Welby and Kirill demand peace in Ukraine (but woolliness won’t stop war)
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Patriarch of Moscow have had a video conference in which they both agreed on the need for disciples of Jesus to be peacemakers, and…
Europe
Bank of England warns of ‘apocalyptic’ times ahead
The Governor of the Bank of England has issued a warning of an 'apocalyptic' scenario, with food price surges affecting our daily bread in particular. There is a war and rumours of war: nation is arising against nation, people are…
Homes for Ukraine: finally, a refugee programme we can be proud of
It has taken a while, but the UK now has a compassionate refugee programme responsive to the crisis unfolding in Ukraine, which is the worst refugee crisis seen in Europe…
Ukraine: no grave is large enough to contain the spirit of freedom
President Putin is turning cities to rubble, making life unlivable, and bombing civilians to kingdom come. The sacred Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial to the 33,000 Ukrainian Jews who were summarily…
Ukraine’s freedom is the price of Europe’s peace
"Who in the Lord's name does Putin think gives him a right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbours?" asked President Biden yesterday, with all…
From Lament To Action: the report of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce
The Archbishops' Anti-Racism Taskforce have published their report 'From Lament to Action', which proposes a raft of changes designed to bring about a change of culture in the life of…
Pope Francis damns Brexit
Pope Francis has written another encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. It isn't a great theological tome; indeed, it could easily be a series of religio-political blogposts on current events. Much of the…
Brexit Day – at last, a wide and liberal global future
When the majority of UK voters determined to leave the European Union on 23rd June 2016, it was met with much relief and rejoicing by many millions of people: The…
Brexit: open letter reveals Bishops split 60:40 on Government’s approach
The open letter on Brexit published yesterday by a group of Diocesan Bishops is interesting on a number of levels, not least of which is the fact that it is…
The Conservative Party does not govern – or even exist – by divine right
The Conservative Party is often referred to as "the natural party of government". Certainly, they dominated much of the 20th century – being in power for half of it, while…
While bishops bicker over Brexit, there is one who shows a better way
Should there be a second referendum (aka a 'People's Vote') on Brexit, the Bishop of Oxford was asked. "My own view is that it would make things worse and it…
Lambeth Palace convenes Brexit colloquium – and crams it with Remainers (including one MP..)
This Friday there is to be a colloquium at Lambeth Palace entitled: 'After Brexit: European Unity and the Unity of the European Churches'. In the current political morass of 'Hard'…
Don’t defame Mohammed: ECHR affirms European sharia blasphemy law
The European Court of Human Rights has unanimously decreed that national governments may fine or imprison their citizens for attacking or defaming Mohammed. The judges determined that "the Prophet of…
The EU is an anti-European force: it must become a ‘community of spirit’
The Red Cell is new research project set up to "inform, challenge and trigger" in order to deliver and manage Brexit. "It's a small unit, a break out team. its…
British voters prefer EU to non-EU migrants – because they’re mostly white and Christian?
"This point almost never gets the attention it deserves", tweeted Red Tory guru Phillip Blond, when a 2017 LSE poll on preferential immigration was brought to his attention. "Absolutely right…
Trump to Europe: “You are losing your culture”
While the media pore over Donald Trump's interview with the Sun, focusing on the possibility a post-(soft) Brexit US/UK trade deal ("..it will probably kill the deal") and Boris Johnson…
Why can’t Justin Welby distinguish the Council of Europe from the European Union?
Apparently the Archbishop of Canterbury has said the EU is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, he said it's the greatest thing since way before sliced bread: "The EU…
Welby: Brexit offers ‘a wide and liberal future’; Remainers are ‘depressed’ and ‘paranoid’
When it transpired that the reason Chris Heaton-Harris MP had written to all university vice-chancellors asking for the names of academics lecturing on Brexit was simply because he was writing…
Forget Brexit academics – how many of them are Conservatives?
Government Whip Chris Heaton-Harris has sent a letter to all university vice chancellors asking for the names of academics lecturing on European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit. He also…
COMECE: Roman Catholics should support EU integration
COMECE is the Roman Catholic Church in the European Union (the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community). Its mission is to explore strange new worlds, to seek…