‘It’s a miracle’ – the healing of a coal haulier from Liverpool at Lourdes
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon, has officially declared as a miracle the case of Jack Traynor, a coal haulier from the city cured at Lourdes in 1923. It makes Jack the first person from England to be recognised in this way. He was a pilgrim on the archdiocese’s first official pilgrimage to Lourdes and was said to have been cured dramatically of epilepsy, paralysis of the right arm and paraplegia during the pilgrimage. He was badly injured while serving with the Royal Naval Reserve forces in the 1915 Gallipoli landings, when a bullet tore through his right armpit severing the nerves to his right arm and causing paralysis. He returned to Liverpool walking again after bathing in the baths at Lourdes, which are believed by some Christians to be a source of healing and was greeted by huge crowds, but the church never ratified the apparently inexplicable cure at the time. Jack recovered his strength to the extent where he was able to run a coal haulage business, often lifting heavy sacks with ease for the rest of his life. His epilepsy also apparently vanished. The case has been believed to be miraculous by people across the archdiocese and beyond, but there has never been an official declaration until now, following an official report commissioned by authorities in Lourdes. The archbishop said he hopes there will be a fitting celebration at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool next year, to mark “this significant moment in the history of our archdiocese”.
GB News accused of hating Islam and Muslims
Research from the Muslim Council of Britain’s Centre for Media Monitoring, accuses GB news of hostile reporting of Muslims, with an excessive focus bordering on obsession, “regularly demonising their beliefs”. A study it conducted over two years says stories about Islam were “overwhelmingly negative” and risked inciting violence and discrimination against Muslim communities. It says GB News rubbishes the concept of Islamophobia and consistently stereotypes British Muslim communities as “the enemy”. The report concludes that GB News “hates Islam and Muslims” and says Ofcom should take a more robust approach to the “broadcasting of biased content that misinforms viewers, divides communities and may encourage violence and disorder”. A GB News spokesman said: “This inaccurate and defamatory report is nothing more than a cynical, self-serving attempt to silence free speech…. We are concerned that at no point did this project of the Muslim Council of Britain contact GB News or its presenters to allow them to respond to these highly defamatory allegations.”
Highest ever levels of antisemitism recorded at British universities
The scale of antisemitism on Britain’s university campuses has reached unprecedented levels, the highest ever recorded, according to figures released by the Community Security Trust. 325 Incidents were recorded over the last two academic years, an increase of 117 per cent over the previous two years. The surge coincided with the fallout from the 7 October terror attacks in Israel and the conflict in Gaza. October 2023 saw 85 university-related incidents, the highest monthly total ever recorded. Sami Berkoff from the Union of Jewish Students said urgent action was needed. The Government’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism , Lord John Mann said he would continue to work to ensure that Jewish students felt safe and able to live their lives at university, free from discrimination and hate.
Family contests court’s decision to withdraw treatment from mother
The UK advocacy group Christian Concern says a family is in ‘a race against time’ to prevent the withdrawal of treatment to save the life of their 54-year-old mother, after a UK judge ruled that her right to live is outweighed by the medical evidence and that it is in “her best interests to die”. The Court of Appeal has ordered the King’s College Hospital to withdraw an artificial airway and clinically assisted nutrition and hydration from the patient, who cannot be named for legal reasons. The court ordered that this must happen no later than 4pm on Thursday 12 December. Christian Concern say the patient, whom they refer to as “XY”, will either suffocate immediately if her airway becomes obstructed or die more slowly from dehydration and starvation as she will no longer be provided with feed of fluids. With all domestic legal remedies exhausted, the family are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre and have urgently applied to the European Court of Human Rights to prevent the removal of care. The hospital has said that there is no benefit to XY in maintaining her life “artificially” and it would be in her best interests for clinically assisted nutrition and hydration to be withdrawn. Her family, however, do not accept this conclusion and say that there is a chance of recovery and want to explore other options for treatment and care.
Hindu temple leader cleared of sex abuse and financial claims
The High Court has cleared Rajinder Kalia, leader of the Hindu Temple to Baba Balak Nath in Coventry, of all accusations of alleged sex abuse, rape and financial abuse. Four women sued him claiming sexual abuse. They and three others also claimed financial exploitation, but all cases were dismissed, with the judge saying certain evidence was not sufficiently credible. In his judgment, Mr Justice Martin Spencer said: “The Claimants’ claims are all dismissed and there shall be judgment for the Defendant. I do not, however, make a finding of fundamental dishonesty in the case of any of the Claimants”. After the case ended, Mr Kalia issued a statement saying: “In dismissing the claimants’ claims in their entirety, the court has shown that this was a coordinated attempt to destroy my reputation and seek financial gain”.
Vote of no confidence in Archbishops’ Council
The Diocese of Rochester has passed a vote of no confidence in the Archbishops’ Council’s oversight of safeguarding, in the wake of the Makin Review into the abuse of hundreds of boys and young men groomed at Christian summer camps by the late barrister John Smyth. The review found those with power and influence had failed in safeguarding duties, and days after publication, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, resigned. The Bishop of Rochester, Jonathan Gibbs, has led calls for urgent reform to the Council. In an interview with the ITV regional news programme, Meridian. the bishop said: “We do need independent oversight and scrutiny…and a change of culture above all in the way we respond to victims and survivors”.
LGBT+ pilgrimage approved in Rome
The Catholic Herald reports that Pope Francis has approved a pilgrimage for people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual as part of the Jubilee 2025 celebrations. On 5 September there will be a prayer vigil for members of the LGBT+ community and their families in Il Gesù, the Baroque Jesuit mother church in Rome and the burial place of St Ignatius of Loyola, the 16th century founder of the Jesuits. On the afternoon of the following day, the LGBT+ pilgrims will pass through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica and then return to Il Gesù for a Mass. The event represents the first time in history that a specifically LGBT+ pilgrimage will be included in Holy Year celebrations.
England Rugby Union’s Marcus Smith says his faith keeps him grounded
The England Rugby Union international Marcus Smith has spoken about his Catholic faith, attributing his ability to keep calm under pressure and remain grounded to his religious observance. In an interview with The Telegraph, Smith said his faith played an important part in his upbringing, the early part of which was spent in Manila and then Singapore. “My mum’s family are very religious,” explained Smith, widely considered to be the most talented rugby union fly-half in the country today. “I still pray with her regularly, I continue to read my Bible. It makes me feel grounded, makes me believe that everything’s going to be all right. In the ups and downs of professional sport, you need the ability to stay as neutral and level as possible”. 25-year-old Smith became the second-youngest Premiership debutant in history. He’s regarded as one of the country’s top rugby union prospects and was one of England’s standout performers in three Autumn Nations Series defeats against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
High-vis shepherds and angels with mobiles – 2024 take on the Nativity
Lichfield Cathedral staff have staged a modern interpretation of the Holy Family scene at the birth of Jesus, pictured and on display in the Lady Chapel over Christmas. Gathered on a building site, outside a hospital building, Mary and Joseph have the baby Jesus in their arms, standing in front of a small fire pit. Construction workers in high vis jackets are the modern-day equivalent of the shepherds, and the magi are business people and academics gathered round a lamp post as the star. The angels use music, mobile phones and email to tell the story. Lichfield’s Dean, Jan McFarlane, said they wanted to convey that the birth of Jesus is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago.
updated 11/12/24 with GB News comment
