The King’s first Christmas message
In the weeks leading to Christmas, King Charles has made a point of visiting faith communities and attending religious events. He has worn a Sikh headdress, enjoyed a Jewish dance with Holocaust survivors, and sung Christmas carols. In visits focussing on faith in action, he has engaged with several projects to help refugees, for example opening the Ukrainian Welcome Centre at the Catholic cathedral in Mayfair, or visiting a gurdwara where people provide meals as service. At a Buckingham Palace reception for faith leaders, days into his reign, he spoke of his sincerely held Christian beliefs and respect for those who follow other spiritual paths. In an explanation of the King’s relationship with faith and diversity, Catherine Pepinster writes that these themes are expected to feature in his Christmas message: “If he follows in his mother’s footsteps, it will be about Christian faith — and the importance of faith diversity in Britain today”. Read her article on our website here
Cardinal says no shortage of churchgoers this Christmas, despite census result
Cardinal Vincent Nichols has told Times Radio that there is ‘no shortage’ of churchgoers despite the 2021 census showing that only 46 per cent of the population of England and Wales now identify as Christian. He said people were ‘coming back’ to the church during the pandemic, and there was no shortage of the instinct for faith connecting again with church. He also proved not to be a fan of modernising the lyrics of carols and hymns. Asked about a controversy in Loughborough where God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman was changed to include “women, who by men have been erased” and a reference to “queer and questioning”, he said the rituals fashioned over centuries are, for him,” more important than particular sensitivities which come and go”. Daily Mail article here
Woman arrested for silently praying near abortion clinic
Isabel Vaughan Spruce, the director of the UK March for Life, a Catholic and a pregnancy counsellor, has been charged for silently praying in a buffer zone round an abortion clinic in Birmingham. She admitted she might have said some prayers silently in her mind, after being pictured standing near the clinic. She is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 2 February charged with four counts of failing to comply with a Public Space Protection Order. Catholic Herald story here
Sir David Suchet’s recorded Bible reading his legacy to the world
Sir David Suchet has said that he considers his audio reading of the Bible to be the legacy that he would like to leave the world. He was speaking in an interview for the Washington Times, as he prepared to go on stage as the narrator in the annual Christmas concert of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, an event run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which attracts a nightly audience of 15,000. He read all 727,969 words of the New International Version of the Bible in 2014 and the recording remains a best seller. In the interview, the actor, famous for his portrayal of the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, said as a Christian and an actor, he was seeking to use his gifts to serve the faith. He pointed to many references in the Bible to hearing the scripture spoken: “Paul says, you will come to faith by hearing”. Washington Times story here
This is the last daily news bulletin for 2022, to be resumed on Tuesday 3 January 2023. Keep watching our website for stories that break until then. Thank you for your support this year and all good wishes for 2023. See you in the new year
