Call for US faith groups to resist Trump’s administration
The US Interfaith Alliance is calling on faith communities to act against the “authoritarianism” of Trump’s administration and speak out in favour of democracy. It has organised more than 1,000 “faith town halls”, where faith groups quiz political representatives to see whether they reflect their morals, and it encouraged groups to take part in the “Hands Off” National Day of Action on Saturday. The Rev Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, Baptist minister and president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, hosted a podcast of faith leaders “The State of Belief”, outlining “the alarming state of our nation, where people are being marginalized, and our democratic values are under threat”. In an opinion piece for the Religion News Service, he said religious leaders were amongst the most courageous leaders standing up against Trump, starting with Episcopal bishop Marian Budde, followed by legal action from religious groups coming together against immigration policy, the boycotting of companies which abandoned diversity DEI policies, and many small protests in towns and cities, led by religious leaders, protesting at “an agenda that degrades our society and harms our people”. He said many people of faith are guided by love of America and its democracy, “which we now see under attack from our own government”, and he prayed for continuing courage to inspire the wider American public to join in.
The Pope makes a surprise public appearance at the Vatican
Pope Francis made a surprise appearance at the Vatican yesterday, seated in his wheelchair in St Peter’s Square, as the mass for the jubilee of the sick and healthcare workers was coming to an end. He was wearing nasal cannulas to help his breathing, as he had been since leaving hospital on 23 March, where he had been receiving treatment for double pneumonia. After the final blessing, he addressed the crowd saying: “Have a good Sunday. Thank you all!!”. Immediately afterwards, he returned to his Casa Santa Marta residence. The people shouted in reply “Viva il Papa” – “Long live the Pope”.
DEC appeal for Myanmar achieves £10million in a week
The Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Myanmar Earthquake Appeal has raised £10 million to provide emergency help for thousands left homeless and without basic supplies.The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas, including four major Christian charities: CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund and World Vision UK. CAFOD is working with religious leaders in Myanmar who have teams on the ground and are responding to those most in need. Tearfund’s local partner in Myanmar, said there is an urgent need for humanitarian help, but praised the resilience of the community, with neighbours helping each other and volunteers providing first aid, comfort and care for children separated from their families. World Vision has worked in Myanmar for more than three decades and says countless children are facing the unimaginable, losing their homes, loved ones, and sense of security. Christian Aid says there is real need from conflict and displacement. 3,000 people have died, the death toll is continuing to rise. Donations to the DEC appeal are being matched pound for pound by the UK government up to £5 million.
Poll indicates disillusion over Gaza threatening integration in UK
The Times quotes a poll from the Muslim World League (MWL), suggesting that the war in Gaza is leading to young British Muslims becoming more disillusioned and isolated. Its leader, Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulkarim al-Issa, told the paper that this threatens integration, exacerbates division and presents a significant challenge to national security. The poll is said to be of 5,000 people, 450 of whom were Muslim, and found wide differences in perceptions between Muslims and non-Muslims, with nearly one in five Muslims wanting religion to play a role in politics, compared with one in 20 of non-Muslims. Sheikh al-Issa, former Saudi Minister of Justice, is known as moderate, anti-extremist and in favour of interfaith work. In March 2023, he was in London to launch the “Conference of European and British Muslim Leaders” and revealed the Charter of Makkah advocating co-existence. During his visit, he met the King, religious and political leaders.
Auschwitz survivor aged 103 re-united with childhood book looted by Nazis
A book of Biblical pictures and another on Jewish philosophy, given to a Jewish sister and brother in Berlin in the 1930s, but looted by the Nazis, have found their way back to the sister, who survived Auschwitz and is now aged 103. The extraordinary story is told by Lianne Kolirin in The Times. Lucie Emmerich, now living with a carer in Florida, was tracked down by a researcher for JewishGen, a resource for Jewish genealogy. Nazi looting of art and silver is well known, but looting of books is not, yet there are more than 10,000 in one private collection alone. JewishGen is working to trace the owners or their descendants and found Lucie Emmerich through scouring public records and newspaper cuttings. A relative in the States took the books to her, whereupon she examined them with a magnifying glass. saying: “My, my. I was eight years old” and followed this by recounting her memories of the Holocaust, told over five hours to her US relative, who had never heard them before.
Youth With A Mission accused of spiritual abuse and controlling behaviour
The Observer published an investigation into the Christian group “Youth With A Mission” (YWAM), which operates in 180 countries and trains young people to be evangelists. Allegations of sexual abuse and shaming during group confessional sessions dating back over 20 years have been reported, where young people admitted thoughts and behaviour described as sin. These indluded homosexual thoughts, sexual activity, abortions, watching pornography, disobeying a leader or having rebellious thoughts. Penalties included public apologies, being prayed for and being removed from volunteer roles. There were more extreme consequences, including rituals similar to exorcisms for sex outside marriage, and a “casting out” ritual to banish homosexuality. The report says young people were left feeling traumatised. It quotes a spokesperson for YWAM saying it was committed to “continuous improvement in safeguarding practices” and that each location was responsible for upholding standards. “While confession of sin may occur, the person should never be publicly shamed or pressured to apologise.” YWAM held “traditional Christian views on sexuality and marriage” but was reviewing how it communicated those beliefs to prevent “shame or rejection”. It condemned any practice that traumatised people or associated their identity with demonic influence. Article is here
Catholic church condemns sale of purported relic of Carlo Acutis
The Catholic church has denounced the selling of relics of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, when a cut of his hair was put on ebay with an asking price of €2000. Acutis died of leukaemia in 2006, when he was 15, but in his short life, he promoted devotion to Mary and the church through creating an online exhibit about eucharistic miracles. He will formally be declared a saint at a Mass in front of the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica on 27 April, but during the past year his body has lain in a shrine in Assisi, with one million pilgrims flocking to see him. A bishop has condemned the sale of relics and despicable and a “great offense to religious belief.” Associated Press report here
Disgraced cardinal Theodore McCarrick has died aged 94
Theodore Edgar McCarrick, former Cardinal and Metropolitan Archbishop of Washington DC, who was dismissed as a cleric in 2019 for sexual abuse of adults and minors, has died at the age of 94. McCarrick was a prominent figure in the US church for many years. In 2018 he was accused of abuse of adults, in particular seminarians and minors, dating back to the 1980s. He was suspended, resigned and then removed from the clerical state, declaring he had been found guilty of “the crime of solicitation in the sacrament of confession and violations of the Sixth Commandment with minors and adults, with the aggravating circumstance of abuse of power”. In 2002, McCarrick was among the US prelates who drafted the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” He died on Thursday in Missouri, where he had been living in seclusion since 2020. RNS story here
New Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool
Bishop John Sherrington has been appointed as the next Archbishop of Liverpool. Ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Nottingham on 13 June 1987, Bishop Sherrington has been an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta since 14 September 2011. He will become the tenth Archbishop of Liverpool in succession to Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, who held the role since 2014. His Installation will take place in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King on Tuesday, 27 May at 12 noon.
NASA astronaut says church services ‘vital’ while stuck in space
Barry “Butch” Wilmore, one of the NASA astronauts who recently returned to Earth after being stuck at the International Space Station for more than nine months, has said that remotely attending church services was vital and sustained him spiritually. The Christian Post reports a press conference where he said he led devotionals and watched streamed services of Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas, which he has attended for 17 years. He said “to tie in and to worship with my church family was vital. I mean, it’s part of what makes me go.” And he spoke of his belief that God has a plan: “It doesn’t mean always happy, it doesn’t mean there’s no pain, but content and knowing that God’s in control; a sovereign God’s in control, working out His plan and His purpose.”
