Iranian Christian among first asylum seekers sent to the Bibby Stockholm
The Times reports that an Iranian Christian, who was persecuted for running a church before leaving the country, was among the first 15 people to have been sent to the Bibby Stockholm housing barge, moored off Portland in Dorset. The Times spoke to Ann Bayliff, 66, from Portland, whose husband is a chaplain at the port. She said that he had been put in contact with a couple of Christian asylum seekers who will be housed on the barge. She is quoted telling The Times: “One is an Iranian man who converted to Christianity and then had to flee because of persecution after a couple of weeks or months. He has been well established in a church in Bournemouth and he is quite nervous about coming to Portland.” Further information came from Paul Kimber, a Labour county councillor for the area, who told the reporter: “I am told that an Iranian who converted to Christianity and ran a church [inside the Islamic Republic] is coming onboard”. The policy of housing asylum seekers on a barge has been condemned by campaigners who say it is inhumane. Local people in Weymouth and Portland united in disapproving of the barge, with some greeting the asylum seekers with bags of essential gifts and flowers, while others complained it should not be imposed on their community.
Charity Commission critical of Jehovah’s Witnesses trustees
The Charity Commission has published a report on its 9 year inquiry into safeguarding at the Jehovah’s Witness organisations, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain, which criticises trustees’ conduct. The inquiry opened in May 2014 after an elder in Mill Hill was convicted for historic sexual offences. Since then, there has been protracted legal action over the inquiry, safeguarding policy and its implementation. The report is critical of the charity’s trustees’ conduct, saying that on occasions the trustees were “not as straightforward or transparent as they should have been” and sometimes “the trustees’ communications were protracted, with the charity’s responses often failing to provide the information requested or sufficient clarity to satisfy the inquiry, giving rise to further questions”. But it said there was insufficient evidence to conclude these were deliberate attempts to obstruct the inquiry. In March 2022 the Kingdom Hall congregation charities merged with the Kingdom Hall Trust, which is now the body responsible for safeguarding and the Commission is working with it to ensure a safe environment. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse heard that allegations of child abuse were made between 2009 and 2019 against 67 individuals involved in JW congregations.
Homes and shops demolished in India following violent clashes
Three hundred homes and businesses have been demolished by government decree in the Haryana state in north India, following clashes between Muslims and Hindus taking part in a procession last weekend, when six Muslims were killed. The government says the buildings were used by people throwing stones at the procession. Hindus blame the violence on Muslims attacking the procession.. Muslims blame Hindus saying an inflammatory Facebook post urged Hindus to join the parade and Muslims were targetted. The Times of India says the Punjab and Haryana high court has stayed the demolition drive in Nuh. A delegation of senior Congress party leaders will visit the area today.
Churches unite to increase legacies for church funds and Christian Aid
For the first time, the international development agency Christian Aid is working with the Church of Scotland, Church of England and the Quakers on a joint legacy initiative called Faith Will. The campaign will run throughout September when church members will be asked to consider leaving a gift in their will to their church and Christian Aid. Currently around 24 percent of wills contain a specific legacy bequest, according to latest research by Remember a Charity, which is an increase from 14 per cent, ten years ago.
Jewish prisoners’ rights group aiding Ghislaine Maxwell
The Sun on Sunday reports that Ghislaine Maxwell, serving 20 years for sex trafficking, is in contact with the Jewish prisoners’ rights group “Reaching Out”, which is addressing her needs. Her father, Robert Maxwell, was raised by Orthodox Jewish parents and is buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Jewish prisoners are entitled to kosher food, time off for Shabbat and access to a rabbi for counselling.
Trans church renaming ceremony first of its kind in North Dakota
Andrea Olsen, a trans woman, has told the Episcopal News Service of her feeling of acceptance after going through a re-naming ceremony at St. Stephen’s Episcopal church in Fargo, North Dakota. She said it meant her transformation was recognised in the eyes of God. The ceremony followed the “Service of Renaming” in the print edition of the 2022 Book of Occasional Services, which was approved by the General Convention in 2017 and is designed to be used “when an event or experience leads a baptised person to take or to be given a new name.” The rector of St Stephens, Father Jamie Parsley, told ENS that he believed this was the first use of the liturgy in the diocese of North Dakota, although other churches have used it since it was adopted. The words include the person declaring they are a new creation, and the priest saying: “We are here to affirm the name of N. This name expresses who N. is and who they are becoming, through the grace of God.. This new name is the culmination of a journey of discovery and, at the same time, a new beginning”.
Lurid pink “Jesus Ken” and “Barbie Virgin Mary” dolls cause outrage
The sale of lurid pink “Barbie Virgin Mary” and “Jesus Ken” dolls in a toy shop in Argentina has caused outrage across the world. The doll depicting Jesus has long flowing Barbie hair, a long pink robe and is presented with arms outstretched nailed to a pink cross. The artists responsible for the creations, Emiliano Pool Paolini and Marianela Perell, have received death threats from around the world. Paolini is quoted as protesting his innocence: “Frankly, we don’t understand why we’re being attacked. Religion has always depicted virgins as the most beautiful women. Today, the most beautiful woman is Barbie”. The creators have previously made a religious series of more than 30 Barbie dolls depicting Christian saints, Moses and other religious figures including Hindu gods.
