Great potential for faith groups to offer health and social care support
Faith groups gave front line support to the NHS during the Covid pandemic, for example running vaccination clinics, relaying crucial health care information and advising on the burial of the dead. Post pandemic, there are conversations about continuing and extending this support. Faith Action, which encourages faith groups to get involved in society at grass roots level, says there is great potential for cross sector partnerships backed up with proper resourcing. An example that demonstrates this potential is the Nishkam Healthcare Trust, which this year marks its 10th anniversary. It offers a range of services, including a pharmacy, footcare clinic, pay-what-you-can-afford dentistry, and a mental and emotional wellbeing clinic. There are also plans to open a GP surgery. Hardeep Singh reports on the initiative and new trends in faith based healthcare provision on our website here
“The Rome Call” to ensure Artificial Intelligence designers respect human ethical principles
Rabbis, Imams and Christian leaders have met at the Vatican to discuss the rapidly advancing progress in Artificial Intelligence, saying there is an urgent need for AI designers to respect human ethical and moral limits given. The discussion has been given new impetus by the widely available ChatGPT bot which can answer questions as a human. Madhumita Murgia, European Technology Correspondent at the Financial Times, reports their key concerns outlined at the meeting. Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, of the UAE, feared societal division due to misinformation and problems with privacy. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia was concerned about AI curtailing freedom of refugees. And Chief Rabbi Eliezer Simha Weisz of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel was anxious that AI would make us forget what it is to be human, a soul, setting mankind apart. Microsoft and IBM were at the meeting and stressed the need for humans to be at the centre of AI design. The three religious leaders and technology companies present signed “The Rome Call”, outlining six ethical principles for AI systems. FT article here
“Muslimness is a problem” complaints referred to PM’s ethics adviser
An investigation into a complaint by Nusrat Ghani MP, that party whips said her “Muslimess had been making colleagues feel uncomfortable”, has been handed to the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser. Mark Spencer, chief whip at the time, has rejected the allegations as completely false and defamatory. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has confirmed it is following up on the investigation. A spokesperson said: “There is no place for Islamophobia in British society and we are constructively engaged with the Conservative Party on these allegations. We have been in contact with the government to ensure our outstanding letter to Lord Geidt is passed on to the new independent advisor, Sir Laurie Magnus.”
African Anglican bishops reject CofE same sex blessing decision
The Religion News Service has found online messages from the conservative Anglican archbishops of Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, rejecting the CofE decision to allow same sex blessings. The General Synod maintained a ban on same sex marriage but the blessings were a step too far. Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu of Uganda said: “The Church of England … has now departed from the Bible and their message is the opposite. They are even offering to bless that sin. That is wrong. As the Church of Uganda, we cannot accept that. God cannot bless what he calls sin.” Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, the primate of the Church of Kenya, attributed the move to “the unfortunate rise of devious liberal churchmanship within Anglican Communion.” Archbishop Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba of Nigeria said: “The Anglican Church is at the threshold of yet another reformation, which must sweep out the ungodly leadership currently endorsing sin, misleading the lives of faithful Anglican worldwide”.
Charges relating to silent prayer near a Birmingham abortion clinic are dropped
The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped four charges of failing to comply with a public spaces protection order brought against a Catholic priest and a charity volunteer, who were silently praying near an abortion clinic. Father Sean Gough accused the government of censoring the streets of the UK and attempting to criminalise silent prayer. In separate hearings at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, the CPS said both cases had been judged not to meet the test for prosecution, assessing the public interest and if there is a realistic prospect of conviction. Fr Gough said that in a democratic country, “we should not be in the business of prosecuting thought crimes.” Telegraph report here
Report recommends collaboration among Manchester Jewish communities
An independent report into Jewish communities in Manchester highlights the need for greater collaboration between the rapidly growing strict Orthodox Jewish community and mainstream groups. The research was commissioned by the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and the Jewish Leadership Council, in conjunction with local councils. It says the Jewish population has risen 12 per cent in the last ten years, and nearer 35 per cent among strictly orthodox groups. It identified 91 organisations working with children and young people and three working with adults with mild to moderate learning difficulties. It was seeking to address how to deliver on priorities and align plans with changes in demographics and the future needs of the community, in order to avoid overlap and risk wasting communal resources.
