Pope urges de-escalation of tensions on Ukraine border
The Pope has urged the international community to resolve tensions in Ukraine through serious dialogue and not with weapons. He was speaking on Sunday in St Peter’s Square, as G7 foreign ministers warned Russia of massive consequences if Ukraine was invaded. Ukraine says there are tens of thousands of Russian troops along their common border, and believes this is in preparation for a military offensive. Russia has denied this saying it needs security guarantees. Pope Francis prayed for “beloved Ukraine”, for its churches, religious communities, and people, in remarks at the conclusion of the Angelus.
Churches destroyed in the Kentucky tornado
The tornado that tore through Kentucky this weekend, destroying communities and leaving hundreds unaccounted for, has also claimed a long list of churches. The roof blew off Emmanuel Baptist church in Mayfield but all the Bibles remained upright in the pews; another roof was ripped off Mount Zion Baptist Church in McCracken County; the church on Broadway, Mayfield, was destroyed; another in Mayfield also badly damaged; Mayfield First United Methodist church was destroyed in seconds; and the tent church where a pastor says Trump is still president and calls the pandemic a hoax, has also been damaged, along with technical equipment.
PJ Smyth, son of serial abuser John Smyth, resigns from church leadership role
PJ Smyth, the son of serial child abuser John Smyth, has stepped down from his role as a leader of an American New Frontiers church, after a report said he did not disclose important information about his father’s behaviour. John Smyth groomed teenage boys at a Christian summer camp in England and abused them in his garden shed. A report commissioned by church leaders said there were discrepancies in PJ Smyth’s statements about what he knew in 2017 when the abuse came to light. He admitted his public statements in 2017 could be described as “distancing, sugar-coating, minimising or avoiding”. He accepted that his errors caused harm and wished he had done more in 2017 to help conclude the matter in a more satisfactory way.
Government extends consultation on conversion therapy after conservative Christian concerns
The government has extended its consultation on banning conversion therapy by eight weeks. It was due to end last Friday but there has been co-ordinated resistance from some conservative church leaders, who fear they will be prevented from praying with people, or explaining their view of the Bible. The government says it wants to ensure the widest possible views are taken into account, to strike a balance in stamping out coercive conversion therapy, whilst protecting free speech. Jayne Ozanne, prominent evangelical LGBTQ+ campaigner, said of the Christian resistance: “I used to think it was ignorance by church leaders, now I realise they are fully aware and yet determined to continue to inflict their known harm on vulnerable LGBT people”.
Archbishop defends freedom of speech
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said there are three “major threats” to freedom of speech — “the fear of reprisal, the distortion of truth, and the dehumanisation of those with whom we disagree”. Speaking in the House of Lords, he said if freedom of speech was to flourish, habits of listening, reflecting and responding with generosity and grace must be encouraged. People should treat each other recognising their flaws, offering forgiveness and supporting freedom.
Jake Wallis Simons becomes editor of the Jewish Chronicle
The Jewish Chronicle has announced that Stephen Pollard, editor for 13 years, is stepping into a new role as editor-at-large. His successor is Jake Wallis Simons, currently deputy editor, who also contributes to The Spectator, Sky News, BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, alongside writing novels. He has also worked at the Daily Mail Online, The Sunday Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian and CNN. He issued a statement on Twitter saying the Jewish Chronicle was “an iconic paper with an excellent and talented team. Big things coming. Onwards!”
Mosque with The Hubb community kitchen wins Muslim Council of Britain award
The Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in Westbourne Park, London, which houses The Hubb community kitchen which Meghan Markle visited and supports, has received one of the first Muslim Council of Britain’s “Our Mosques Our Future” awards. The MCB said the women working there had overcome the calamities of Grenfell and Covid-19, offering food and friendship. A special recognition award was given to Muslim Funeral Services, whose key workers on the front line were not often recognised for their vital community role.
£10m Catholic church opens in Bahrain
The first mass has been held in a new Roman Catholic church in Bahrain, which cost £10m to build. Our Lady of Arabia church can seat up to 2,300 people and has been built to serve the 80,000 Catholic Christians in Bahrain, who are mainly workers from India and the Philippines. It is 20km south of Manama, where the Gulf’s first Roman Catholic church, The Sacred Heart Church, opened in 1939.
Spanish Catholic bishop stripped of his powers after marrying an erotic novelist
Xavier Novell i Gomà, once Spain’s youngest Catholic bishop, has been stripped of his powers and banned from administering the sacraments, after marrying an erotic novelist. The Guardian reports that he was already controversial for participating in conversion therapies and supporting Catalan independence, when he resigned in August after falling in love. Now aged 52, he has married Silvia Caballol, a clinical psychologist who became a novelist.
‘Children crushed’ by Italian bishop saying Santa doesn’t exist
A Catholic bishop in Sicily, who told a group of children that Santa Claus doesn’t exist, has been forced to apologise to outraged parents. Bishop Antonio Stagliano added that Santa’s red costume was created by Coca-Cola for publicity. AP reports that the diocesan press officer tried to explain that it was not the intention to “demolish the imagination of children”, but to say the image of Santa giving gifts in a splurge of consumerism, must be replaced by the idea of generosity. Parents were not placated, saying he had crushed children’s spirits: “When it comes to families, children and family education, you don’t understand a thing,” one said.
