Spring statement slammed as ‘lacking compassion and care’
Christians Against Poverty, which offers debt advice to lift people out of poverty, says more people may be pushed into deeper debt because of the welfare cuts outlined in the Chancellor’s Spring statement. Chief executiveStewart McCulloch is urging the government to reconsider in order to protect the most vulnerable. He says their volunteers and advisers “meet people who are living in cold homes, skipping meals and often isolated from their community as a result of living in poverty and debt. Many are now feeling anxious and fearful that the income they rely on may be reduced in future as a result of welfare cuts.” The changes to Universal Credit payments “will strip away thousands of pounds from those already struggling with health conditions or disabilities. This feels like leaving behind the most vulnerable, not supporting them”. The Christian Just Money Movement condemned cuts to disability provision and overseas aid as “morally wrong.” It calls on the government to “introduce a wealth tax to help address soaring wealth inequality whilst raising revenue to provide for the most vulnerable and support public services”.
US Methodists dealing with financial and emotional disaster from Trump’s policies
The US United Methodist church has spoken of the chaos caused by the Trump administration’s policy of slashing federal jobs and cut aid budgets. Heather Hahn reports “the past two months have brought expanding disaster as their members face loss of income and, in some cases, online harassment, while ministry partners that could help fill the gaps deal with a loss of federal grants. That has left United Methodist church leaders scrambling to provide comfort and mitigate the damage through prayer, pastoral care, job-search help and budget adjustments”. Loss of income has led to churches having to re-write their budgets, with income from donations, or grants for front line projects no longer available. The Rev Stephanie Vader, senior pastor of Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, is quoted saying “federal workers are patriotic and hardworking people — not the do-nothings of caricature. I cannot stress enough how people in my church don’t take federal jobs unless they are in love with their country and really want to be in service because, honestly, a lot of them could make a whole lot more money in private industry. But it is a ministry for them. It is a deep, deep passion, and it is a deep part of their practice of loving God and loving their neighbour.” The full article is here
Most non-religious people in Britain were brought up as Christians
Latest Pew Research indicates that 57 per cent of people who identify as non-religious in the UK, were brought up as Christians. The finding is among a wealth of data from a survey of 80,000 people in 36 countries. It found that in many countries, a fifth or more of all adults have left the religious group in which they were raised. Christianity and Buddhism have experienced especially large losses from this “religious switching,” while rising numbers of adults have no religious affiliation. In some countries, changing religions is very rare. In India, Israel, Nigeria and Thailand, 95 per cent or more of adults say they still belong to the religious group in which they were raised. But across East Asia, Western Europe, North America and South America, switching is fairly common. Most of the switching has been towards disaffiliation, in a category that includes atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular.” Report in The Times here
Interfaith relations ‘must include women and young people’
The Faith Minister, Lord Khan, has told a Women’s Faith Forum event in Birmingham that interfaith relations “must include the equal representation of women, and a much more significant role for young people”. Around 200 women from across the Uk attended the conference to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing women in Britain’s’ diverse faith communities. The conference built on a round table at Buckingham Palace a year ago to encourage women of faith, collectively, to challenge hate and build a stronger more cohesive society. The day was organised by Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal OBE and Laura Marks CBE, founding members of the Women’s Faith Forum.
Date for enactment of Assisted Dying Bill delayed to 2029
The timeline for implementing the assisted dying bill has been delayed. The bill, which would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to seek help to end their own life, has finished its committee phase in the Commons and faces further votes before final approval. But Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP bringing the bill, proposed a delay in the deadline by which the bill would become law – now set at 2029, coinciding with an expected general election. It’s been reported that the delay was made after government concerns, and to give more time to ensure training and systems for a new service. The delay is fuelling doubts that the bill will eventually become law. A group of Labour MPs say it is flawed and should not be enacted.
Bishop says trust in the Church of England will be regained very slowly
The Bishop of Oxford, Dr Steven Croft, has given a one-hour interview to BBC Radio Oxford, in which he says that trust in the Church of England will be “regained very slowly” following recent sex abuse scandals. He said he had done all he could to learn from criticism that he had “failed to act” in 2012, when told that a man had been raped by a cleric. He said there was much more rigorous safeguarding training now in the church. He re-stated support for same sex marriage and said he was opposed to the assisted dying bill. Report is here
BBC’s religious programming in a season of festivals
The Bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson Wilkin, is to give the sermon at the Easter Day service at Canterbury Cathedral, which will be broadcast live on BBC One. Other details for Easter programming on the BBC include Easter Live Worship from St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol, on BBC One; Gareth Malone’s Messiah from Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral; three episodes of Songs of Praise; the Easter message from the Vatican, Urbi et Orbi, on Easter Sunday Morning, live from Rome; and Lent Talks on BBC Radio 4 exploring the Nicene Creed on its 1700th anniversary. Among other religious programme in this season of multiple festivals, are a series of Pilgrimage from the Austrian and Swiss Alps, on BBC One; two episodes of Celebration Kitchen for Passover and Wesak Day; Amol Rajan’s documentary on the Maha Kumbh Mela Festival in Northern India; Eid Live and Celebrity Eid from Bradford, a series for Ramadan on the BBC Asian network and Eid and Vaisakhi playlists on BBC Sounds.
Bishop of Leeds Nick Baines to retire
The Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines, has announced that he is to retire on 30 November. In a letter to clergy, he said: “The time is right for me to go and for the diocese to seek a new diocesan bishop who can bring new vision and build a stronger future.” He was ordained in 1987, became a bishop in 2003 and a member of the House of Lords in 2014. Currently a member of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee, he has led on Europe, Russia, Sudan, security and intelligence, and most recently, the media. He is a regular broadcaster, writes a popular blog and has a strong social media presence. He is 67, three years away from the compulsory retirement age, and has said he and his wife will retire to Liverpool, his home city.
Canterbury Cathedral seeking to be ‘England’s premier pilgrim centre’
Canterbury Cathedral has appointed a dedicated pilgrim officer as it seeks to re-establish itself as England’s ultimate pilgrimage destination. Torin Brown once walked the Camino to Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route in Sapin, an experience which led him to study theology at Christ Church University, in Canterbury, while he worked part time as a “shepherd” greeting pilgrims at the cathedral. He is now studying pilgrimage, working with other cathedrals to build a picture of how it is developing across the country. He says: “Pilgrimage as a religious ritual to a sacred space is an ancient practice that appears to be enjoying quite a renaissance in our post-pandemic, climate sensitive era. There seems to be an undeniable spiritual thirst for what religious people experience as transcendent realities”. Canterbury was once as big a pilgrim destination as Rome and Compostela, and his dream is for it to be the premier site of pilgrimage in England, with a centre where all pilgrims can visit to ‘check-in’ and tell their story.
