Pakistan Church leader calls for apology over withdrawn Lambeth award
The Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, Dr Azad Marshall, has called for the Archbishop of Canterbury to apologise to a Muslim scholar whose interfaith award was withdrawn by Lambeth Palace. Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi received the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation on 11 September, but it was withdrawn a week later after previous comments, including praise for Osama bin Laden, came to light. Dr Marshall said the decision had “deeply humiliated” the Church of Pakistan and criticised Lambeth Palace for failing to carry out adequate due diligence. Mr Ashrafi said he had been subjected to “propaganda”. Church Times story here.
Social change among US Latter Day Saints
A Pew Research Centre study of American Latter-day Saints, widely known as Mormons, has shown they are still highly religious and conservative, but subject to demographic and social change. Over the past 20 years they have become more diverse, with Hispanic members doubling, Black members tripling and White members falling from 85 to 72 per cent. Fewer are having families, more women than men have bachelor’s degrees reversing a trend, fewer believe in God with certainty, 73 per cent are profoundly Republic. But there is evidence of more liberal views with 46 per cent saying homosexuality should be accepted by society, and marginally increased numbers approving of abortion. Nearly a third of people raised int he LDS church now have no religious affiliation at all. Pew Research report here
Pope appeals for care and protection of migrant children
Pope Leo XIV has called for greater protection and care for migrant and refugee children, warning they are particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation and trauma. Speaking at his General Audience in St Peter’s Square, he urged everyone to take personal responsibility for the lives of young people forced to leave their homes. His appeal comes ahead of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on 27 September. In his message for the day, Pope Leo said millions of children are displaced by war, poverty, violence and disasters. UNHCR estimates 45 million children were among the 117.8 million forcibly displaced people at the end of 2025.
Trump urged to raise case of persecuted pastor with Xi
Christian Solidarity Worldwide has urged US President Donald Trump to raise the case of a Chinese pastor with stage-four cancer during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. Pastor John Cao, 60, served seven years in prison after being convicted of “illegal border crossing” over his work establishing schools on the China-Myanmar border. Released in 2024, he has been unable to leave China because authorities have withheld his passport. His wife and sons live in the US, where Cao has held permanent residency for more than 30 years. CSW is calling for his passport to be returned.
US senators urge Trump to raise issues of religious freedom in China
A bipartisan group of 10 US senators has urged President Donald Trump to raise the persecution of Christian pastors and other religious minorities with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit in Washington this week. The letter, led by Republican Senator Ted Budd and Democrat Senator Tim Kaine, thanked Trump for diplomatic pressure that contributed to the release of Chinese pastor Ezra Jin, founder of Beijing Zion Church. Jin was released to the US on 3 July after 266 days in detention, reportedly as a goodwill gesture from President Xi. The senators called for continued US pressure on China over religious freedom.
Methodist investment manager signs global green investment pledge
Epworth Investment Management, owned by the Methodist Church’s Central Finance Board, has signed a global declaration encouraging investment in climate solutions. The Green Investment Declaration urges Christian organisations to move money into technologies and projects addressing the climate crisis. The declaration is supported by Christian charities Operation Noah and JustMoney Movement and endorsed by the World Council of Churches and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The Methodist Church divested from fossil fuels in 2021 and has now committed to investing more than five per cent of its financial assets in climate solutions.
