Britain’s first Muslim Cabinet minister, Baroness Warsi, leaves the Conservative party
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Britain’s first Muslim Cabinet minister, has quit the Conservative party, saying it had moved too far to the Right. In a post on Twitter / X, she said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have today informed my whip and decided for now to no longer take the Conservatives’ whip. This is a sad day for me. I am a Conservative and remain so but sadly the current party are far removed from the party I joined and served in Cabinet. My decision is a reflection of how far Right my party has moved and the hypocrisy and double standards in its treatment of different communities.” She has long criticised the party for Islamophobia, but what brought this decision to a head seems to be her support for a court’s decision to acquit a teacher accused of a racially aggravated public order offence, for holding a placard at a pro-Palestine protest depicting Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as coconuts. The Conservative party said it told her earlier this week that an investigation would be opened into divisive language she had allegedly used. In her tweet, she said: “I will not be gagged on a point of principle. And I am not prepared to play games behind closed doors. If @RishiSunak’s Party wants to retry and replay the #coconuttrial despite the acquittal of Marieha Hussain, the clear legal findings and the overwhelming expert witness testimonies, then I wish to do so publicly and transparently. It would be unfair to do this whilst continuing to take the @Conservatives whip”.
Warsi’s resignation a “really damning indictment” of the Conservative party
The Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Zara Mohammed, said the resignation was a “really damning indictment of the Conservative Party” and the leadership needs to listen and change. She said: “Sayeeda has been an incredibly important voice for tackling islamophobia and ensuring British Muslim voices are heard”. Ms Mohammed also took issue with a line in the Conservatives’ response that “all complaints are investigated without prejudice”, describing this as misleading and dishonest. In a statement, she said: “The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has repeatedly exposed institutional Islamophobia within the Party, but serious complaints remain ignored”. She referred to a 2020 dossier of evidence against 300 Conservative members, and complaints against senior Conservatives raised this year. “This consistent negligence shows the Conservative Party’s unwillingness to confront Islamophobia within its ranks and in society. Baroness Warsi’s resignation should be the final call for accountability”.
Faith minister indicates the definition of Islamophobia is under discussion
The faith minister Lord Khan has indicated that there is further work going on around the definition of Islamophobia proposed by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”. The definition was never adopted by the Conservatives. In a letter to the Network of Sikh Organisations, which raised concerns that the definition may limit the ability to discuss historical truths, Lord Khan explained that the definition of Islamophobia plays an important role in tackling religious hatred. He said: “Defining Islamophobia is a complex issue, and we want to ensure that any definition comprehensively reflects multiple perspectives and implications for different communities”. He said the definition is not in line with the Equality Act 2010, “which defines race in terms of colour, nationality and national or ethnic origins”. He added: “This Government is actively considering our approach to tackling Islamophobia through a more holistic lens, and will provide further information on this in due course”.
Soul Survivor review says some leaders must have known of Pilavachi abuse
An “Independent Review” into Soul Survivor, whose founder, Mike Pilavachi, resigned after multiple accusations of abusive behaviour, says he was “someone who manipulated and controlled others, bullied and sought to abuse his power” causing deep psychological harm over 30 years. The stories of abuse emerged in the Daily Telegraph in 2023 and the review, by Fiona Scolding KC and Ben Fullbrook, gives more details. Pilavachi wrestled young men, sometimes when they were wearing just underpants, lying on a bed, using oil, but he “vehemently denied” there was a sexual motivation. He also paid for the young men to go to massage parlours, explaining “he wanted to bless others by sharing something with them which he enjoyed himself”. The review says: “it is almost impossible that nobody in church leadership at the time knew that Mr Pilavachi was massaging young men”, but he was not stopped. Richard Scorer KC, a specialist abuse lawyer acting for 15 of the Soul Survivor victims, told The Telegraph: “This report concludes that many in the Soul Survivor leadership knew about Pilavachi’s behaviour, but there is too little forensic analysis of individual culpability”. Former worship leader David Gates told the Telegraph the review had been manipulated by Pilavachi’s narrative, the “‘I’m just a naive, celibate big kid who has no idea about sex or human relations’ act, which is completely false”. The review charts the movement’s governance when it was attached to and then within the CofE and recommends tighter controls of church plants. It describes the way a charismatic evangelical man gained “celebrity” power, regarded as having a special relationship with God, which led to misuse of authority. The review will be considered by the Diocese of St Albans. The full report is here.
US Catholic diocese announces bankruptcy to settle $323 million abuse survivor claims
The Catholic diocese of Rockville Centre in Long Island, New York, has announced a bankruptcy settlement which will pay more than $323m to about 530 sex abuse survivors who alleged they were abused by priests when they were children. Reuters reports that more than two dozen Catholic dioceses have filed for bankruptcy in recent years, after laws temporarily enabled victims of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits over decades-old crimes. Rockville Centre’s deal involves all parishes filing for bankruptcy and receiving legal protections in exchange for subjecting their assets and liabilities to court oversight. The insurers then agree to buy back their policies from the diocese and parishes, which ends their responsibility for covering the sex abuse claims.
Pope says Catholics in a secular society must be a missionary church
Pope Francis told the faithful in Luxembourg’s Notre Dame cathedral that the spirit of the gospel is openness to everyone, service and welcome, with hospitality to others not just a matter of charity, but justice. And he gave advice on being a church in a secular society: “We cannot close ourselves off in sadness, resignation, or resentment”, he said, but instead face challenges and be a “missionary Church”. He has now travelled to Brussels for a three day visit which will include marking the 600th anniversary of the founding of the Catholic University of Leuven, and on Sunday, celebrating Mass in Brussels’ Stadium where more than 35,000 people are expected to attend.
Professor, 78, ordained as a Catholic priest
A 78-year-old Catholic says it is never too late to pursue a calling, after being ordained into the church — despite being beyond the mandatory retirement age. John Morrill, a world-renowned academic and Cambridge professor, was ordained by Bishop Peter Collins in front of 250 clergy, family, friends and university colleagues in Norwich Cathedral. Professor Morrill, who was brought up in the Anglican faith, described his time as an “anguished agnostic” in the late 1960s, but had a religious experience while attending a requiem mass for his friend and mentor Geofrey Preston, a Dominican priest, in 1977. He became involved in parish work at Newmarket and became a deacon in 1996. His wife Frances, who died of cancer in 2007, had a strong Catholic faith and inspired her husband to pursue his calling. Catholic Herald story here
Cathedrals immersed in light and sound show celebrating royalty
An immersive light and sound show “Crown and Coronation”, celebrating the treasures of the Crown Jewels and the Coronation Ceremony, is on display at Canterbury Cathedral this week. Rich colours of royalty and imagery of monarchs spanning 1,000 years, from the reign of William the Conqueror to the present King, are projected onto every surface of the cathedral, washing it in colour. The show was created in the year of King Charles III coronation and has already shown at the Tower of London, and Winchester, Wells, Carlisle, Ely and Exeter cathedrals. It has been created by the Luxmuralis Artist Collaboration, partnering with the Historic Royal Palaces.
