Life and death in Gaza: no water, mass burials, mosques and churches bombarded, heritage destroyed
Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe and in a special report, Liz Harris looks at how war has affected religious life there. Dozens of mosques and churches have been hit by missiles since the assault on Gaza began, with a reported 66 mosques destroyed and 146 damaged, which accounts for 20 per cent of all mosques in Gaza. Three historic churches have also been bombed, and the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, has come under fire. Shortages of water have forced changes to rituals such as prayer and burial. Report by Liz Harris is here
Bishop suspends services in Ecuador after terrifying violence on the streets
A bishop in Ecuador has suspended in person masses because of the explosion of violence in the country, where a state of emergency has been declared. Bishop Antonio Crameri of Esmeraldas, president of Caritas Ecuador, said his city on the Pacific, had been the epicenter of violence for months. Cars have been burned, shops looted, prisoners rioted or escaped, and people were kidnapped. Ecuador’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for unity and fraternity to restore peace in the country. On Tuesday, a masked gunman broke into a live television studio, planted an explosive device in the clothes of one of the presenters and forced him to talk to the camera and ask the police to leave the newsroom. President Daniel Noboa, aged 35 and elected in November, has prioritised freeing the country from narco gang violence. He has ordered the armed forces to neutralise two dozen gangs, declared a 60-day state of emergency, imposed a nationwide overnight curfew and allowed the military to patrol the streets and take control of prisons.
Bishop of Winchester rolls up his sleeves to chair the Good Works Commission
The Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mountstephen, has become the new chair of the Good Works Commission, an organisation which brings churches together to tackle social issues such as the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, loneliness, well-being and mental health. He succeeds the Bishop of Durham Paul Butler, who is retiring. The Commission was launched in October 2021 by the Good Faith Partnership, which enables collaboration across faith and civic society to tackle social needs. It was a successor to YourNeighbour.org which brought churches together to support communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Projects so far include setting up the Warm Welcome campaign to keep people warm in winter, and encouraging engagement with Family Hubs helping vulnerable families. Bishop Mountstephen told a meeting that he saw Church Works as “a wonderful example of the people of God rolling up their sleeves for the Kingdom of God” and he was excited at the prospect of using his role in the House of Lords to build partnerships with government.
Nine rabbinical students arrested over secret tunnel access to synagogue in New York
Nine rabbinical students have been arrested after protesting against attempts to fill in a hole from a secret tunnel underneath the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement International’s headquarters in Brooklyn, which led into a synagogue. The tunnel was built by a fringe group within the movement, which believes its former leader is the Jewish Messiah. The group’s aim appears to be to allow it to enter the synagogue, unauthorised, through a hole in the wall, claiming rights to worship. But the action has been condemned by the Movement as “vandalising the sanctuary” and a structural review has been ordered. ABC TV report here
Buddhist leader arrested in Nepal on sex assault charges
A Buddhist leader in Nepal known as “Buddha Boy” has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a minor and involvement in the disappearance of at least four of his followers from his camps. Ram Bahadur Bamjan is believed by many Nepalese to be the reincarnation of Buddha and became well known in 2005 amid stories that he could meditate without moving for months, while sitting beneath a tree with no food or water. The Associated Press explains that thousands of followers attend his camps in southern Nepal, where he has remained popular despite accusations of sexual and physical assault. Police say that at the time of his arrest, they found Nepalese banknotes worth $227,000 and other foreign currencies amounting to $23,000.
Eastern rite Catholic church in India close to ending 25 year dispute
A dispute over liturgy within India’s Syro-Malabar Eastern rite Catholic Church, which once led to Pope Francis threatening to excommunicate hundreds of priests, is moving towards reconciliation after the Pope confirmed a new leader. The dispute was over where the priest stands during services, with the church’s synod deciding that the priest should face the altar during the eucharist and face the congregation at other times. The dissident priests wanted to face the congregation at all times. There have been hunger strikes and churches closed as a result of the protest. The Associated Press says the matter came to a head on 7 December when the Pope issued a filmed warning to the dissident priests that they risked excommunication if they didn’t conform by Christmas, and announced he had accepted the resignation of the Cardinal in charge. The compromise, which is said to have been observed since, is that the priest faces the altar for the Eucharistic prayer.
Church blessings for ploughs all over England
Last Sunday was “Plough Sunday” and old traditions have been revived by a church in Norfolk, which organised a procession of horses, tractors and over 50 villagers from Sygate to the village of Cawston, singing carols as they went. Cawston team vicar, the Rev Andrew Whitehead, said it was a chance “to remember and thank all of those people who work in the fields around us to provide our food, and it allows us to pray for them as they go about their important work.” Plough Sunday coincided with the Feast of Epiphany, so figures of the wise men were placed in several tractor cabs and delivered to the nativity scene at the church in Cawston. Services of blessing for ploughs have been held in many churches and cathedrals including St Edmundsbury Cathedral, South Kesteven, Carshalton, St Peter’s Jersey and others. Because the date clashed with Epiphany, some rituals are planned for next Sunday including Ripon Cathedral and Rufford StMarys and Tarleton Holy Trinity, Lancashire. There’s also a tradition of blessing ploughs on Plough Monday, following the Christmas season.
