Call for a Faiths Commissioner to strengthen links with government
Labour MP Sir Stephen Timms says he will continue to campaign for the government to engage a Faiths Commissioner, to strengthen relationships with faith groups. The idea was suggested in the report “Keeping the Faiths”, produced by the APPG on Faith and Society, which he chairs. Until a few months ago, Colin Bloom was the government’s Faith Engagement adviser, but he has not been replaced since he stepped down. Sir Stephen said the Labour party had made no commitment to appoint a Commissioner as yet, but he was continuing to press for it. He anticipated faith groups would contribute more to political thinking in the run up to the general election.
West Midlands signs “Faith Covenant” between local government and faith groups
Sir Stephen was speaking at an online meeting organised by Faith Action during its “Faith in Partnership” week, on the opportunities and challenges for cross-sector partnership in Britain. Speakers described how faith groups gave front-line support during the Covid pandemic and this is continuing in public services, but needs to be put on a more stable footing. There was a call for the frequent roundtable discussions between government and faith groups during the pandemic to be revitalised. Faith Action has promoted closer relations between faith groups and local government through the signing of a Faith Covenant. Last night West Midlands Combined Authority became the latest to sign, at a multi faith event in Walsall.
Children’s Commissioner tells Catholic Union magnitude of lockdowns only being realised now
The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has launched The Big Ambition, a national survey of children and young people at 22,500 schools across England, on what they think, how they feel and what they want from the government. In an address at the Catholic Union’s annual Craigmyle Lecture, Dame Rachel, a theology graduate and practising Catholic, said that the “magnitude and acuity” of the lockdowns was only being truly understood now. She praised the value of the strong family as the fabric in society, more transformational for children than a school, and said the government should recognise the innate power they hold. She has also given an interview to The Telegraph, saying mental health data, the explosion of special needs and attendance figures showed the impact of the pandemic on children.
Soul Survivor senior pastor “failed to act” three times on abuse allegations
A Church of England investigation has found that the Rev Andy Croft, senior pastor of Soul Survivor Watford, “failed to act” on three separate occasions concerning safeguarding allegations against Mike Pilavachi. Premier Christian News said it had seen a letter from the National Safeguarding Team which said the allegations concerning the Rev Andy Croft were “found to be substantiated”. The report said it is understood that one of the allegations relates to the massaging of a former intern by Pilavachi that was disclosed to Mr Croft in 2016. He told Premier that he was “very sorry that my actions have contributed in any way to the pain others are experiencing”. He has been suspended since June. Soul Survivor has commissioned an independent review, led by a barrister.
USPG told reparations for slave trade are not about unilaterally offering cash
A £7million offer for reparation activities from USPG (the United Society Partners in the Gospel) has been rejected by a Barbados task force as not reparations at all. USPG pledged the money for reparatory activities in St John communities in the Caribbean and apologised for its involvement in slave ownership. But the taskforce deputy chair David Comissiong said a unilateral gesture, though appreciated, is not reparation. Any money must first be negotiated with the CARICOM Reparations Commission, which will decide whether responsibility is with the Anglican church, the church commissioners or USPG. The Caribbean News Service quotes him saying: “We need to point out to the Church of England and all similar institutions that reparations are not about them unilaterally determining what compensation they are prepared to make. Reparations do not work like that”. On Monday, the Telegraph reported that reparations commissions in the Caribbean are preparing to write formal letters to institutions with historical links to the slave trade, pursuing financial payments.
US Religious Freedom commission urges repeal of laws criminalising blasphemy
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released two reports on blasphemy. The Legislation Factsheet on Blasphemy lists the 95 countries with legislation that criminalises insulting or offending religious feelings, figures, or symbols. The report says this is inconsistent with international human rights laws protecting freedom of religion or belief or opinion and expression. The Blasphemy Law Compendium documents the text of blasphemy laws in 95 nations. It says that blasphemy laws are often defended as a means to achieve peace and religious harmony in society, but in practice they promote government intolerance and discrimination against minorities, encouraging retribution. The Commission continues to call for a repeal of all legislation criminalising blasphemy. It is independent, set up by the US federal government to make policy recommendations with commissioners appointed by the President and Congressional leaders of both political parties.
$400,000 cyber attack on a US diocese
More than $400,000 has been stolen in a cyberattack on the trust funds managed on behalf of the Diocese of Virginia and its 120 churches. The Episcopal News Service reports that the fraud occurred in November and December 2022 when money was diverted into unauthorised accounts. It was discovered when two parishes alerted the diocesan investments manager. The diocesan core fund has been valued at more than $122 million and can be drawn down on by parishes for expenses such as building maintenance. The Fund’s trustees have reported the fraud to the FBI and local police, and new IT security is in place.
Pope’s Ukraine peace envoy discusses grain exports
Pope Francis’ Ukraine peace envoy has discussed with China the impact of the war in Ukraine on grain exports to feed the world’s hungry. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi held meetings with Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs, at the Chinese foreign ministry. The Vatican said he emphasised the need to foster dialogue and find paths leading to peace so that the export of cereals could be guaranteed especially to countries most at risk. His visit was the fourth leg of a peace mission that has taken him to Kyiv, Moscow and Washington. Initial discussions were on the fate of children forcibly removed to Russia but no mention of this has been made by the Vatican from this mission.
President Zelensky meets rabbis from the whole of Ukraine to herald the Jewish new year
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met 32 Chabad rabbis and representatives from the country’s diverse Jewish population in a meeting to herald the Jewish New Year. It was the first time all had met since the war started and the president, who is himself of Jewish heritage, blessed them in Hebrew with the repetition of “Shana Tovah”, which means good year. A report in The Jerusalem Post says he thanked them for supporting Ukraine and its pursuit of peace, and commended them for staying and continuing their work. President Zelensky expressed his hope for greater support from Israel to facilitate the pilgrimage of tens of thousands of people to the burial place in Uman of Nachman of Breslov, the founder of the Breslov Hasidic sect, who believed Rosh Hashanah to be of spiritual significance. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated from today. Factsheet here.
