$217 million Ayodhya temple opens today
A $217 million Hindu temple in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya will open today. Dedicated to Lord Ram, Hinduism’s most revered deity, it is on the site of the 16th-century Babri Mosque, which was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992, sparking nationwide riots that killed more than 2,000 people. The dispute was ended in 2019 with a Supreme Court ruling that gave the land to Hindus. The temple is three storeys high in a 70-acre complex and the opening is a national state event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking part in the consecration ceremony. The government has organised live screenings across the country, and many states have given people a half day holiday to join in the celebration.
Consultation on guidance over silent prayer in abortion clinic buffer zones ends today
Today is the deadline for submissions to a Home Office consultation on guidance over whether to allow silent prayer in abortion clinic buffer zones. The public order act passed last year does not allow silent prayer. MPs specifically voted on this. But the guidance says silent prayer “should not, on its own, be considered to be an offence under any circumstances”. Campaigners say this guts the intention of the bill and they have called for an urgent review of the guidance. The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, said the guidance seeks to balance the right to access or provide abortion services and the right to express views. “It is clearly unacceptable for anyone to be harassed or distressed simply for exercising their legal right to access abortion services”, he said. The act makes it an offence to influence someone’s decision to access an abortion within the area, and to obstruct and cause distress to anyone attending an abortion clinic, within a 150 metre “safe access zone”. The government says it wants the measures to be implemented from the spring.
Headteacher in Muslim prayers court case explains multiculturalism
Katharine Birbalsingh, the founder and head teacher of Michaela Community School, which is being taken to court over a ban on Muslim prayers, has given an interview to Unherd to explain her idea of multiculturalism. She said the school’s ethos is to achieve social cohesion by encouraging children to be friendly beyond religious and cultural divides. A school where each group is on its own is divisive. Her school has 700 pupils, from many different nationalities and half are Muslim, but she said the schools unites them under the umbrella of being British and asks for sacrifices from each tradition in order to bring children together. She believes that one way to make a multicultural Britain work is by schools actively encouraging mixing between different groups and cultures. The High Court case was heard last week and the judgment will be delivered later.
English cathedrals report bumper congregations at Christmas
A Times survey of 30 English cathedrals has found that congregations over Christmas were not only up on the previous three years, but even higher than pre-pandemic levels. Average attendance at Christmas services was around 7-8,000 and were boosted by live streaming on YouTube where sometimes nine times as many people tuned in. Salisbury and Gloucester had to turn people away because the pews were full, and several others said they were at full capacity. The Dean of Lichfield, Jan McFarlane, told The Times: “Our experience this Christmas leads us to conclude that we shouldn’t be nailing down the lid on the Church of England’s coffin any time soon.”
Mike Pilavachi given written warning over one complaint
The founder of Soul Survivor, Canon Mike Pilavachi, has received a written warning over verbal interactions with a vulnerable person, which took place after he was ordained in 2012. The judgment under the Clergy Discipline Measure said no further action should be taken on the allegation, but his conduct fell short of that expected of a priest in the Church of England. It said he has no authority to minister, and should he wish to return to any ministry in the Church of England this will be fully risk assessed. Another church investigation last year, found that safeguarding concerns over allegations that he massaged young men and wrestled them to the ground during a 40-year period, before and after his ordination, were substantiated.
CofE bishops plan to pray for the nation in General Election campaign
Church of England bishops are considering a “period of prayer for the nation to coincide with the expected General Election campaign”. This was one of the outcomes of their meeting at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire. They also discussed the consecration of women as bishops and how guidance was working to accommodate people who object, and heard first hand examples of the experiences of female clergy, including examples of misogyny and online abuse. Their meeting included a Q and A with BBC International Correspondent Lyse Doucet and the historian Tom Holland.
Marches for peace and civility in Manchester and London
The Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, led a March Against Antisemitism with more than 6500 Manchester Jews and their allies this weekend. Jewish News reports that he said: “Unity and understanding are our strongest allies against prejudice”. The March Against Antisemitism was called by the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, MPs Tom Tugendhat MP and Lisa Nandy also addressed the crowd. In London, Quakers and a Buddhist group “Plum Village UK” organised a silent multi faith march from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square on Sunday. Faith leaders including Imam Asim Hafiz, an Islamic religious adviser to the Ministry of Defence, addressed the crowd and called for prayers. Rabbi Alexandra Wright, the president of Liberal Judaism, saying they prayed for the hostages and for all who have been displaced. Guardian report here
“Royal sources” dismiss claim Prince William will not become CofE supreme governor when he becomes king
The Times quotes “sources close to Prince William” to scotch a suggestion that he could become the first British monarch in 500 years not to become the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The thought was floated by Robert Hardman in his book “Charles III, the inside story” , who said that while William “greatly admires and respects the Church, and enjoys attending services at significant times of the year”, he is not a regular churchgoer like his grandmother and father: “He is not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment” and “does not surround himself with academics and intellectuals”. But royal sources have come out this weekend to dismiss the claim saying the conversation has never come up.
