Muslims furious at Badenoch ‘rape gangs’ attack
Comments by the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch as she tried to demand a national inquiry into “rape gangs” during prime minister’s questions yesterday have been condemned by the Muslim Council of Britain. The council said Ms Badenoch made “a cynical attempt to conflate a popular definition of Islamophobia with the investigation of serious crimes” and that her “insinuation that the definition somehow prevents discussion of serious crimes is completely false and appears designed to stoke division”. Zara Mohammed, the council’s secretary-general, added: “British Muslims unequivocally support the thorough investigation and prosecution of all child abusers, regardless of background. The MCB will support yet another investigation if proponents can explain why previous inquiries costing millions have not given them the answers they are looking for. Those who seek to weaponise this issue against Muslims have already received answers they didn’t want from previous inquiries. Yet they persist … [her] comments represent a new low in the Conservative Party’s persistent refusal to tackle anti-Muslim prejudice within its ranks.”
Inquiries into four ‘Barnabas family’ charities
The Charity Commission has launched inquiries into four charities that are part of the “Barnabas family”. The TBF Trust, Reconciliation Trust and Servants Fellowship International are grant-giving charities that share the same purposes — to maintain, advance and promote the Christian faith. The Oxford Centre for Religion in Public Life was established for the advancement of education, to conduct and promote research for the purpose of promoting religious harmony for the benefit of the public. In October, the commission announced it was investigating the Barnabas Fund over serious concerns regarding its compliance with charity law and the use of charitable funds. The bank accounts of the Reconciliation Trust have been frozen and any transactions above £2,500 made by the other three charities restricted.
Society calls for equality of religious and secular charities
The National Secular Society launched a campaign yesterday to reform charity laws. “All charities, religious or not, should be held to the same standards,” it announced yesterday. “Many religious charities do fantastic work. Charity work carried out by people of all faiths and none should be recognised and celebrated. Much of the work of religious charities, such as helping the poor, is secular in nature and beneficial to society. But there are religious organisations which exploit the privileged status of religion in charity law to conduct activities that do not fulfil a genuine public benefit, and only serve to further religious ideology. In the worst cases, religious charities may harm society and individuals.” Announcement here.
Second Trump prayer by archbishop
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will lead the opening prayer at the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president on 20 January, as he did for Trump in 2017. Cardinal Dolan told a New York radio station: “When he asked me this time, I said, ‘Well I did it eight years ago. I hope this one works’.” In 2017 he read King Solomon’s prayer: “Give us wisdom, for we are your servants, weak and short-lived, lacking in comprehension of judgment and of laws.” Catholic Herald report here.
Money ads aimed at Muslims banned
The Advertising Standards Authority has banned a campaign by an online investment company targeting Muslims. The ad featured images of euros and US dollars and the words “The United States of America” in flames alongside a call to “join the money revolution”. Six posters advertising Wahed Invest Ltd, an online investment platform, ran on Transport for London services, including the London Underground and on buses, last September and October. The authority received 75 complaints that the campaign was offensive. The Guardian report here.
Police detain pastor mid-sermon
The congregation of a Florida church watched in astonishment as police took their pastor away for questioning in mid-sermon during a weekly service. Pastor EJ Newton was asked to leave his platform and can be heard in a recording posted online telling his audience to “keep praying”. He later wrote on social media that he had been kept apart from his congregation and was not allowed to leave the church. No official statement about the incident has been released, but there are allegations that he is being questioned as part of a child custody battle. Report here.
Pope’s plea to fight child exploitation
Let this be the year the world turns against child exploitation and violence, Pope Francis told his first public audience of 2025 yesterday. He urged Christians to stand against the scourge of child labour, saying: “In every part of the globe, there are children who are exploited by an economy that does not respect life, an economy that, in so doing, consumes our greatest store of hope and love.” In an age of great technological advance, Francis said, little or no notice was taken to ensure children were kept safe. “Today we want to turn our gaze toward Mars or toward virtual worlds, but we struggle to look in the eye a child who has been left at the margins and who is exploited or abused,” he added. “The century that generates artificial intelligence and plans multiplanetary existences has not yet reckoned with the scourge of humiliated, exploited, mortally wounded childhood.” Catholic News Agency report here.
Persecuted Catholic priest in China dies aged 104
One of the last Catholic priests ordained in China before the establishment of the People’s Republic has died aged 104. News of the death of Father Guo Fude on 30 December has just reached the West and tribute was paid yesterday by Benedict Rogers, human rights activist and author of a book on 30 years of communism in China. He told the Catholic News Agency that Father Guo was “a symbol of the courageous faith and extraordinary suffering of China’s Catholics”, adding that the priest had spent a total of 25 years in prison for his faith. Father Guo was ordained in 1947 and was first imprisoned in 1959 for “subversive activity against the state”.
Bones dug up by cable-layers reburied in churchyard
Police shut a street near Bridewell Alley, alongside the churchyard of St Andrew’s Church, Norwich, while they investigated the discovery of human bones dug up by workers laying cables. Norfolk police said an archaeologist inspected the remains and believed they were ancient. They have now been reburied in the churchyard. BBC report here.
‘Putin icons’ blessed by Orthodox patriarch
Crosses and religious icons bearing Vladimir Putin’s initials were blessed by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, during a service to mark its Christmas celebrations this week. They will now be sent to Russian commanders fighting in Ukraine. Putin told Kirill, a strong supporter of the war in Ukraine: “Our comrades will be honoured to receive these symbols of faith.” Kirill has called the war in Ukraine a battle against the West’s “satanic” LGBT-friendly policies. He has also claimed that Russian troops who died in battle would have their sins “washed away”. Putin claims to hold a strong Christian faith and has made close ties with the Orthodox church since he came to power a quarter of a century ago. The Times report here.
Sainthood closer for nun who befriended Billy the Kid
Sister Blandina Segale, a religious sister who befriended the outlaw Billy the Kid, calmed a lynch mob and testified against human trafficking is one step closer to canonisation. The Italian immigrant, who was born Maria Rosa Segale in 1850, founded schools and hospitals in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She once provided medical care to one of Billy the Kid’s gang and later when he attacked a stagecoach Sister Blandina was in, he recognised her and let the travellers go in peace. Allen Sánchez, who is petitioning for her canonisation, said 49 people credited Blandina with a miracle due to her intercession. If one of those is deemed miraculous by the Catholic church, Blandina will be on her way to beatification. A second verified miracle would advance her to sainthood. Report here.
