Muslim community discourse “hijacked” by confrontational influencers
Muslim community conversations about social and political issues, especially online, are being hijacked by a small number of online religious personalities, according to Islamic scholar Dr Sadek Hamid. Writing for Hyphen Online, he quoted the story of the SNP leader Humza Yousaf, who was “excommunicated” after expressing his views on same sex marriage and homosexuality. He says that a small group of influencers has incentivised intra-Muslim confrontation and cancel culture through an endless stream of content. And he adds that “the content of many Muslim YouTubers perpetuates the narcissistic, reactionary celebrity culture that Islamic values are supposed to stand against”. His article is here
Government faith adviser weaponises love and peace against angry backlash
The story of Muslim confrontation follows a report by the government’s faith engagement adviser, Colin Bloom, on how the government engages with faith. He identified “make believers”, people motivated by “ego, money, prestige or power who use faith as an unacceptable justification for anti-social aims”. He was particularly concerned about extremist ideology in the Sikh tradition, saying “intimidatory and subversive methods are considered by most to be alien to the basic tenets of the Sikh faith”. His comments provoked a social media backlash and his response has been to post a sequence of tweets quoting religious leaders on peace, hope and love: Pope Francis, Guru Gobind Singh, Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Rabbi Hugo Gryn and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Churches destroyed and Christians flee in Indian ethnic violence
One hundred churches have been destroyed in rioting and ethnic clashes in the north east Indian state of Manipur. 60 people have been killed, 230 injured and 35,000 displaced. Fighting broke out a week ago between the majority Meitei Hindus and local tribal Christians, who protested against Meitei demands for official tribal status. Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore said: “It is with deep concern that we note the resurgence of persecution of Christians in Manipur.” Open Doors sees the unrest as Christian persecution, quoting a local partner who says there are appeals to the Indian government to publicly condemn acts of violence against Christian minorities in India.
Reports that Pope Francis will meet Zelensky amid peace mission on Ukraine
Pope Francis could meet the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome this weekend, according to a Vatican official. The Associated Press quotes the official saying the visit is not yet confirmed. He has called for an end to the war in Ukraine and revealed that a secret peace mission is underway.
Church failed to act on decades old sex abuse scandal
A Church of England report into sexual abuse by the late Rev Trevor Devamanikkam has found that senior clergy failed to act on complaints, the survivor was not supported and there was a reluctance to apologise. Devamanikkam, the former vicar of St Aidan’s in Bradford, was charged with three counts of rape and three of indecent assault of a child. He committed suicide the day before his trial in 2017. The man who survived the attack in the 1980s was the Rev Matthew Ineson, who was 16 at the time. He went on to be ordained and waived his right to anonymity as the review progressed. Among the senior clergy charged with failing to act is the former Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who has rejected the report findings, and Bishop Steven Croft then bishop of Sheffield and now Oxford, who told The Telegraph he could have done more to help. Comprehensive Church Times report here.
Pope says abusers deserve punishment and pastoral care
The Pope has said that those guilty of abuse deserve punishment but also pastoral care. He was speaking in a private meeting with Jesuits during his three-day visit to Hungary at the end of April and his remarks have just been published by La Civiltà Cattolica, an Italian Jesuit journal. Pope Francis said it was not easy to love the abuser, but they are children of God. They are to be condemned as a brother, but this should be regarded as an act of charity, explaining: “this is how love for the enemy can be expressed”.
Victorian church demolished after vandalism fears
The Times has published dramatic pictures of a Victorian church in Oldham which has been demolished after the council feared it would be a target for vandals and a blight on the area. St John’s Church in Werneth, Greater Manchester, has not been used since the early 1980s, but its demolition has been condemned as “shocking” by The Victorian Society, a heritage group. It said the decision sets a bad example as it could have been re-used sensitively. The font and stained glass had been lost for ever and Oldham’s historic environment “has been for ever and irreversibly diminished.”
Aberdeen Council asked to waive parking fees for worship
Muslims and Jews in Aberdeen are asking the council to waive parking fees on Fridays and Saturdays allowing people to worship without cost. The fees are already suspended for Christians allowing them to worship in church on Sunday without paying for parking. Minority faith groups argue they should be treated equally and it is only fair that the same rules should apply. Aberdeen Council is said to be “looking into it”.
Britain’s first traveller to convert to Islam has found peace
The Sun carries an interview with Alfie Best Jr, “the son and heir of Britain’s billionaire gypsy”, who has converted to Islam at the age of 25. He believes he is the first traveller to become a Muslim and tells the extraordinary story of how it happened, returning with friends by helicopter to London following a luxury lunch in Cornwall, he attended the mosque of his friend’s mother where he had a religious experience, his whole body tingled and he felt he belonged. A professional boxer, he spends more time in the mosque than the gym. Worth £10m in his own right, he has swapped his jet set lifestyle for prayer five times a day, observance of fasting during festivals and no alcohol, and in the process has found peace.
Salvation Army brass band finds a place in the Eurovision city of Liverpool
A Salvation Army brass band and cathedral choirs struck a contrasting tone in Liverpool this week, with an ecumenical service at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral for the thousands of fans who have flocked to the city for the Eurovision song contest this weekend. The Methodist Church co-ordinated the service, reflecting on the need for peace in a troubled world and the circumstances that brought Eurovision to the UK, in place of last year’s winners, Ukraine. The Rev Jackie Bellfield, one of the organisers, said: “We are united together with all those suffering in places of conflict, united in music and united in prayer.”
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