Woolf Institute launches Commission on Interfaith Relations and Global Conflict
The Woolf Institute has launched “The Commission on Interfaith Relations: UK Faith Groups and Global Conflict”, an initiative to examine how global conflicts impact religious groups in Britain. A team of 14 commissioners, faith and civic leaders, will visit six cities this year, speaking to faith representatives on their experience of conflict and building community. At the Commission’s launch in the House of Lords, the chair Dr Ed Kessler, also the founder president of the Woolf Institute, said events overseas transfer immediately to the UK and the impact is quickly felt on the streets: “We don’t seem to have the resilience that society and our communities might have had”. The Commission will look at issues such as the media and disinformation, the generational divide and concerns of young people, and the training of religious leaders. The intention is to compile a report analysing the evidence from regional meetings and then make recommendations for policy. The Commission’s vice chair, Bishop Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, spoke of the need for religious literacy in a society where religion has not receded from public life and where faith continues to shape ethics, civic engagement, communities and resilience in times of crisis. He said the Commission’s purpose was to offer insight on how faith and public life could intersect constructively. It has the opportunity, he said, “to help shape healthier pathways”. The six cities are: London, Leicester, Leeds/Bradford, Edinburgh, Manchester and Cardiff. Further information here
Call for bursaries and subject knowledge courses for RE teachers
Religious Education specialists have written an open letter to the Secretary of State for Education, calling for the immediate introduction of bursaries for RE trainees, bringing the subject into line with other subject priority areas. They also want to see the reinstatement and expansion of courses giving teachers additional subject knowledge and expertise. The letter says the absence of bursaries and subject knowledge funding has resulted in fewer applications for RE teacher training, adding to the shortage of qualified staff. It says recruitment targets have been missed in 13 of the last 14 years, which “risks diminishing the subject’s status within schools”. The current policy inadvertently communicates a lack of commitment to RE, despite statutory requirements for its delivery in the curriculum. This is particularly concerning following the Curriculum and Assessment Review recommendation that RE becomes part of a national curriculum”. Open letter is here
Vatican tried to intervene in Venezuela before US captured President Maduro
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has confirmed that the Vatican attempted to mediate before the US took action in Venezuela, capturing the president, Nicolás Maduro. He told reporters: “We had tried … to find a solution that would avoid any bloodshed, trying perhaps to reach an agreement even with Maduro and with other figures in the regime, but this was not possible”. Speaking to reporters last weekend, he said the Vatican had always supported a peaceful solution but were “faced with a fait accompli”.
Minnesota pastor condemns ‘shameful, unlawful’ demonstration in church service
The pastor who was leading worship in Minnesota last Sunday when demonstrators burst in and disrupted the service, has issued a statement condemning the action and has called on local, state, and national leaders to protect the right to worship. Pastor Jonathan Parnell described the scene at Cities church, St Paul, when demonstrators “accosted members of our congregation, frightened children, and created a scene marked by intimidation and threat. Such conduct is shameful, unlawful, and will not be tolerated. Invading a church service to disrupt the worship of Jesus — or any other act of worship — is protected by neither the Christian Scriptures nor the laws of this nation”. He said the church welcomes respectful dialogue and he re-affirms that “church buildings are meant to be places of peace and solace” where people hear a Christian message. The Department of Justice is investigating the incident and has vowed to press charges.
World Council of Churches says world leaders must have “spirit of dialogue”
The World Council of Churches has issued a statement appealing for leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, to meet with “a spirit of dialogue”. General secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay said the WCC, like the United Nations, is founded on a commitment to unity and cooperation, and seeks to promote the resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue rather than through confrontation and conflict. He identified issues needing attention such as spiralling inequality, the proliferation of mis and dis-information, the necessity of justice and human rights as a basis for sustainable peace, and a collective failure to respond adequately to the climate catastrophe and its impacts. He concluded: “It is our prayer and hope that ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’ will turn into concrete actions to create a more just, equitable and peaceful world for all people and all creation.” Statement is here
Trump’s lawyer floated US asylum for British Jews
Robert Garson, Trump’s personal lawyer, has told a Telegraph reporter that the UK was “no longer a safe place for Jews” and he had discussed offering asylum to British Jews. Raised in Manchester and a former Manchester Grammar schoolboy, he said that antisemitism after the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, and last October’s attack on a Manchester synagogue, had led him to raise the matter. He told the reporter that the offer was “certainly not an unattractive proposition. It is a highly educated community”, adding that he had spoken to the State Department and “mentioned it” in his role on the Holocaust Museum board.
Australia tightens hate speech and gun laws after Bondi Beach attack
Australia’s Parliament has passed anti-hate speech and gun laws following the Bondi Beach attack when 15 Jewish people were killed while attending a religious festival. There are four million registered guns in the county. The new restrictions on firearm import controls, improvements on information sharing between intelligence agencies about people trying to obtain gun licences, and a buyback scheme targeting surplus and newly restricted firearms. The hate speech bill will ban groups spreading hate and bring in tougher penalties for preachers advocating violence. The opposition will be consulted on the listing and delisting of extremist organisations and there will be reviews every two years. Story here
Australia will observe a National Day of Mourning tomorrow, 22 January, to honour the victims of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.
Christian private schools’ legal challenge against VAT on school fees
Christian private schools have launched a legal challenge against VAT on school fees, which was introduced last January. In a case being heard at the Court of Appeal, they said the policy affects their rights and is discriminatory, adversely affecting “modest income” families, attracted by low fees. They said their needs will not be met in the state system. One headteacher said that schools will close and this will “dismantle decades of work in building Christian education” – adding that the right to choose an education aligned with a person’s convictions must be protected. The schools taking action include The King’s School in Fair Oak, Hampshire, Emmanuel School in Derby, The Branch Christian School in Yorkshire and Wyclif Independent Christian School in South Wales. Orthodox Jewish families from Charedi schools are also taking action. Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Government, told the court that the position of families with educational preferences arising from their religious beliefs was specifically debated when the policy was introduced. Report in the Mail and Telegraph
