Ukraine news
Ukraine government sources say 2,389 children in east Ukraine, including orphans and those in state care, have been removed to Russia; President Zelinsky says there is nothing left in Mariupol – Russians are said to be in the city centre and thousands of people are trapped; Ukraine military commanders say Russian forces have only three further days of fuel, food and ammunition.
Zelinsky tells Pope Ukraine people became an army when they saw evil
President Zelinsky of Ukraine has held another conversation with the Pope and said the mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated. He said the Pope had “important words” for him, and that he had told him about the resistance of the Ukrainian people “who became an army when it saw evil.” The Pope has intervened repeatedly during the conflict, meeting Russian Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill, visiting sick children who have escaped to hospitals in Italy, and making clear in the strongest language that the massacre, inhuman, sacrilegious war must end. They spoke hours before Zelinsky addressed the Italian Parliament, telling them that his country was on the brink of surviving its war with Russia and repeating his appeal for more sanctions to be imposed on the Kremlin.
Ukrainian holocaust survivor dies in rocket attack
Boris Romantschenko, a 96 year old Holocaust survivor, has been killed in an attack on his apartment block in Kharkiv, in the east of Ukraine. He survived four concentration camps but died in a rocket attack on his home. Volunteers gathered his remains for burial. The Jewish Chronicle says he was vice president of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation and his family are stunned by the news. Earlier in the invasion, Russia bombed Babyn Yar, the site of one of the Holocaust’s single largest massacres. The Chronicle says his death “marks another tragic coda to Vladimir Putin’s claim that Russia is justified in invading Ukraine because it must “denazify” the country”.
Radio Maria director says Archangel Michael will protect Ukraine
In the midst of the fighting, the Catholic radio station in Kyiv, Radio Maria, continues to broadcast. Its director Father Aleksey Samsonov, is still in the capital and compiles video messages for the outside world. His latest, published yesterday, describes how he is obeying government guidance to stay inside. He can hear explosions and fighting but speaks of his hope in the Archangel Michael “who for centuries, maybe for 1000 years, has been the protector of Kiev and the protector of all of Ukraine”. He says the war is against Russia and Satan “who wants to kill us and kill all hope”. He ends by asking for prayers for Ukraine.
Other news
Church leaders urge Chancellor to tackle cost of living crisis
As the Chancellor Rishi Sunak prepares to deliver his Spring statement today, more than 200 church leaders have written to him, calling for measures to tackle the cost of living crisis as inflation rises, the price of oil soars and people face a choice of heating or food. In an open letter, they urge him to bring in a windfall tax on fossil fuel companies and energy efficiency measures to reduce heating bills. The signatories include the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and more than 50 Anglican and Catholic bishops in England, Scotland and Wales.
Global faith leaders back safeguards for LGBTQ+ people
More than 150 religious leaders, academics and lay leaders from around the world, have met for a two day conference in London to agree safeguarding principles to protect LGBT+ lives. The Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives Conference included two Archbishops, the chief rabbi of Poland and other faith representatives. Jayne Ozanne, director of the Commission, said it was encouraging to see support from so many global leaders. The agreement followed specially commissioned research regarding the harmful practices of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ young people.
Humanists launch petition against schools choosing pupils on the basis of religion
Humanists UK has launched a petition calling on the government to remove the ability of state schools in England to choose their pupils on the basis of religion. It says the aim is to end “these discriminatory admissions processes” among faith schools which make up one third of all school places. Education campaigns manager Robert Cann said: “Six out of ten parents of today’s school aged children belong to no religion, yet in some areas, non-religious families find it practically impossible to get into a local school without lying about their own religious observance”.
Two key staff leave Anglican communion office
Four months before the Lambeth conference of bishops, the Anglican Communion office, which serves the global church, is losing two key staff. Its deputy secretary general, Will Adam, is moving after one year to become the next Archdeacon of Canterbury. And the director for administration and logistics, Stephanie Taylor, is leaving after eight years to become the director of governance at the Isle of Wight College. The secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Josiah Idowu-Fearon, is retiring in August. The Lambeth conference is for 900 Anglican bishops from all over the world and takes place every decade. This year it will be held from 26 July – 8 August.
24-7 Prayer leader steps aside
Mike Andrea, the CEO of 24-7 Prayer International is stepping aside after Trustees investigated complaints over his conduct as leader of the Global Generation Church, based in Thanet, Kent. No evidence of criminality was found but Trustees say their report found his conduct fell below the standard expected of a senior Christian leader. 24-7 Prayer International started on the south coast of England in 1999 and now operates in 78 countries. Its aim is to encourage people to take turns praying every minute of the day.
Middlesex cricket team visits London central mosque
The Middlesex cricket team took a break from pre-season training to visit the London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre in Regents Park. They were given a tour including the Islam exhibition, a talk on the principles of Islam and watched afternoon prayers. The club is one of several sporting organisations to have signed the Muslim Athletes Charter, promoted by Nujum Sports. The club said it was part of a drive to learn what is important to faith groups in the county as it seeks to engage communities and make Middlesex Cricket a wholly inclusive club for all. Cricket world story here
