Ukraine has ordered a state of emergency as Russia is said to be fully prepared militarily for a large-scale invasion. Ukraine has started conscripting reservists aged 18-60. A massive cyberattack knocked out several Ukraine government departments. The UK has pledged more defensive weapons and non-lethal aid to Ukraine, but its measure of sanctions against Russia has been criticised as weak.
Pope appeals for peace in Ukraine
Pope Francis has once more appealed for peace in Ukraine. In his general audience on Wednesday, he said the threat of war had caused great pain in his heart. Despite diplomatic efforts, “increasingly alarming scenarios are opening up” and he appealed to political leaders to examine their consciences before God, who wants people to be brothers not enemies. He invited everyone to make 2 March, Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting for peace.
World Council of Churches expresses grave concern for Ukraine
The Rev Professor Ioan Sauca, acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches, has expressed grave concern for the people of Ukraine. In a statement he appealed for an end to the “dangerous geopolitical competition that has precipitated this crisis”. He called for a return to dialogue and to the principles of the Minsk Agreements as a pathway to peace, within the framework of international law.
American academic: conflict between Russia and Ukraine is ‘a religious war‘
An American author, specialising in Orthodox Christianity, argues that the war between Russia and Ukraine is a religious war. Dr Katie Kelaidis, writing in Religion Dispatches, an American online site with comment and analysis of issues at the intersection of religion, politics and culture, draws parallels with previous conflicts where religion was at the heart. She says the tensions that motivated the terrorists in 9/11 were largely internal to Islam, on how Muslims ought to respond to western modernity. She argues this same drama is being played out within Orthodox Christianity in Russia and Ukraine, between people divided over “dancing” with the liberal West or being entrenched in traditionalism.
Islamophobia ‘rising in Amsterdam’
A study carried out for the Amsterdam municipality is reported to suggest that Islamophobia is on the rise, in society and online, and has become normalised. The study by the Euro-Mediterranean Migration and Development Center, is reported in the Netherlands Times. Its findings are said to indicate that Muslims are subject to Islamophobic practices in their workplaces, as well as hate speech online. Examples were problems finding an internship, rejection from job opportunities because of surname and background, irrelevant questions about terrorism or patriotism in job interviews, women in headscarves called names and being spat on or assaulted.
Southern Baptist leaders agree on sex abuse complaint resolution
Southern Baptist leaders in America have reached a resolution with Jennifer Lyall, a former publishing executive for Lifeway Christian Resources, who had been abused for years by a former seminary professor. They have apologised for failures in responding to her story when she first went public and acknowledged harm in a media report that suggested it was a “morally inappropriate relationship”. An apology for this has also been made. The church has been divided over how to respond to sex abuse claims. Last autumn some executive committee members failed in attempts to control the access investigators would have and what would be made public and several members, the former president and chief executive resigned. Bob Smietana’s report for the Religion News Service here.
Justin Beiber’s Justice World Tour encouraging social action
The Religion News Service reports that Justin Bieber is on a Justice World Tour, encouraging his fans to take action on social justice. It launched in San Diego on 18 February and reaches the UK in 2023. Fans can donate to any of 18 groups working in areas from climate advocacy to criminal justice reform and racism. They earn points by signing petitions, volunteering or registering to vote and this can add up for opportunities to win prizes. Beiber is known for his Christian faith, but has parted from association with Hillsong church and has been quoted as saying he believes in Jesus, not religion.
US military deny religious exemption grounds for vaccine exemption
The Associated Press reports that 12 US Air Force officers are taking legal action against the federal government after they were denied religious exemptions to the mandatory Covid-19 vaccine. The report says the USAF has allowed more than 3,000 medical and administrative exemptions but only nine religious exemptions. The officers accuse the USAF of double standards.
Virginia law would ‘sanction LGBTQ+ discrimination’ by religious groups
The Virginia House of Delegates has approved a bill which would excuse religious organisations from obeying non-discrimination laws. Human Rights campaigners say it will sanction LGBTQ+ discrimination by saying that there is nothing to prohibit a religious or religious-affiliated organisation from taking any action to promote the religious principles for which it is established or maintained. The bill will have to move through various procedures before becoming law
Harry Read, war veteran and Salvation Army commissioner, dies aged 97
Harry Read, a Second World War veteran, whose D-Day story has been widely told in recent years, has died at the age of 97. He was from a Salvation Army family in north Yorkshire, when he signed up to join the Royal Signals. He parachuted into Normandy at the age of 20 and, 75 years later, did it again in a commemorative jump. After the war, although accepted for the Methodist ministry, he returned to his Salvation Army roots eventually becoming commissioner and territorial commander of the UK.
