High Court case over Vatican’s €350 million property deal
The Times reports a case at the High Court believed to be the first time the Holy See has been forced to stand trial in a foreign court. The Italian businessman, Raffaele Mincione, is asking the court to approve that he acted in good faith in his dealings with the Vatican’s secretariat of state, over its acquisition of a former Harrod’s depository in Sloane Avenue, Chelsea. He denies being part of a conspiracy to defraud the Vatican by inflating the value of the building at €350 million. The Secretariat of State says this was a “grossly misleading” figure. He denies this saying no such representation was made. Last year, he was convicted of embezzlement by a Vatican tribunal which investigated the case, but launched an immediate appeal.
Interfaith hustings hears call for re-imagining a new Britain
An interfaith election hustings has been held at St Martin in the Fields with politicians from the three main parties answering questions on how they will work with faith and belief communities if elected. On the panel were Labour MP Sir Stephen Timms; David Burrowes director Conservative Christian Fellowship and Deputy Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief; and Hina Bokhari, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member. The meeting heard a call from faith leaders “for the vision, experience and expertise of the faith and belief sector to be placed as a key voice in re-imagining a new Britain that will be better equipped to face the unprecedented challenges we all face”.
Episcopal church in the USA elects a new presiding bishop
The new presiding bishop of the Episcopalian Church in the USA is the Rt Rev Sean Rowe, bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of Western New York. He was elected by the bishops on their first ballot and confirmed by church representatives at their convention. At 49, he is the youngest man appointed to the role and will take over from Michael Curry, known in the UK for his sermon at Harry and Meghan’s wedding. The Episcopal News Service reports that in an address after the vote, Bishop Rowe acknowledged the challenge of falling membership. He said: “It’s not too strong to say we’re facing an existential crisis .. because the world around us is changed and continues to change .. We know that we cannot continue being The Episcopal Church in the same way, no matter where we live. It’s time to reorient our church … to support dioceses and churches on the ground, where ministry happens.”
CofE conservatives opposed to same sex marriage vow to launch a parallel province
“The Alliance”, a conservative group within the Church of England, has issued an open letter to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, declaring they will set up an alternative province if the general synod goes ahead with plans for same sex marriage. The paper before the synod proposes more work on doctrine, alternative bishops and allowing same sex marriage for clergy, with decisions to be made in February. The letter, signed by nine people, says it represents the views of 2000 orthodox clergy. It says what is proposed is a departure from the doctrine of the Church of England and they have no choice but to set up a parallel province, supported by other orthodox bishops. They want the same sex marriage decision to be made by a legal process requiring two thirds majority of the synod. The letter’s signatories include leaders of Holy Trinity Brompton, which runs a network of churches, lay people including Busosla Sodeinde, a church commissioner, and clergy including leaders of evangelical and conservative groups such as New Wine.
Eleven CofE bishops appeal for more time to consider same sex marriage
Eleven Church of England bishops have written an open letter objecting to proposals on same sex marriage which will be discussed at the Church of England’s general synod in York next week. They repeat objections that approval would be against church doctrine and further endanger the unity of the church. They want more time to reach consensus and appeal for the proposal to go through a legal process requiring a two thirds majority in the synod. The bishops signing are: Horsham, Lancaster, Rochester, Plymouth, Hereford, Ebbsfleet, Oswestry, assistant in Exeter, Islington, Guildford, Southwell and Nottingham.
B’mitzvahs for gender fluid teenagers
My Jewish Learning has an article on how to organise a gender neutral bar/bat mitzvah, the rite of passage celebrating a child becoming an adult in the eyes of the Jewish community, at age 12 for girls or 13 for boys. It says the ritual is gendered in many respects, “which has posed challenges as growing numbers of young people choose not to identify as either male or female or with the gender they were assigned at birth”. The article says that the words used in the ceremony are gendered and have sometimes been replaced, for example removing son or daughter with “from the house of ..”. It reports that many congregations now use the term b’nai mitzvah as an inclusive, gender-neutral descriptor. Some synagogues have used b’mitzvah, b-mitzvah or b*mitzvah. Another challenging area is gifts, by tradition kiddush cups for boys and Shabbat candlesticks or jewelry for girls, which, it suggests, could be replaced by donations of money instead.
Pope turns controversial radio transmitter site into solar panel farm
An area in northern Rome which houses transmitters for Vatican radio and has caused controversy with fears that electromagnetic waves have caused childhood leukaemia, is to be turned into a solar panel farm, by decree from Pope Francis. The Associated Press reports the Pope saying that the solar energy generated would be sufficient to fuel not only the radio operations there but the Vatican City State itself. Since its inception in 1957, residents have complained of health problems and once took legal action against high emissions, but the Vatican has insisted there was no causal link and was cleared in the court case.
Rare ivory container of relics found in Austria
A 1500 year old ivory reliquary “pyx” has been found under a small marble altar during excavations of a hilltop settlement in southern Austria. Heritage Daily reports that archaeologists came across the find among the remains of two churches at the site. It is said to be among only 40 discovered worldwide and has intricate carvings of a man gazing away from a mountain, thought to depict Moses receiving the Ten Commandments, and a man riding a chariot and a hand coming from the clouds to pull him into heaven. It would have contained relics perhaps brought by pilgrims, which may have been displayed at festivals on holiday days.
