Maira Shahbaz, a 14-year-old Pakistani Catholic who was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and forced to marry her abductor, told supporters of the charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that she and her family face death threats. She spoke to the charity, which is lobbying the Government to grant her asylum, in a pre-recorded video as part of an online event to launch an ACN report. “Set your Captives Free” focuses on Christians unjustly imprisoned for their faith.
Bishop Patrick Lynch has resigned as an auxiliary in Southwark after 14 years in office, and 22 years serving the archdiocese. A former Bishop for Migrants, he has been an outspoken advocate for refugees and asylum seekers, in particular those held in camps in Calais in France, as well as those affected by the Syrian resettlement scheme and UK immigration restrictions. His resignation aged 73 comes before the usual retirement age for bishops of 75, but follows surgery nine years ago, the after- effects of which were limiting his ability to carry out some pastoral responsibilities. Archbishop John Wilson praised his work in Catholic education and with the Bishops’ Conference and the Holy See to combat human slavery and trafficking: “We very much look forward to him continuing to be part of the life of the archdiocese and assure him of our heartfelt prayers and support.” The archdiocese will arrange for the celebration of Mass to mark Bishop Lynch’s retirement as soon as practicably possible.
The threat of unjust imprisonment is one of the “most prevalent and frightening forms of intimidation and persecution” of Christians around the world, the Primate of All Ireland, Eamon Martin, said in his reflection for “Red Wednesday” last week.
A new poll has found that 36 per cent of adults in Ireland plan to attend church services, if they can, over the Christmas period. The poll was conducted by Amarach Research for the Iona Institute. However, some priests are concerned that they may have to turn people away from Christmas services as no more than 50 people can attend public worship under the latest Irish health guidelines.
Carol services can go ahead this Christmas after the government issued Covid guidance that permits amateur and professional choirs to sing indoors and congregations to sing outdoors, observing social distancing.
French theologian Anne Soupa has described the Church’s ban on women priests, deacons and bishops as “an abuse of power. In an online address to reform group We Are Church Ireland, Ms Soupa said the hierarchical Church, by demanding absolute obedience, “denies the place of conscience and obstructs the freedom of the children of God”.
A Dublin parish priest has warned that the Common Fund – the account out of which Irish clergy are paid – in his diocese “is greatly depleted” as parishes have seen a massive drop in contributions. Fr Joe McDonald, parish priest of St Patrick’s in Celbridge, told BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence programme that the fund’s reserves could be depleted “within a couple of months – unless we get through this and get back to some sort of semblance of regularity”. He warned that without a return to normality, the largest diocese in the Irish Church is facing “very serious financial trouble”.
Priests have been advised not to make “disparaging remarks” on social media in a new safeguarding document drawn up by the bishops of England and Wales. The guidelines, “Pastoral Standards and Safe Practices in the Conduct of Ministry”, have been sent to every bishop, secular and religious priest and deacon. They set out how to guard against abuse and recognise it when it occurs.
The new chairperson of the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) is Paul Southgate of the Justice and eace Co-ordinating Council in Hexham and Newcastle diocese. Committed to ecumenism and interfaith relations, Southgate launched the North East Faiths Network and the County Durham Faiths Network.
Environment charity Operation Noah and Christian Aid have welcomed the Church of Scotland’s decision to set a 2030 net-zero target for carbon emissions. The decision is especially significant as Glasgow prepares to host the UN climate talks, COP26, in November 2021. Campaigners said the Church of Scotland now needs to set an example and end its investments in fossil fuel companies.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols has joined Catholic charities and activists to express concern at the Government’s plans to cut UK spending on overseas aid from 0.7 per cent of gross national income to 0.5 per cent, a cut of around £4 billion. “A clear measure of a nation’s greatness is the manner in which it responds to the needs of its poorest,” the cardinal said.
This year’s annual Advent service of Pax Christi England and Wales will be held online and will collate messages of encouragement to send to people in Palestine. The service will be held on Monday at 7 p.m.
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