The King prepares to meet the most diverse, multi-faith Commons
As MPs prepare for the State Opening of Parliament this morning, the King is preparing to meet the most diverse parliament elected in the UK, whose members swore their allegiance to him only last week. There was a vast array of holy texts on which to swear the oath “to be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law”, and sometimes no text at all. In a Religion Media Centre briefing, it was revealed that not all religiously affiliated MPs swore on their holy book and at least one known atheist and eight Humanists swore on the Bible. There was a suggestion that religious words should be abandoned in favour of a secular version, with the option of saying something religious if desired. The questions were: whatever the words, whether they are believed or not, in what sense is the oath sacred? Is the oath sufficient to secure basic honesty and trust among MPs? In the House of Lords, as well as swearing the oath, peers also must sign a code of conduct, which is binding. The Commons has no such requirement, and considering its recent history, the panel suggested it needs one. View the briefing again here, or listen again as a podcast here
The swearing-in of the new British government’s three senior lawyers is remarked upon by Jewish News. It was an ancient ceremony, writes Lee Harpin, but one that says so much about modern-day Britain. The attorney-general, Richard Hermer KC, and solicitor-general, Sarah Sackman, are both Jewish, and were sworn into their roles alongside the lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, who is a Muslim.
Labour hits back over ‘truly Islamist country’ comment
J. D. Vance, the Republican senator chosen to be Donald Trump’s running mate, has said Britain under Labour could be the first “truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon”. Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, commented: “I don’t recognise that characterisation … We won votes across all different communities, across the whole of the country, and we’re interested in governing on behalf of Britain and also working with our international allies.” She said Vance had said “quite a lot of fruity things in the past” and she looked forward to meeting him and Trump if they won the US election in November. Guardian report here
Christian Aid says Gaza children urge Starmer to end the bombing
The international development agency Christian Aid yesterday delivered letters from Gaza children to the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, asking him to intervene and to help bring about a permanent ceasefire. One of the children, Haba Alu Salee, writes: “I am not a terrorist to be exterminated. I am not a terrorist for my house to be destroyed and my family killed … I should now be preparing for my final and most important year of school. But instead, I help my mother light the fire to cook what little food we have, food that doesn’t even fill us. My tears should be falling from fear of exams or the difficulty of the curriculum. My tears did fall, Prime Minister, but from the fire’s smoke, that almost blinded me.”
Royal Academy apologises over Gaza artwork
The Royal Academy has apologised for showing artwork likening the Gaza conflict to Nazi Germany. The pieces are part of the academy’s summer show, which this year attracted more than 21,000 students across entering drawings, paintings, photographs, videos and sculptures. One, from a 16-year-old, was a charcoal drawing of screaming women in headscarves below a figure of Buddha wearing a swastika. The artist wrote that he created the piece of work “inspired by the recent conflict in Gaza” and draws “many parallels with the Nazis’ and Chinese oppression”. The gallery is quoted saying: “We feel that by continuing to display these artworks, with limited opportunity to provide context or discourse, we would risk causing undue upset and could put people at risk.” Jewish Chronicle report here
Far-right magazine banned in Germany
The German government has banned a far-right magazine after accusing it of stirring up hatred against Jews, immigrants and parliamentary democracy. Nancy Faeser, the interior minister, banned Compact magazine and its publisher. Police raided properties in four regions linked to the organisations, their management and shareholders. Ms Faeser described Compact as “a central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene” and added: “This magazine agitates in an unspeakable way against Jews, against people with a history of migration and against our parliamentary democracy.” AP report here
Channel island victims honoured
A German artist is to begin work on installing commemorative plaques across Guernsey in memory of Jews who died, or were persecuted, under the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War. Gunter Demnig will lay 15 brass cubes into the pavement at the last-known addresses of the victims. Twenty more will be laid later in Jersey. Helen Glencross, head of heritage services at the Guernsey Museum, said the project had been challenging and she hoped it would raise awareness both with islanders and visitors about suffering under the invading force. Jewish News report here
Most trainee RE teachers from minority groups
A survey of students shows that Religious Education appears to attract a greater proportion of trainee teachers from ethnic minority groups than is reflected by national statistics of the working population. Natre, the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education, says analysis of the data gathered by the Department of Education in December appears to indicate that twice as many black and Asian people are likely to choose a career teaching RE than the national statistics would suggest. It asks whether these figures might help the DfE to recruit more teachers in certain subjects.
Methodists call to support singles
More needs to be done to attract and retain single people into the life of the Methodist Church, a report says. It follows a motion to the Methodist Conference two years ago, which asked for more research to reflect the statistic that about 40 per cent of people in the UK are single — through choice, or circumstance. Writing on the national church website, the Rev Miriam Moul, superintendent minister of the Oxford Methodist Circuit, who is single and was on the report working party, says: “It is a starting point and, I hope, a catalyst for more work and reflection, particularly around singleness in ministry.”
Pre-Islam Christian palace found in Middle East
Archaeologists have uncovered what they believe is an eighth-century Christian palace under a cemetery in Samahij, Bahrain. The Church of the East, or Nestorian Church, thrived in the area until Islam became widespread in the early seventh century. The bishop’s palace, adorned with crosses and other Christian symbols, had eight rooms. Professor Tim Insoll, an archaeologist at Exeter University told the Daily Mail: “The implications [of the discovery] are significant as we have documentary evidence referring to the Christian community in Bahrain but lacked any material proof for it until this building was excavated.”
Shia Muslims commemorate Ashoura
Shia Muslims yesterday commemorated Ashoura, a remembrance of the seventh-century martyrdom of Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, which gave birth to their faith. Cities across Iran, including the capital Tehran, were adorned with symbols of piety and repentance. Red flags represented Hussein’s blood, black funeral tents and clothes indicated mourning, and chest-beating and self-flagellating men went on procession. AP report here
More defend Latin Mass from Pope’s restrictions
Two more joint letters have been sent to Pope Francis urging him not to make fresh restrictions on the Latin Mass. They follow the open letter by Scottish Catholic composer Sir James MacMillan that was published 3 July in The Times. First comes from a retired Mexican cardinal, Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, supported by 67 personalities. The second was organised by the US poet Dana Gioia and represents American Catholic artists and academics. Catholic Herald report here
A new coat for statue honouring Sikh heroes
A 10ft bronze statue of a Sikh soldier, honouring the sacrifices made by South Asian service personnel during the Great War and other conflicts, has been refurbished in Smethwick, West Midlands. The Lions of the Great War was given a new surface by artist Luke Perry to safeguard it in the years to come. Councillors, religious leaders and MPs joined in its unveiling at the invitation of Guru Nanak Gurdwara, which commissioned Mr Perry to create the statue for unveiling in November, 2018, the centenary of the Armistice. Express & Star report here
Christ the Redeemer surfboard ban
All explicit religious symbols have been banned from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. And a Brazilian athlete has been ordered to remove an image of Christ the Redeemer, the 100ft statue that overlooks Rio de Janeiro, from his surfboards. João Chianca, one of Brazil’s gold medal hopefuls, told My Christian Daily: “I just received the news that painting is not authorised at the Olympic Games because Christ is a religious figure.”
