The appointment of Pope Leo XIV – “the Holy Spirit thickening the plot”
A full programme at the Religion Media Festival included insights from Sir Mark Thompson, chief executive officer at CNN, on the importance of religious literacy when reporting religion, a subject which must be understood by news desks. As a Catholic, he was asked about the recent appointment of Pope Leo XIV, an American who has spent much of his ministry in Peru. Sir Mark said: “The Holy Spirit is thickening the plot a bit…you have a very interesting choice of Pope Leo XIV – a man with a concern for the whole planet, a serious man, with considerable personal holiness, religious conviction and spiritual depth. Let’s see what happens!” Reports on the whole one-day festival and the sessions that made it, will be on our website over the coming days. Stay tuned.
CofE spending plans outlined including 10.7 per cent pay rise for clergy
The Church of England has unveiled a financial plan, committing £1.6 billion from 2026–2028, a 36 per cent increase on the previous cycle, to “revitalise parish life” and invest in outreach . This includes boosting clergy stipends by 10.7 per cent (from around £30,000 to £33,350) next April, plus more funding for retirement housing and support for ordinands. A further £4.6 billion is earmarked for missions in lower-income areas, and nearly £200 million in local projects. £30 million will go on national safeguarding infrastructure, and £150 million on national Redress Scheme . Alongside this, an additional £190 million will drive the church toward its Net Zero carbon goals, extending support through 2034.
US Episcopalian Church condemns LA immigration raids
The Episcopal News Service says 14 members of the Diocese of Los Angeles were detained in immigration enforcement raids late last week that sparked a weekend of intense protests and the National Guard deployed. In a statement, the diocese said the raids “wreaked havoc and terror throughout Los Angeles communities, targeting working-class, immigrant families at work, school and home” and it condemned them entirely. able and we condemn them entirely.” Los Angeles Bishop John Harvey Taylor condemned the raids as an “unjust use of state power against the people of God, especially immigrant workers seized from their places of honest work in our city and region.”
Bill to exempt criticism of religion from harassment laws
The Conservative MP Nick Timothy is introducing a bill in parliament today, to exempt the criticism of religion from harassment laws. It follows the conviction of Hamit Coskun, who burned the Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in London, on a religiously aggravated public order offence. The National Secular Society has said the case revives blasphemy laws. Nick Timothy’s Ten Minute Rule Bill, the Freedom of Expression (Religion or Belief System) Bill, would make clear that the provision of the Public Order Act does not apply in the case of “discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents”. Times story here
Muslim Tech Festival for entrepreneurs in science, health and media
Hyphen Online reports on the third Muslim Tech Fest in London, due to take place later this month, which will bring together entrepreneurs, developers and investors from sectors including science, health and media. The festival was founded by tech entrepreneurs Arfah Farooq and Zahid Mahmood who wanted to see more representation in the industry. The report says “Muslim-run startups specialising in everything from treating depression to memorising the Qur’an” and more than 1800 visitors are expected.
Scientists rediscover divine “Egyptian Blue” pigment
Pigment samples of “Egyptian Blue”, created by scientists from Washington State University, are on display at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have created 12 versions of the pigment, first used in 2600BCE, a vivid blue with powerful religious and symbolic meaning enabling communication with the divine. The colour was used to picture the heavens, water, and protection, decorating tombs, statues, and temple walls, especially in scenes of gods, the afterlife, and the celestial sky. It was often used as a substitute for lapis lazuli or turquoise and applied to other materials. Wild Hunt story here
