Afghan regions fall to the Taliban
The Taliban in Afghanistan have captured five regional cities this weekend in decisive military manoeuvres with a speed that has stunned commentators. The Islamic fundamentalism that drives the movement, observes Sharia, requires women to wear the burka, and bans music and television. Its organisation and acquisition of power since the 1980s has attracted tribal loyalists and the disaffected. Various analyses here: BBC, Council on Foreign Relations, Kaweh Kerami in The Conversation
Archbishop: English patriots disregarded as ‘backwardly xenophobic‘
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has called for a rediscovery of what it means to be English, suggesting that the first step is stronger regional government. In an article for The Daily Telegraph, he criticised the London “metropolitan elite” for treating people who are proud to be English as backwardly xenophobic. National unity, he said, was “more fractured than I have ever known it in my lifetime” with many people feeling left behind by a remote Westminster, while identities in Scotland and Wales are stronger. For the English who feel marginalised, he said their heartfelt cry to be heard is often disregarded, wilfully misunderstood or patronised.
Irish bishops revolt against Covid-19 sacrament ban
The Irish Government says it hopes that that first communions and confirmations can return in September, following a bishops’ revolt in protest at the continuing ban. The Irish Times explains that worship has resumed, baptisms are allowed from this week, but those two sacraments, usually large family occasions, are still forbidden under Covid-19 rules. Last week, five Roman Catholic bishops from Ireland’s 22 dioceses instructed parishes to go ahead with the services this month, defying the government’s ban. This provoked a sharp rebuke from politicians, and then a statement holding out hope the services could resume soon. The Bishop of Elphin, Kevin Doran, told RTE: “I don’t see any reason why the celebration of confirmation or holy communion should cause any concern on public health grounds because we have mass in all our churches, carefully regulated for 50 people.” The Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, told his priests they could proceed as many saw the current ban as “discriminatory”. Ireland is recording a daily average of 1,254 new Covid-19 cases with 193 people now in hospital, but vaccine take-up is high with 81 per cent having had at least one vaccination.
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries donors demand money back
Donors to Ravi Zacharias International Ministries are suing the organisation, saying they were misled, as it knew of sex abuse allegations against the founder, but said nothing to them, the Religion News Service reports. They have filed a complaint at the federal court for the North District of Georgia, saying they gave hundreds of millions of dollars believing Ravi Zacharias to be a man filled with faith. Zacharias, who died in 2020, has since been exposed as a serial sex abuser.
Internet radio presenter jailed for antisemitism
Graham Hart, an internet radio presenter from Cornwall, has been jailed for inciting racial hatred after saying that Jews were filth and encouraging people to take up arms to drive them out of the country. Cornwall Live reports that the offences from 2016 to 2020 came to light after the Campaign Against Antisemitism reported them to the police. A spokesman said Hart’s campaign of hatred was the worst he had seen and that broadcasting it on the internet kept alive hatred born in the beer halls of 1930s Germany. Hart’s defence lawyer told Truro Crown Court that Hart had become drawn to antisemitic ideas on the internet and this changed his personality. Judge Linford said the offences were too serious for anything other than custody and jailed Hart for 32 months.
