“Disappointing lack of ambition” – faith verdicts at Cop28 draft outcome
The UN climate change summit Cop 28, is due to end in Dubai today, but the final agreement is in doubt, as a draft deal omits language that fossil fuels could be phased out, replacing it with “reduce consumption of fossil fuels in an orderly manner”, which didn’t go far enough for many countries. The draft outcome has disappointed faith representatives meeting at the Faith Pavilion, the first time a parallel series of meetings has been held during the summit for discussions from a faith perspective. Episcopal Creation Care, a branch of the Anglican communion, said it was “deeply concerned at a lack of ambition”. Christian Aid says the draft was “lacking the targets” and it was worth remembering that over two thirds of Brits believe the UK government should tax fossil fuel companies to raise money for communities affected by the climate crisis. Negotiations are continuing.
Our zoom media briefing today at 1200 is on faith reaction to the Cop28 outcome, with a panel including many who have been invovled in the Faith Pavilion. They include: Lorna Gold, CEO Faith Invest; Allen Ottaro, Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa; Rabbi Yonatin Neril – Executive director of the Interfaith Centre for Sustainable Development; Carlos Zepeda – from Laudato Si Research Institute; and Chief Doliwura Zakaria, leader from Ghana and chairman of the steering committee for the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum.
Religious leaders join coalition for a fair refugees policy based on compassion
Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, is among several religious leaders in Britain backing the Together with Refugees coalition, campaigning for a new plan based on compassion. In a tweet, she says the Rwanda Bill “goes against our core human rights” and declares “enough with divisive political rhetoric and policy targeting refugee communities”. In an open letter, the coalition says current policies are not working and are uncaring, chaotic and costly. It advocates scrapping the Rwanda scheme, welcoming refugees and tackling root causes of people fleeing their homes. Signatories include Rabbi Herschel Gluck, the Bishop of Liverpool, Bishop Mike Royal, Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen and Sheikh Nuru Mohammed of the Al-Abbas Islamic Centre, Birmingham.
CofE safeguarding debacle caused by flawed, rushed organisational design
A barrister’s review of the Church of England’s Independent Safeguarding Board, following the termination of contracts for two members in June and the resignation of the third days later, has found the root cause was a flawed design rushed through at its inception, which left roles ill-defined, leading to misunderstanding, personal conflict and entrenched positions in disputes. The review, by Sarah Wilkinson, says the structural reasons were principally the responsibility of the Archbishops’ Council, but neither they nor the board were clear about where the ISBs operational independence ended and the Council’s oversight began. The immediate reason for the breakdown of the board was the appointment of an acting chair without consultation. The sudden end caused confusion and trauma to survivors whose cases were still being heard, showing “lamentably little trauma-informed regard for the vulnerability of the individuals with whom the ISB were working”. The barrister said: “I have not seen direct evidence or evidence from which I could infer that the Archbishops’ Council terminated the contracts of the ISB in order to prevent it bringing to light allegations against senior clergy. Where a body is terminated suddenly in the middle of work on case reviews, however, it is unsurprising that the subjects of those case reviews might consider that the terminating body also wished to terminate the case review work”. It advises that the governance of any new safeguarding body must be set up before it starts work. Report is here
Justin Welby tells government to put families first
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has urged the government to put families at the heart of policy and called on them to abolish the two child benefit rule, which limits benefits to two children in any family group. He was speaking in the Lords during a debate he chose, something he is allowed to do once a year because of his role. He said lifting this cap would lift a quarter of a million children out of poverty. He also highlighted that the proposed immigration rules would keep families apart, preventing people bringing family members with them when they move to the UK for work.
Vatican fraud trial due to end this week
The Catholic Herald reports that the Vatican trial into embezzlement and other financial crimes against Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine fellow defendants is due to conclude this week. It is expected that the lawyers’ final presentations will be made today and Giuseppe Pignatone, who presides over the three-judge panel hearing the case, has said that he wants to deliver verdicts by Saturday 16 December. The trial has lasted two and a half years and at its heart is the Secretariat of State’s €350 million purchase of an investment property in Sloane Avenue, London, between 2014 and 2018.
Pope calls for merciful discretion when dealing with corruption
Pope Francis has stressed the importance of eliminating corruption in the Vatican. He was speaking while meeting staff from the Vatican’s Office of the Auditor General, the anti-corruption authority of the Holy See and Vatican City State which carries out financial audits of entities belonging to them. In his speech, he said the lure of corruption is dangerous and safeguards are needed. But so is “merciful discretion”, since scandals “serve more to fill the pages of the newspapers than to correct behaviour in depth.”
Humanists UK criticise Denmark’s decision to criminalise the burning of sacred books
Humanists UK says Denmark’s decision to criminalise the desecration of sacred books is a “de facto blasphemy law”, a considerable backwards step for universal human rights of freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression. Humanists UK’s Director of Public Affairs and Policy Kathy Riddick said: “We would never advocate for desecration of books, venerated objects and symbols, but to suggest this in and of itself impacts a person’s right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is unacceptable”, adding that “there is no basis to protect venerated objects under international law”.
Quakers campaign for rights of conscientious objectors in Ukraine and Russia
Quakers in Britain are leading a campaign calling on the Russian and Ukrainian governments to respect the rights of conscientious objectors. Letters delivered to embassies in London urge the immediate and unconditional release of conscientious objectors, saying it is internationally recognised as an essential component of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The Quakers say 20,000 men have fled to avoid military service in Ukraine. One conscientious objector has served a prison sentence while nine have been given suspended sentences and seven trials are in progress. They say that in Russia, at least four conscientious objectors have been jailed for refusing to fight in Ukraine on religious grounds and hundreds more who object to participating in the war are in detention centres.
Panorama reports on UK church prayers to cast out evil spirits in a teenager
The BBC One programme “Panorama” reports that a pastor of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, was filmed praying over a 16-year-old boy to rid him of evil spirits. An ex-member of the church who is gay, told the programme he was prayed over to make him straight. The UCKG has rebutted the story saying under-18s are not allowed into “strong prayers” services and it does not perform “conversion therapy”. It is a pentecostal church with 10,000 members in this country.
School nativity play turns to tragedy
The Times reports that a teacher was found dead on a stage at St Matthews church in Bayswater, London, hours after pupils performed a nativity play that he helped to organise. The Rev Will Coleridge is quoted saying he discovered the body the morning after the play. The 52-year-old man, who has not been named, taught at Pembridge Hall School in Notting Hill. Police say the death is unexpected but there is no indication the cause is suspicious.
