Vile and Vicious Murders. Also ...

News and Views.

 21 Dec 2023.

Holy Family Church in GazaDan Palraz, Wikimedia

Christians killed outside Gaza church; Same-sex blessings in CofE and Catholic Church; Trans guidance for schools....

Israel / Gaza War

• Snipers kill Christians in Gazan church. The IDF has come under much criticism for allegedly killing a Christian mother and daughter in the grounds of the Holy Family Catholic church in Gaza, where many hundreds of Christians have taken refuge since the start of Israel’s war with Hamas. Seven others were shot and wounded in the compound. An initial review by the IDF found that their troopers were targeting Hamas terrorists who had launched a Rocket propelled grenade at IDF troops from the vicinity of the church. This fact has been almost universally ignored by the Press. Israel utterly refuted the charge that their forces deliberately ‘targeted’ civilians.
• Food & water shortages. While Israel is also blamed for supply shortages in the church, attempts to deliver food have apparently been prevented for some time by Hamas attacks to the convoy bringing aid. However, there are reports that a more recent delivery succeeded. UK Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who has relatives trapped in the church, controversially claimed: “There are snipers at every window pointing into the church … shooting anyone emerging from buildings to use, for example, toilets.” But read also. Equally controversially, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem made the shocking and unsupported claim that, “There are no Christians or churches in Gaza”.
• Christians in Gaza represent a tiny fraction of the Gaza Strip's population, with just around 1,000 living in the enclave. The vast majority of their population is Greek Orthodox, while a much smaller share is Roman Catholic, Baptist and other Protestant denominations, according to a 2014 survey. Still, they are among the oldest Christian communities in the world, dating back almost to the time of Christ. Around 20 Palestinian Christians have been killed so far in the conflict, and some fear the Christian community in Gaza will not survive the current war.
• U.S. youth reject previous generations’ support of Israel A recent poll lays bare the highly contrasting attitudes to Jews and Israel in the US between younger and older generations. It found that 67% of 18 to 24-year-olds view Jews as an ‘oppressor class’. 31% believe that Israel has no right to exist, (contrasted with only 4% of those over 65). Shockingly, more than half (53%) believe that those students calling for genocide of Jews on campus should be free to do so, with 50% supporting Hamas more than they do Israel (again, contrasted with just 4% of over 65s.) Writer Brendan O’Neill considers this to be a result of identity politics.

Church issues

• Same sex blessings in C of E. For the first time in Church of England history, same-sex partners can receive a blessing to celebrate their unions. Last Sunday, a church in Felixstowe was one of the first to do so, where the relationship between two associate priests, Rev Catherine Bond and Rev Jane Pearse was blessed, as part of the regular Eucharist service. Read more in this article.
• Pope allows priests to bless same-sex couples. Meanwhile, the Pope has declared that Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples, as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals. The ruling, however, does not amend the traditional doctrine of the Catholic Church about marriage between a man and a woman, given that the Church still considers homosexuality to be a sin. Critics say the move is a ‘theological disaster’, a ‘fudge’ and a complete 'muddle'. While most priests so far have sought to defend and downplay Pope Francis’ new declaration, an Italian archbishop has already stated his refusal to allow blessings on same-sex relationships. Bishops in the African nation of Malawi have issued a similar directive.
• Soldiers turn to Christ in Oklahoma. A Baptist church stepped out in faith following the worship pastor’s determination that he had heard from God to put on its Christmas show for a second weekend – allowing army chaplains to invite soldiers who couldn’t attend the original event. 700 soldiers, many trainees, attended the musical performance at Lawton, Oklahoma. The pastor noted the powerful presence of God, and, remarkably, 116 men and women indicated a decision to follow Jesus when the gospel message was shared during the show.

World Events

• Iraqi churches cancel Christmas celebrations. Iraqi church leaders have expressed their concern that the government in Iraq is not doing enough to preserve the rights of Christians, and many have cancelled their Christmas and New Year celebrations. There are also continued fears regarding the tragic wedding hall fire in Qaraqosh and the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza. In a statement, the church leaders stated: “Christians are not a minority in their homeland. Their roots are deep in Iraq … They constitute an essential part of this cultural, social and national heritage. We fear that the state will continue not to take serious action to preserve the rights of Christians, provide them with justice, and return their usurped property… but no one responds to our request.”

Society and Politics

• Government releases trans guidance for schools. The long-awaited guidance for schools navigating the complexities of handling the huge rise in children claiming to be transgender was published this week, subject to consultation. It states that schools have no general duty to allow a child to socially transition, should they express a desire to, and that, except in extreme cases, parents should be engaged “as a matter of priority”. In addition, schools and colleges should provide toilets and changing areas in accordance with biological sex, and in PE, fairness and safety should be the priority. Where pronouns are agreed to be changed, which should be “rare”, “no teacher or pupil should be compelled to use these ... and it should not prevent teachers from referring to children collectively as ‘girls’ or ‘boys,’”.
• Guidance cautiously welcomed. The draft guidance, formulated by MPs Kemi Badenoch and Gillian Keegan, has been welcomed, overall, by Christian Concern and the Christian Institute, as containing “significant steps forward” in “addressing trans ideology”. Others have expressed concerns that it will not be legally binding, with some school leaders declaring that they will shun the advisory guidelines. Leader of the Association of Christian Teachers, Lizzie Harewood, describes it as a “helpful start”, but that she doesn’t “think it will restrain activists.” Meanwhile, Steve Chalke has expressed concerns over the need to involve parents, while transgender teacher, Debbie Hayton said the advice is "too ambiguous". Prophecy Today.