New MP David Smith appointed UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief
The government has appointed David Smith MP as the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Mr Smith is the newly elected MP for North Northumberland, and in the past he has been Chief Executive of Oasis Community Housing, Head of International Programmes at the Bible Society, Regional Volunteer Manager at Tearfund, and National Executive Committee member for NE England Christians on the Left. In a statement, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said his new role involves promoting tolerance and mutual respect alongside the UK’s global diplomatic network, and “supporting the UK’s wider human rights efforts, underpinning our belief that human rights are universal”. He said he was delighted to take up the role: “From sub-Saharan Africa to the Middle East and Asia, I have personally worked with those of different faiths who face religious persecution, and so these are issues that I care passionately about”. The role once belonged to Tory MP Fiona Bruce but has been vacant since the election. Mr Smith will take up his appointment in the new year.
Muslim Women’s Network UK urges campaigns in diverse communities about abuse
The Muslim Women’s Network has issued a statement saying it is deeply distressed at the story of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, whose father and step-mother have been found guilty of murder following horrific and sustained abuse. It urges the government to “implement tailored campaigns within diverse communities to raise awareness about abuse, its devastating impact, and the importance of speaking out”. CEO, Baroness Shaista Gohir, said if teachers have concerns about abuse when girls start wearing the headscarf, but hesitate to act out of fear of being seen as prejudiced or discriminatory, safeguarding should always take priority over the fear of causing offence. She also said that “Specific cultural issues must also be addressed, such as spiritual abuse, where claims of jinn (evil spirit) possession are used to justify harmful behaviour—a concern frequently reported on our Muslim Women’s Network Helpline. In Sara Sharif’s case, she was similarly blamed and accused of being possessed by a ‘jinn’. It is essential for the government to take steps toward legally defining spiritual abuse, given its diverse manifestations”. The statement is here
The lifeboat chaplains on duty at sea this Christmas
Lifeboat volunteers who stand by to serve over the Christmas holiday are organising carol services around the British coastline, where communities are coming together to donate and support their work. They will be joined by chaplains, on hand to preside at open-air services and concerts on quaysides, outside lifeboat stations, in medieval churches, cathedrals and community halls. Many of the 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland have historic links to churches, some going back to when the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was founded in 1824, and a team of 50 chaplains has sprung up, attached to stations around the coast. Some of them have even joined the lifeboat crews. Angela Youngman reports here.
Antisemitic attacks in Australia designed to ‘put fear into the community’
Police in Australia are investigating further antisemitic attacks, this time vandalism in a predominantly Jewish Sydney suburb, when vandals torched a car and sprayed, with misspelling, “Kill Israiel” on the walls of two buildings and a garage door. Last week, there was an arson attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue, with fire causing extensive damage. Australian Federal Police and the domestic spy agency, Asio, say that incident was a probable terror attack. The Associated Press reports that police have set up a task force to investigate increasing antisemitic crimes across the country. In Sydney they are looking for two male suspects, aged between 15 and 20, who were seen running from the scene of the attack. In Melbourne they are looking for three people wearing masks, who were seen spreading what appeared to be an accelerant in the building, before setting it alight. Chris Minns, the Sydney-based leader of the New South Wales state government, said of the Sydney vandalism: “This was a deliberate attack … designed to put fear into the hearts of the people who live in Sydney’s east”.
Jewish leaders meet Health Secretary to discuss concerns over antisemitism in the NHS
The Heath Secretary Wes Streeting has met leaders from the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Medical Association, the Community Security Trust and Jewish Leadership Council, to discuss antisemitism in the NHS. Jewish News reports that he said he expects NHS chiefs to “take action against anyone working in the NHS who promotes hatred against Jewish people”, adding that “we have a zero-tolerance policy towards racism, aggression or intimidation.” The leaders said the wearing of symbols of an overtly political nature is unacceptable, no NHS workers should wear their uniforms if they are taking part in a political protest external to the NHS and public-facing health organisations should recognise the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
A keffiyeh draped manger with the baby Jesus has been removed from the Vatican
A nativity tableau in the Vatican’s main audience hall attracted comment because the baby Jesus was placed in a manger draped in a keffiyeh, the black-and-white checked headscarf that is a symbol of the Palestinian cause. The Nativity scenes were made by Bethlehem-based artisans and were unveiled before an audience including special representatives of the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The Associated Press reports that at the unveiling, the Pope referred to the “martyred Palestine” and repeated his call for an end to war. But by yesterday, the keffiyeh, manger and infant Jesus had been removed from the Nativity scene, while the figures of parents Mary and Joseph remained. Vatican officials explained that it is tradition in the Vatican for the infant Jesus to only be placed in the manger on Christmas Eve on 24 December.
CofE House of Bishops discusses safeguarding and Welby’s resignation
Church of England bishops met for a routine meeting this week and are said to have spent most of their time discussing safeguarding and the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. An account of the meeting, published by the Church of England, says representatives from the National Safeguarding Team spoke about the process in relation to people criticised in the Makin report for safeguarding failings and lack of action. The group set up to respond to recommendations in the safeguarding reports from Alexis Jay and Sarah Wilkinson have reached “broad consensus that any future structure must include independence in relation to safeguarding audit, scrutiny, and complaints functions”. Final proposals for reforming safeguarding process in the CofE will be debated at the synod in February.
New Bishop of Truro is “at heart a parish priest”
The next Bishop of Truro will be David Williams, currently the Bishop of Basingstoke. He was a parish priest for 25 years before his consecration in 2014 and has said “I am, at heart, a parish priest”, which will be good news to campaigners in Truro where there are shortages of priests and where morale is low after parish churches have been joined together to share clergy. The Telegraph reported last year that “across 287 churches in Cornwall, 78 had no forms of Sunday worship advertised on the last weekend of September – a total of 27 per cent”. The article quoted the Save the Parish campaign saying there had been “brutal cuts” in the number of priests and that money had been wasted on re-organisation. In a statement after the announcement of his appointment, Bishop David said: “I want to continue working for the flourishing of local churches. The local church is vital to a local community. It’s a place where we encounter God. It’s a place where you’re encouraged and comforted when you’re in trouble. It’s also a place where we are challenged and learn how to live in God’s light.”
Stay calm this Christmas
The Church of England has launched its 2024 Christmas campaign, Follow the Star – Calm and Bright, a series of seven short films showing people busily preparing and then calming down in a church, welcomed by a vicar and meeting friends. The Bishop of Stockport, Sam Corley, said the campaign is “a timely reminder that the story of Christmas invites us into something deeper – moments of reflection, joy, and connection as we celebrate the arrival of a saviour in the reality of our world”.
