Vatican declines to join Trump’s Board of Peace
The Holy See has declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to join the Board of Peace, the group which will oversee the processes of the Gaza peace plan. The Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told reporters that the Holy See “will not participate “because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States.” Speaking to reporters, he said: “There are points that leave us somewhat perplexed” and there are “critical issues that should be resolved.” He explained one concern is that “at the international level it should, above all, be the UN that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted.” The UK and European countries have also boycotted the Board, but a total of 27 countries have joined. At its inaugural meeting in Washington, Trump said that nine members have agreed to pledge $7 billion towards a Gaza relief package and five countries have agreed to deploy troops in an international stabilisation force. Tony Blair, an executive member of the board, addressed the meeting praising Trump’s vision as “the best, indeed the only hope for Gaza, the region and the wider world.” Quoted in The Telegraph, Tony Blair said : “As President Trump recognised, its potential has always been vast. Twenty-five miles of Mediterranean coastline, proximity to great regional and global markets and a young, dynamic population with a median age of 19.”
Bishop of Blackburn calls for conversation on national identity
The Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North, has said the country is as divided now as it was before the Brexit vote in 2016. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Express, he said then, as now, it was national pride driving the division, and that it was necessary to have a “really important national conversation about what it means to be British”. He did not believe Brexit was a xenophobic, angry or racist vote – people were voting for a particular vision of nation. He said: “I think we can’t underestimate the extent to which the immigration debate has played into this”, and people wanted some say in the makeup of their local communities. But he warned against isolationism, saying: “We’re already an incredibly complex globe where we have a rogue American government, a wholly unpredictable American government and we have a changing world order. We need to find a balance where we’re proud of nationhood but are not isolationist. We must have strong alliances with Europeans and with other colleagues, for the sake of global security.” Story is here.
Latin Mass breakaway group will consecrate bishops despite Vatican objections
The Priestly Society of St. Pius X, a breakaway Catholic group which celebrates only the Traditional Latin Mass, says it will consecrate new bishops on 1 July, despite a Vatican warning that this will represent a decisive rupture of communion with the church. The Vatican proposed dialogue on how the Society could achieve full communion with the church, with the proviso was that the consecrations would not go ahead. But the Society rejected the terms for dialogue and issued a letter saying it could not see a way forward as the text and the liturgy of the Second Vatican Council which introduced reform, could not be challenged.
Next Bishop of Durham is local Archdeacon
The next Bishop of Durham will be the Ven Rick Simpson, currently Archdeacon of Auckland in the Diocese of Durham. He has worked in the Newcastle diocese since ordination in 1994, growing the congregation at Holy Trinity, Jesmond, and restoring the community at St Brandon’s, Brancepeth, after the Anglo-Saxon church was destroyed by fire. Durham is the fourth most senior bishopric in the church, after Canterbury, York and London, and automatically qualifies for a seat in the Lords. Ven Simpson, who is 59, said he hopes to encourage local Christian communities and represent the needs and voices of the people of the region to the national church and in the Lords. His message on YouTube is here.
Teachers invited to join group drafting new Northern Ireland RE syllabus
Teachers in Northern Ireland are being invited to help shape the new Religious Education curriculum syllabus from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4. The review follows a Supreme Court judgment that concluded the current syllabus, which is nearly 20 years old, does not convey information in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner. The guidance is that the new syllabus should treat RE as an academic discipline; develop critical and analytical skills; retain Christianity as the central focus, recognizing the role of Christianity as the predominant religious belief; be pluralist and inclusive, reflecting a diverse society by ensuring pupils explore a range of religious and non-religious worldviews; and the syllabus should prepare children and young people for future learning and citizenship by promoting respect, tolerance and understanding of different beliefs and cultures. Up to ten teachers, five from primary and five from post-primary, will be appointed to the drafting group, which will work under the leadership of Professor Noel Purdy, from Stranmillis University College, and former primary head Joyce Logue. Further details here
Fasting and prayer in Ramadan and Lent shows there is more that unites than divides
A conversation between Oasis founder and Baptist minister the Rev Steve Chalke, and Muslim leader Julie Siddiqi, which explains Ramadan and Lent, has been filmed and published on social media platforms, especially designed for use in schools. This year, Ramadan and Lent start on the same day, an unusual occurrence related to the movement of the moon, which only happens once every 30 years. They discuss the customs of each festival, both featuring prayer and fasting and talk about the inner meaning and impact on spiritual life. They say that in a society where interfaith dialogue and understanding is increasingly strained by disinformation and division, this conversation is a moment to reflect on the fact that there is far more that unites the historical faiths than divides them. Film is here
