US Episcopal News Service lists seven church statements condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
As Donald Trump called President Zelensky of Ukraine a dictator and claimed that Ukraine started the war, the US Episcopal News Service published a reminder of seven times when church leaders spoke out against “Russia’s unprovoked invasion of its neighbor Ukraine”. The report says “Russia’s aggression” dates back to 2014, when “Russia annexed Crimea in violation of international law”. It summarises that “the Trump administration recently began what it said were negotiations with Russia to end the war, without including Ukraine in those talks, and President Donald Trump falsely claimed that Ukraine was to blame for Russia’s war”. And then it lists seven times since the invasion on 24 February 2022, when church leaders have spoken out “to condemn the Russian aggression and offer support for the Ukrainian people”. Its last example was from June 2024 when the 81st General Convention adopted a Ukraine resolution, called “for the Russian Federation to end its attacks in Ukraine, and for a just peace to be negotiated respecting all of Ukraine’s pre-2014 territory as recognized by international law.”
Reality check: only 3 in 10 Americans support white Christian nationalism
White Christian nationalism supporters comprise only three in ten Americans, according to the US based Public Religion Research Institute, which bases this conclusion on a survey of 22,000 people. It says there are only two religious groups, white evangelicals and Latino Protestants, in which a majority hold Christian nationalist views. PRRI’s founder and president, Robert P Jones, says: “it can feel like a wave of white Christian nationalism has crashed over the entire nation… White Christian nationalism — exploited by an authoritarian madman, trumpeted by bigoted white evangelical accomplices and amplified by the quirks of the electoral college — has indeed come into remarkable power”. The study, he says, demonstrates the danger of this worldview and provides a reality check on the actual reach of white Christian nationalism among all Americans. Read the report here
Patriarch Kirill exempted from EU sanctions against Russia
EU ambassadors have agreed a 16th package of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on primary aluminium imports, sales of gaming consoles and the listing of 73 “shadow fleet” vessels. But Hungary negotiated exemptions for Moscow Patriarch Kirill and domestic use of Russian oil products. A government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs, said Hungary blocked sanctions against 27 individuals and organizations, including Patriarch Kirill, arguing that targeting religious leaders undermines peace efforts. Kyiv Independent article here
Pope shows signs of slight improvement
Pope Francis has shown signs of a slight improvement, as he continues his stay in hospital where he is being treated for double pneumonia. The latest bulletin from the Vatican says he had a restful night: “The Holy Father’s clinical condition is stationary. The blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, particularly in the inflammatory indices”. He was able to sit in an armchair and received a visit from the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who passed on wishes on behalf of the government and the entire nation, for a speedy recovery. She said: “I am very pleased to have found him alert and responsive. We joked as always. He has not lost his well-known sense of humour.”
Record number of anti Muslim hate crime incidents in 2024
Tell Mama, which records anti-Muslim hate crime in the UK, says the number of cases reported to it last year was the highest ever. The charity received 6,313 reports, more than double the number two years ago, with men targeted more than women for the first time since records began in 2012. The report says that since the war between Israel and Gaza, and the summer riots in England, there has been a “surge in rhetoric that falsely portrays Muslims as terrorists or terrorist sympathisers”. The BBC quotes a government spokesperson saying that the findings are extremely concerning and it would seek to stamp out anti-Muslim hatred and racism wherever it occurs.
Number of children in Jewish schools may have reached its peak
A report from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research says there was a reduction of 471 pupils, or 1.3 per cent, in Jewish schools in 2023/4, the first decrease in numbers since it started collecting data 30 years ago. Records show that 36,000 Jewish pupils are registered in 136 Jewish schools and 87 per cent are in Greater London and South Hertfordshire. The figures do not include pupils attending a yeshiva, seminary or other unregistered settings. The report concludes: “After decades of strong growth, the Jewish school sector in the United Kingdom appears to be in a period of flux.. the number of Jewish children in Jewish mainstream schools appears to have reached its peak and may now be in decline”. However, it says this could fluctuate if parents choose Jewish education following the war in Gaza, or if numbers increase because parent can no longer afford private school fees after the introduction of VAT. The report is here
Labour MP Marsha de Cordova on how her Christian faith informs her politics
Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, has given an interview to “Seen and Unseen” describing her Christian faith and the way it informs her politics. She explains that she became a Christian in her late 20s and attends an Anglican church: “My faith is an integral part of who I am. It really is part of my values, my beliefs, my politics.” The report makes clear her opposition to the Assisted Dying bill, support for rapprochement with the European Union, equality for disabled people, compassion for immigrants and her wish to see the Church of England take steps to ensure the abuse and behaviour outlined in the Makin review, never happens again. The article is here
Economist: ‘How TikTok became a religious pulpit’
The Economist carries an article about religious content booming on TikTok, reporting that videos with the top five holy hashtags, including #Jesus and #Islam, have been viewed more than 1.2 trillion times. Videos push evangelistic messages, relay scriptural readings, show liturgical practices, provide a platform for influencers and attract virtual congregations. The article suggests TikTok is changing religion in many ways. Young adults using the platform are more accepting of different ideas, as they are exposed to so many. Conversions are occurring differently, with persuasion from “Faithtokers” offering slogans, clothing or snacks aligning with their message. The nature of a faith commitment is different, with intense, short opportunities to hear teaching and forge a relationship with influencers. And it is sowing division, as self proclaimed preachers with no theological training deliver a bewildering mix of ideas and unorthodox beliefs. The article is here
Tomb of a pharaoh discovered near Luxor
British and Egyptian archaeologists have found a tomb of a pharaoh, King Thutmose II, the first since Tutankhamun’s was uncovered 100 years ago. It was the last undiscovered tomb of the 18th Egyptian dynasty and was found near the city of Luxor, in an area associated with the burial places of royal women. The BBC explains that when the archaeologists found the burial chamber, they saw it was decorated with a blue ceiling with stars painted on it, art that is only found in king’s tombs. The BBC report is here
