No Vatican investigation into Cardinal Ouellet sex abuse allegations
Reuters reports that Pope Francis has decided there is not sufficient evidence to open a church investigation into Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who faces allegations of sexual assault in a class action lawsuit against the Quebec Catholic diocese. The action lists sex abuse cases on 100 people by 88 priests and staff working at the diocese since 1940. A Vatican spokesman said it was told about the allegations in 2021 and a priestly investigator advised against launching a full church inquiry. Reuters reports that Cardinal Ouellet “heads the Vatican’s powerful Congregation for Bishops which advises the Pope on which priests should be made bishops and is on many experts’ short list of possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis after the pontiff dies or resigns”.
UN official says Baha’i persecution in Iran is abhorrent
The United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Dr Nazila Ghanea, says the treatment of Baha’is in Iran this month has escalated in intensity and is abhorrent. The UN says there have been 180 incidents of persecution of Baha’is in the last two weeks, where homes have been demolished and people have been arrested. Dr Ghanea told the Sunday programme on Radio 4 , that Baha’is in Iran have been accused of spying, colonialism and infiltration of educational establishments, but there has been no evidence. Last week, it was reported that 90 Baha’i students were denied university places because of their faith. Read our factsheet on Baha’is here and view the zoom discussion here.
Israeli forces raid on Episcopal church in Jerusalem is condemned
An early morning raid by Israeli forces on St Andrew’s Episcopal church in Ramallah has been strongly condemned by the Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, Hossam Elias. In a statement he said it was an “unannounced and unwarranted raid” in which there was gunfire, stun grenades and where soldiers smashed the church door to gain entrance. The archbishop said it was an irresponsible act of violence, a “violation of international law and a terroristic act against the entire community”. The church is in a compound where the human rights organisation Al-Haq, rents an office. The Public Broadcasting Service quotes the Israeli military saying it closed seven institutions and seized their property in the raids.
Archbishop says church buildings offer sanctuary and need to be preserved
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell has emphasised the need to care for church buildings as well as the people who attend services and communities who gather there. In a Credo piece for The Times, he says church buildings offer sanctuary in the midst of the community and hospitality which is central to the Christian faith. “The open doors of a church in a busy city centre beckon the weary to a place of peace and quiet, an oasis for the commuter at the start and end of the working day, a place to pray, or simply sit in silence, or have a cup of tea, a biscuit and a natter”. Church buildings are more than merely bricks and mortar and need to be preserved, he says: “Brick by brick, we care for our buildings, our people, and our community as we continue to build the Kingdom of God”.
Justin Welby speaks of transformation and renewal at Lambeth
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written an article for the Church Times, reflecting on the Lambeth Conference earlier this summer. Faced with opposing views on sexuality, he said there was a moment of transformation, when bishops admitted deep disagreement but remained “committed to listening and walking together to the maximum possible degree”. He said there were signs of deeper understanding – a recognition that Anglican identity is an “incomplete” part of God’s church and a sense of shared values around solidarity in faith, subsidiarity in “localness”, and global justice.
Anti vaxx religious beliefs behind measles outbreak in Zimbabwe
The Telegraph carries a report that one fifth of the population in Zimbabwe are members of Apostolic churches which are opposed to western medicine including vaccination, and this is having a fatal impact in the country as measles takes hold. Measles has claimed the lives of 150 children nationwide, a death toll which has doubled in the past week, with most victims unvaccinated because of their parents’ religious beliefs.
Christian school in Florida says LGBTQ+ students will be expelled
Grace Christian School in Valrico, Florida, has written to parents confirming a long standing policy that “any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgender identity/ lifestyle, self-identification, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful in the sight of God and the church… Students who are found participating in these lifestyles will be asked to leave the school immediately”. The email from the private school’s head and pastor Barry McKeen, said there should be no attempt to physically change biological gender and students would be referred to by the gender on their birth certificate. The email has been widely reported and Mr McKeen defended the policy in a statement on the school’s Facebook page.
St Austell’s earth goddess sculpture slammed as “offensive to God”
Seven Christian leaders in St Austell, Cornwall, have objected to a ceramic sculpture of the earth goddess, in the town centre, as offensive to God. In a letter to the town council, seen by the Guardian, they say that town leaders are actively, though unknowingly, bringing the town “under the spiritual influence of an earth goddess” and this has the potential to “impact on the town in negative ways”. Their letter follows a 628 signature petition demanding the removal of the sculpture, 14 metres high, brightly painted circles of clay mounted on top of each other. The artist, Sandy Brown, told the Guardian she was sad and disappointed at the reaction as the statue was intended to celebrate mother earth rather than having a religious message. Richard Pears, a town councillor said he was flabbergasted by the letter and a town councillor is quoted by the Guardian saying the church leaders were acting in a “medieval” manner.
