Pope calls for renewed efforts to end violence in DR Congo
Pope Francis has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the first leg of his visit to Africa, where he will meet religious and political leaders and appeal for peace. In his first speech in Kinshasa., he lamented the exploitation of “economic capitalism” on the whole African continent which he said was enslaving, making the Congolese people “foreign” to their own land. He called for an end to the plundering of natural resources: He urged the Congolese people to reject violence and hatred and called for a renewed international effort to end the conflict.
Historic ecumenical visit to South Sudan
On Friday, the Pope will be joined by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the moderator of the Church of Scotland Dr Iain Greenshields, on a visit to South Sudan, where there is civil war, floods, famine and millions of displaced people. The country is 60 per cent Christian and most are Catholic, but Dr Greenshields said this ecumenical trip was a historic occasion involving meetings with people living on the edge, politicians, and religious leaders. There is also a massive prayer meeting planned with an expected congregation of 60,000. View our briefing with Dr Greenshields on our YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7MZU6mrpj4
Former bishop slams lack of response to Hillsborough recommendations
The former bishop of Liverpool James Jones has said the lack of government response to his report on the experience of Hillsborough victims five years after publication, was intolerable. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said: “I think we have to put ourselves in the shoes of the families. This year it will be 34 years since the tragedy, and for them to wait for so long for a response to these 25 points of learning is intolerable and adds to their pain and, I think, in some instances even affects their own grieving.” He has the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury
100 police officers dead in mosque suicide bomb attack
The death toll from the suicide blast at a mosque inside a police compound in Peshawar, Pakistan, has risen to 100. The victims were among about 400 policemen who had gathered for afternoon prayers when the blast went off, collapsing the roof and blowing off the front wall. The city police chief is quoted saying police were on the front line taking action against militants and that is why they were targeted.
Controversy over consecration of bishops against women’s ordination
A decision not to live stream the consecration of two “flying” bishops on the Church of England, who object to women’s ordination, has been reversed after 24 hours following a flurry of complaints. The Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, David Monteith, originally said the consecrations, due to take place on Thursday, would not be filmed in a “show of constraint” because of their “peculiarities”. Objections were raised by, among others, the Rev Martine Oborne, who chairs Women and the Church. She said the secrecy was a disgrace. Full story in the Church Times
Theological debate on marriage played out on Twitter
A document signed by 14 CofE bishops, on a Christian understanding of marriage, has been viewed 80,000 times on Twitter and sparked a theological debate. It was written by Bishop Ric Thorpe, evangelical bishop of Islington, and is against same sex marriage on the grounds that scripture cannot be “set aside”. A proposal to ban same sex weddings but allow blessings of couples is to be debated at the General Synod next week. Church Times report here.
CofE links with slave trade “shaming”
An exhibition of handwritten letters from about 1720, addressed to archbishops in the Church of England from slaves in Virginia begging to be released, is on display at Lambeth Palace. One of the letters is the inspiration for a one-woman play to be performed at Lambeth this spring. The exhibition, which also features slave Bibles with passages related to slavery torn out, has been put on as part of the CofE’s move to atone for its past relationship with the slave trade. The Church Commissioners have pledged to set up a £100m fund after finding the origin of its £10bn investment portfolio was linked to slavery. Its chief executive, Gareth Mostyn, told reporters at the exhibition that the links were “shaming” and “no amount of money will ever be enough to repair the damage done”.
Lack of diversity in medical textbooks affects health care
An academic study in the Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association explores the under-representation of British minority ethnic groups in medical literature and illustrations, which could have an impact on health care. The study, Who is in the picture? Diversity, Representation, and Clinical Photography by Usman Maravia and Jenny Watts, says there is a gulf in health care outcomes, delayed diagnosis, and missed diagnosis and this has multiple causes. The lack of diversity depicted in medical textbooks is a possible contributing factor, resulting from hesitancy in consenting to photography on religious grounds. “Awra”, privacy, in the Islamic tradition, rules that parts of the body must be covered. The authors say: “A key message for the Muslim population needs to be that Shariah law provides scope to have clinical images taken especially when the strictest of ethical protections are applied”. Journal article here
Police investigation into London rabbi dropped
The Jewish News reports an exclusive that a police investigation into alleged sexual abuse by Golders Green Rabbi Chaim Halpern has been closed. The allegations were made by a woman on an Israeli TV programme but the police said they have not been able to trace her. The report says that late last year it was confirmed that a judge had been appointed to head an internal inquiry related to the rabbi, on behalf of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.
Plans to show the sacred anointing of King Charles
The Telegraph reports that the sacred anointing of King Charles may be visible to the public for the first time. It says a transparent canopy is being made so that cameras could show the Archbishop of Canterbury pouring holy oil from the ampulla onto the Coronation Spoon, and then anoint the sovereign on the hands, breast and head.
