Archbishop denounces trickle-down economics and huge disparities of wealth and opportunity in Britain
Two days after the chancellor announced tax breaks for the rich, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has spoken out against the idea that wealth trickles down and challenged people who will pay less tax to consider the” uncomfortable question” of what to do with the extra cash. He was speaking at St James in the City, Liverpool, on the opening day of the Labour Party conference in the city. The set Bible reading happened to be about wealth and riches, including: “The love of money is the root of all evil”. He said this was relevant “especially for those who believe that wealth trickles down, when all of those without much wealth, and especially the poor, know it gathers and expands in the aquifers and coffers of the wealthy and is carefully guarded”. He said people need to talk more about the “huge discrepancies of wealth and opportunity” in Britain, but his main point was to consider the injunction to do good deeds, to be generous and willing to share: “Though you may — or may not — be pleased about this week’s tax cuts, if you are a beneficiary, what you choose to do with your additional money is an uncomfortable question only you can answer, and no politician or economist can make it for you. It is about each of us asking what is right”. He said he had glimpsed deep-seated instincts of generous goodness and grace, in the queue that formed to pay last respects to Queen Elizabeth. “Let us build a coalition of hopefulness and goodwill around what we know to be true and good and right”. Sermon on YouTube here
‘Grossly simplistic’ to name Leicester riots as Hindus v Muslims
The difficulties of reporting the recent flare-up of violence on the streets of Leicester was discussed in the most recent Religion Media Centre podcast. Leicester Live journalist Asha Patel said there was concern that trouble would flare up again, but people were still going about their daily lives, including reporters. Journalist Amardeep Bassey said it was “grossly simplistic” to name the troubles as Hindu versus Muslim. Leicester has had harmonious relations between communities for decades and there were complex dynamics in play that had created the recent violence. He said it was basically about political ideologies that affected a small number of those communities, with the vast majority wanting the violence to stop. The RMC podcast is available on all platforms and on our website here
Pope welcomes migrants as Italy poised to elect a far-right prime minister
Pope Francis has said that migrants are to be welcomed, accompanied, promoted and integrated. He was speaking yesterday on a day designated the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and the day of Italian elections that could make the far-right politician, Giorgio Meloni, prime minister. Her party, Brothers of Italy, is anti-immigration, anti-woke and anti same-sex marriage. She would become the country’s first female PM and the first far-right politician to hold that office in Italy since the Second World War.
Largest anti hijab protest in Iran in modern history
Nazanin Ratcliffe, who was detained in Iran for six years on false allegations of spying, has described the protests in Iran after a young woman was arrested for wearing her hijab incorrectly, as “by far the largest anti-hijab protest in modern history”. The protests started when Mahsa Amini, 22, was detained by morality patrols policing dress code adherence. She fell into a coma in police custody and died. Security forces have fought protesters in cities across Iran, with hundreds arrested and 35 people reported dead. In an article in The Sunday Times, Nazanin Ratcliffe says the Islamic Republic has harassed women for 43 years over dogmatic ideology on wearing the hijab and women would not take it any more.
Report on undervalued and overlooked black British Muslims
A report on black Muslims in Britain describes their disadvantage in society and marginalisation, even among Muslims communities. The Proudly Muslim and Black Report says black Muslims have often been undervalued and overlooked, seen as a minority within a minority. Contributors provided reflections on their careers in every walk of life and the challenges they faced. The report, produced by the Muslim Council of Britain, suggests Muslim communities should strive for diverse leadership, build diversity awareness programmes and support change in education, public services and business life.
CofE decision to ban Tutu’s daughter from leading a funeral service condemned
Christian LGBTI campaigner, Jayne Ozanne, says the Church of England has solidified its reputation for being institutionally homophobic, cruel and unloving, after the ordained daughter of Desmond Tutu was prevented from taking a funeral in the diocese of Hereford, because she is married to a woman. Mpho Tutu van Furth is an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Washington DC and had been asked by her godfather to take his funeral in the village of Wentnor. She told BBC reporter Harry Farley that the decision “seemed really churlish and hurtful”, while the Diocese of Hereford said it was “a difficult situation”. In a letter to The Guardian, Ms Ozanne said it was no wonder that the church was haemorrhaging people and “inoculating younger generations from wanting to have anything to do with us”.
Top civil servant welcomed as new chairman of the National Churches Trust
Civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam has taken over the chair of the National Churches Trust, which works with churches of all denominations throughout the UK to keep them open and in use. Last year, it awarded or recommended 304 grants for urgent repairs and maintenance, totalling £5.2 million. It was one of the first charities that received the patronage of Queen Elizabeth. Sir Philip, who was permanent secretary at the Home Office, the Department for Transport and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, said the UK’s 39,000 churches made an immense contribution to their communities but many struggled to stay open and in good repair. “Churches make an amazing difference to people, believers or not,” he said.
Jewish New Year 5783 heralded today
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish celebration of the new year, started at sundown last night and continues until Tuesday, heralding the Jewish year 5783. The shofar, an instrument like a trumpet, is blown, families gather and sweet foods are prepared with honey. There follow 10 holy days of repentance and renewal leading to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, on 4 October. A film with the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in conversation with two rabbis about the festival was released by the party; The Jewish News reports that no local party has submitted a motion on Israel and the Palestinians for debate at the Liverpool conference; and the Jewish Chronicle quotes Knesset speaker Mickey Levy saying that Sir Keir told him that anti-Zionism was a form of antisemitism.
