Archbishop: Disestablishment preferable to split in worldwide Anglican communion
The Guardian reports an account of a private meeting between the Archbishop of Canterbury and MPs over CofE proposals to ban same sex marriage but allow couples to be blessed. It is reported that he said he would rather see the Church of England lose its privileged status as the established church of the country than risk the global church fracturing over disagreements on the issue. Further, the MPs are said to have questioned the CofE’s status as the established church when it was out of step with the law of the land and public opinion. Lambeth Palace said it did not recognise the comments attributed to Justin Welby and the conversation was “more nuanced and complex than how it has been described.”
Church in South Sudan says Welby’s peace mission is “peace not doctrine“
The global Anglican communion is deeply divided on same sex relationships with opposing views on display in South Sudan, which the Archbishop of Canterbury is visiting on Friday. Last week, the Archbishop of South Sudan Justin Badi-Arama. said that the CofE proposals to bless same sex couples would exacerbate divisions. But yesterday, another South Sudan Archbishop, Samuel Peni, who leads the internal Province of Western Equatoria, told the Religion Media Centre that the Episcopal Church of South Sudan gives Justin Welby the authority to act as a peace broker in its name, “as doctrinal issues are different from peace issues. If the Archbishop of Canterbury is spearheading peace making for South Sudan, then there should be no objection or division”. He said most of the warring parties in the country respect Justin Welby and the bishops, especially if they are members of the Anglican Communion. Justin Welby’s visit is a peace mission to a war torn country, a joint endeavour with Pope Francis and the moderator of the Church of Scotland the Rev Dr Iain Greenshields.
Resources:
View our briefing on the South Sudan visit with guests Dr Iain Greenshields; Tom Delamare, from CAFOD and Lucy Gillingham, from Jesuit Missions, here >>
Listen to our podcast on the peace pilgrimage here >>
Read our report here >>
Pope thanks charities in DR Congo for work with the vulnerable
Pope Francis has continued his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, meeting representatives from six charities in Kinshasa, where he thanked them for their “precious work for the most vulnerable”. They included organisations working in healthcare, education, and human development for the poor, marginalised and disabled. He said young people needed to see actions that restore dignity rather than people wielding weapons or misusing money.
Imbolc festival marks first signs of Spring
The Festival of Imbolc, celebrating light and the first signs of spring, is observed at the start of February. The festival follows Pagan traditions in Britain which use the Eightfold Wheel of the Year as the basis for their calendar of festivals, taking place every six weeks. Imbolc is the first festival of the calendar year and like Candlemas, its counterpart in the Christian calendar, it is a festival of light after the long dark winter and is often associated with snowdrops. It is also connected to the goddess Brigid with the iconography of a triple flame, and to St Brigid whose feast day coincides with Imbolc and who is, after Patrick, the best-known and celebrated Irish saint. Read our factsheet on Imbolc here >>
Global harassment of atheists, agnostics and non religious is on the rise
Research from the Pew Centre says restrictions on religion don’t just affect those who are religious. People who are religiously unaffiliated also are harassed because of what they believe. In 2020, the number of countries where religiously unaffiliated people experienced harassment rose to 27, from 22 in the previous year. The group includes atheists, agnostics and “non-religious”.
EU appoints anti Islamophobia coordinator
Marion Lalissev, a former deputy EU ambassador to Yemen, has been appointed by the EU to coordinate measures to combat anti Muslim hatred. The post has been vacant for more than a year and her appointment follows heightened tension after the Quran was burned in Sweden and stamped upon in the Netherlands, resulting in protests in Turkey and outside embassies across Europe.
Protests outside cathedral ahead of Cardinal George Pell’s funeral mass
ABC news reports that police had to intervene in protests outside St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, in the hours leading up to the funeral mass for Cardinal George Pell this morning. Colourful ribbons which were tied to the fence and gates of the cathedral, symbolising hurt caused by child sex abuse, were cut by protesters. Cardinal Pell spent 13 months in prison after being convicted of child sex abuse but the conviction was quashed on appeal. Police have warned people to be respectful of each other. Inside the cathedral, people knelt before his coffin in respect.
CofE synod member reported to police for hate speech
The conservative group Christian Concern has taken up the case of Sam Margrave, a member of the General Synod from the Coventry diocese, who says he has received death threats since tabling a motion at last July’s synod challenging Queer theory and considering whether Pride is compatible with the Christian faith. His tweets led to the Bishop of Coventry referring him to the police for hate speech. Christian Concern quotes him saying this is about truth not hate and he does not hate anyone. The Diocese of Coventry has issued a statement saying highly offensive tweets are a matter of great regret and it is taking appropriate action.
