The pivotal role of religion in the US presidential election
As the US presidential election campaign draws to a close, US faith leaders and election watchers took part in our weekly briefing, assessing the importance of religion in the election campaign. Traditionally white evangelicals have supported Donald Trump and they appear to have remained loyal. The majority of Catholics also support the Republican party. But Kamala Harris is courting the Black Christian vote and makes no secret of her commitment to the Christian faith. Moral issues are centre stage, whether concerning Trump’s character, crimes or track record, or the public morals at the centre of debates, such as respect for immigrants or a woman’s right to choose. The Muslim vote has become increasingly important, said to be pivotal, in Georgia and other swing states. It swayed from Republican to Democrat after the Iraq war, but it may re-align again this time as Muslims are said to be “heartbroken” at the Biden administration’s response to the war in Gaza and so their votes are more difficult to predict. Hosted by Rosie Dawson, you can view the briefing again or listed to the podcast here
Puerto Rico archbishop demands Trump apologises for “garbage island” slur
The Archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is demanding that Donald Trump apologises after the comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage” and made racist comments about Latinos during Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. In a letter made public, Archbishop Roberto O. González Nieves said he had consulted with the bishops of Puerto Rico and was “dismayed and appalled” by Hinchcliffe’s remarks. “I enjoy a good joke. However, humour has its limits. It should not insult or denigrate the dignity and sacredness of people. Hinchcliffe’s remarks do not only provoke sinister laughter but hatred. These kinds of remarks do not have a place in a society founded upon ‘liberty and justice for all”. More than 50 per cent of Puerto Ricans living in the US identify as Catholic.
Christian Aid says ban on UNRWA is cruel and dangerous
Christian Aid says the Israel parliament’s decision to ban the humanitarian activities of Unrwa, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, is cruel and dangerous. The ban will prevent Unrwa from operating within Israel and occupied East Jerusalem where it has its headquarters and has come into effect because the Knesset accused it of colluding with Hamas in Gaza. William Bell, Christian Aid’s Head of Middle East Region, said: “Severing this lifeline in Gaza as winter threatens to exacerbate an already desperate situation is cruel and dangerous. By obstructing Unrwa’s operations instead of facilitating them, Israel is breaching the provisional measures to prevent genocide ordered by the ICJ. In addition to the physical hardship this ban will impose, this is part of the Israeli state’s ongoing challenge to the eligibility of Palestinian refugees to claim the right of return to their former homes across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.” The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said he was deeply concerned at the ban and the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said the UK is gravely concerned: “This legislation risks making Unrwa‘s essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank”.
Lords discuss review of funding for palliative care
As MPs prepare to vote on assisted dying, Lord Farmer has introduced a debate in the Lords on improving palliative care in hospices, asking the government if they will review the way they are funded. At present, they receive around a third of their funding from government, with the rest (over £1bn a year) raised by hospices themselves, but this year they face an estimated shortfall of £60m. Lord Farmer, associated with St Helen’s Bishopsgate, told the Lords that the basis of palliative care is the intrinsic dignity and worth of human beings, but this value is undermined in assisted suicide and euthanasia, which “turn a somebody into a nobody”. The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullaly, asked how parliament could consider assisted dying if not enough money is given to hospices and palliative care, so that people dying receive the best care. The Health Minister Baroness Merron said NHS England had met a government minister to discuss the provision of such services. She said “irrespective of whether the law changes on this matter, we will and must continue to work towards providing high-quality, compassionate palliative and end-of-life care for every person who needs it”. Hansard report here
Abortion clinic buffer zones come into effect tomorrow
Buffer zones around abortion clinics will be in force from tomorrow, 31 October. It will be illegal for anyone to do anything that intentionally or recklessly influences someone’s decision to use abortion services, obstructs them, or causes harassment or distress to someone using or working at these premises. The law will apply within a 150 metre radius of the abortion service provider and anyone found guilty of breaking the law will face an unlimited fine. Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said the government was determined to make this country a safer place for women.
BBC journalist Peter Taylor receives second Quaker truth award
The second Quaker Truth and Integrity Award has been awarded to BBC journalist Peter Taylor, in recognition of his work over 50 years, including covering the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and Islamist extremism post 9/11. The citation says: “Peter’s painstaking and brilliant reporting has been based on seeking to bridge differences and understand those from extreme traditions. In doing so, he courageously and often at personal risk made a material contribution towards preparing the way for the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement, crucially involving the IRA.” The award was set up in 2022 amid concerns over the undermining of truth and integrity in public life. The inaugural award was won by journalist, Carole Cadwalladr.
Justin Welby, the “great reformer”
The author Theo Hobson hails Justin Welby as a great reformer on the same sex relationship debate. Writing in The Spectator, he says that the Archbishop’s recent interview with “The Rest is Politics” podcast, made clear that he has shifted his views and now agrees with the Archbishop of York and other senior bishops, that sex is permissible in stable relationships, straight or gay. Theo Hobson comments: “Welby is taking a reformist position. He is not just holding the ring, staying neutral for the sake of ‘holding the Church together’. He is – I never thought I’d say this – leading the Church through this mess, offering a vision, a way forward”. Article is here
Continuity group fights private Catholic school’s decision to distance itself from the church
A ”continuity group” has been set up to fight the move of the independent Prior Park College in Bath, to distance itself from the Catholic Church and title itself a “Christian School in the Catholic tradition”. Bess Twiston Davies, reporting for The Tablet, says a former headmaster, Dr Giles Mercer, has established the Prior Park Continuity Group after being “nearly engulfed” by messages objecting to the change. Their first move was to ask the trustees about the legal basis for the change, as the object of the school’s trust is to “provide for such other charitable works as advance the Roman Catholic religion”. The article quotes Professor Gerard Kilroy, a historian who taught at the school, saying the change was an “act of cultural and religious vandalism”. The bishop of Clifton, Bosco MacDonald, said he was sad at the decision and the new direction would have many challenges ahead. Article is here
CofE backs calls for stronger action on biodiversity loss
The Church of England’s Pensions Board is among five pension investors which are urging governments to take stronger action in order to reverse global biodiversity loss. A statement supported by AP7 (Sweden), CDPQ (Canada), HESTA (Australia); USS (UK) and the CofE pensions board, calls on governments to set ambitious national targets on issues such as regulation to stop biodiversity loss. Together they represent $2.5 trillion in assets. They say that tackling the biodiversity crisis will protect investment returns and investor confidence.
Articles on Halloween
We have an article by Maira Butt about Islam and Halloween, looking at beliefs in the “Unseen realm” and reluctance to take part in Halloween customs as it conflicts with the idea of Allah as the ultimate reality. A factsheet on Samhain here and a feature by Dr Jennifer Uzzell on how pagans celebrate the darkness in Samhain, which coincides with Halloween and the Christian All Saints Day. And there’s a briefing on modern witchcraft which is popular on TikTok.
