Religious Studies GCSE still popular as students achieve high results
The number of students in England and Wales taking a GCSE course in Religious Studies has remained stable at 253,906, up by a margin of 0.3 per cent from last year. It is still one of the most popular subjects at GCSE, the seventh most taken, with only Maths, English, English Literature, Geography, History, and Sciences more popular. 30 per cent got the highest grade 7-9, with RE among the top four subjects for high scoring results. But there is a warning in UCAS data from January, that applications to train to teach RE have fallen by a third on the previous year. This coupled with the statistic that 26 per cent of RE lessons are taken by teachers with no post A-level qualification, has led the RE Council to continue calls for a national plan for the subject and for the reinstatement of bursaries for trainee RE teachers.
“Understanding of faith, belief and culture should start in schools“
Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, president of Theology and Religious Studies UK, has spoken of the importance of faith literacy and a broad understanding of teaching religion and worldviews in schools. Speaking at the Religion Media Festival earlier this year, she said that it was in schools that the understanding of faith, belief and culture should start: “We don’t just sit around a table praying to a god or a divine being. We actually talk about ethical issues, we talk about morality, we talk about religion, politics, history”. She was in favour of rebranding the subject Religion and Worldviews. She added that she would like to see faith literacy form part of a journalism qualification. More on this story here.
Jesuits declared illegal and property confiscated in Nicaragua
Nicaragua’s government has declared the Jesuit order illegal and ordered the confiscation of all its property. The Associated Press reports that the Jesuits were accused of failing to comply with tax reporting. The move has come a week after the government confiscated the Jesuit run University of Central America saying it was a centre of terrorism, following protests against President Daniel Ortega’s regime. AP reports that the Vatican has closed its embassy in Nicaragua and two congregations of nuns were expelled from Nicaragua last year, in a series of “increasingly authoritarian” actions by the Nicaraguan government against the Catholic church. Other civic organisations and individuals have been subject to closures, expulsions, imprisonments and confiscations of property.
Catholic synod process “will unleash grave harm” on the church
Cardinal Raymond Burke, considered the leader of Catholic conservatives, has written the foreword in a book which denounces the Pope’s move towards synodical government as a “Pandora’s Box” that threatens to unleash grave harm on the Mystical Body of Christ. The process has involved global consultation on church process and practice and is leading to a synod of bishops in Rome in October. The book, “The Synodal Process is a Pandora’s Box”, says the process has a potentially revolutionary impact. But Cardinal Burke says it has no history in the doctrine of the Church and no reasonable definition. The Tablet’s Rome correspondent, Christopher Lamb, says the criticism springs from the group “Tradition, Family, Property, founded by an ultra-conservative Brazilian intellectual who reportedly described Vatican II “as a point in history as sad as the Death of Our Lord”.
Weaponisation of Christian culture in the GOP presidential race
Theos researcher George Lapshynov, says the first televised debate in the race to become the Republican party’s presidential candidate, showed “GOP’s version of ‘Americanness’ is still as religiously and racially exclusive as ever”. The line up – notably missing Trump – included a Sikh who converted to Christianity, a Hindu and a black evangelical senator. But it showed diversity was superficial, he says. They had to prove their credentials as middle aged white evangelical men, with a uniform version of devout religiosity and strict morality, adopting the language and values of Christian populism. “This weaponisation of Christian culture is the trademark of the Christian populist politician”, he says, appealing to evangelicals who have disproportionate power in the party, as well as conservative Catholics and nominal Christians. Theos article is here
Jewish cemetery in Rochester vandalised five times in series of hate crimes
Vandals have knocked over and broken gravestones in a Jewish cemetery, in the grounds of Chatham Memorial Synagogue, High Street Rochester. Police are treating it as a hate crime. The synagogue has been targeted by vandals five times in recent years and its leaders say they are appalled at the lack of respect for those buried there. It was built in 1869 and serves the Jewish community in mid and north Kent.
Greenbelt line up for 50th anniversary
Richard Dawkins, the most famous “New Atheist”, Andrew Copson, CEO of Humanists UK and food writer Jack Monroe are among the more unlikely speakers at the Greenbelt Festival near Kettering this weekend. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Greenbelt says its history is rooted in a “culturally engaged” Christian tradition. Featuring art, music, comedy, speakers, panel discussions, worship and campaign stands, tens of thousands turn up take part in “the UK’s leading festival of artistry and activism – fuelled by a uniquely progressive spiritual vision”.
Excommunication next step in Texas nuns’ sexting dispute
Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth in Texas, has threatened to excommunicate a group of nuns, after they banned him from their convent over his allegations that their Mother Superior sexted with a priest. In a statement, he accused the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Arlington of “publicly, scandalous and schismatic actions”. The nuns have supported Mother Superior Theresa Agnes Gerlach and accused the bishop of spreading lies. The bishop said the nuns may have incurred their own excommunication by their schismatic actions. The Vatican has already been called in once in the five month dispute.
Catholic AI app incapable of hallucinating or giving false answers
Magisterium AI, a new Catholic artificial intelligence app, offers information on Catholic doctrine, teachings and Canon law. Fr. Philip Larrey, who chairs the AI company’s advisory board, told the Religion News Service: “Artificial intelligence programmes can sometimes hallucinate, meaning they will assemble incorrect or partially incorrect information in order to provide an answer to a query. Magisterium is trained to only use official documents of the Catholic Church, which is a very small, consistent and narrow documentation. It’s never going to give you a wrong or false answer”. Its inventors also warn that historical documents could throw up uncomfortable facts on issues such as married priests or the role of women. Magisterium AI is already used in 125 countries and is available in 10 languages.
