Tributes to the servant Queen on 70th anniversary of her reign
The Queen’s service, sense of duty and underlying Christian faith have been lauded on the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, following her father’s death in 1952. The Queen’s message on her platinum jubilee, signed “Your Servant, Elizabeth R”, renewed the pledge that her life would continue to be devoted to service. Tributes were led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who said her 70 years of service had been a symbol of stability and hope and gave thanks for her “faithful witness to Jesus Christ”. He also welcomed her wish that, in time, the Duchess of Cornwall should become the Queen Consort. In an earlier BBC interview, he said the clearest example of the Queen’s life of duty and service was the moment sitting alone during the funeral of her husband Prince Philip. “That was leadership, it was doing the right thing, it was duty, it set an example.”
Martin Percy, Dean of Christ College Oxford, stands down
Martyn Percy will step down from his position as Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, in April, following disputes and legal action over four years, which were settled through mediation. The college issued a statement saying an allegation of sexual harassment had been settled, and an employment tribunal scheduled for next year will not go ahead. The college has agreed to an independent review of its policies and procedures in relation to sexual harassment to be led by an independent expert. The Financial Times says the settlement to the Dean was £1.2million including legal fees.
In a statement, Martyn Percy said: “I hope the independent review overseen by the Charity Commission will succeed. I sincerely hope that the same standards in public life we have come to expect of our most cherished national institutions – including integrity, transparency and accountability – will flourish and bear fruit here.” The Bishop of Oxford, Stephen Croft, said a settlement has been agreed with the Dean and “brings to an end a damaging period in the life of the cathedral and the college”.
New York Times podcast investigates the Birmingham Trojan Horse scandal
An eight part podcast series has been published by the New York Times into the Trojan Horse scandal in Birmingham, when an anonymous letter alleged a plot to introduce an Islamist ethos into Birmingham schools. “The Trojan Horse Affair” investigates who wrote the letter, how it was leaked to the Sunday Times in 2014 and the events that followed, including an inquiry, Ofsted inspections, resignations and cases against teachers which were dropped. The series was produced by Brian Reed and Hamza Syed, a former medical doctor in Birmingham who retrained as an investigative journalist.
Another Church of England bishop becomes a Catholic
The Catholic Herald reports that the former Anglican Bishop of Chester Dr Peter Forster, has become a Catholic during a private ceremony in Scotland, where he now lives. He is the fourth Church of England bishop to cross over to the Catholic church in a year. An evangelical, his diocese was the first to accept a woman bishop – Libby Lane, Bishop of Stockport. In 2019, the year that he retired, he faced an internal inquiry into his handling of a sex abuse complaint against a vicar, who was subsequently jailed.
German synod votes for liberal transformation of church laws
The German Catholic synod assembly has voted in favour of blessings for same sex couples, a reassessment of church teaching on homosexuality , in favour of women deacons, loosening the church’s rules on priestly celibacy and more lay participation in the appointment of bishops. All these indicative votes are part of a synod process in Germany which will end next year, when final decisions will be made.
Cancellation of Old Rite confirmations “alienates the faithful”
The Telegraph reports that 60 confirmations in the Catholic church in London, using Latin in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, have been cancelled following guidance from the Pope that the Old Rite liturgies were not permitted. The Latin Mass society told the paper that the move has alienated the faithful who felt they were being punished. The Vatican said the change was intended to halt possible divisions within the church.
Pope urges nuns to fight back against sexism and unfair treatment in the church
Pope Francis is urging nuns to fight sexism within the Catholic Church. In a filmed message on his twitter account, he said: “I invite them to fight when, in some cases, they are treated unfairly, even within the Church; when they serve so much that they are reduced to servitude — at times, by the men of the church.” He said the church cannot be understood without religious sisters and consecrated lay women, who work with the poor and the marginalized.
American evangelical dissenters trying to save their tradition
David Brookes, an Op-Ed columnist with the New York Times, has written an analysis of dissent and division within American evangelicalism. He charts growing unrest over the past six years in particular, with “the white evangelical embrace of Donald Trump, sex abuse scandals in evangelical churches and parachurch organizations, and attitudes about race relations, especially after the killing of George Floyd”. He says the dissent is not just about Donald Trump and it is not normal bickering, but “a common desire to pummel, shame and ostracize other Christians over disagreements… Institutional rot has been exposed. Many old relationships have been severed. This is a profound moment of turmoil, pain, change and, while it’s too early to be sure, possible transformation”.
Medieval Jewish businesswoman honoured with a statue in Winchester
Plans are being discussed to place a life size bronze statue of Licoricia, an influential 13th century Jewish business woman, near the medieval Jewish quarter in Winchester. She was close to Henry III and his court, amassing great wealth as a successful money lender, giving money towards building Westminster Abbey. Her business dealings sometimes led to disputes and she was stabbed to death by unknown attackers in Winchester in 1277. The statue will highlight the important role of Jewish people in the life of the city, despite persecution. The Jewish community was expelled from England by Edward I in 1290.
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