish community, and said in a statement: “This is a spiritual trauma for all of the Jewish community of France, and indeed across the world”.
Lawyers say NHS adoption of IHRA definition could be unlawful without clear guidance
A legal opinion commissioned by Health Workers 4 Palestine argues that NHS organisations risk acting unlawfully if they adopt and apply the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism without clear safeguards. Lord Mann’s review, published in June, described the IHRA definition as “the most prominent international standard” and recommended that NHS bodies use it as a reference point when identifying antisemitism, while stressing that criticism of Israel is not, in itself, antisemitic. The IHRA definition includes examples of contemporary antisemitism, such as comparing Israeli policy with that of the Nazis or holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel. The legal opinion says the definition must not be used to shield Israel from legitimate criticism or to censor healthcare workers expressing support for Palestinians, as this could breach rights to freedom of expression and protections under the Equality Act 2010. It concludes that NHS bodies are under no legal obligation to adopt the IHRA definition and, if they do, should issue detailed guidance to ensure it is applied lawfully and consistently. Jewish Chronicle report here.
Irish priests urge government to appeal for end to war in Gaza
Irish Catholic priests in the group “Priests Against Genocide”, a global network across 62 countries, have sent an open letter to the government of Ireland appealing for it to use its new Presidency of the European Union to press for an end to the conflict in Gaza and for accountability under international law. The letter expresses deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the loss of civilian life, mass displacement, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. The signatories say Ireland was at the forefront of the campaign against apartheid in South Africa and has an opportunity to lead again. A spokesman said: “Our concern is rooted not in political ideology or any vestige of antisemitism, but in a conviction that every human life possesses inherent dignity. Ireland has shown before that it is willing to lead when the international community has struggled to act together. This is another such moment.” Jesuits in Ireland report here.
Christian experts in Artificial Intelligence produce guidelines for its use
The “AI Guidelines for Christian Ministry”, a resource to help churches use Artificial Intelligence “thoughtfully and well” has been produced by an inter-denominational group of theologians, technicians and academics called the AI Christian Partnership. The guidelines make clear that the aim is to not “simply allow AI to grow in your ministry, unchecked, without reflection”. It says AI can bring advantages “for example in writing liturgy, designing small-group resources, planning sermon series, or back-office administration, as well as day to day research and note-taking”. But it warms “a creeping dependence on AI introduces risks. AI can compromise our ability to think critically, pray deeply, and grow in Christ, and AI itself stands accused of generating unemployment and exacerbating climate change”. The Partnership was founded by Chris Goswami, a Baptist minister, blogger and speaker with over 30 years in the tech industry including senior leadership at Silicon Valley’s Openwave Systems, who is now on the chaplaincy team at Manchester airport.
Christian charity alarmed at changes to foreign funding of organisations in India
Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a charity working for religious freedom across the world, has raised concerns that India has re-introduced legislation meaning that if an organisation’s registration falls, the government would take control of assets, including churches, acquired from foreign funding. The bill would also prohibit the use of foreign contributions for proselytisation. CSW says that many religious organisations across India use foreign contributions to support schools, hospitals, hostels, disaster relief and other community services. The Catholic Bishops Conference of India has held a national day of prayer over the issue, and church leaders have met politicians to discuss the potential impact of the bill on churches and Christian institutions. CSW says commandeering assets would violate the right to freedom of religion or belief.
Church next to Hever Castle launches appeal for memorial to Anne Boleyn
St Peter’s Church next to Hever Castle in Kent, has launched an appeal for funds to provide a permanent marble medallion memorial to Anne Boleyn, whose family lived at the Castle and worshipped at the church. Organisers have set a target of £135,500 and so far, £6,785 has been collected. Hever Castle historian Dr Owen Emmerson said that the memorial would give visitors “somewhere to pause and reflect” on a woman whose influence extended far beyond the Tudor court. The church has a chapel containing the tomb of Anne Boleyn’s father Sir Thomas Boleyn and other family members. It is almost 500 years since she was executed, in 1536.
Anonymous donor of gold coins to Lancashire churches is Hells Angel in his 60s or 70s
The Daily Mail has sent a reporter out on a mission to unveil the identity of the mystery man who left gold coins worth £100,000 in churches around North Lancashire and Cumbria. The reporter, David Jones, discovered that the man was a Hells Angel biker, in his 60s or 70s, named James. He was actually seen in 2022, when he handed over a bag of Gold Britannia coins to a teacher at a primary school next to St Peter’s church in Quernmore, north Lancashire. This was an unusual lapse in his desire to remain anonymous – usually he left coins on altars or near collection boxes, where they could be found. He once signed a visitor’s book as “James”, with handwriting seen on a note from another gift. Clues to his secret identity gradually emerged as people spoke of the random times he was spotted. He is also believed to be a committed Christian, saying to one elderly church member: “God has blessed me and I want to bless you”. Chards, the gold bullion dealership in Blackpool, has gone on record saying they sold the coins to the biker, but they have not released his name as that would be betraying a confidence. The Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North, told The Mail there was “something very beautiful about this completely gratuitous anonymous donation”.
