US Christian protest against Trump’s impact on the poor and vulnerable
Christians have assembled in Washington DC for prayer and protests against Donald Trump. The Religion News Service reports that outside the US Supreme Court, the Rev. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, railed against a $2 trillion cut from the federal budget over the next decade which would cut Medicaid and a food programme. He has called for mass resistance against the Trump regime. The Rev. Terri Hord Owens, of the (Disciples of Christ), spoke of the action by 27 Christian groups against the freezing of the federal refugee resettlement programme and a change in the law which would allow law enforcement agencies to raid houses of worship to pick up illegal immigrants. The Rev Amanda Hendler Voss, who leads First United Church of Christ in Washington, highlighted the plight of federal workers in her congregation facing redundancy. After the rally, clergy delivered letters of protests to government departments. At another location in the capital, clergy laid ashes in the sign of the cross on demonstrators, quoted scripture, condemned the “onslaught aimed at health care, food assistance, immigration, taxes and the stability of American democracy” and said everyone’s talents were needed like never before.
US Churches launch petition for refugees during Lent
Elsewhere, 45 US religious groups have signed the “Defending Refuge” declaration, against Trump’s anti-immigrant and refugee policies, and have opened it for people to sign in support throughout Lent. The Church Times points out that the US Episcopal Church is one of the signatories. The declaration “challenges our political leaders to remember that we are largely a nation of immigrants, and that how we treat the most vulnerable among us speaks volumes about our power and values on the global stage.” The declaration is organised by the Church World Service which is charting developments each day here
Trump’s diversity ban is ‘impacting religious freedom’
Dr Brian Grim, the founding president of the US based Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, says Trump’s decision to eliminate Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion programmes has unintentionally hurt religious freedom. He said the ban has “killed” many faith-based employee organisations in government agencies, which have been vehicles for learning about how to ensure religious freedom in the societies in which they work. The ban has been copied by corporate America where he says: “More than a few corporations are feeling pressure to throw the religious baby out with the DEI bathwater”.
US travel ban against Muslim majority countries
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has issued an updated travel advisory notice, warning lawful permanent residents, students, workers and other immigrants legally present in the United States to avoid leaving the country over the next 30 days if they are citizens of Muslim majority countries that may be listed in President Trump’s expected new travel ban. Potential countries targeted by the new ban could include Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Palestine/Gaza, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen or any other country. The Trump administration has set March 21, 2025, as the deadline for federal agencies to submit a report to the White House identifying countries with “deficient” visa vetting practices whose citizens should be banned from travel to the United States. There has been a furious response from Republican senators over a stalled programme to resettle Afghans who helped US troops.
Lithuania president in talks at the Vatican
The President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda met the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was visiting as part of the country’s national Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome. In a statement, they said their discussions “focused on questions of a regional and international nature, with particular reference to the prospects for peace in Ukraine.” They also highlighted “the positive contribution of the Christian faith to Lithuanian society.”
Elsewhere
Pope’s audio message thanking crowds in St Peter’s Square for their prayers
Pope Francis remains stable at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he is being treated for double pneumonia. The latest Vatican bulletin says: “The Holy Father’s clinical condition has remained stable compared to previous days. He has not experienced any episodes of respiratory insufficiency today. The Pope has continued both respiratory and motor physiotherapy with beneficial effects. Hemodynamic parameters and blood test results remain stable. He did not run a fever. However, the prognosis remains reserved. Given the stability of his clinical condition, the next medical bulletin will be issued on Saturday”. From his hospital bed, he sent an audio message to the faithful who have assembled in St Peter’s Square to recite the Holy Rosary: “I thank you with all my heart for the prayers you offer for my health from [St. Peter’s] Square. I accompany you from here. May God bless you, and may the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”
Holocaust memorial debate sparks ‘antisemitic’ criticism
Lord Hamilton of Epsom has been forced to apologise for saying that Jewish people should foot the bill for the Holocaust memorial because they have “an awful lot of money” and own “property everywhere”. He was speaking in a House of Lords committee on Tuesday as a bill was considered to allow the memorial to be built on gardens next to parliament. The bill would reverse planning objections to the plans, which were fought in the courts. The Times reports that Lord Hamilton of Epsom has not had the Conservative whip withdrawn but his remarks were condemned as “completely unacceptable and flagrantly antisemitic” by his party. The memorial design includes large “fin” type features protruding from the ground in Victoria gardens and has attracted criticism on its location. Rabbi Jonathan Romain has said the millions of pounds involved would be better spent on Holocaust education and if there were to be a Jewish museum, the majority of British Jews would want it to be dedicated to Jewish life and Jewish contribution to wider society.
CofE and Methodist unity talks now in 22nd year
The President and vice-president of the Methodist Conference, Rev Helen Cameron and Carolyn Godfrey, have met the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. for an annual meeting at Lambeth Palace. One of the discussions was on the21st anniversary of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant for England, when the churches are discussing moves towards unity. A statement says: “Both the President and the Archbishop expressed a shared desire to move forward with the ongoing work needed to enable fuller sharing between our churches in the mission of God, including work towards a hoped-for relationship of full communion between our churches, in which our ordained ministers will be able to serve interchangeably between the two.”
Commonwealth Peace Prize awarded to former war rivals in Nigeria
Pastor Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, founders of the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Nigeria, have been named as joint winners of the newly created award, the Commonwealth Peace Prize, which has been founded by The Khalili Foundation. Pastor Wuye and Imam Ashafa were leaders of opposing militias in the religious conflicts of 1990s Nigeria and both suffered personal losses before choosing a path of peace. They establisheded the Interfaith Mediation Centre, which fosters Christian-Muslim dialogue, prevents young people from joining conflicts and trains community leaders to become advocates for peace. In a special tribute to this inaugural award, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed a commemorative song to be performed as the award is presented, at the Commonwealth Day reception on 10 March at Marlborough House. The Khalili Foundation, chaired by philanthropist Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, is based in London and promotes interfaith and intercultural relations.
Stonehenge may be a lot older than previously thought
Radiocarbon analysis of The Flagstones monument, near Dorchester, suggests it dates from 3200BC, 200 years earlier than first thought. The findings have an impact on the dating of Stonehenge, thought to be a copy of The Flagstones, which is currently dated to 2900BC but could be a lot older. The Guardian reports that half the Flagstones site is underneath a bypass and the remainder is beneath Max Gate, Thomas Hardy’s former home, now bequeathed to the National Trust. The report says the site contains remains of children and cremated adults. Exeter University archaeologist Susan Greaney, said: “The chronology of Flagstones is essential for understanding the changing sequence of ceremonial and funeral monuments in Britain. Could Stonehenge have been a copy of Flagstones? Or do these findings suggest our current dating of Stonehenge might need revision?”
