Father Hugh Mullan — shot dead while trying to deliver the last rites — was a ‘peace-maker’
An inquest on 10 people shot dead in an army operation in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, almost 50 years ago, has found they were innocent of wrongdoing. The dead included a young Catholic priest, Father Hugh Mullan, killed as he crawled along waste land to administer the last rites to a man who had been shot. Mrs Justice Keegan, delivering the findings, said Fr Mullan was a peace-maker and that he was carrying a white object at the time that he was shot. He was a man whose life was dedicated to helping the community in which he served, his brother said, after the verdict.
Women faith leaders unite in call for peace in Israel
At least 31 people have died in escalating violence in the Middle East, which started at the holy site of Temple Mount after Friday prayers. A tower block in the Gaza strip was destroyed by an Israeli air attack, and Hamas fired 130 missiles into Tel Aviv in retaliation. The international community has urged both sides to end the violence.
In the UK, two women faith leaders — one Jewish, one Muslim — have issued a joint statement in response to the attacks. Rabbi Laura Janner Klausner, former senior rabbi to Reform Judaism, and Julie Siddiqi, a Muslim leader working to bring communities together, said a shared vision of dignity, justice and safety for all people in the Holy Land must shape conversations here: “Muslims and Jews must not let violence in the Holy Land ignite divisive hatred in the UK.” They are planning to travel to Jerusalem together in the future.
The patriarchs and heads of the churches of Jerusalem say the violence is concerning: “The actions undermining the safety of worshippers and the dignity of Palestinians who are subject to eviction are unacceptable.” They say the growing tension is backed mainly by right-wing radical groups and they call on the international community to intervene and end “these provocative actions”.
Concern over loopholes for religion in conversion therapy ban
The government will bring forward legislation to ban “conversion therapy” in England and Wales in the next year, following a public consultation. This is to assess the impact on freedom of religion or belief if counsellors or religious leaders believe their action in praying for someone will cross a legal boundary. Humanists UK warn that the ban must apply to all settings, citing research showing that 51 per cent of people who have undergone conversion therapy to change a sexual orientation, did so in a religious setting. Humanists UK chief executive Andrew Copson said there should be no loopholes that allow religious conversion therapy to continue. Campaigner Jayne Ozanne said the government needed to implement a full ban on all conversion practices, including religious practices. “We do not need yet more delay,” she said.
Test for removing memorials linked to slavery: is worship made difficult?
Church of England guidance on how to deal with monuments linked to the slave trade suggests a process for parishes and cathedrals to discuss contested items and come to decisions about what to do with them. A key factor will be whether its presence would make worship difficult. The report, Contested Heritage in Cathedrals and Churches, says that pieces could be commissioned to go alongside certain memorials, placing them in context. It acknowledges that some memorials are part of a building’s history and may be considered artistically significant. Thinking that people are wholly good or wholly evil should be avoided. “A theology of forgiveness is not reducible to simplistic categorisations,” it adds.
Google’s safe search allows antisemitic jokes on images
Research by the Antisemitism Policy Trust and the Woolf Institute suggests that Google systems cannot stop antisemitic images featuring jokes about the holocaust, even with the use of a “safe search” filter. A report in The Times says campaigners believe internet companies are not doing enough to stop the spread of hate content. Google explained that “safe search” can block explicit content but not offensive or hateful material.
Marie van der Zyl re-elected president of the Board of Deputies
Marie van der Zyl has been re-elected as President of the Board of Deputies, after defeating Jonathan Neumann in a close-run election by 161 to 125 votes. It was the first time in 60 years that an incumbent president has been challenged. Mrs van der Zyl told the Jewish News that the vote showed there was polarised opinion in the community. She pledged to improve representation and increase the involvement of deputies.
Guidelines for celebrating Eid with Covid restrictions
Eid Al-Fitr, the celebration at the end of Ramadan, is to be marked by Muslims across the world between 12 and 14 May, subject to the sighting of the new moon. The Muslim Council of Britain has released guidance, as large indoor gatherings are prevented because of Covid-19 restrictions. However, Eid prayers at the mosque and meals consumed outdoors are possible and Muslims have been advised to continue with utmost care.
