Israel election ‘affects Jews worldwide’
Israelis vote today in an election where no bloc has a clear path to a parliamentary majority. Last week, 2,000 Jews across the Diaspora signed a Reform Movement statement affirming their commitment to Israel and calling for a stronger, more reciprocal relationship between Israel and Jewish communities around the world. They said the vote in Israel affects Jews worldwide, and called for “leadership that strengthens democracy and the rule of law, protects religious pluralism, confronts racism and discrimination, upholds the rights of all citizens, and works toward a future of dignity and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” Netanyahu’s reliance on ultra-Orthodox parties, which demand exemptions from military service for religious students, has angered many Israelis.. Opposition leaders have condemned violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank, but the future of settlements and Palestinian statehood has played a more limited role in the campaign.
Evangelical and Catholic vote decisive as Lula re-elected in Brazil
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth, non-consecutive term, defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro with 51.8 per cent of the vote. A Catholic, Lula drew support from many Catholic voters as well as progressive Christian groups, including liberation theologians. Polls quoted by The Economist suggest that compared with 2022, Lula’s heartlands are poor, Catholic, rural areas but his biggest gains versus 2022 were in poor, evangelical urban areas. During the campaign, Lula appealed to Christian values of truth, respect, care for families and justice, highlighting policies to tackle poverty, protect workers and combat online gambling. He pledged to respect all religions equally and defend religious freedom. His victory raises questions about the influence of conservative evangelical politics.
US faith and civic leaders call an evening of prayer for safe elections
American Faith and Civic Leaders have called an online evening prayer event on Sunday evening, two days before America goes to the polls for the mid-term elections. They will pray for “our country and champion free, fair, and safe elections” and will “come together around shared values, mutual respect, peace, and honouring the will of the people”. The group goes under the banner “Faith in America” and says elections are a fundamental and sacred civic practice and their movement offers people the opportunity to “get beyond our differences”.
Two bishops who prayed around Trump have apologised
Two of the 12 Catholic bishops who were pictured praying around President Trump in the White House, have apologised and expressed regret that they took part., saying the event has been manipulated for political ends. The Archbishop of Milwaukee, Jeffrey S. Grob, issued an open letter expressing sincere regret and saying his presence was not an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party. He had been invited to discuss current issues of concern including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity. But permission for the public distribution of the video and pictures was not given by the bishops and he apologised for distress caused. Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines also apologised and issued a statement suggesting that the meeting had been “exploited.” Archbishop James Golka of Denver, who led the prayer, said it was never his intention to endorse the president. and expressed sorrow that people were hurt. Archbishop Emeritus Naumann, of Kansas City, said he went to discuss policy and they were assured no pictures would be made public.
Welsh schools failing to provide consistent religious education, report finds
Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) is not being taught consistently in Welsh secondary schools, with insufficient curriculum time and declining access to specialist teachers, according to a new report by academics at Bangor University and the National Centre of Religious Education for Wales. The study analysed FOI responses from 135 schools. It found that provision was generally stronger in Years 7–9, when 95 per cent of North Wales schools, all responding schools in Mid Wales and 98 per cent in South Wales reported RVE. However, the report says that even where RVE is present, the time, staffing, structure and continuity required for a coherent and challenging curriculum are not consistently secure. It found that provision often deteriorated in Years 10 and 11, particularly for pupils not taking GCSE Religious Studies. Some schools allocated as little as 15–20 minutes a week or less. The report recommends clearer national requirements on teaching time and curriculum progression, better training for teachers, stronger inspection and monitoring, and more equitable provision for pupils regardless of their GCSE choices.
Faith leaders call for fairer taxes on the wealthy
Religious leaders and faith-based organisations across the UK are urging the Chancellor to make the wealthiest pay their fair share of tax in the Budget on October 28. An open letter coordinated by the JustMoney Movement, signed by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, church leaders and campaign groups, calls for an annual wealth tax, reform of capital gains tax and better-resourced HMRC to close the tax gap. The signatories say a fairer tax system could tackle poverty and inequality, fund public services and help address climate change. They argue that those with the greatest wealth have a responsibility to contribute to the common good.
Quaker study examines faith’s role in justifying enslavement
Quakers in Britain have received a report into their historical involvement in slavery, plantation ownership and colonialism, including how early leaders used Christian teaching to justify slavery. The report, Examining our past to take action for the future: Quakers, enslavement and reparation, was prepared by the research organisation Woodbrooke for the Quaker reparation working group and launched at a conference in London last Friday. Its theological analysis explores how early Quaker leaders, including George Fox, used Christian teaching to justify enslavement rather than oppose it, and how a collective rejection of slavery developed only gradually. Links with Bristol, Lancaster, Sheffield and central England were reviewed. Quakers committed in 2022 to exploring their historical links and what reparation might mean. The report is here
Bishop joins Downing Street summit on homelessness
The Bishop of Hull, Eleanor Sanderson, who is the Church of England’s deputy lead bishop for housing, took part in a Downing Street summit on homelessness and has spoken of the vital contribution that churches make to addressing the issue. The event brought together businesses, charities, civil society organisations and local leaders, to encourage them to commit to local and national action to end rough sleeping, through providing homes, jobs and practical support. The bishop said afterwards that churches were rooted in a biblical mandate for justice, hosting drop-in spaces, running night shelters, providing supportive accommodation and using their buildings for shelter. The Prime Minister’s first pledge in office was to end rough sleeping.
