Evangelist Franklin Graham says Trump lost the 2020 election
The American evangelist Franklin Graham, who believes Donald Trump defends the Christian faith, now confirms that Trump definitely lost the 2020 election. In an interview with Roger Bolton for the Religion Media Centre, he said there was no question the election was lost, though he acknowledged that millions of people do not believe that. Aged 71, Franklin Graham is returning to Britain for a rally at the Excel Centre in London on Saturday 26 August entitled “God Loves You”. In his interview, Mr Graham made clear his unchanging views on the infallibility of the Bible, the need for conversion, the certainty of hellfire for unbelievers and a prohibition on gay sex. This caused controversy in Britain, where seven of his rallies in 2020 were cancelled after protests that his views were divisive. But he took legal action and won, re-instating many of the events.
The evangelical credentials of GOP presidential candidates
Tiffany Stanley, writing for the Associated Press, considers how Republican presidential candidates from Charleston are trying to woo evangelicals away from Trump by emphasising their own Christian stories. Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and UN ambassador, was born to Sikh parents and chose to become a Christian. She is a member of a Methodist Church that broke away from the United Methodists in protest at progressive views on same sex marriage. It is reported that Haley has championed religious minorities and forged ties with evangelical leaders, particularly Christian Zionists. Another candidate Tim Scott, is south Carolina’s first black senator and a born again Christian who once considered leaving politics for the ministry. His speeches are said to be like evangelical sermons, preaching of a bright optimistic future. Neither candidate is a match for Trump, who is way ahead in the polls. AP report is here
Christians on the Left urges Labour to repeal the two child benefits limit
Hannah Rich, the director of Christians on the Left, has criticised Sir Keir Starmer for not committing to abolish the two-child limit on child tax credits and Universal Credit. In a comment piece in the Church Times, she says the limit is a significant driver of child poverty and “unjustly penalises children who are already in the greatest need of support”. Quoting the Child Poverty Action Group, she says abolishing it would lift an estimated 250,000 children out of poverty completely and would reduce poverty for a further 850,000. Sir Keir’s stand “is incompatible with any intention to end child poverty, and repealing it must be central to Labour’s policy, if we are serious about a better future for the children of this country”. Her comment in the Church Times comment is here
Mass brawl in Alvaston at Kabaddi tournament, a popular Punjabi sport
Four men were injured after a mass brawl in Alvaston, Derbyshire, at a kabaddi tournament. This is a sport rooted in Punjab and enjoyed in south Asia, where teams of men run onto their opponent’s side of the pitch trying to tag as many as possible. Its introduction to England was supported by gurdwaras and there is now a national association running the game. But the competition turned violent on Sunday with reports of gunfire and brandishing of swords. Local organisers say rival gangs were to blame. Armed police were called and four men have been arrested. Two men remain in hospital.
Rohingya refugees in Bradford keep their faith and culture alive
Hyphen Online tells the story of the 500 strong Rohingya community in Bradford, who arrived as asylum seekers from refugee camps in Bangladesh, where they were forced to move after persecution in Myanmar. It focuses on 27 year old Yeasin Mohammed, who arrived as a child with no English, in a time limited scheme which allowed people to re-settle from the camps. There are around one million Rohingya still in those camps. Yeasin has built an award winning restaurant run by Rohingya refugees and helps to run community social events and provide education for the younger generation in their history and culture, re-telling their story of persecution because of their Muslim faith.
Catholic archdiocese facing 500 sex abuse cases files for bankruptcy
The Catholic archdiocese of San Francisco has filed for bankruptcy, which will stop all legal actions against it as it faces 500 cases of alleged child sex abuse. It says it will be able now to develop a settlement plan with survivors as it could not afford the legal fees of hearing each individual case. It is the third archdiocese in the area to take this action. The church says cases occurred 30 or more years ago involving priests who are no longer active in ministry or are dead. But lawyers for the survivors say the bankruptcy deal is a tactic to keep information hidden and a survivors’ network says it doubts the diocese is financially strapped as it owns multiple properties.
TikTok spiritual guru on Jewish spiritual roots guiding her work
The Times profiles Michal Oshman, one of Tik Tok’s spiritual gurus, who describes the spiritual roots of her Jewish culture and faith which guide her work. Traumatised as a child from hearing stories about her grandmother’s miraculous escape from the Holocaust, and then living in Israel which she says is a “post-trauma place”, she felt scared all the time. Therapy resulted in her blaming her parents rather than healing her anxiety. It was only when rediscovering her Jewish roots that she realised she was looking for something “much wider than you might find in the therapy room — a spirituality.” Living now in London, she upholds traditional beliefs in modesty and purity, follows a kosher diet, observes the sabbath and educates her four children in a Jewish school. Her new guru status follows high powered jobs at TikTok and Facebook which she has swapped for offering life advice and giving lectures. Her book “What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?” was inspired by a Facebook mantra and lifelong reflection on her grandmother’s experience.
