Huw Edwards removed as vice president of the National Churches Trust
Former BBC news anchor Huw Edwards, who has pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, has been removed as vice president of the National Churches Trust. In a statement, the charity said: “We are shocked and saddened by the recent developments.” The Trust has 28 vice presidents who volunteer their time to progress its work maintaining and repairing church buildings. Huw Edwards is also patron of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage’s project to restore Merthyr Tydfil Synagogue and turn it into a heritage centre. The Jewish Chronicle reports a spokesman saying: “We are considering what we do and need to consult the trustees.”
Southport pulls together after murder and riots
The people of Southport came out in force to clean up their town after the violent mob attacks on Tuesday night, which followed the stabbing of children at a dance class the previous day. The local council workforce and more than 100 volunteers set to work from the early hours sweeping up the debris after fires were lit, a shop was looted and missiles were hurled at riot police. The whole community rallied round to rebuild a wall outside the mosque, which was the target of attacks by men throwing rocks, bottles and other missiles. The mosque was targetted after false rumous on social media about the attacker and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, condemning the attack, urged the government to do more to stop the spread of false online information. The mosque’s chairman, Ibrahim Hussein said he was moved to tears by the kindness of the community in repairing the damage. He was inside when the mosque was pelted with bricks, leaving them to fear for their lives. Government minister Lord Ahmad and community leaders from across Britain praised the local efforts on social media. All church leaders on Merseyside issued a statement expressing shock, horror and sadness at the stabbing attack which killed three young girls: “We commit ourselves afresh to standing against brutality and violence in every form and doing all we can to build safe, caring and strong communities”. A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and attempted murder and will appear in court today.
“Strong streak of making fun of religion” in France
The controversy over the tableau in the Olympics opening ceremony, widely regarded as a parody of the Last Supper, has to be seen in the context of French culture, where there is a strong streak to make fun of religion and a traditional disassociation between the general population and religion. That’s the view of Professor Jocelyne Cesari, chair of Religion and Politics at the University of Birmingham, who told a Religion Media Centre briefing that French citizens, even laity in the Catholic church, can deal with this, but the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, much less so. French Catholic bishops said the tableau “unfortunately included scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity, which we deeply regret”. The briefing included a discussion of the inconsistency where France has ordered its women athletes not to wear the hijab, while other countries allow it, and all meet together during the Games. The role of the chaplaincy, where multiple faith chaplains, prayer rooms and worship practices exist alongside each other, offering spiritual advice and counselling to athletes pushing themselves to extreme high performance, was also discussed in the briefing. You can view it again or listen to the podcast via links here
One of the characters in the tableau, Hugo Bardin who performs as the drag queen Paloma, has complained to the police about online abuse and harassment following their appearance in the tableau. They told the Associated Press that they have received thousands of messages daily, most of them positive but some were “violent” and even “from the Middle Ages.” They had no misgivings about taking part, despite the backlash.
“Mutiny” in the CofE over same sex relationships
Two services recently held in the Church of England where clergy and lay people have been “commissioned” to hold leadership roles for people opposed to same sex relationships, have been described as “acts of mutiny” by the Rev Robert Thompson, a member of the general synod and LGBTQI+ campaigner. He has taken to social media to criticise actions by CofE evangelicals to commission “overseers” offering spiritual advice to clergy who object to their own bishops, and to commission “leaders” who will take up curacies and “preside at informal church family meals, at which bread is broken and the death of the Lord Jesus is remembered”. The services took place at two large evangelical churches in London. Mr Thompson said: “The silence from @JustinWelby @CottrellStephen & all the bishops on what has happened at All Souls’ Langham Place & St Helen’s Bishopsgate is more than quite extraordinary, it shows a real disdain for the nature of Catholic order in Anglican ecclesiology”. Concerns over both commissioning services and questions about what they mean are discussed by another general synod member, Professor Helen King, in her blog here. And Affirming Catholicism says it is very troubled that the newly commissioned lay leaders will lead eucharistic services in roles not recognised by the wider Church of England. The Church of England has issued a statement saying the whole discussion on same sex blessings in the project called Living in Love and Faith, will be discussed by the bishops in October.
Croydon parish is “dissolved” despite claims this adversely affects BAME parishioners
A committee of the Privy Council has upheld a decision to dissolve the parish of All Saints Shirley church in Croydon. It had been asked to adjudicate on an appeal by the Rev Yvonne Clarke, a deacon at the church for 20 years, who objected to the church’s closure saying it “disproportionately affected Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) parishioners relative to white people”. The committee dismissed the appeal saying it was “satisfied that the decision to make the scheme did not involve unlawful discrimination or any failure to take into account the needs of minority ethnic communities”. The church commissioners argued that they did not have to abide by the Equalities Act as they were not a public body, but “in any event, the Commissioners did not act in a discriminatory manner.”
Bill to increase number of women bishops in the Lords starts parliamentary process
A bill to extend the system where women bishops are appointed to vacancies in the House of Lords, above other male bishops usually appointed on longevity of service, has begun its passage through parliament. The Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill will speed up the representation of women bishops in the Lords. There are 26 “Lords Spiritual” from the Church of England. Canterbury, York, London, Durham and Winchester are included as of right. The others have in the past been appointed on length of service, but women were only allowed to be bishops in 2014, so their representation is low. At present, six of the 26 Lords Spiritual are women.
Pope thanks circus workers for the smiles they bring to people
Pope Francis visited an amusement park south west of Rome yesterday, meeting carnival and circus workers and the Sisters who provide pastoral care for them. Vatican news reports that he gave them his warm wishes and support, saying he wished to personally express his gratitude as they “help bring smiles on the faces of people”. Facing 35 degrees temperatures in the sun, he moved into a room used for children’s birthday parties to meet the performers, who reportedly greeted him with thunderous applause as his assistants handed out candles and rosaries to everyone in the room.
