Bishops plead for human dignity and common good at heart of Budget
Scotland’s Catholic bishops have urged the Chancellor to put human dignity and the common good at the heart of Wednesday’s Budget. The Catholic Parliamentary Office of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland called for action on poverty, housing, healthcare and the cost of living, including targeted energy support for households unable to afford adequate heating. It also urged adequate welfare provision, sustainable funding for community organisations and safe, legal routes for refugees. The bishops called on the Government to reverse planned cuts to international aid, restoring spending towards 0.7 per cent of national income, and provide predictable funding for international climate action.
Board of Deputies ‘will uphold Zionist values whatever the election result‘
Israeli exit polls suggest no clear winner in yesterday’s election and the counting is expected to take days. Just before election day, Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, called for political change in Israel. Addressing the Board’s plenary meeting on Sunday, he criticised violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank, warning their actions were damaging Israel’s international standing and he urged the Israeli government to recognise that its declining reputation threatened its national security. He reaffirmed the Board’s support for Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, equal treatment for Arab citizens and a two-state solution, saying every alternative was far worse. And he said that the Board of Deputies will uphold its Zionist values whatever the outcome of the election. Jewish News report here. Jewish Chronicle live results page here
CAFOD warns international pressure on Israel must stay strong
The Catholic aid agency CAFOD says that whatever the outcome of the Israeli election, “international pressure on Israel must stay strong”. Verity Johnson, CAFOD’s Head of Middle East region, said entire neighbourhoods in Gaza have been destroyed, and whole communities are being displaced in the West Bank: “The dire warnings from the Israeli government of even further escalations of violence are extremely concerning. Palestinians know that today’s vote is a question of their future – their right to life, their right to remain in their homes and lands.” She said a lasting peace is needed and “a pathway to recovery and reconstruction that offers hope for a dignified future.”
Pope Leo says ‘no such thing as a holy war’
Pope Leo has urged religious leaders to reject any attempt to justify war in the name of God, declaring: “There is no such thing as a holy war: only peace is holy.” In a message to the International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, Italy, he called for dialogue, mediation and prayer to break the cycle of violence. He said religious leaders should foster dialogue so that “the language of arrogance may give way to the language of peace, negotiation and understanding”. The three-day gathering on “Unarmed and Disarming Peace”, marks 40 years since Pope John Paul II initiated an interfaith World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi in 1986.
Employers’ guide on antisemitism launched in London
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has launched a guide to help employers support Jewish staff and tackle antisemitism in the workplace. The Employer’s Guide to Jews and Judaism was unveiled at a national conference on strengthening Jewish life and combating antisemitism, hosted by Lord Mann, the government adviser on antisemitism, at Lancaster House. The Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds convened a roundtable of community and business leaders to discuss antisemitism in the workplace. The guide includes updated legal guidance and an overview of the Jewish way of life including religious observance and Jewish culture and identity.
South Sudan church leaders appeal for help to win peace
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has hosted a meeting to discuss the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, as the country prepares for its first elections in December. It was convened by the Church of England and Christian Aid, with representatives from the South Sudan Council of Churches. In the letter, its General Secretary, Rev Tut Kony Nyang Kon, appealed to ecumenical leaders, faith-based NGOs and government officials not to forget South Sudan and to partner with the churches in their work for peace.
Call for easier travel for Sikh pilgrims in India and Pakistan
A group of 49 Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday, offering prayers for spiritual peace and the wellbeing of humanity. The group also met Sikh leader president Harjinder Singh Dhami, who welcomed them and called for easier visa arrangements for Sikh pilgrims travelling between India and Pakistan. He said four Sikh groups from India travel to Pakistan each year to visit historic shrines, while Sikhs in Pakistan also wish to visit sacred sites in India. The visiting pilgrims had come to India as a group for the first time, highlighting the importance, he said, of facilitating religious travel for Sikh communities on both sides of the border.
Lichfield Cathedral Marks 10 Years of Christmas Light Shows
This December, Lichfield Cathedral will celebrate ten years of its Christmas light shows with “Follow the Star’, which brings the Nativity story to life through projecting film, lights displays and music including local choirs. The show takes visitors through a guided walk with projections onto the Bishop’s Palace, the cathedral’s West Front, and the ceiling of the Nave. Thousands of visitors have seen the festivals of Christmas lights and the Dean says they hope people reconnect with a message of joy and hope.
