Operation Noah says faith institutions need to be proactive against climate change
The Christian charity Operation Noah, which campaigns against climate change, has published a report appealing for churches to disinvest from fossil fuels, saying they have a vital role to play if the world is to reach net zero. The report “Church Investment in Climate Solutions” says religious institutions have a combined $3 trillion of investments globally and while some churches have made progress, all churches and faith institutions need to be pro-active and take a more strategic and intentional approach to increase their investment in climate solutions.
Solar panels on York Minster roof to tackle the climate emergency
York Minster is applying for permission to install 199 solar panels on the roof of the south quire aisle which dates back to 1362. Energy bills for the Minster and surrounding buildings are expected to triple in 2023 and the BBC quotes the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, saying the Minster was committed to taking a lead on addressing the climate emergency and to become carbon net zero.
3,000 attend service for new Anglican province in Mozambique
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is in Mozambique to lead celebrations for the new province of the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola, the 42nd province of the Anglican Communion. It was created in 2021 but celebrations were put on hold due to Covid restrictions. In a service on Sunday, attended by 3,000 people, the archbishop spoke of the need for reconciliation and peace in a country where one million people have been forced to flee their homes because of violence, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced by natural disasters.
Back to the future: appeal for churches to start local football clubs again
The Bishop of Burnley, Philip North, says the church should be starting church football clubs again, which were popular more than 100 years ago when football started to be formed into the massive organisation it is today. As the world cup enters its third day, the bishop told Premier Christian News that he was not feeling enthusiastic about the tournament knowing 6,500 migrant workers had died building the stadiums as well as questions raised on Qatar’s record on human rights. With advice form the CofE that carol services can be moved from Sunday 18 December because it clashes with the world cup final, he said churches would be better to stick to Christmas than to get involved with the world cup, though the church could engage with sport by starting church football clubs.
Two Muslim schools closed down in France
Two Muslim schools have been closed down in Montpellier, France, because they were said to be operating without permission. The regional governor ordered the closures after unannounced checks. Closure of mosques and Muslim institutions was made possible by a law passed last year to crack down on religious extremism. But it has been criticised for provoking Islamophobia and higher levels of hate crime have been reported.
£32 million compensation for Holocaust victims in Lithuania
Jewish News reports that the Lithuanian Prime Minister is proposing a law to provide £32 million in compensation to Holocaust victims, representing, in part, property left without heirs. Almost 200,000 Jews were killed by the Nazis in Lithuania, representing around 90 per cent of their total population. Today, there are about 5,000 Jews in the country. The World Jewish Restitution Organization has welcomed the plan saying the funds would have a significant impact on strengthening and supporting Jewish communal life in Lithuania and addressing the welfare needs of the elderly.
German priest abducted in Mali
Suspected Islamic extremists have abducted a German priest in the capital city of Mali, while he was preparing to travel across the city to celebrate mass. The Rev. Hans-Joachim Lohre had been in Mali for more than 30 years and was a teacher at the Institute of Islamic-Christian Training. The Associated Press said this was the first kidnapping of a westerner in the area for mor than a decade. Islamist extremists have a history of abducting foreigners and holding them for ransom.
“People of Praise” survivors urge US supreme court judge to withdraw from LGBT case
The Guardian reports that the US Supreme Court judge Amy Coney Barrett, is being urged to withdraw from a case to decide whether private business owners have a right to decline services to potential clients based on their sexual orientation. The judge is a member of the controversial, conservative group “People of Praise”, which is criticised for operating like a cult. People who have left this secretive organisation say its hardline approach to LGBT rights makes it impossible for the judge to act without bias. The case, due to be heard on 5 December, concerns a website developer who could not turn away gay couples seeking her services, because of Colorado’s anti-discrimination law.
Italian nun who won “The Voice” leaves holy orders for a singing career
Sister Cristina Scuccia, who shot to fame after winning the Italian version of the TV talent show The Voice, has left holy orders, is working as a waitress in Spain and still chasing her dream of a career in music. Once with the Ursuline Sisters of the Holy Family convent in Milan, she won The Voice in 2014 when she was 25, and went on to produce an album, which she gave to Pope Francis. The Guardian reports that it included a version of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, which outraged Italy’s Religious Information Service who said it was “a reckless and calculated commercial operation”. She announced that she had left the order in a TV talkshow on Sunday, but had not abandoned her faith. Before and after pictures in The Telegraph here >>
