American bishops say climate crisis is overarching issue of social concern
Bishops from the US Episcopalian church will tell the Lambeth conference of Anglican bishops that the climate crisis is the overarching issue affecting all other areas of social justice it considers. In a statement agreed at the end of its general convention, the bishops said climate change and environmental degradation are manifestations of turning away from God. Environmental stewardship is “our first vocation” and selfish abuse of creation is the first sin. The Lambeth conference of Anglican bishops from all parts of the globe meets in Canterbury from 27 July – 8 August and its discussions on challenges facing the world will result in “Lambeth Calls” — declarations and affirmations from the bishops to member churches. The word “resolution” has been dropped to avoid giving the impression that the conference has the power to make legally binding decisions. Read our explainer here.
Our weekly media briefing is a Lambeth Conference curtain raiser, a discussion with at least five bishops – tomorrow, Tuesday 19 July 1200. details [email protected]
How Religion and Worldviews makes sense of religion today
An anxiety about religion in society is feeding a negative perception of religious education in schools that has led to lack of timetabling, specialist teachers and resourcing, according to the report, Promoting the Exploration of Religion and Worldviews in Schools: Fostering Coherency and Diversity, produced by Inform, the Faith and Belief Forum and the Open University. But it also finds that parents, teachers and community groups have a real warmth towards the subject as a means of fostering social cohesion and allowing the potential for reflecting on moral and ethical frameworks. One of its authors, Dr Suzanne Newcombe, told a Religion Media Centre online briefing that the report explored a new way of approaching the subject that would change the conversation about religion and provide a framework for its study reflecting the society of this century rather than 1948, when the last model was created. Read full report here and view the media briefing here.
Pope’s penitential pilgrimage to Canada after children abused in schools
Pope Francis is making a “penitential” pilgrimage to Canada next week to apologise for abuses committed by Catholics against indigenous children, who were forced to attend schools to assimilate into Canadian society, where they were assaulted and abused. Hundreds of unmarked graves have been found at these schools recently, many of which were run by the Catholic church. The Pope has already met representatives in Rome and expressed his sorrow for “the evil they have suffered”, but he hoped his visit would contribute to the path of healing and reconciliation already undertaken.
Orthodox leader says Ukraine wants to be indivisible part of Europe
The leader of the Orthodox church in Ukraine has given an interview to the Church Times, making it clear that Ukrainians want to live as members of the European Union. Metropolitan Epiphany, who visited London for a week, thanked Britain for its support and said the people had reached a strong and clear position: “We would like to be an indivisible part of European civilisation”. He believed in the future they would live as a neighbouring but separate Slavic nation, living in the free world: “We would like to live in democracy, and we will do what is required to be members of the European Union and European society”.
Anti Muslim discrimination reason for high unemployment rates
Research supported by the Economic and Social Research Council says higher unemployment rates for Muslim men and women is due to anti-Muslim discrimination, rather than “sociocultural attitudes” such as a commitment to traditionalism. The Guardian reports that Samir Sweida-Metwally, doctoral researcher at the University of Bristol, used 10 years of data from the UK Household Longitudinal study, an annual survey of about 100,000 people from 40,000 households on their socio-economic situation. He concluded that the country of origin of Muslims was also a significant factor in unemployment levels.
Affairs, murder, Machiavellian families – a life in the day of Rabbi Jonathan Romain
Far from simply “ethereally talking to heaven” on behalf of his congregants, Rabbi Jonathan Romain has described his work as dealing with a series of extraordinary tabloid level stories, including secret affairs, multiple murders, Machiavellian families, funerals that go wrong and other people’s sexual fantasies – sometimes about him. Writing in The Times, the Rabbi, who leads the congregation in the market town of Maidenhead, says his work does include taking services, leading study sessions, visiting the sick and “officiating at moments of hatch, match and dispatch”. But in a racy account of the moral dilemmas upon which he is asked to advise, he concludes the response has to be carefully nuanced. “Honesty is not always the best policy, and morality is much more complex than simply telling the truth”. Full story here
