Former IICSA chair to sort out safeguarding in the Church of England
Professor Alexis Jay, the former chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA, and the former IICSA secretary John O’Brien, have agreed to develop proposals for a fully independent safeguarding structure in the Church of England. The announcement follows the chaos of recent weeks when two members of the church’s Independent Safeguarding Board were sacked, the interim chair resigned and the former chair complained of being misrepresented and maligned. The dispute spilled over into the general synod meeting in York ten days ago, when the two sacked members were allowed to give their side of the story. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell, welcomed Professor Jay’s appointment and said her work would be fully external and independent. They expect she will report back before the end of the year with a recommendation which the church will debate and then consult on its implementation. In her own statement, Professor Jay said she has always been clear that safeguarding in the church would require genuine independence: “I have explained that if I detect any attempt to interfere with or to hinder my work, I will withdraw from this programme of work immediately”.
Shocking rape video in Manipur ethnic conflict
Narendra Modi has pledged to act after a video emerged on social media showing two naked women being dragged into a field where they were allegedly raped. It happened in the north east state of Manipur in May but the video has only just been posted and has gone viral. The BBC reports that the men were from the Meiteis predominantly Hindu ethnic group and the women from the predominantly Christian Kukis. Violence between the two groups has risen in the past few months as the Kukis protest discrimination against them. Premier Christian News quotes Bishop Joseph D’Souza of the Good Shepherd Church of India saying the video is hearty rending: “The India we knew is fast disappearing”.
Iraq expels Swedish ambassador after another Quran protest in Stockholm
Iraq has expelled the Swedish ambassador in protest at another Swedish decision to allow the burning of the Quran, this time outside Iraq’s embassy in Stockholm. Iraq’s chargé d’affaires in Sweden has been recalled and working permits for Swedish businesses operating in Iraq have been suspended. There have been a number of incidents in Sweden when the Quran has been burned or torn. Swedish authorities allow such protests on the grounds of free speech. But the last decision, which ended with the Quran stamped on, not burned, caused hundreds of protesters to storm and set alight to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, an act which has been condemned by the EU and Washington.
Pope’s envoy to Ukraine held one hour meeting with President Biden
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Pope’s envoy to Ukraine, held talks with President Biden for one hour, during his visit to Washington this week. The content was unveiled by Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, in an interview with Vatican News. He said the Cardinal took the opportunity to see what the Holy See could do to help end hostilities in Ukraine “I think it’s important to note that the President received the Cardinal and the Nuncio at length. The meeting was over an hour long, which I think gives an indication of how much importance the President of the United States attributed to the gesture on the part of Pope Francis to send the Cardinal to the United States.” The Cardinal emphasised the work of the church in providing humanitarian assistance. Archbishop Broglio told Vatican News that he was concerned about the US decision to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine, saying they kill indiscriminately and injury to the innocent should always be avoided.
Catholic bishop welcomes freedom for mother who illegally obtained abortion tablets
Bishop John Sherrington, lead bishop for life issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision to reduce the sentence of a mother of three, who was jailed for illegally obtaining abortion tablets by post during lockdown, ending her pregnancy at between 32 and 34 weeks. Carla Foster was sentenced to 28 months, but on appeal, a judge said there was exceptionally strong mitigation, and reduced this to 14 months suspended. Bishop John re-iterated church teaching against abortion but welcomed “the court’s decision to show mercy and compassion so that Carla Foster is reunited
Nishkam Centre leaders meet Number Ten advisers
Amrick Singh Ubhi, the director of civic engagement and partnerships at the Nishkam Centre in Birmingham, and its spiritual director Bhai Sahib Prof Mohinder Singh, visited Number Ten Downing Street for talks with the Prime Minister’s adviser Myles Stacey. In a tweet, they said they explained the work of the Centre which provides a school, health centre, advice on work and numerous community support groups and activities. They say it has “major global reach and impact”. Relations between Sikhs and the government have been strained since the publication of the report “Does government do God?”, which advocated action against extremist fringe Sikh groups
Sikhs and Christians meet at Lambeth seeking common cause
The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited a number of British Sikhs to Lambeth Palace to share news of their front-line projects and action on common social concerns, opening conversations about ways to collaborate in the future. Jasvir Singh CBE, the chair of City Sikhs, said there was a shared approach to interfaith work, promoting understanding and harmony among diverse communities towards a more inclusive society.
Call to strike name of paedophile from Jewish prayerbook
The United Synagogue has asked all its leaders to strike out the name of has taken the extraordinary step of Sidney Greenbaum an earlier edition of the Singer’s Siddur, the standard prayerbook for its communities. Greenbaum was a professor of English praised for his grasp of English syntax, who contributed to the prayerbook. But in 1990 he was convicted of indecent assault against boys under 16. A memo from the United Synagogue chief executive Jo Grose, says that as a convicted child abuser, his name has no place in our holy books
