Tradition, diversity and inclusion in the King’s coronation service
The liturgy for the coronation service was published on Saturday night. Tradition dominates, with nods to contemporary Britain. Representatives from other faiths take part in the procession and presentation of regalia, and as soon as the service is over, other faith leaders make a joint greeting to the King. Leaders of other Christian denominations offer prayers of blessing. The homage of the peers gives way to a people’s homage where the public is invited to swear allegiance. The King will say the traditional oaths, pledging to defend the faith, prefaced with a statement that the Church of England reasserts its position as the established church but “seeks to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely”. The bishops present include the women bishops of London, Dover and Chelmsford and the former bishop of London Richard Chartres. Read Catherine Pepinster’s explainer of the ritual and its meaning here
‘Loving service’ the overarching coronation theme
The Church of England drew up the liturgy with Buckingham Palace and the government, and at a press conference said the theme centred on the role of the new king as a servant, following the example of Jesus Christ’s servant leadership. The theme is picked up with “The Big Help Out” on bank holiday Monday when all are urged to volunteer. Today at 1200 we are holding a briefing on the idea of service, shared by religious traditions and embraced by people of no religion in Britain. To get the link: [email protected]
Telegraph exclusive on Soul Survivor founder Mike Pilavachi
The Telegraph carries a report into the founder of Soul Survivor, the Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, who has stepped aside pending a safeguarding investigation. The report says he gathered young men around him, attracted by his preaching and charismatic status, and it quotes allegations of whole body oil massages and 20 minute wrestling matches. Soul Survivor is within the Church of England, is based in a large church in Watford and ran summer festivals for 26 years, where 30,000 young people would assemble each year for charismatic worship and evangelical teaching. Read Gabriella Swerling’s exclusive here
Minority religion research institute SOVA shut down in Moscow
The SOVA centre in Russia, which researches minority religions, nationalism, xenophobia, relations between the churches and the secular society, and political radicalism, has been “liquidated” by the Moscow Department of the Ministry of Justice. It said SOVA was guilty of “gross and irreparable violations of the law and the statute of the organisation”, by participating in events outside Moscow. Court documents say representatives had taken part in 24 events outside Moscow between 2020 and 2022, including several with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. SOVA says the order is disproportionate. It will appeal and continue to operate until the liquidation order comes into force.
Calls for Guardian editor to resign over antisemitic cartoon
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called on Katharine Viner, editor of The Guardian, to resign, after a cartoon was published depicting the BBC chairman Richard Sharp with antisemitic tropes. Mr Sharp, who is Jewish, was forced to step down after failing to disclose his involvement in an £800,000 loan facility for Boris Johnson, who was then the prime minister. The cartoon portrayed him with an enlarged nose, carrying a Goldman Sachs office box, where he once worked as a banker, containing gold coins and a squid, with a pig’s head behind him. The cartoonist apologised and the cartoon was taken down, but the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the cartoon was shocking and it has requested an urgent meeting with the Guardian’s editor, saying this was “far from the first time that the paper had crossed the line”.
Pope appeals for return of Ukrainian children removed to Russia
Pope Francis has re-iterated the Vatican’s efforts to facilitate the return to Ukraine of children deported to Russia during the war. He was speaking to journalists on the flight back from Hungary following a three-day visit in which he spoke of the need to end the war in Ukraine and for Europe to welcome migrants. He said the children’s return was a matter of justice and humanity, and everything humanly possible must be done to secure their return. Around 50,000 people attended an open-air mass in Budapest, including Hungary’s right-wing populist prime minister, Viktor Orban.
“Theo-democracy” to understand religion within conflicts and to build peace
A book outlining how Islamic law and international law help or hinder peace and reconciliation, suggests how “theo-diplomacy” can use insight and wisdom from faith traditions to determine their role in conflicts. Peace and Reconciliation in International and Islamic Law, by Dr Kaleem Hussain, says the use of religion as a pretext for acts of aggression can be de-coupled by recourse to international law, Islamic Law and humanitarian norms. He explores the role of religion in conflict resolution and de-escalation of violence, and the way interfaith and intra-faith dialogue can contribute to the peacebuilding process.
Miniature Quran of 2 x 1 centimetres preserved by family in Albania
The Islam channel reports that a miniature Quran, considered one of the smallest in the world, has been kept by an Albanian family in Tirana for several generations. The tiny book, two centimetres wide and one centimetre thick, is believed to have been found while digging for a new house in the Djakovica region of Kosovo towards the end of the 19th century, It was found laying over the heart of a perfectly preserved body of a man buried there. The book’s 900 pages can be read only with a powerful magnifying glass. It’s suggested that it has survived a history of wars and authoritarian regimes because it could be easily hidden due to its miniature size.
