Prayers in Huntingdon for the ‘healing of our town’
All Saints Church in Huntingdon was open yesterday for prayers in the wake of the attack on a train, when a man lashed out stabbing passengers in an attack which left a LNER staff member fighting for his life in hospital, and five other people needing hospital treatment. Armed police rushed to the station, and one man is being held in connection with the incident. Police say this is not terrorist related and papers are reporting that the attacker cried out “The Devil is not going to win” as he rampaged through the carriages. All Saints Huntingdon issued a statement on Facebook saying it would be open all day for a people to take a quiet moment to reflect or pray: “Our prayers are with all those injured, or affected in any way, and with everyone in our community who is feeling shaken or distressed. We are grateful for the swift response of all those working in the emergency services, and our prayers are with them today also. All Saints Church will be open this Sunday for our regular service at 10.30am, where we’ll be offering prayers of support, peace, and healing for our town.” The Bishop of Huntingdon, Dagmar Winter, shared the sentiment and said: “Our prayers are an expression of love and commitment to what is good and right, an expression of hope in a God who is stronger than violence and darkness, and a commitment to living in a way where all human life is cherished.”
Saint John Henry Newman declared a Doctor of the Church, a rare honour
Pope Leo has declared Saint John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church, only the 38th person ever to be presented with this award, and the second British person, after The Venerable Bede, to be conferred this title. It recognises a person’s teaching and wisdom, which resonates in their generation and continues to the present day. Cardinal Newman was an Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism in the 19th century and was then made a Cardinal. He is honoured for his theory and practice of education, pointing to the dignity of every person and guiding people “into the light of faith”. The ceremony took place in a Mass at St Peter’s Square, in front of a CofE delegation which included the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, and the Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, who spoke of the day’s significance. At the beginning of the homily, Leo XIV also announced that Saint John Henry Newman has been named co-Patron of the Church’s educational mission, alongside Saint Thomas Aquinas. More information here
Forty MPs call on government to adopt definition of Islamophobia
The Guardian reports that 40 Labour and Independent MPs have written to The Communities Secretary Steve Reed, urging him to adopt a definition of Islamophobia, after hate crimes against Muslims have risen. The MP behind the letter is Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Rusholme, Manchester, and the signatories include Diane Abbott, Dawn Butler and Andrew Gwynne, who has been suspended by Labour. They say the definition is important to identify and combat anti Muslim hatred and the government should use the opportunity of Islamophobia awareness month this November, to publish new wording. The current definition of Islamophobia says it is rooted in racism, but this is contested. The government has set up a working group to find a new definition, which was due to report this autumn, but there are suggestions the process has stopped, after fears it would limit freedom of speech to criticise Islam.
‘Proud Muslim’ Zohran Mamdani in pole position to win New York mayor race
Zohran Mamdani, aged 34, progressive Democrat, ‘proud Muslim’ and candidate to be the next Mayor of New York, has captured 50 per cent support in opinion polls and is in pole position for a historic win on Tuesday. He has maintained this lead despite criticism from Jews in New York, who accuse him of demonising Israel and dangerous rhetoric about Jews. Professor Najam Haider, from the University of Columbia, said his popularity was down to his ability to tap into a younger generation – under 50s – Jews and Muslims, who coalesce around issues such as climate change or black lives matter. He told BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme, that Mamdani’s faith is not the key issue: “He’s very explicit about his faith as a normal part of his life. He doesn’t make it a cornerstone of his candidacy. He is Muslim in a way that normalizes it.” The programme also spoke to the former First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, who said he was impressed with Mamdani’s politics and the way he is ”very proudly Muslim, proud of his heritage and culture, including his US identity and also his ancestral heritage as well”, but he felt a deep sadness: “It feels quite hauntingly reminiscent of my time in politics that he has been the victim of constant and open and overt anti-Muslim hatred.” The Sunday programme is here
JD Vance hopes his wife Usha, a Hindu, will convert to Christianity
The US vice president JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism six years ago, has told an audience of students in Mississippi that he hopes his wife, Usha, will convert also. He said: “I think it’s fair to say that she grew up in a Hindu family, but not a particularly religious family in either direction”. When they met they both considered themselves agnostic or atheist, but now they have decided to bring up their children in the Christian faith and the family all attends church together: “Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by in church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that, because I believe in the Christian Gospel and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way. But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will and so that doesn’t cause a problem for me.” He was speaking at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi, where he paid tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Rave in the nave at Leamington church reportedly cancelled
The Telegraph reports that a rave in the nave at All Saints Parish Church, Leamington Spa, has been cancelled. It says a reader told them of complaints that it would be a misuse of a sacred building. There was a similar “Holy Bass” event at the same location in September which reportedly attracted criticism because it was too loud. The church says on its website, that an event scheduled for 1 November has been cancelled. Meanwhile “rave in the nave” events are common in English cathedrals, and this season they are hosting a string of silent discos. Telegraph story here
