Virtual Interfaith Iftar
Four faith leaders joined more than 500 people in an online iftar organised by the Naz Legacy Foundation, to mark the end of a day of fasting during Ramadan on Wednesday (6th May). The foundation has organised interfaith iftars for five years in iconic venues such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, […]
Religion News 6 May
Church of England bishops have agreed to lift restrictions which have prevented clergy from entering their churches during the coronavirus pandemic. It is suggesting three phases of change, beginning with allowing priests to stream services or pray privately in their buildings. The turnaround followed growing dissent at the decision to keep clergy and congregations out. […]
Covid conspiracy theories: from end times to tea-drinking ‘cures’
By Tim Maby The coronavirus pandemic has brought about a sense of an imminent apocalypse to many religious groups, a web seminar conducted by the Religion Media Centre has been told. They are asking: “Is this a sign of the last days?” Many current conspiracy theories were circulating before the pandemic. Researcher Dr David Robertson […]
Bishops allow Clergy back into Churches
By Tim Wyatt, 5 May 2020 Church of England bishops have agreed to lift restrictions which have prevented clergy from entering their churches during the coronavirus pandemic. There will be three phases as infection levels improve: An initial immediate phase allowing very limited access to church buildings for activities such as streaming of services or […]
No, say Northern Ireland churches, we won’t reopen . . . but private prayer is possible
By Tim Wyatt, 5 May 2020 Churches in Northern Ireland have rejected suggestions that they could be among the first buildings to reopen as the coronavirus lockdown is gradually eased. Last week, Edwin Poots, the province’s environment minister, floated the idea of a phased reopening of some churches alongside continued social distancing. But after an […]
Religion news 5 May
36 Conservative MPs have signed a letter to Church of England bishops asking that clergy be allowed back in their churches to conduct funerals. They say the church should consider the pain and anguish of families unable to hold a funeral and they are concerned that the wishes of the deceased and bereaved are not […]
Religion news 4 May
Places of worship re-opening In Germany, churches began to open this weekend with restrictions including no singing. Cologne Cathedral, a world heritage site which usually sees 20,000 visitors a day, had a congregation of just 120 for the first mass for six weeks. Public services resume on Wednesday. Meanwhile, mosques will re-open after May 9th […]
Is the C of E going broke in the pandemic?
By Andrew Brown Will the Church of England go broke in the pandemic? The question seems absurd: apart from the incalculable worth represented by cathedrals, the Church Commissioners have £8.5bn in assets and another £2.5bn tucked away in a pension fund. Nonetheless, the church on the ground is facing an existential crisis. Churches will shut, […]
German Bishops Admit Complicity in WWII
As the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II approaches, Roman Catholic bishops in Germany have admitted the church’s complicity by not opposing the Nazis. In a 23 page document, they say that they have decided to respond to critical questions about the role of the church in the war. They have adopted […]
Pope sends help to struggling transgender community
By Kevin Bocquet Pope Francis’s decision to send money to a group of about 20 transgender women, struggling to cope financially because of the coronavirus pandemic, is likely to reawaken controversy within the Roman Catholic Church over his attitude towards gender issues. The women, aged between 30 and 50, had been receiving food and basic […]
