Palm Sunday attack in Ukraine proves ‘for Holy Rus nothing is sacred‘
Church leaders in Ukraine have condemned Russia’s bomb attack against people gathering for a Palm Sunday service in the northeastern city of Sumy. 34 people were killed and 99 injured. The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations said the continuing attacks on cities as people celebrate Passover and Easter, “once again prove that for ‘Holy Rus’ nothing is sacred”. The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, said he is “outraged” by the missile attack and those responsible must be brought to justice. Keith Kellogg, the Ukraine-Russia envoy for the US and former general, described the attack as wrong and “crossing any line of decency”.
Anglican church in Jerusalem ‘appalled’ at attack on al Ahli Arab hospital
The Diocese of Jerusalem has condemned in the strongest terms, Israel’s attack on al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, which is run by the Anglican church in Jerusalem. The twin strike demolished the two-storey genetic laboratory, damaged the pharmacy and the emergency department buildings. It also damaged surrounding buildings including St Philip’s church. The diocese said in a statement that the Israeli army gave people 20 minutes to evacuate the building, and no one was killed, although a sick child died in the rushed evacuation. The statement says: “The Diocese of Jerusalem is appalled at the bombing of the hospital now for the fifth time since the beginning of the war in 2023, and this time on the morning of Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. We call upon all governments and people of goodwill to intervene to stop all kinds of attacks on medical and humanitarian institutions.” The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said: “For the only Christian hospital in Gaza to be attacked on Palm Sunday is especially appalling”. The Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani says she is deeply saddened by the news describing it as “devastation upon devastation”. The Church of Ireland’s Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough, Dr Michael Jackson, whose dioceses support the hospital, said he shares the outrage at the “destruction and desecration of the hospital”.
Pope Francis greets the faithful on Palm Sunday in St Peter’s Square
Pope Francis appeared in public for around ten minutes yesterday, as people gathered for Palm Sunday in St Peter’s Square. After the final blessing of the Mass, he wished a “Happy Palm Sunday and Happy Holy Week” to the crowd and then visited in his wheelchair among the faithful. He has made short appearances several times since leaving hospital, where he was treated for double pneumonia. He is under doctors’ orders to rest for two months and after the greeting, he prayed before the tomb of the Apostle Peter, and then that of Saint Pius X and the monument dedicated to Benedict XV, before returning home.
Reclaiming Christian values to rebuild international partnerships
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, writes in The Telegraph, that the tradition of holding a palm cross during Palm Sunday services points to following “something other than yourself”. In the pattern of Christian discipleship, he says: “We break free from the bonds of self-interest. We reclaim those values that help us to look out for our neighbour, offer care in our communities as the Church does week in week out, and at the same time commit ourselves to rebuild the international partnerships for social and economic well-being and justice that our world is losing at the moment”. His article is here
Vaisakhi celebrations began rolling out this weekend
Sikhs celebrated the festival of Vaisakhi this weekend, in large scale events with music, food and stalls. Vaisakhi is a traditional Punjabi harvest festival celebrated in rural communities with processions, singing and colourful decoration. For Sikhs throughout the world, however, Vaisakhi also marks the inauguration of the Khalsa, the body of committed Sikhs who have decided to dedicate their lives to the values taught by the Sikh gurus. There are detailed reports with pics from Southampton and Leeds, among others. Later celebrations are planned for London on 19 April, Coventry on 20 April and Wolverhampton on 4 May. Factsheet here
Spyware on religious apps ‘targeting’ Uyghur, Tibetan and Taiwanese communities
The UKs National Cyber Security Centre, alongside counterparts in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the US, is warning that apps loaded with spyware are being used to target Uyghur, Tibetan and Taiwanese communities. The report says spyware, named Badbazaar and Moonshine, has been used to target individuals connected to issues considered by the Chinese state to be a threat to their domestic authority and reputation. The spyware has been found on various online sites and in apps that mimic religious or cultural applications. The report naming suspect apps is here
US judge allows immigration enforcement in places of worship
A US district judge in Washington, has ruled in favour of allowing immigration officers to conduct enforcement operations at houses of worship. The Associated Press reports that the judge refused a bid from more than two dozen Christian and Jewish groups, who said the policy violated the right to practice their religion and attendance had gone down since entry into places of worship was allowed. The judgement said only a handful of immigration enforcement actions had been conducted in or around churches or other houses of worship and that the evidence did not show “that places of worship are being singled out as special targets”.
US State department move to root out ‘anti-Christian bias‘
The US State Department is reported to have issued an appeal for staff to report anti-Christian bias from 2021-2025, during the Biden presidency years. The Associated Press says it has seen a “cable” sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to all US diplomatic missions, which asked for information about discrimination for example on opposition to vaccines or personal pronoun choice. AP reports that the cable said allegations will be investigated by a government-wide task force on anti-Christian bias and if discrimination is found the culprits may be disciplined. It also makes clear that allegations can be submitted anonymously. It is said to be an initiative aimed at rooting out religious bias in HR policies. AP adds that there is no indication that such discrimination took place under Biden.
Amnesty appeal after Ahmadi followers ‘disappear’ in Egypt
Amnesty International is demanding that the Egyptian authorities end a crackdown on members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, a new religious movement with roots in Shia Islam, whose international headquarters are based near Manchester. Amnesty says that between 8 and 14 March 2025, four members of the group were detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion. Three were subsequently subjected to enforced disappearance with their fate and whereabouts currently unknown, while one man remains held without any contact with the outside world. The Ahmadi representative in England said: “Since then 10 or more believers in the faith have disappeared whilst with the security forces in Egypt”. Amnesty says the Egyptian authorities have legal obligations to respect and protect the right to freedom of religion of everyone in the country. So far, the Egyptian government has not issued an official statement on the story. Factsheet on the Ahmadi religion is here
Missionary kidnapped in South Africa while holding a prayer meeting
An American missionary has been abducted at gunpoint while holding a prayer meeting at his Fellowship Baptist Church, near the southern coastal city Gqeberha. AFP reports that four armed and masked men entered the church, robbed people of two cell phones, forced Pastor Josh Sullivan into his car at gunpoint and drove off with him. The car was found abandoned within a mile of the church. Mr Sullivan moved to South Africa from Tennessee seven years ago, and his wife and six children were in the congregation when he was abducted. A fellow pastor in the city told AFP that the men knew the pastor by name. He believed the kidnapping was for ransom money. Two days earlier a Chinese national was kidnapped in the same area.
Pippa White, the TikTok vicar
Meet the Rev Pippa White, GenZ, 29, Taylor Swift fan, ex barmaid, rugby player, horse rider, dog owner and now TikTok vicar with 20,000 followers. Pippa is the curate of the Fauls, Whitchurch and Tilstock parish in rural Shropshire and tells The Mail that parishioners think it’s hysterical she is on TikTok, where she talks about such things as sitting in upright pews, being the chaplain at Hogwarts, suggesting heaven is like being able to eat Mozzarella, teaching Sunday schoolers about St Valentine when she is “bitter and single”, or discussing which Christian heroes would be any good at podcasting. She says the TikTok vicar idea came from her sister, but she finds it’s a great a way of meeting parishioners: “I think people just find it a breath of fresh air”.
