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| Justin Welby left office on Monday after a turbulent 12 years with a last day of multiple services and receptions at Lambeth Palace. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, took over the following day, leading a church in turmoil. He promised continued action on the safeuarding processs, review of clergy terms of service so they might become employees and continued debate on bespoke services for same sex blessings, but not “in a way that further breaks the body of Christ”. This week the Home Secretary announced that failure to report child sexual abuse will become a crime >> Kemi Badenoch’s Commons remarks on the definition of Islamophobia, during her call for a national inquiry into “rape gangs”, were condemned by the Muslim Council of Britain. Zara Mohammed said the story was being weaponised, with persistent racist narratives, and hatred directed against British Muslim politicians. Action was needed, not a “racist witch hunt” >>. Also this week, the Muslim Council of Britain denounced a Policy Exchange report criticising comments from the the two candidates standing for election as the MCB’s next Secretary General >> Religious buildings have been destroyed and communities ripped apart by fire in Los Angeles >> Volunteers saved Torah scrolls from a destroyed synagogue , churches and schools were razed to the ground, volunteers flocked to community centres to help tens of thousands left with nothing. A new “Church of the Baptism of the Lord”, shrine and monasteries at the baptism site of Jesus was officially inaugurated on Friday in an area near the river Jordan five miles north of the Dead Sea. The development will be one of the largest Christian centres in the Middle East >> The Charity Commission has launched inquiries into four charities that are part of the “Barnabas family”: TBF Trust, Reconciliation Trust, Servants Fellowship International and the Oxford Centre for Religion in Public Life. The Barnabas Fund is being investigated over charity law and the use of charitable funds >> Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas this week, on a date set by the Julian calendar, in contrast to the date in western Christianity based on the later Gregorian calendar. There are 20 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, and 250,000 in Britain > A video showing Ed Sheeran seeming to sing a Christian song, with a whisperiong voice telling him he is not alone, has been exposed as an AI deepfake.The UK justice minister has promised to crack down on such fakes, but AI expert, James Poulter, who is a Christian, said the video was an opportunity for the public to see AI as a help not hindrance >> (Image: Harald Krichel CCLicense3.0) |
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| Death of Qari Ismaeel Khandian, Derby’s Muslim pioneer >> National Secular Society calls for equality of religious and secular charities >> Advert for ethical Muslim investment banned as likely to cause offence >> Founder of Sikh Youth UK jailed for theft >> Woman appointed to lead Vatican department for the first time >> Two Catholic bishops from Britain on solidarity trip to Holy Land >> Progressive cardinal appointed to Washington DC as Trump takes office >> Pope’s plea to fight child exploitation >> Persecuted Catholic priest in China dies aged 104 >> Pope calls for ‘diplomacy of hope’ – but has to stop speech because of illness >> Pope Francis has told nuns not to gossip or adopt ‘a vinegar face‘ >> ‘Charming’ Church of England synod chairman has died aged 77 >> Bishop of St Albans to retire >> Lambeth Palace based Community of St Anselm considers its future >> Tributes to President Carter, whose life was ‘a testament to the goodness of God’ >> US Congress continues to have more Christian presence than general population >> The Christian charismatics hoping to destroy the secular state >> Police detain pastor at a Flordia church mid-sermon >> France marks decade since Hebdo attacks >> French bishop who supported traditional Latin mass, resigns >> Earthquake damages the Tibetan holy city of Shigatse, home to the Panchen Lama, second in spiritual authority only to the Dalai Lama >> ‘Putin icons’ blessed by Orthodox patriarch >> Two religious sisters working as teachers abducted in Nigeria >> I’m a “good judge of character” says priest on Traitors >> Sainthood closer for nun who befriended Billy the Kid >>* |
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