Church of England safeguarding chair resigns
Meg Munn, the acting chair of the Church of England’s Independent Safeguarding Board and chair of the church’s national safeguarding panel has resigned. This follows weeks of chaos after two members of the ISB were sacked by the Archbishops’ Council, citing a breakdown in relationships. In chaotic scenes at the general synod last weekend in York, they were allowed to give their side of the story after a formal presentation laid out the sorry events of the past year which had led to their dismissal. Meg Munn, a former Labour MP and safeguarding professional, was also there. She had been asked to stay on until a new structure was put in place, but in her resignation statement released to the Church Times, she says she was incredulous and angry during the safeguarding session at synod, which reinforced her view that the Archbishops’ Council had been “slow to listen to those with organisational and safeguarding expertise”. She also said the Archbishop of Canterbury had undermined her during the last few months. In response, the Church of England said it was sorry she resigned and thanked her for “the professional scrutiny she had brought to the Church’s safeguarding work over this time”.
UN agrees resolution to prevent Quran burning
The United Nations human rights council has approved a resolution urging countries to “address, prevent and prosecute acts and advocacy of religious hatred”, after an Iraqi national burned the Quran in front of a mosque in Stockholm. The resolution condemns all manifestations of religious hatred including “public and premeditated acts of desecration of the holy Quran” and urges that those responsible be held to account. Since the Stockholm case, Turkey briefly withheld approval of Sweden joining NATO, the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was briefly stormed, the Taliban said all activities by Sweden in Afghanistan must stop, Iran did not sent a new ambassador to Stockholm and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation condemned Sweden’s authorities and asked for this debate. The US, EU and other western countries opposed the resolution saying it conflicted with free speech. But it was passed 28:12 with 7 abstentions.
Bishops carry on fight against Illegal Migration Bill in the Lords
The bishops’ attempts to introduce amendments to the Illegal Migration bill, though rejected by MPs, have gone back to the Lords in a game of parliamentary ping pong, where Lords are once more battling against the measure. The bill would allow illegal migrants to be deported to Rwanda or a third safe country. The Archbishop of Canterbury had appealed for a 10 year strategy looking at the causes of global migration and human trafficking. Last night, junior justice minister Lord Bellamy, told the Lords that the government agreed with the sentiment but insisted the amendment wasn’t necessary as it was already working with other nations on the issues and taking a long term view. The Bishop of Manchester David Walker spoke of his concern that the rights of children should be safeguarded and forced an amendment that all children should not kept in detention for more than 96 hours. The bill now goes back to the Commons.
Christian objections to painting over murals in children’s migration centre
The former archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has criticised the government following a “Dickensian” order to remove cartoon murals at the Kent Intake migrant centre for lone children. Home Office minister Lord Murray told the Lords that contractors had painted over the cartoons without government approval, but asylum facilities should have “decoration befitting their purpose”. Dr Williams said it was “mean-mindedness”. The Bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson Wilkins, has also accused the government of showing “disdain for children”.
FBI memo linking traditional Catholics to domestic terrorism raised in Congress
The FBI director Christopher A. Wray has been questioned at a committee appearance in Congress about a leaked FBI memo suggesting traditional Catholics are linked to domestic terrorism. The memo, which was posted on the UncoveredDC website in February, encouraged agents to develop sources inside Catholic parishes to crack down on domestic terrorism. It said a small minority of traditionalist Catholics adhere to “anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT and white supremacy” ideology, while also preferring the traditional Latin mass. Mr Wray declined to tell Congress who wrote the memo, said he was aghast at its contents and ordered it to be withdrawn. He said the FBI does “not recruit, open or operate confidential human sources to infiltrate, target, report on religious organizations”. He confirmed there is an internal review and will brief the Congress committee later this year.
Chief Rabbi receives knighthood
The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has received his knighthood at a ceremony at Windsor Castle. The Jewish News reports that he was recognised by King Charles III in the New Year’s Honours list for his services to the Jewish community and interfaith relations and education. It says he was one of the first US rabbis to host an imam in his community while still at the Kinloss synagogue in Finchley and recently became the first chief rabbi to pay an official visit to an Arab state at the invitation of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace.
Crowds watch as massive roof timbers replaced on Notre Dame Cathedral
A crane has hoisted massive oak roof trusses from a barge onto Notre Dame Cathedral, as rebuilding work continues after fire ravaged the building in 2019. The Religion News Service explains that carpenters used medieval techniques to construct the trusses, which are 16 metres wide and 13 metres high. They were placed on the roof area where the spire will be replaced. Crowds lined the River Seine to watch the operation. The aim is to finish the rebuilding work by 2024 in time for the Paris Olympics.
Teenager accused of carving name into Buddhist Japanese temple
A 17-year-old Canadian tourist has been questioned by police after he allegedly carved his name into a wooden pillar of an eighth-century Japanese Buddhist temple. The Toshodaiji Kondo is a Unesco world heritage site regarded as a national treasure. The boy was questioned on suspicion of violating the cultural properties protection law, but he was not detained.
Become a cycling cathedral pilgrim this summer
English cathedrals are preparing to attract visitors this summer with another round of innovative events. All 42 will offer themselves as destinations on new pilgrim cycle paths linking all the Cathedrals. Two will create beaches, with deckchairs and a water feature in the font at Lichfield, and a vintage carousel and ice creams at Coventry. Summer music concerts, secret gardens, open air theatres and historical exhibitions also feature. Gaia, a giant illuminated planet earth will be suspended in Durham Cathedral, continuing its tour of cathedrals. List of events is at the Association of English Cathedrals here
“Manhattanhenge” as the sun sets between an avenue of New York skyscrapers
New Yorkers are hoping that the clouds part at sunset so they can witness “Manhattanhenge”, the biannual moment when the sun sets between the city’s east-west streets, lowering between lines of skyscrapers and producing a rosy glow over the city. The Associated Press reports that Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the museum’s Hayden Planetarium, coined the term Manhattanhenge to describe the phenomenon. It says he was inspired by Stonehenge, where Druids welcome the summer solstice as the sun shines through the stones. Manhattanhenge attracts its own Druids over two days in May and July, with people lining 42nd and 34th streets to watch the sun set. A similar sight can also be seen at Chicagohenge, in March and September.
