India stops issuing visas to Canadians following Sikh murder accusation
India has stopped issuing visas to Canadian citizens after it was accused of complicity in the murder of a Canadian Sikh activist. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who had campaigned for Khalistan, a Sikh separatist state, was shot dead in his truck by two masked gunmen outside a gurdwara in British Columbia. The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told parliament there was “credible intelligence” from security services linking India to the killing. India said the accusation was absurd and took action over visas to ensure parity in diplomatic strength between the two countries. Some Canadian diplomats have left India after threats on social media.
Press previews of the Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland
Reporters have been gathering in Bishop Auckland this week for a preview of the Faith Museum, an ambitious project created by a local philanthropist telling the story of religion in Britain over 6,000 years. Built within a medieval barn near the former Bishop‘s House, it contains works of art, manuscripts and objects discovered in archaeological digs. These include the silver Binchester Ring, found a mile away in an excavation of a Roman fort, ancient antlers from Stonehenge, a Jewish pot from before 1290 and a medieval bishop’s crozier. The new museum was the vision of Jonathan Ruffer, a philanthropist who also restored Auckland Castle and opened a gallery of Spanish paintings establishing the market town as a cultural centre. It cost at least £12.4 million, given by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and opens to the public on 7 October. Telegraph report here. Northern Echo preview with pics here
Local authorities will be allowed to pay for church repairs
Legislation clarifying that parish and town councils can provide support to churches for repairs and improvements has cleared its final stages in the House of Lords. A Government amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill makes it clear that local authorities can provide grants for parish churches or places of worship, following many years of legal uncertainty over two contradictory acts. The Parish Councils Act 1894, says funds cannot be given to churches, and the Local Government Act 1972, says that they can. The 1894 act is now abolished. The National Secular Society objects to the change saying churches, like any other organisation, should be responsible for their financial sustainability.
Plans for sharia compliant insurance product in the UK
A Muslim company is seeking to bring an insurance product to the UK next year that is compliant with sharia law. Proposals led by Mohamed Harrath, of Takaful Ltd, will allow for people to pool their contributions and share liability and risk with each other. Funds must be invested in Sharia-compliant assets which do not pay interest or deal with tobacco, alcohol and gambling. The Takaful insurance system is operated in Muslim countries but not in the west as yet. Mohamed Harrath said his company is in discussion with regulators – the Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority – to get the necessary authorisation. A report on the Islam Channel, where Mr Harrath is also CEO, says the UK insurance market’s total premium income is £230bn, making the potential Muslim share around £15bn, based on its current size as 6.5 per cent of the population.
Mediterranean bishops consider urgent consensus on asylum and migration challenge
Pope Francis is attending the “Mediterranean Meeting” of 30 bishops serving in countries around the area, held in Marseilles today and tomorrow. Their main concern is migration and speaking ahead of the meeting, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said Europe needs to find a consensus on migration and asylum as soon as possible. Human dignity takes priority over any other consideration, including ideology, he said, adding that the decision to leave a country of origin may be war, poverty, and violence, but politicians have a responsibility to build a society where people are not forced to escape.
ECUSA Presiding bishop Michael Curry in intensive care after surgery
The Presiding Bishop of the US Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, has been in intensive care after surgery to remove his right adrenal gland and an attached mass. The Episcopal News Service reports that he was admitted to hospital after a recurrence of internal bleeding. But he was able to speak with bishops over zoom before their meeting this week and said: “Come what may, I’m going to be fine”.
New CEO for Christians Against Poverty
Stewart McCulloch, CEO of the Christian charity Stewardship, is to become the CEO of Christians Against Poverty. He said that with poverty and debt affecting families across the nation, he was looking forward to delivering new services amid ambitions to increase advocacy and church engagement programmes.
Pope Francis marks 70th anniversary of profound religious experience
Vatican News carries a picture of Pope Francis aged 16, marking the exact date 70 years ago when he went to confession and had a religious experience which he believed was a call to the priesthood. His birth name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio and five years after that confession, he joined the Jesuits as a novice. Eleven years after that, he was ordained. He has a very clear memory of his experience at that confession: “I felt that something had changed. I was not the same. I had heard just like a voice, a call: I was convinced that I had to become a priest”.
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