Eleven Christian groups complain to Charity Commission over Amnesty report
Eleven Christian organisations have written to the Charity Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission to complain at a report by Amnesty International UK, which branded them as “anti-rights” because of their views on life, marriage and biological sex. The letter was co-ordinated by ADF, Alliance Defending Freedom, and signatories include the Premier Christian Media Trust, Affinity, the Catholic Medical Association, Christian Concern, the Christian Institute, the Christian Medical Fellowship, the Evangelical Alliance and Lovewise. The report, which has since been withdrawn, labelled 117 groups as “anti-rights organisations” and urged the Commission to review the status of “gender critical” charities. The charities say Amnesty International UK made an explicit call to discriminate against them. JK Rowling is threatening legal action after the report included gender-critical feminists as “anti-rights”. The Amnesty International UK Charitable Trust has referred itself to the Charity Commission and said it would comply fully with the body’s investigation. It regretted that the report was published before going through internal checks saying: “its use of language does not reflect the position of Amnesty International UK which is why it was promptly removed”.
Andy Burnham praises Jewish Care for community approach
The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, chose to launch his policy review on social care at the Jewish Care home in Golders Green, and writing in the Jewish Chronicle, he explains why. He says he last visited 13 years ago and was struck by the quality of care and that “everyone seemed to be pulling in the same direction. Staff, volunteers, carers and even families were working together.” Promising fair pay for carers, he pointed to the importance of values and not retaing care aas a task list: “It is knowing that the kosher meal matters, that Shabbat matters, that the challah delivered to someone’s door is not a nice extra but part of the care itself. They understand that care means treating people not as the sum of their different ailments, but as a human being with history and character, deserving of all the dignity and respect that comes with that.” His opinion piece is here.
Pope Leo ‘the Pope who happens to be American’
Pope Leo XIV has given an interview to the American broadcaster NBC hinting that he could visit his home country of his birth in the next couple of years. He said he had “a great love” for America” and there was obviously great significance in that. His job was to be pastor of a universal Church and speak to people throughout the world.” He spoke about immigration, appreciating the principles of “what America stands for, the sense of freedom, the sense of opportunity, the sense of having invited, for generations, people from around the world to be part of America.” He offered a message for migrants to have hope, “live in an orderly manner” and learn to live in peace.
Coffin rescued from devastating fire at large Victorian Leicester church
A coffin with the body of a beloved churchwarden, resting in a vigil at a church in Leicester, in preparation for the funeral, was rescued from a large fire which severely damaged the roof and a chapel. A pastoral assistant at St Andrew’s Church in Jarrom Street, who rushed to the building to help save the coffin and rescue sacred items, said the high altar and sanctuary, where the coffin sat, was not as badly affected as other parts. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, but it has devastated the large Victorian building. However, parishioners are determined to continue worshipping in the church hall and have asked people to bring mops and buckets to help clean the hall for future services.
Archbishop visits site of slavery transportations to the Americas
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has continued her trip to Cameroon and Ghana with a visit to Cape Coast Castle, where enslaved Africans were held before being transported to the Americas on British slave ships. She prayed at the shore where slave ships departed and visited the underground dungeons where prisoners were kept. The Archbishop has also had an audience with the King of the Ashanti Kingdom, in central Ghana, at his official residence, Manhyia Palace, in Kumasi. And she opened a new clinic at St. Monica’s Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Mampong, in celebration of the college’s centennial. The clinic was named in her honour.
Chief Imam of Scotland speaks of vital role of faith communities in helping refugees
The Chief Imam of Scotland, Imam Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, was among the signatories of “The Promise”, a global statement of solidarity with refugees, published to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on Refugees. He participated in a meeting in Geneva to mark the anniversary and spoke of the vital role of faith communities in supporting refugees, including education, housing, medical care, psychotherapy and facilitating dialogue, reconciliation and community-building.
Newcastle memorial to Roma and Sinti victims in the Holocaust
Newcastle upon Tyne has become the first British city to erect a monument dedicated to the 500,000 Roma and Sinti people murdered in the Holocaust. Sinti people are a group within the Roma community. The aim is to hold an annual commemoration in Newcastle, around the date of European Holocaust Memorial Day for Sinti and Roma – 2 August – remembering the day when 3,000 Roma and Sinti men, women and children were murdered in the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau. This week, members of the Newcastle Reform Synagogue joined people from across the region at the event, alongside members of the Roma and Sinti communities, the Lord Mayor, local MPs and members of other faiths. The memorial was organised by Nicu Ions, the first Romany councillor in the UK.
