A Muslim student at a North London school has lost a High Court challenge against its ban on prayer rituals, which she argued were discriminatory. Michaela Community School, a non-faith state secondary school, told the High Court that allowing prayer rituals risked undermining inclusion among pupils. The student had said the ban breached her right to freedom of religion. The school’s headteacher, Katharine Birbalsingh, described the ruling as a “victory for all schools”. There is no legal requirement for schools to allow pupils a time or a place to pray and the judgement has implications for every state-funded non-religious school in England.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has stated on social media that the attacks on Israel by Iran “were wrong”. Justin Welby warned that “they risked civilian lives and escalated the already dangerous tensions in the region”. He prayed “for the peace and security of Israel’s people at this time” and for all parties “to act for peace”. Days earlier the Archbishop expressed concern about the arrest of an Anglican Palestinian Christian woman in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces. He called for prayers and the release of Layan Nasir, a 23-year-old member of St Peter's Anglican Church in Birzeit.
A pro-life speaker was filmed leaving a talk she had delivered at Manchester university under police escort, surrounded by chanting protesters. Madeleine Page, chief executive of the Alliance of Pro-Life Students said: “The actual talk was fine. Three pro-choice students attended to ask questions and were perfectly respectful.” Video footage shows Page walking from the venue, surrounded by a largely female crowd of protesters, chanting “get your rosaries out of my ovaries”. Right to Life UK said Page had to change her travel arrangements for safety reasons.
Pope Francis has appointed Mgr James Curry as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Westminster. Currently the parish priest of Our Lady of Victories, Kensington, Mgr Curry served as private secretary to Cardinal Hume and Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor between 1994-2002. A former chaplain to the Lord Mayor of London, he will become the fourth auxiliary in the diocese. Mgr Curry said his first reactions were “shock and surprise”. He added: “Then the words of St Paul came to mind: now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord.”
On 2 May, Professor Conor Gearty will deliver the 2024 annual lecture of the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice in Oxford. A professor of Human Rights Law at the Law school of the London School of Economics, Gearty will speak on the topic, “Human Rights after Gaza. A barrister and co-founder of Matrix Chambers, Gearty is also a former director of LSE’s Institute of Public Affairs and Centre for the Study of Human Rights. The lecture will begin at 5pm at Blackfriars’ Hall and be followed by a drink’s reception. For a place please email: lascasas@bfriars.ox.ac.uk or to attend online, please register via Meeting Registration - Zoom
Professor Eamon Duffy, religious historian and former president of Magdalene College, Cambridge, is to give the next public lecture at Holy Name Church in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne at 11.30am Saturday 4 May with the title, “Fr Robert Hugh Benson – the most famous Catholic priest in Edwardian England – and his extraordinary family”. Professor Duffy has previously spoken about St John Henry Newman at Holy Name. The event is part of the Jesmond Community Festival. Professor Duffy will discuss Fr Benson’s life and work, and that of his father, who was Archbishop of Canterbury. One of Fr Benson’s brothers wrote “Land of Hope and Glory”, while the other wrote the Mapp and Lucia novels. No tickets required.
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have released resources to mark the annual Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse on 30 April 2024. This year’s focus is on communities who have been directly affected by allegations or convictions related to abuse – especially, but not exclusively, within the Church. Resources include prayers, readings and prompts for personal and shared reflection. A sample powerpoint for a pastoral session could be used, they say, as part of an information evening or in a short liturgy to bring the community together in prayer.
Ahead of World Communications Day on Sunday 12 May, Bishop John Arnold, Lead Bishop for Communications, suggests that Artificial Intelligence technology can be embraced if it serves the common good. He warned, however, that “we’ve got to identify clear boundaries as to what can be good and useful and what really needs to be avoided.” He added, “let’s not allow machines in any way to think for us or to make decisions which are not appropriate.” The theme of the Day is, “Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication”.
The next London Catholic history walk will take place on Sunday 5 May. Participants will meet at 3pm at the Church of the Most Precious Blood, O’Meara Street, South London SE1. The cost is £5 per person and groups attending should be no more than three people, to keep numbers manageable. The current series of walks cover Chelsea, City of London, Richmond, Islington and Westminster. They explore historical events, famous people, heroes and heroines, kings and queens, saints and sinners. “We are the only historical walking group who weave ecclesiastic culture and tradition into our tales,” said Catholic History Walks.
Cafod, Salford Diocesan Laudato Si Centre, Westminster Justice and Peace and Sciaf were among those calling for a renewed commitment to celebrate God’s creation and protect the earth on Monday’s Earth Day. Operation Noah launched a new video series, “Financing a Liveable Future: Church Investments in Climate Solutions”. Green Anglicans offered “52 Earth Day Tips”. Plans to mark Laudato Si’ Week next month include a Care of Creation week at Boarbank Hall from 25 May led by Sr Margaret Atkins and John Paul de Quay of the Ecological Conversion Group. It will explore the teachings of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ and there will be talks, gardening, creative activities, discussions and walks alongside the prayer of Boarbank’s Augustinian community.
The National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales Annual Conference will take place in Derbyshire on 19-21 July with a theme of “Just Politics” and the aim of exploring the need for truth and integrity in public life. The conference attracts justice and peace representatives from the Catholic dioceses of England and Wales and of agencies with a focus on social justice. The chair will be Sir John Battle, an NJPN patron. Speakers include Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford, and Colette Joyce of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission who will facilitate a session with young people speaking about their engagement with public life. From Hexham and Newcastle, Fr Chris Hughes will report on community organising in campaigns with Tyne and Wear Citizens.
The annual conference of the National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales (NJPN) will take the theme of “Just Politics”, exploring the need for truth and integrity in public life when it meets in Derbyshire on 19-21July. The chair will be Sir John Battle, an NJPN patron, with speakers including Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford, and Colette Joyce of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, who will facilitate a session with young people speaking about their engagement with public life. From Hexham and Newcastle, Fr Chris Hughes and Sara Bryson will report on community organising in campaigns with Tyne and Wear Citizens. Conference booking details are available here.
Pope Francis has appointed Mgr Eamonn McLaughlin as one of seven new canons for the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major. The basilica is home to the Marian icon Salus Populi Romani (Our Lady, Salvation of the Roman People) and is the oldest church in the west dedicated to Our Lady. Pope Francis has said he wishes to be buried in St Mary Major rather than St Peter’s because of his “great devotion” to the Byzantine Icon. Mgr McLaughlin, 46, was ordained to the priesthood in 2002 and has served as a curate in the Diocese of Raphoe before pursuing research in Rome and Germany.
The Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education (MDCCE) at Dublin City University’s Institute of Education is conducting a new all-island survey on churchgoing in Ireland. The survey “Church-24” will also look at how views on assisted dying, climate change and artificial intelligence are influenced by faith. It is the third collaborative study between York St John University and the MDCCE in recent years. Previously they undertook research on the impact of Covid-19 on clergy and laypeople across Britain and Ireland. The online survey can be accessed here.
Bishop Phonsie Cullinan has expressed concern over the “near explosion in mental illness, anxiety and loneliness, especially among the young” in Irish society today. At the conclusion of the “Year for Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood”, he said the prevalence of such issues demanded an explanation. “Maybe their despair is the right response to a world where God is deliberately banished,” he said. In a televised Mass, he prayed that “through the fog and haze of the culture in which we live, men will generously respond to God who is calling them to His priesthood”. Separately, Archbishop Eamon Martin ordained two men to the priesthood for Armagh diocese.
At a Mass for the families of the 48 young people who perished in the Stardust nightclub fire in 1981, Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin said the tragedy was “multiplied” by the manner in which they were “systematically and stubbornly denied truth and justice”. At the Church of St Joseph the Artisan in Bonnybrook, Archbishop Farrell said the families had re-lived the horror of that night, which is “seared into the hearts and memories of a generation”. Last week the inquest jury delivered a verdict of unlawful killing for all who died in the fire. The Taoiseach Simon Harris will deliver a state apology this week.
It is in the interest of the common good that prisoners are returned to society “as a neighbour” who can make a “positive contribution” to the community, said Bishop Martin Hayes liaison to the Irish Prison Chaplains Team. He warned that if a person sent to prison feels forgotten and abandoned by society, the likelihood is that she or he will return to society “angry and liable to return to a life of crime”. Paying tribute to the work of prison chaplains he said they are an important link between prisoners and their families.
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