Senedd votes in favour of assisted dying in Welsh NHS
The Senedd has voted 28 to 23, with two abstentions, in favour of assisted dying services being made available on the Welsh NHS, if legislation currently before the House of Lords becomes law. The vote was held yesterday because it was the final opportunity before the Senedd is dissolved ahead of May’s elections. Some members said the bill has unresolved issues and there might be new amendments, so they could not offer blanket support. This was not a vote on the principle of assisted dying, but on whether it should be provided by the NHS. Rejecting the measure would have meant services in Wales were available only privately. In October 2024, the Senedd voted against assisted dying in principle by 26 votes to 19, with nine abstentions. Plaid Cymru objected to the process saying Wales had been put in an invidious position and it should decide the principle itself. The Conservatives’ leader, Darren Millar, called it “state-sanctioned provision of lethal means for a citizen to end their life” and said the state’s priority should be “to support people at the end of their lives, to alleviate suffering, not to help them commit suicide”. Labour’s Julie Morgan said failing to back the motion would be “an abdication of responsibility”.
‘Angry prayer’ in service to commemorate fourth anniversary of Ukraine war
Catherine Pepinster reports that faith leaders, diplomats, civic leaders and hundreds of Ukrainian refugees gathered at the Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London’s West End yesterday, to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its bishop, Kenneth Nowakowski, said: “I hope we won’t be here next year”, referring to efforts to bring about a peace deal. Prayers were said for the suffering citizens of Ukraine, soldiers, army chaplains, emergency works, refugees, children abducted by the Russian army, and for peace and justice. An interfaith event, Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg told the congregation that Bishop Kenneth had asked him to write a prayer for justice and so: “I have written an angry prayer”. He went on to ask God that he “aim this prayer at the hard hearts of those who use their power to drive thousands from their homes and millions from those they love. May their hearts be exposed to the suffering they have caused”. Earlier in the day, Defence Secretary John Healey and General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, lit candles in the cathedral in memory of those who had died during the war. No lights were switched on until the end of the service as a sign, said Bishop Nowakowski, of solidarity with those in Ukraine who have suffered great hardships in the last four years, including loss of power during harsh winter months. Two minutes silence in remembrance of all those who have lost their lives defending Ukraine and all innocent victims of war was followed by the Spiritual Anthem of Ukraine, sung in Ukrainian, which included the words: “Protect our beloved Ukraine, bless her with freedom and light of your holy rays”.
Ukrainian bishop says there must be peace with justice
In an interview with the charity Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski said he hoped for an end to war, and peace with justice, ensuring the Russians pay “for the reparation of the damage they’ve caused”. The suggestion that Ukraine give up territories to enable peace was “illogical” – it wasn’t just giving up a piece of land, it was giving up people. His priority was spiritual and pastoral to the Ukrainian diaspora and he paid tribute to the charity for supporting clergy in Ukraine on the front line. ACN gives estimates of more than 40,600 civilian injuries and up to 800 civilian deaths in Ukraine; 600,000 Ukraine military casualties, including up to 140,000 deaths, and 1.2 million Russian military casualties, including up to 325,000 deaths.
Report finds police and council failings in 2022 Leicester unrest
An independent inquiry into violence between Hindus and Muslims in Leicester in 2022, says the unrest was fuelled by online disinformation and a failure of local leadership. The report Better Together: Understanding the 2022 Violence in Leicester concludes there was “no evidence of leadership” from Leicester city council or its mayor, and criticised Leicestershire police for intelligence gaps and poor communication, though it noted some police actions prevented worse violence. More than 50 people were charged. The report finds no single group was responsible, describing both Hindu and Muslim communities as “victims and perpetrators”. Divisions had been inflamed by “political Islamist” influencers in the UK, and “Hindu nationalist actors” backed by “elements of the Indian government”. The Times of India reports that the Hindu Community Organisations Group, representing 50,000 Hindus, rejected the report amid concerns about the inquiry’s impartiality. The report warns that rising community identity, economic pressures and imported political ideologies risk further division. It recommends investment in youth services, community led policing, countering mis and dis-information, clear political leadership and bringing people together in secular spaces. BBC report here
Listed Places of Worship grant scheme runs out of money
The National Churches Trust says the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has run out of money six weeks before the end of the financial year, leaving hundreds of churches in the lurch. The government had allocated £23 million, a reduction from £42 million in previous years, but the NCT says this has proved inadequate. A new scheme, the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, has not been set up yet, leaving a gap when no government funding is available at all. Added to which, the government has axed a scheme to allow VAT repairs to be claimed. Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust, says: “With 1000’s of churches at risk, this is yet another blow to our national heritage as many will now be unable to pay for urgent repairs.”
Archbishop told to ‘show courage’ to end CofE discrimination against gays and women
Former Guardian and Prospect Editor Alan Rusbridger, has called on the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, to “show some courage” and end the current treatment of gay people in the Church of England as “second class citizens”, and discriminatory attitudes to women. Writing in Prospect and Indy Voices, he says the recent Synod decision to close down the Living in Love and Faith project on sexuality, showed the CofE had “bottled it”, when faced with the chance of allowing services for same sex marriage blessings, and clergy allowed to be married in a civil ceremony. The bishops say new synod measures will be needed to bring in the changes. If these attitudes were seen in the outside world, he said, they would be regarded as “preposterous and illegal”. The article goes on to blame the entrenched conservative evangelical movement based at Holy Trinity Brompton, its wealthy backers and the Church of England Evangelical Council, threatening schism unless their opposition to same sex blessings holds sway. Mr Rusbridger says Dame Sarah has a choice: “Keep talking and never decide, or show some courage.”
Russell Brand pleads not guilty to new charges of rape and sexual assault
The broadcaster and media personality Russell Brand, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty to two further charges of rape and sexual assault, alleged to have happened to two women in 2009 in London. He arrived at Southwark Crown Court carrying a copy of the Bible with pages bookmarked and tried to read it during the hearing. He confirmed his name and entered not guilty pleas and was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court at a date to be fixed. He has previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one of indecent assault and two of sexual assault in relation to alleged offences in London and Bournemouth from 1999 to 2005, involving four women. A trial has been scheduled for June to hear these original charges.
