Freedom of religion or belief does not allow violation of the rights of others
The United Nations rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief says her ambition is to “join the dots”, working alongside other UN agencies and people on the ground to highlight and correct violations around the world. Professor Nazila Ghanea, professor in international rights law at Oxford, was appointed to this unpaid role in August. At a joint event organised by the Religion Media Centre and the UN Faith for Rights programme, she said freedom of religion or belief is not an opportunity to violate the rights of others, for the individual or the state. Religion or belief is often used as a justification for human rights abuses, but the law does not support that. Full report here >> and youtube film here >>
Archbishop of York welcomes rise in living wage
Amid reports in The Times that the government intends to increase the national living wage by ten per cent, from £9.50 an hour to about £10.40, the Archbishop of York has praised the prospect of a rise. Writing in the Yorkshire Post, he said a lift in the living wage would make a profound impact “because when workers don’t struggle to afford the essentials, they often reinvest their money back into the local economy”. However, the increase he had in mind was £10.90 an hour, as advocated by the Living Wage Foundation and the Smith Institute, saying money spent on raising the wages of the poorest is one way to promote growth and not just to stoke inflation.
Church buildings should be used fully by communities to secure their future
A report into the use of church buildings in Cambridgeshire and west Norfolk has found that a third cost more money each year than they are able to raise and only one in five is financially profitable. Buildings are most valued for worship, space for meditation and a place for baptisms, weddings and funerals. One extraordinary use discovered in the survey was as a practice venue for circuses, because of the high roof. Three quarters are used for community use and the report suggests their future could be more secure by holding events for many people, using social media for marketing, partnering with the community and schools and arranging events for children. The report is by the Cambridge business School and the Diocese of Ely.
Government urged to fund urgent church repairs for vital community use
Sir Philip Rutnam, the chairman of the National Churches Trust, is calling on the government to match funding from congregations and charities, for the repair and maintenance of the UKs unique asset of 39,000 churches, chapels and meeting houses, three times the total of all GP surgeries. In a blog in The Times, he says church buildings host community groups which provide companionship, warm shelter and health services such as vaccination centres, but with the closure of several funds, the repair bill for the Church of England alone is £1billion. “Our work has shown that church buildings are one of the most efficient ways to help the most vulnerable people”, he said.
Police plea to drop the words Islamist and Islamism
The National Association of Muslim Police is calling on the Home Office and police to drop the terms “Islamist” and “Islamism” because of the direct link to Islamophobia. It says that counter terrorism policing uses these terms to to describe extremist ideology among groups such as Daesh or Al Qaeda. But it commissioned a survey showing 85 per cent of Muslim police respondents and 92 per cent of Muslim community respondents believed that these words had a direct link to Islamophobia and many Muslims feel marginalised, vulnerable and at a higher risk of hate crime and discrimination as a result.
Stoke on Trent doctors behind campaign to turn a disused Methodist church into a mosque
Doctors at the Royal Stoke University Hospital are behind a plan to ta mosque. Stoke on Trent Live reports that they have already secured £300,000 towards the purchase and are fund-raising for the remaining £250,000. The group says the centre will have a dedicated area for women and a facility for Islamic education for children and adults, rooms for social gatherings and to “support the needy” with food banks and other initiatives.
Almost half of church going families surveyed in England engage less after the pandemic
A survey of 175 church leaders, 209 parents and 36 children has found that Sunday morning church attendance has become less of a priority for families since the pandemic. Premier Christian News reports that the research, by Liverpool Hope University with five Christian groups, found 48 per cent engaged less with church, but faith at home tended to improve during the pandemic despite this.
New conservative leaders for US Catholic conference of bishops
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has elected two conservatives to serve as national president and vice president. The Wall Stret Journal says this signals strong support for a policy centred on opposition to abortion. The report says Archbishop Timothy Broglio, a former Vatican diplomat who oversees ministry to Catholics in the U.S. Armed Forces, was elected president with 138 out of 237 votes and Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore was elected vice president by 143 votes out of 239.
US Mormons agree society can pursue same sex marriage – but not their church
The Associated Press reports that the US Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced it will back proposed federal legislation to safeguard same-sex marriages, while enjoying the freedom to stick to its view that marriage is between a man and a woman. The church, which has almost 17 million members, said church doctrine would continue, but there was a balance between religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of LGBTQ people.
Muslim womens’ football club allows traditional dress code on the pitch
The Guardian carries a report of “Sisterhood”, a football club for Muslim women who play in traditional Muslim dress code. It was founded in 2018 and now has almost 100 players. The reporter went to a training session where the young women played in hijab head scarves. One wore a full length abaya robe. Another told her she had stopped playing sport at school when told to wear shorts and that her hijab was not allowed. The report says the hijab was banned by Fifa on safety grounds in 2007, but in a U-turn, was fully permitted in 2014.
