Grooming gangs report: Casey warns silence on ethnicity fuels harm
A report on grooming gangs by Baroness Casey has found that the ethnicity of people involved has been “shied away from” by authorities, for fear of being seen as racist and raising community tensions. Only 34 per cent of cases list ethnicity of perpetrators, so no accurate assessments can be reached. But in Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, there was enough evidence to show a “disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds amongst suspects for group-based child sexual exploitation”. Baroness Casey said not giving a full picture of the offenders was doing a disservice to the Pakistani and Asian heritage community, and victims. In a Commons debate, the MP for Bradford West, Naz Shah, said the vast majority of Muslim and Pakistani heritage people share the sheer anger and condemnation at the cases. She said it is clear that the majority of Muslims are deeply concerned about grooming gangs, shown by sermons in mosques, letters from leading figures and demonstrations on the streets. She continued: “Let me reiterate in this House that British Muslims stand on the side of victims and support the full force of the law being used against all perpetrators of abuse”, and she warned against blaming entire communities. The Prime Minister has announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs, and the National Crime Agency will take immediate action against people who have sexually exploited children.
Search for children’s remains at Irish Catholic mother and baby home
Work has begun in Ireland to excavate the site of the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, to identify the remains of around 800 infants and young children who died there. The home was run by an order of Catholic nuns and closed in 1961. The Associated Press reports that historian Catherine Corless “tracked down death certificates for nearly 800 children who died at the home in Tuam between the 1920s and 1961 — but could only find a burial record for one child”. Also yesterday, Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, announced legislation will be introduced to establish a public inquiry into mother-and-baby homes and institutions including the notorious Magdalene laundries, together with a redress scheme.
Catholic bishops speak out against proposed change to abortion law
The Catholic lead bishop for life issues, Archbishop John Sherrington, says the bishops are “deeply alarmed” at amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, to be debated in parliament today, which mean women would not be prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy. The measure has been tabled by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, after six women have appeared in court in the past three years charged with ending or attempting to end their own pregnancy outside the terms of the abortion law. Supporters say these women are often vulnerable and need care and compassion not threat of imprisonment. But the Archbishop says: “Keeping abortion within the criminal law provides some level of protection for women and unborn children. Of course, where cases do arise under the current law, the authorities should act with both justice and mercy”.
Report says BBC is ‘systematically biased against Palestinians’ in Gaza coverage
The Centre for Media Monitoring, which is part of the Muslim Council of Britain, has produced a report saying that the BBC is “systematically biased against Palestinians in Gaza war coverage”. Researchers analysed more than 35,000 pieces of BBC content and concluded that Israeli deaths were given “33 times more coverage, per fatality, and significantly more emotive language”. Among the other conclusions were that Palestinian deaths were treated as less newsworthy, there was systematic language bias favouring Israelis by the use of the words massacre or murder, there was a “suppression of genocide allegations” and a “muffling” of Palestinian voices, with fewer Palestinian than Israeli interviews. A BBC spokesperson told Byline Times that the corporation will “consider the report carefully and study its findings in detail”. They are quoted saying they have some questions about the use of AI to analyse content.
Petition to ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Britain
The Campaign Against Antisemitism is calling on the Home Secretary toban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and also to proscribe the Palestine Action group. It has set up a petition saying it is time for Labour’s pre-election pledge to be fulfilled. It adds: “The Government must also finally proscribe Ansar Allah (the Houthis) and the various groups involved in the Hamas-led 7th October 2023 terrorist attack”. It says “Iran’s IRGC is active in the UK” and wants to target Jews anywhere around the world and that includes Britain.
New survey of Jewish attitudes and experiences in Britain
The Institute for Jewish Policy Research has launched a new survey, “Jews in Uncertain Times”, to assess the opinions of British Jews in the aftermath of 7 October. The survey is aimed at all self-identifying Jews aged 16 or above living in the UK and will test attitudes and experiences against a backdrop of war in Gaza and antisemitism at home. The aim is to find out how people feel and to provide data “to support and build Jewish life”.
First translation of Bible in Welsh on public display in Pembrokeshire
A copy of the first complete translation of the Bible into Welsh, printed in 1588, will go on display at St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire from today. The book was translated by Bishop William Morgan during the reign of Elizabeth I and the year of the Spanish Armada. It was part of a drive to make scripture accessible in the Welsh language and is said to mark the beginnings of the literature and Protestantism of modern Wales. It has been kept in Westminster Abbey’s library collection ever since, having only ever been used in service once, but is now on public display until 9 July.
Pope says exploring the universe origins can lead to a more just world
Pope Leo XIV has told participants in the Vatican Observatory’s Summer School programme that their exploration of the universe can contribute to building a more peaceful and just world. The programme is dedicated to the theme “Exploring the Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope” which is investigating the atmosphere of exoplanets, the nebulae where planetary systems form, and “the ancient light of distant galaxies, which speaks of the very beginning of our universe”. He urged the scientists not to hesitate to “share the joy and the amazement born of your contemplation of the ‘seeds’ that, in the words of Saint Augustine, God has sown in the harmony of the universe.”
“South Side Pope” has rapturous welcome in his home city
Pope Leo spoke to young people at his home city last weekend, in an outdoor mass held at the Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball team, which he fervently supports. He told them that by their presence, they were giving hope to people around the world and were a source of peace and harmony. He said having lived through times of isolation and difficulty in the Covid pandemic, they may have missed out on the opportunity to live as a part of a faith community, and he encouraged them to look into their hearts “to recognize God is present”, ad through this, to find ways to serve others. The White Sox is based on the south side of Chicago, and the Pope has picked up the nickname, the “South Side Pope”.
