Christians in Jerusalem appeal for their security to be protected
In their annual Easter message, the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem have called on Israel to secure safety, access and religious freedom for Christians in the Holy Land during Easter. They said Christians have suffered adversities during recent escalating violence and there has been a rise in attacks against Christians in Jerusalem: “For over the past year, some of our churches, funeral processions, and places of public gathering have become targets of attack; some of our holy sites and cemeteries have been desecrated; and some of our ancient liturgies, such as the Palm Sunday Procession and the Holy Fire Ceremony, have been closed off to thousands of worshippers”. They called on the international community and people locally to advocate on their behalf.
Christians resist turning Mount of Olives into national park
Bethan McKernan, writing in The Guardian, reports on moves to make a national park in the area around the Mount of Olives, which has met resistance from churches in Jerusalem. The location is significant in Jewish history as a place of prayer and burial of kings, and in Christianity, it figures in the story of Jesus, the place where he is said to have prayed the day before he was crucified and where he “ascended into heaven”. Shrines and chapels have been built to remember these stories. The Guardian reports that Armenian, Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches have accused the Israel Nature and Parks Authority of promoting a project “whose apparent sole purpose is to confiscate and nationalise one of the holiest sites for Christianity … under the guise of protecting green spaces”. Guardian report is here
Founder of Soul Survivor steps back during safeguarding inquiry
The Rev Mike Pilavachi, Senior Pastor of Soul Survivor Watford, a Church of England church plant that meets in a warehouse, and founder of the Soul Survivor summer festivals, has stepped back from ministry while safeguarding complaints are investigated. In a statement, the church says “the police are not involved, this is not a criminal investigation and Mike has not been suspended. It is also not currently a clergy disciplinary matter”. The news was announced by the Bishop of St Albans in person during Sunday services. A church spokesman said the concerns “relate to matters which occurred a considerable time ago” and “nothing should be inferred from Mike stepping back”.
Regain church attendance numbers by putting on more services
The Church Times analyses a report on church attendance in five dioceses which suggests that the 22 per cent decline in church attendance from 2019-2022 is the result of fewer services taking place. Churches that maintained online services and held the same number of services as in 2019 pre covid, fully regained congregation levels. It concludes that developing the number and relevance of services and new models of leadership, leads to church growth. The report considered the dioceses of Oxford, Canterbury, Chester, Guildford and Leeds and reviewed data from 1139 churches. Church Times report here
Walking pilgrimages to each Catholic cathedral in England and Wales
A new collection of Catholic walking pilgrimages has been launched online, encouraging people of all faiths and none to explore some of the holiest sites in England and Wales. The Catholic Bishops Conference explains that “Hearts in Search of God” is a three-year project mapping out 22 pilgrimages, with each route starting at one of the 22 Catholic Cathedrals in England and Wales, before going on to at least one of the local shrines, with the shortest route being 10 miles. The project has been organised by retired GP Dr Phil McCarthy, former CEO of Caritas Social Action Network, who has so far walked seven of the Ways and intends to finish the rest in the next two years.
Thousands protest at TV claims that late pope covered up abuse
Thousands of people protested in Poland at the weekend to defend the late Pope John Paul II, following a TV documentary alleging that he covered up child sex abuse involving clergy before he was elected Pope. There were marches in Warsaw and other cities, held to coincide with the 18th anniversary of his death. The documentary was broadcast on TVN, an independent broadcaster, last month and was immediately criticised by the government saying it was an attack on the nation’s identity and ideals, which had been put forward by the liberal political opposition.
Egyptian Christian couple win back son sent to Muslim orphanage
A five-year-old boy in Egypt, who was removed from his Christian adoptive parents and sent to a Muslim orphanage, has been returned after a public outcry. The Times reports that Shenouda was found abandoned in a church when he was a few days old, and given by a priest to a couple who registered him as their own. One of their family feared losing out on inheritance and reported them, so the child was taken away and the law cited as a reason for him to be raised as a Muslim instead, placing him in an orphanage. Public outrage and legal action resulted in this being reversed and he has been returned home.
Taliban shuts radio station for ‘playing music’
A radio station run by women in Afghanistan has been shut down for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan. “Sadai Banowan”, which means “women’s voice” in Dari, is Afghanistan’s only women-run station and started 10 years ago. Al Jazeera reports that Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for Information and Culture in Badakhshan province, said the station violated the “laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate” several times by broadcasting songs and music. But its manager said they had not played music, there was no violation and the charge was a conspiracy.
Devoted Hindu and community champion becomes Wiltshire High Sheriff
Pradeep Bhardwaj, who helped to establish the first Hindu temple in Swindon and Wiltshire, has been sworn in as the new High Sheriff for Wiltshire. He has held senior roles in the mobile and telecommunications industry and locally he is a trustee of three charities, governor of a college and known for his work in inclusion and diversity. He said: “Bringing people together is a journey as well as the beginning and the end. It is the goal as well as the means and process.” Wiltshire Live report here
Dating apps just don’t cut it against Jewish matchmaking
Netflix is due to show a series on Jewish matchmaking where traditional matchmakers supplement website and apps as people search for their soulmate. A report in the Jewish Chronicle explains that formal matchmaking is common in the Charedi Orthodox world but there are now many dating apps and websites to choose from, for all Jewish singles. It quotes one hopeful young date explaining: “We swipe left or swipe right and yet somehow finding ‘the one’ has never been harder.” The series starts on 3 May and follows people in the United States and Israel from a variety of Jewish backgrounds over eight episodes.
