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The week began with a peace deal signed between Israel and Hamas. President Trump visited Israel and 20 Israeli hostages were released alongside 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, amid scenes of jubilation, relief, anguish and shock.
- Chief Rabbi speaks of hope for a new era after ceasefire and hostages’ return
- Former hostages’ tell of their memories of prayer during captivity
- Memorises of starvation, loss and homelessness for people in Gaza
- Gaza priest speaks of calm, joy and continuing prayers for peace
- 600 trucks of aid for Gaza, per day, on schedule
- Board of Deputies: ‘immense relief and profound joy’ at hostages release
- ‘Trump should share Nobel peace prize with hostages’ families’
- Chief Rabbi: ‘A day of great salvation’
- Progressive Judaism: ‘The end of captivity, but the beginning of compassion’
- ‘Illegal and inhumane’ deportation of Palestinian prisoners
Church of England bishops put the brakes on moves to allow services for same-sex blessings, and gay clergy to be married in civil ceremonies. The services will have to go through a legal process requiring a two-thirds majority in favour – which does not exist in the general synod. Rules on whether gay clergy are allowed to be married in civil ceremonies will need legislation and a simple majority. Gay clergy and church members feel betrayed. Conservative Anglicans are upset that both proposals were not ruled out. Meanwhile Gafcon, the global Anglican group against same-sex relationships and women’s ordination, has declared itself as the true Global Anglican Communion, saying “the future has arrived”.
Our briefing was on the role of faith groups in planning and designing new towns and housing developments. A report said housing is about more than bricks and mortar – it is about the kind of society we want to build and faith groups can make a crucial contribution to building community and social cohesion. “Housing with Values: faith and belief perspectives on housing and community planning” suggests that a New Towns Faith Taskforce is set up to enable conversations between faith representatives, developers and local councils. View the briefing, listen to the podcast or read the report via links on our website here
A report on Faith in the City of London has called for interventions to support faith provision in the Square Mile. This includes a “Deliveroo-style” mobile chaplaincy, religious literacy training, space for prayer and flagship events celebrating different faiths. The report was launched at an event sponsored by the City of London Corporation, which said there was an opportunity to create a more supportive environment reflecting the needs of each faith. Read our report here
Looking ahead: The King and Queen make a state visit to the Vatican next week, Weds 22 – Thurs 23 October. For the first time since the Reformation, the King and the Pope will pray together in the Sistine Chapel, and the King will attend a service at the papal basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, which houses St Paul’s tomb. He will be given his own seat at the basilica, bearing his coat of arms, which will remain for his heirs and successors.
Diwali falls on Monday 20 October, and there are celebrations across the country this weekend. Pictured are dancers at the event in Trafalgar Square in London last weekend. London’s Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities took part in the day’s activities
More headlines ..
Here are other headlines from this week’s daily bulletins. Sign up here to receive them in your inbox every morning.
- Pope urges journalists to resist post truth world of AI, clickbait and lies
- Church of England urges national debate on AI and the future of work
- Court overturns conviction for burning the Quran
- Pastor dies three days after acquittal on false blasphemy charge in Pakistan
- Tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel and his warning of Armageddon
- JD Vance and Elon Musk slam graffiti exhibition in Canterbury Cathedral
- Report says new town planners must consult faith groups to build thriving communities
- Christians get ready for Christmas carols campaign
- Diwali celebration in London starts the season of celebrations
- Increased fear among faith groups after religious hate crime rises
- Commons speaker pays tribute to Heaton Park synagogue members
- Pope orders medicines shipment for children in Gaza
- Bishop says imprisonment of Palestinian Christian woman is unjust
- Archbishop of Wales addresses ‘deep-seated and long-standing trauma’ in Bangor church
- Communities Secretary ‘appalled’ at mosque’s ban on women in fun run
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints appoints new leader aged 93
- Guardian reports 60 new cases of abuse against Jesus Army
- Purification of St Peter’s Basilica altar after man urinated on it
- Church of England bishops set higher legal bar for same-sex blessing services
- Former Hull funeral director admits multiple fraud charges linked to human remains inquiry
- Oxford student arrested for inciting racial hatred at Palestine demonstration
- Man injured at Heaton Park synagogue attack released from hospital
- Bishop of Newcastle joins assisted dying select committee
- Romanian Orthodox to take over 1000 year old church in Peterborough
- Catholic ‘digital missionaries’ in Brazil attract millions to prayer livestreams
- Legal challenge threat against Austria’s proposals to ban headscarves
- Synagogue attacker pledged allegiance to Islamic State
- ‘The future has arrived’ – Gafcon declares itself as the true Global Anglican Communion
- PM announces further £10 million to protect British Jews
- Pope calls for end to hunger as a ‘profoundly moral duty‘
- ‘Deliveroo-style chaplaincy’ proposed to make City of London more faith-friendly
- Charity Commission reviewing complaint of ‘toxic culture’ at World Vision
- Methodist president supports Luton church campaign against hate
- Muslim and Jewish women rebuild interfaith relationships
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