NUJ says BBC Religion and Ethics department to be ‘slashed’
The National Union of Journalists has revealed cuts to the BBC’s Religion and Ethics department as the corporation seeks to save £500 million by cutting 10 per cent of its costs and 2,000 jobs. In a statement yesterday, the NUJ’s BBC Audio chapel said: “The teams making Radio 4 programmes are facing 11 post closures… The Religion and Ethics department is being slashed and The Daily Service, one of the longest-running radio programmes in the world, will have a significant budget cut. A new digital format is proposed, leading to questions around how digitally excluded listeners will be served”. The statement also referred to cuts at Radio 4 programmes “You and Yours” and “Loose Ends”. NUJ general secretary Laura Davison said the union is “alarmed” by news of further cuts across BBC Radio as “a huge part of the BBC’s success” had been to provide content for diverse audiences to understand the world we live in. The NUJ is urging BBC management to reconsider these decisions to avoid “heading towards a doom spiral of cuts and diminishing services”, and to instead focus on securing a sustainable funding settlement through Charter Renewal. The union has written to the Chancellor, calling for urgent intervention for the BBC in the upcoming Autumn Budget to prevent further cuts. There has been no BBC response to the statement so far, but after other recent cutbacks announced last week, the Director of BBC Sounds Jonathan Wall said significant savings were needed and they were “reshaping BBC speech audio” and accelerating growth on digital platforms to reach more people.
Pope’s eldest brother Louis also being treated for cancer
Pope Leo’s eldest brother, Louis Prevost, is also being treated for cancer. Speaking to the US based Newsmax, Louis who is 75, said he had multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects bone marrow, and was diagnosed in 2017. His wife Deborah told CBS news that Louis was in remission until three months ago and he is now part of a clinical trial that reprogrammes a patient’s immune cells to fight cancer. She said the family was “going through a lot” but kept praying to keep their spirits up. Louis said both he and his brother had a positive attitude, which was helping. Pope Leo, who is 71, had a successful operation on Tuesday to remove part of his right lung and is expected to remain in hospital for a week. The Vatican says he is recovering as expected. There is a third brother, John, who is 73, a retired school principal now living in a suburb south-west of Chicago.
Catholic network welcomes Trump decision not to livestream execution
President Trump has announced that the execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people in an attack on a Texas military base in November 2009, will not be livestreamed. Hasan is due to die by firing squad on 3 December, and The Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth said this would be broadcast live, a decision that caused outrage. Now Trump has issued a statement on Truth Social, saying: “I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the world to witness how America deals with terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well-meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device. He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed.” Trump said the execution could be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, “if they so choose”. The Catholic Mobilizing Network, which opposes executions and this live streaming proposal, welcomed Trump’s reversal saying it is a step in the right direction as any execution is a failure. The Guardian has interviewed Douglas Wilson, the leader of Pete Hegseth’s church, part of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, on the issue. It reports that Wilson said: “I support the execution of Hasan and prefer public executions to private. I prefer the older forms, like a firing squad, as opposed to attempts to ‘medicalize’ it, as with the recent botched execution by injection in Tennessee.”
Survivors’ Council calls for separate safeguarding reviews on Donaldson case
The Northern Ireland Survivor Council has raised concerns about the independence of two safeguarding reviews following the sentencing of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to 15 years in prison for historical sexual offences. The council questioned whether INEQE Safeguarding Group could independently investigate both what the DUP knew about Donaldson’s behaviour, as well as safeguarding failures within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Donaldson’s victims had previously disclosed abuse to church officials. The council queried whether one organisation could independently and robustly conduct both reviews, warning that information could pass between the two investigations. The Council is calling for separate, independent reviews whose findings could be brought together afterwards.
Faith leaders say climate crisis is a moral issue and oil and gas companies must pay
Quakers and people of faith joined politicians, trade unionists and climate campaigners outside Parliament this week, to press the Chancellor to ensure that oil and gas companies pay their fair share towards climate damage. The Make Polluters Pay coalition says it is calling on ministers to resist weakening taxes on fossil fuel companies making “unearned war-driven mega-profits”. Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: “Responding to the climate crisis is not only an environmental challenge but a moral one, raising questions about responsibility, fairness and how resources are shared.” The campaigners referred to wildfires, drought, excessive heat and a glacier collapse, drawing attention to the final address of the UN General Assembly Secretary-General, António Guterres, who called for climate justice and said: “polluters must pay”.
Inquest opens into death of pastor when an arch fell on him at Christian festival
An inquest has been opened into the death of Pastor Robert Guanco, 41, who died when a large wooden arch fell on him at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex on 28 August. The inquest heard that the provisional cause of death was multiple severe injuries and blunt force trauma. Six others were injured, four requiring hospital treatment. Pastor Guanco, a healthcare assistant, was pastor at Jesus the Living Water Church in Eastbourne. His widow, Isaeli, said discovering the truth about what happened could help the family grieve and prevent similar tragedies. A funeral service was held for him last week, while a fundraising page for his widow and daughter has so far raised more than £243,000. The inquest was adjourned until 9 March, when a pre-inquest review will establish arrangements for the full hearing. A health and safety investigation into the incident is underway.
Interfaith leaders pray for wisdom and compassion as new Senedd opens
King Charles opened the Senedd’s seventh term, praising the character and identity of Wales – “the distinctively Welsh idea of connection, the profound connection between place, people, culture and belonging”. He also spoke of his concern at the impact of climate change on the countryside. This is the largest Senedd ever elected, with 96 members – an increase of 60 per cent on before, with Plaid Cymru as the largest party, in a historic first, and Reform in second place. At an ecumenical service the day before the Senedd opening, the Archbishop of Wales, Cherry Vann, preached, praying that members would be guided by “wisdom, integrity and compassion” and keep in view the dignity of every person and the common good of society. She said: “I pray that this new Senedd term will be marked by a spirit of service, constructive dialogue and renewed hope for the people of Wales”.
MPs urge Government to secure Jagtar Singh Johal’s return
MPs have urged the Government to step up efforts to bring the Scottish Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal home from India, during a Commons adjournment debate led by Douglas McAllister, his local MP. Johal, detained since 2017, was released on bail on 1 October but still faces outstanding cases and the risk of the death penalty. McAllister urged the Government to move beyond routinely raising the matter with India and make a coordinated diplomatic effort to secure Johal’s return to Scotland. He highlighted the risk of the death penalty if Johal is convicted in the eight outstanding cases. Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael called for the Government to consider granting Johal diplomatic protection, which he said would send a strong signal to India. Foreign Office minister Chris Elmore said British officials had met Johal twice since his release and would continue raising concerns about his detention, alleged torture and right to a fair trial. But he stressed that the proceedings were a matter for India’s independent courts.
£13.3m awarded to 37 churches in renewal fund
Thirty-seven Church of England churches and cathedrals have received £13.3 million in the first round of the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to help repair and maintain historic religious buildings. The fund follows the closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which operated for more than 20 years and reimbursed VAT on eligible repairs and maintenance costing more than £1,000. The new scheme supports capital works including fabric repairs and essential improvements, such as electrical upgrades, heating, toilets and step-free access. Awards range from nearly £25,000 to more than £900,000, including £377,185 for Birmingham Cathedral to repair its deteriorating tower and dome, and £746,900 for St Elwyn’s Church in Hayle, Cornwall, for masonry and water damage repairs. The Fund will distribute £92 million over four years – £23 million a year – administered by Historic England.
‘Awe walks’ boost compassion and gratitude, study finds
Taking a regular walk while noticing the wonders of the world can boost compassion, gratitude and emotional wellbeing, a study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, has found. Fifty-two older adults took weekly 15-minute “awe walks” for eight weeks, and reported increased positive emotions and less distress in daily life. The research aimed to identify interventions that would improve brain health. The group reported deeper appreciation of the colours of autumn and greater focus on the landscape, with photographs showing more intense smiles. UC Berkeley psychologist Dr Dacher Keltner, says “Awe is a positive emotion triggered by awareness of something vastly larger than the self and not immediately understandable — such as nature, art, music, or being caught up in a collective act such as a ceremony, concert or political march”, which can lead to enhanced feelings of generosity, well-being and humility. There is a “science of awe”, attempting to identify the neurobiological state, pioneered by Dr. Dacher Keltner, at Berkely California. And the origin of awe is investigated by psychologist Lisa Miller, founder of Columbia University’s Spirituality Mind Body Institute. She says that our brains act as “docking stations” for sacred consciousness, but they do not create experiences such as awe.
