Archbishops appeal for a revolution of attitudes in social care
A Church of England report says there should be a revolution of attitudes towards the provision of social care in England. The report from the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, Commission on Reimagining Care, says reform of the structure and system will not be enough. It wants to see a National Care Covenant for England reflecting what it means to live in community. Communities have an important role, it says, but “supportive communities need nurture and investment”. At the launch, the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said checks and balances were needed where unscrupulous people made a profit out of the system while providing substandard care.
Catholic schools in Wales are more diverse than general population
The Catholic Education Service says pupils in Welsh Catholic schools are more diverse than the national average. The annual census of 82 Catholic state-funded primaries and secondaries in Wales shows that more than 30 per cent of pupils are from an ethnic minority background, compared to 12.5 per cent in all other Welsh schools; 4.5 per cent are black compare to 1.1 per cent overall; and 6 per cent are from Asian or Asian British background compared to 2.6 per cent in the population. In total 50.3 per cent of pupils are Catholic, 5.7 per cent are Muslim and 36.8 per cent have no religion.
Jewish family seeks restitution of $200 million Picasso
The great grandson of a Jewish family who fled Nazi Germany in 1940, are suing The Guggenheim Museum in New York, demanding the return of Picasso’s 1904 Woman Ironing, valued at $200 million. A petition was filed in Manhattan’s Supreme Court saying businessman Karl Adler was forced to sell the painting for about one-ninth of its value as his family prepared to leave Germany. A year ago, they demanded its return under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act. The Guggenheim says it takes provenance matters and restitution claims extremely seriously but this one is without merit.
The world is 90 seconds away from annihilation
The threat of nuclear weapons being used in the Ukraine war has pushed mankind nearer to a catastrophic end of the world. The Doomsday Clock, a symbolic calculation by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, has moved from 100 seconds away from annihilation to 90 seconds, the closest the Doomsday Clock has been to disaster since its inception in 1947. The scientists say that the invasion and annexation of territory in Ukraine has violated international norms that may further threaten global stability. “In this time of unprecedented global danger, concerted action is required, and every second counts”.
Pakistan protests at Quran attacks in Europe
Hundreds of Muslims have taken part in rallies in Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan, after the Quran was burned in Sweden and torn and stamped upon in the Netherlands. Both acts of desecration were committed by far-right activists. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned “the abhorrent act of desecration” in Sweden, saying it hurt the feelings of Muslims across the world.
MPs say CofE’s compromise on same sex marriage is cruel and hypocritical
MPs have vented their anger and frustration at the Church of England over the bishops’ proposals to bless same sex couples but not conduct same sex marriages. Labour MP Ben Bradshaw tabled an urgent question in the Commons, suggesting the position could not be sustained in England, when gay Anglicans may marry in church in Scotland and Wales. Sir Chris Bryant, a former Anglican priest and now Labour MP, said the decision was cruel and hypocritical. Wes Streeting, shadow health secretary said he along with others had made the choice to be himself and not to go to church, which was a tragedy. Andrew Selous, Second Church Estates Commissioner, said the decision had almost managed to upset everyone. The General Synod will debate the bishops’ proposals at its meeting next month. LGBT campaigner Jayne Ozanne has tabled an amendment asking synod to support same sex marriage.
Same sex proposals threaten unity of Anglican communion
The proposals have also prompted anger from the conservative Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, which takes a traditional view of doctrine. In a statement, it warned that a vote to bless same-sex marriages would violate the clear and canonical teaching of the Bible, which would lead to a re-configuration and a restructuring of the communion. Its chair, the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Justin Badi Arama, said the proposals were a farcical compromise and if backed by the General Synod, several Global South provinces might be in impaired communion with the Church of England.
Church of England abuse survivors furious at their treatment
Survivors of abuse in the Church of England have compiled a furious document of complaint about the way they have been treated by the “costly, chaotic, impenetrable mess” that is the church’s National Safeguarding Team. The briefing document published by campaigner Andrew Graystone on behalf of 13 anonymous victims and survivors, is for members of the church’s General Synod, which is due to discuss safeguarding at its meeting next month. It says it is needed because there is no confidence in the briefings that Synod members receive from the bishops or the Archbishops’ Council: “You need the truth about how your safeguarding apparatus is working.” Church Times story here
