Islamic Relief says hospitals in Syria need everything in earthquake disaster
Ahmed Mahmoud, Islamic Relief’s Head of Mission in Turkey and Syria, has described the overwhelming challenge of helping people in Syria through the effects of the earthquakes which have claimed the lives of more than 33,000 people in the region. He says the agency’s teams were already working with thousands of displaced people when the earthquake hit. They mobilised aid from inside Syria and Turkey, but the lack of working infrastructure hampered efforts. They support 82 hospitals and medical centres which are now overwhelmed and urgently need more drugs, ICU equipment, supplies for surgical operations and treating fractures: “They basically need everything”, he said. Aid workers are exhausted – many have lost their own relatives yet are working around the clock to deliver aid. Staff are grabbing a few moments of sleep in their cars in between distributions. All aid agencies and the Disasters Emergency Committee have set up appeals for donations.
Nicaragua bishop sentenced to 26 years for treason
Bishop Rolando Alvarez, critic of President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison on charges of treason, undermining national integrity and spreading false news. The extended prison term follows his refusal to be expelled to the United States as part of a prisoner release. He was arrested last August with four priests, two seminarians and a Catholic TV cameraman, after they barricaded themselves into a church building. The Pope appealed to politicians in Nicaragua to engage in dialogue with opponents and has offered prayers for the bishop.
Archbishop “threatened with parliamentary action” over same sex marriage
Three days after a bruising CofE general synod, which agreed proposals to bless same sex couples, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave a speech to global Anglican church representatives in Ghana saying that no-one should be dictated to, blackmailed or bribed by those who disagree. Justin Welby said he had been summoned to parliament twice to talk to MPs about the same sex debate and “threatened with parliamentary action” to force same sex marriage on the Church of England. “Obedience to God comes ahead of loyalty to country. That was not popular when I said it last Monday night to some members of parliament”. He emphasised that each province of the Anglican communion is autonomous, saying Christianity is lived differently in local areas because of different cultures. Addressing the Anglican Consultative Council, he said the communion is interdependent, but each province is autonomous and the UK and Europe is in a post Christian age where Christian faith has been replaced with personal control, a morality that does not believe in forgiveness, sinfulness, failure or hope. “This is where the church starts”, he said. Speech transcript is here
The tangled legacy of a same sex blessing vote that pleased no-one
Back home, the general synod decision to allow same sex blessings has reverberated on social media. The Bishop of Lancaster Jill Duff , interviewed on TransWorld Radio, said the decision was “in error” and in reply Rev Dr Charlie Bell said this was misrepresentation which brought the church into disrepute. There was a 15 minute discussion on BBC1 with all sides heard and the RMC did its own briefing, reflecting the tangled legacy of the decision. In summary, our panel was exhausted, sad, confused, anxious, angry and bewildered with one searingly honest conclusion: “We don’t actually know what we agreed to yesterday”. Report of our briefing is here and the briefing can be viewed again here
Lords debate changing Religious Education to Religion and World Views
A bill to introduce an explicit requirement for schools in England to include non-religious worldviews such as humanism in religious education, is going through the Lords. It has been introduced by Baroness Lorely Burt, an honorary associate of the National Secular Society and a vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. She told the Lords that non-religious philosophical convictions or views, termed worldviews, must be given equal respect to religious views, meaning the subject would be re-named as “religion and worldviews”, or RW for short. But the Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun, spoke against. He said the bill “assaulted the identity” of religious sensibilities, pointing out that religious inheritance in this country is primarily Christian, which has “shaped our culture, language and built environment”. A proposal to change the name of Religious Education to Religion and Worldviews was rejected by the then Education Secretary Damian Hinds in 2018, but the campaign has carried on.
Kent cricket joins 65 sporting clubs in signing Muslim Athletes Charter
Kent Cricket has become the latest club to sign the Muslim Athlete Charter, promising to help players flourish and supporters feel valued and welcomed. The charter, pioneered by Nujum Sports, says there are now 65 professional clubs from different sports who have signed the pledge. Kent Cricket says this is an integral part of its work in equality and diversity through understanding the Muslim faith and cultural needs.
And finally – Pawga: the practice of yoga with puppies
Three yoga practitioners in India have launched a business including puppies form a rescue centre in daily devotions. “Pawga” works in collaboration with local animal shelters whose puppies shower the devotees with love as they go through their positions. The young women entrepreneurs hit on the idea after watching people practising yoga with goats in Suffolk, which increased feelings of comfort and decreased stress levels. New Indian Express story here
