Bishops’ proposals on same sex-marriage ‘incoherent‘
Proposals by Church of England’s bishops banning same-sex marriage in church but offering prayers of blessing instead, have been criticised as inconsistent and incoherent, a mess and entirely unsatisfactory. Speakers at a Religion Media Centre briefing from both sides of the divide, said they wanted a more courageous stand, where bishops either came out against or supported the idea, but admitted support would not get past a vote at the General Synod. Instead there was dismay that the confused outcome would simply “prolong the agony of division” within the church. There was also an appeal for more theological reflection before any proposed change to the doctrine of marriage as only between a man and woman. Bishops have said they will issue an apology later this week for the “rejection, exclusion and hostility” experienced by LGBTQI+ people in the church. But the Rev Dr Charlie Bell said the apology would ring hollow unless clergy sacked because of their civil partnerships were re-instated and there was an acknowledgment that same-sex marriage should not be a bar to ordination or ministry. He did however sound a note of optimism, saying the idea of blessings marked a fundamental shift. “What this new position says is that, for the first time, relationships between two people with the same-sex are good”. View the briefing on our YouTube channel here.
North Korea “worst country” for persecution of Christians
Open Doors, a charity highlighting persecution of Christians round the world, has published the World Watch List of countries graded according to their record on the extent of persecution. Top of the list this year is North Korea where it says there has been an increase in arrests, underground churches have been closed and a new “anti-reactionary thought law” criminalises any published material of foreign origin in the country, including the Bible. The report says Latin America has seen the sharpest increase in persecution with Christians silenced and criminal gangs thriving under ineffective government.
Zigi Shipper, Holocaust survivor, has died
The Jewish Chronicle reports that Holocaust survivor Zigi Shipper has died at the age of 93. It says he survived the Lodz ghetto and both the Auschwitz and Stutthof concentration camps, arriving in the UK in 1947 . He was honoured for his work with the Holocaust Educational Trust, whose chief executive, Karen Pollock, said he was energetic, charismatic, charming, and a brilliant person to have around, adding: “May his memory be a blessing”.
Trump chides evangelicals for lack of support
The former US president Donald Trump, has accused evangelical leaders who are no longer supporting him of disloyalty. He made the comments during a TV appearance on the cable TV station “Real America’s Voice”. He praised his own record on abortion, noting he had appointed three conservative Supreme Court justices: “Nobody has ever done more for right to life than Donald Trump,” he said. And according to a Religion News Service report, he appeared to blame evangelical leaders for the Republican Party’s poor showing in the 2022 midterm elections, saying he was “a little disappointed because I thought they could have fought much harder” on the issue of abortion. RNS story here
US lecturer sues university over Muhammad painting controversy
Erika Lopez Prater, a professor in the United States whose contract was not renewed after she showed a medieval painting of the Prophet Muhammad in a class, is suing the university. Her legal team says Hamline University in Minnesota subjected her to religious discrimination and defamation, and damaged her professional and personal reputation. At the time, the university said her actions were undeniably Islamophobic, but now it says it is reviewing its own actions.
Christian Institute instructs lawyers on conversion therapy ban
The Christian Institute has commissioned lawyers to fight the government’s proposed ban on conversion therapy. They say the law might prevent Christians from speaking out, infringing human rights. It could effectively ban priests from offering spiritual guidance to people conflicted over sexuality or gender and it could outlaw private prayer. The Telegraph quotes Simon Calvert, deputy director of the Institute, saying: “A ban on spiritual guidance and prayer would be tyrannical and unworkable”.
Madonna’s Virgin Mary Last Supper shoot causes outrage
Madonna has caused outrage by dressing as the Virgin Mary in re-created scenes from the Last Supper for a Vanity Fair “Icon Issue” photoshoot, with female “disciples” falling at her feet. Designer John Galliano said Madonna’s career had always had a biblical dimension and universal scope. Social media reactions have said the scenes were disrespectful to faith.
