Bishop tells Trump: have mercy on our scared people
The Episcopalian Bishop of Washington, Mariann Budde, confronted Donald Trump at the Inaugural Service of Prayer for the Nation: “In the name of our God, have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now”. Trump sat stony-faced as the bishop gave her address during the service at Washington National Cathedral. Some gay, lesbian and transgender Americans fear for their lives, she said, and a similar fear looms over hard-working immigrant families in communities across the country. “They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwara and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here”. As the bishop highlighted the contributions of asylum seekers, whom Trump wants to deport, he turned away and looked over his shoulder, before examining the booklet he was holding. Later he told reporters the service was “not too exciting” and “they could do much better”. Sky News report here
US deportation plan is a disgrace, says the Pope
Pope Francis has called Donald Trump’s plan for the mass deportation of immigrants “a disgrace” and “not Christian”. Francis made the comments on an Italian talk show, Che Tempo Che Fa, then followed them up with an official telegram of congratulations to Trump, saying that he hoped, under Trump’s leadership, “the American people will prosper and always strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion”. Earlier, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the bishop emeritus of Brooklyn, said plans for the mass deportation of immigrants were “a vigilante approach to a mythical problem that these people are hurting us”. He told Crux: “Where you’re not dealing with facts you’re dealing with a prejudice or an idea that once we get rid of all of these undocumented people that the country’s going to be in great shape.”
Jewish council attacks pardons for Capitol attackers
Pardons made by Donald Trump on the first day of his second term of office have been attacked by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The chief executive, Amy Spitalnick, said pardons for white supremacists and extremists who led the assault on the Capitol on 6 January 2021 “made the country less safe for Jews and so many others, and more welcoming to those who threaten us”. She added: “Trump severely undermines justice and accountability for the terrible crimes committed that day. He has sent a disturbing clear signal that perpetrators of anti-democratic political violence can expect to be treated with leniency and relative impunity by the Trump administration, as long as their goals and ideology align with Trump’s own political movement.” Statement here
Community church says Southport killer’s family ‘devastated’
Leaders of the Community Church in Southport, attended by the father of the teenage murderer Axel Rudakubana, say his family is devastated by the knife killings. Rudakubana, 18, killed three girls, aged six, seven, and nine, at a dance class last July. Ten others were injured and the killings prompted riots in Southport after false reports that the suspect was a radical Islamist migrant. The disturbances spread across the UK with attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers. More than 1,500 people were arrested. Leaders of the community church said: “The Rudakubana family have been devastated following this terrible incident and they have been moved by the police, for their protection, from their home … to a secret location.” Report here
Harriet Harman proposes end to automatic right of CofE bishops to sit in the Lords
Baroness Harriet Harman is putting forward an amendment to the Hereditary Peers Bill, aiming to end the automatic right of Church of England bishops to sit in the House of Lords. Describing their presence as “an anachronism”, she said the amendment would mandate the government to develop proposals to remove the 26 Lords Spiritual within two years of the Bill coming into force. However, it would not prevent bishops from serving as life peers: “We need to make sure that the Lords keeps up to date with modern Britain”, she said. The co-sponsor of the bill is former BBC director general Lord Birt, who said the bishops’ presence was an “indefensible, undemocratic anomaly” and he would expect to see faith leaders of every kind represented in a reformed House, appointed on individual merit. The amendment is supported by Humanists UK.
Assisted Dying Bill committee discussion gets off to a tense start
The Press Association reports that MPs were reminded of the need to be “civil and courteous” to each other as the first formal meeting of the committee reviewing the Assisted Dying Bill got off to a tense start. 23 MPs have been chosen for the committee, including opponent Danny Kruger who argued against members sitting in private to discuss witnesses who might give evidence. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Bill, said this would be inappropriate. Mr Kruger had to apologise for saying the Bill was “written by a campaign group”, a claim Ms Leadbeater strongly rejected saying it was “quite personally offensive”. The chair, Sir Roger Gale said it would be helpful if the debate continued “with customary candour and decency”.
‘Extensive consultation’ by committee choosing next archbishop
The membership of the Crown Nominations Committee that will choose the new Archbishop of Canterbury will be known by mid-March. Stephen Knott, the archbishops’ secretary for appointments, has written to members of the General Synod that he and Jonathan Hellewell, the prime minister’s appointments secretary, “will undertake an extensive consultation exercise”, to which synod members will be invited to contribute. The committee, which will be chaired by Lord Evans of Weardale, a former director-general of MI5, is expected to meet in May, the Church Times reports.
Historic Jewish cemetery given £191,000 restoration
Balls Pond Road Cemetery in north London, the capital’s first Jewish burial ground, is to undergo restoration with a £191,000 National Lottery grant. The cemetery, founded in 1843, is owned by the West London Synagogue and the resting place of many pioneers of the Reform Movement. Planned improvements include restoration of memorials to preserve historic significance, enhanced site access with improved entrances, and biodiversity surveys. Burials ceased there in 1951. Jewish News report
Childcare centre attacked by antisemitic arsonists
A childcare centre in Sydney was set on fire early yesterday and antisemitic graffiti sprayed on the wall. It is the second antisemitic attack on property in four days in Sydney. Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, said police had put more resources into investigating hate crimes and condemned the culprits. Reuters report here
Pope dissolves fraternity tainted by sex abuse claims
A Peruvian-based Catholic movement, the Sodalitium of Christian Life, has been dissolved by the Pope after years of attempts at reform. A Vatican investigation uncovered sexual abuses by its founder, financial mismanagement by its leaders and spiritual abuses by its top members. The sodality (a fraternity or association), whose members have been called “half soldiers, half monks”, was founded by Luis Fernando Figari who, a 2017 report claimed, subjected his recruits to humiliating sexual and psychological abuse. Report in The Tablet here
Retired pastor cleared of 1975 murder
An 84-year-old former pastor from Georgia has been cleared of kidnapping and murdering an eight-year-old girl in 1975. David Zandstra had been in custody since July 2023, 43 years after the disappearance of Gretchen Harrington in Delaware County. He was arrested and charged with criminal homicide, murder of the first, second, and third degree, and kidnapping a minor. Zandstra, who was pastor of Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Broomall, Pennsylvania, for six years until the summer of 1975, was acquitted of all charges after a four-day trial. Report here
