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During interfaith week, we spoke to Jewish and Muslim leaders across the country on how dialogue has been affected by the Gaza / Israel ceasefire and attacks on synagogues and mosques. They said there is a desire to rebuild good relations, despite continuing anxiety and mistrust. Imam Qari Asim said ‘brave souls and heroes’ continue to meet and encourage small, informal groups where people ‘disagree well’. President of the Board of Deputies, Phil Rosenberg, said the task is urgent and this is ‘a fight for the soul of the nation’. The government should ‘lean into this’ by offering consistent support for interfaith initiatives. View the briefing or listen to the podcast via links here
The Prime MInister hosted a round table and reception for faith leaders at Number Ten and said “I have been worried in recent years that it’s been severely tested, frankly. But we need to do even more. Because I have to admit to you that I’m more worried about cohesion across our country now than I’ve been for very many years”. He made a commitment to work with faith leaders to bring about change. Story here
A traumatic week for the BBC after a critical report led to the double resignation of the BBC’s director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness.The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the report showed ‘impartiality of the BBC has been a sham‘. In the Lords, the Bishop of Leicester praised BBC World Service for providing vital information in war torn countries. Theos director Chine McDonald voices concern at crisis and hopes BBC will safeguard the place of religion.
A message from the Pope to the climate conference COP30, urged world leaders to make ‘courageous and concrete commitments’ to protect creation, linking peace and environmental care. It’s ten years since the landmark encyclical on climate change, Laudato si’, and Pope Leo called for renewed multilateral cooperation that places the sacredness of life and the common good at its centre >>
The journalists’ church, St Bride’s on Fleet Street, held its annual service to remember journalists who died reporting the story. 53 were killed in the past year and 248 died in Gaza during the war. The service was on the theme ‘Conflict and Calling’, reflecting on the courage and moral conviction of reporters whose work ‘often exacts a great personal cost’.
Our reporter Maira Butt has won the Aziz Foundation “Rockstar Award” for outstanding qualities among the interns that Aziz supports. Maira reports for the Religion Media Centre on British Muslims and Islam, and also works at The Independent on the world news desk. She has shared another note of recognition, this time from the former Faith Minister Lord Khan, who comes from her home town and said she’d done ‘really well’ coming from Burnley.
More headlines ..
Here are other headlines from this week’s daily bulletins. Sign up here to receive them in your inbox every morning.
| Monday 10 November Campaign Against Antisemitism says resignations show BBC impartiality ‘is a sham’ Archbishop of York’s visit to the West Bank cut short by Israeli police British Muslim Trust reports ‘alarming spike’ in attacks on mosques Christians for a Welcoming Britain stand against Christian nationalism Muslim think tank on ‘teetotal Britain’ recommends more alcohol-free spaces Nottingham University removes single honours Theology degree Justin Welby preaches in the USA Choir director at Sandringham royal church resigns Burnley street pastor told John 3:16 could be ‘hate speech’ |
| Tuesday 11 November Pope urges world leaders to protect creation World Vision says COP30 must address childhood malnutrition Archbishop of York prays with family of Christian Palestinian detainee Review into Oak Hill theological college Jewish academic and collector of Islamic art honoured by City of London |
| Wednesday 12 November St Bride’s service honours journalists who died reporting the story The Times reveals the costly, complex path to sainthood ‘Leo from Chicago’ – documentary on pope’s early years US Catholic bishops elect conservative-leaning president Christian Resources Exhibition taken over by events company CofE new safeguarding lead bishop |
| Thursday 13 November ‘A Fight for the Soul of the Nation’ as communities rebuild relations Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland steps aside over safeguarding report Bishop Sarah Mullally opposes move to block conversion-based asylum claims Pew Research publishes five facts about religion in Nigeria Swiss guard investigated for antisemitic spitting gesture Woman in Italy facing fraud charges over Virgin Mary statue ‘weeping blood’ Our reporter Maira Butt wins ‘Rockstar Award’ |
| Friday 14 November Babies and toddlers referred to authorities in anti-terrorism Prevent scheme Concern that BBC crisis risks future of religious broadcasting Bishop praises BBC for global role amid Lord’s criticism of Israel-Hamas coverage Informal religious education needed across society, not just in schools Archbishop reduced to tears on hearing stories of Palestinian Christians in the West Bank British Muslim commentator Sami Hamdi back home after release from US detention US Catholic bishops oppose ‘indiscriminate mass deportation’ Ban on gender transition care in US Catholic hospitals Pope calls for guidance on children’s use of artificial intelligence ‘Romeo and Juliet of the Vatican’, fired for getting married, win their jobs back |
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