600 faith leaders meet in Minneapolis to resist ICE immigration raids
More than 600 faith leaders met in Minneapolis at the end of last week, to discuss non-violent resistance to ICE raids across the USA, sharing stories from clergy and faith organisations about ICE activities across America, and impact on their communities. The event was organised by the Minnesota group MARCH – Multifaith Antiracism, Change and Healing. During their gathering, the leaders took part in a day of strike action, a march in sub-zero temperatures, a prayer and worship service, and a protest against deportation flights at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, when 100 clergy were arrested. Jack Jenkins reports for the Religion News Service here
Bishop: ‘reckless brutality by federal government’
Church leaders have been on the front line of opposition to the anti-immigrant raids in Minnesota, where two people were shot dead by ICE agents – 37 year old Renee Good shot in her car, and intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, also aged 37, shot at the weekend in the street. Minnesota Bishop Craig Loya, wrote on Facebook that it was a campaign of “reckless brutality being waged by the federal government”. There was unity around the call for ICE agents to leave Minnesota, and for the federal agency to be held to account.
Cardinal: ’empires topple when people say ‘No’
Last night, more than 8,000 faith leaders from many faiths and Christian denominations in the US, took part in an online “National Faith Call to Action”, organised by the group “Faith in Action”, a grassroots organisation campaigning for progressive change. There was a mood of shock, resistance and outrage at the activities of ICE, with faith leaders speaking of a slide towards tyranny, in a society where people are living in terror and fearing to go outside. The Bishop of Washington DC, Marianne Budde, led prayers, and Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark recalled a pre-war story from Italy in which a priest told a woman alarmed by the rise of fascism that empires fall when people say “No”. “If we are serious about putting faith into action,” the Cardinal said, “we need to say ‘No’.” The event organisers said people should contact their congress representatives and urge them to vote against funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which employs ICE agents. A recording of the online meeting is on Facebook here
World Council of Churches leader ‘deeply alarmed’
The World Council of Churches general secretary Rev Prof Jerry Pillay has expressed deep alarm over the escalating violence in areas where ICE officers are deployed. In a statement, he said the WCC stands with church leaders calling for an end to the violence and justice for victims. Last night, President Trump doubled down, calling for “all criminal illegal aliens” in jail to be deported and for the end of “sanctuary cities, which limit access to federal immigration officers. BBC live reporting here
Other news
Soul Survivor named ‘engine of mission’ despite safeguarding scandal
The website Thinking Anglicans reports that the Diocese of St Albans has written to all diocesan clergy and readers to clarify that the Soul Survivor church in Watford will not receive funding from a £2.3 million mission fund allocated to the diocese by a Church of England board (SMMIB). Soul Survivor is an evangelical charismatic movement based at an Anglican church in Watford, with global influence over three decades, particularly among young people. Three years ago, its founder Mike Pilavachi was revealed to have groomed young men, massaged them and wrestled them to the floor. He left in 2023, and the Scolding Review, recommending tighter safeguarding, was published in September 2024. Concern arose after a funding bid for mission, considered by diocesan synod last October identified three “missional centres” in Watford, Welwyn / Hatfield and Luton which would “develop church planting churches in each population centre, building on the working SSW (Soul Survivor Watford) model”. The “engine of mission” in Watford is named as Soul Survivor. The report led to concern that Soul Survivor was being “rewarded” soon after the scandal. “Thinking Anglicans” quotes the letter to clergy and readers saying Soul Survivor Watford will not receive any funding from the SMMIB award. It has been “invited to offer volunteer and resourcing support to Christ Church Watford as part of its revitalisation journey. Any such support would only happen at the invitation of the parish and under diocesan oversight, and it would not involve any controlling or governance role for Soul Survivor Watford.” The letter, published by Thinking Anglicans is here. Telegraph article is here. Church Times article is here
Incoming Archbishop of Canterbury’s safeguarding record praised
The safeguarding record of the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has been praised by the Church of England’s lead bishop on safeguarding, Joanne Grenfell. Dame Sarah, who is due to be officially confirmed in her role on Wednesday, has come under scrutiny recently for past safeguarding cases in the Diocese of London, including her handling of an abuse allegation by a man known as survivor N against a priest in the diocese. But no further action is being taken against here in relation to this case. In a statement to the Press Association, Bishop Joanne said she had seen over the years Dame Sarah’s “full commitment to safeguarding – strengthening systems and processes, and improving the culture across a large, complex organisation”. She said Dame Sarah was someone who “has taken care to listen, resource and act, and ensure complaints are handled properly… She is committed to taking the next steps towards greater independence in safeguarding across the Church – as Synod has voted for – with external scrutiny underpinned by legislation, survivor engagement embedded and practice kept robust and accountable at every level”. She added: “In areas where poor practice had gone unchallenged in the past, she didn’t look away. She tackled issues with clarity and principle, and made sure concerns were followed through with care and rigour.”
Men’s Pilates class at Bradford mosque goes viral on TikTok
The Guardian tells the story of men’s Pilates classes in a Bradford mosque which have gone viral on TikTok. What started off as a small class, has grown into a global trend, with the TikTok film viewed two million times and inquiries coming in from Malaysia and Canada to set up classes there. The Pilates instructor Zafar Kayani, 69, told The Guardian that his Bradford group has men aged from 50 to 80: “It’s a very unique thing for older Asian men. They’re coming here for their spiritual health. Then getting that physical exercise and mental wellbeing, and they’re connecting with each other.” Story is here
