Tag: Religion

Charity watchdog publishes report on Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain investigation

The Charity Commission has published a report of its long-running inquiry into Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain.

The inquiry opened in May 2014 to investigate the charity’s handling and oversight of safeguarding matters, including child protection advice provided to individual Jehovah’s Witness (JW) congregations.

This followed significant interaction between the Commission and the charity since October 2007, concerning the way in which safeguarding incidents or failures were handled within JW organisations and, specifically, the adequacy of the guidance that the charity provided to various JW congregations.

JW organisations reported to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (‘IICSA’) that a total of 67 allegations of child abuse were made between 2009 and 2019 against 67 individuals involved in JW congregations, whether as Elders, ministerial servants or otherwise.

During the course of the Commission’s interaction with the charity from 2007 onwards, including during the period of the inquiry, JW congregations have revised and updated their safeguarding policies on several occasions, and the Commission remains engaged with JW congregations on safeguarding matters through its ongoing interaction with the Kingdom Hall Trust (see below).

One key issue which emerged during the inquiry was the extent to which the charity itself remained responsible for ensuring children and vulnerable people are safe from harm within JW congregations.

Notwithstanding the charity having had an historic role in interacting with the Commission over JW safeguarding, the Commission’s report concludes that Watch Tower is no longer the body responsible for safeguarding within JW congregations, and therefore the inquiry can be closed.

It is the Commission’s view that following the merger of Kingdom Hall congregation charities with the Kingdom Hall Trust in March 2022 (‘KHT’) that KHT is now the body responsible for safeguarding congregation members. The Commission has opened a compliance case to work with KHT’s trustees to ensure that the safeguarding policies, guidance, and procedures of KHT provide a safe environment for beneficiaries within all JW congregations.

The Commission’s report is critical of the charity’s trustees’ conduct during the inquiry, expressing the view that on occasions the trustees were “not as straightforward or transparent as they should have been” in relation to JW child safeguarding responsibilities, and that during certain phases of the investigation, “the trustees’ communications were protracted, with the charity’s responses often failing to provide the information requested or sufficient clarity to satisfy the inquiry, giving rise to further questions.”

The inquiry noted that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that these behaviours were deliberate attempts to obstruct the inquiry.

The report also details that legal challenges brought by the charity, which sought to challenge some of the regulator’s decisions and orders, which partly explain the significant delays to the inquiry.

Helen Stephenson, chief executive of the Charity Commission said: We are clear that a charity must be a safe, trusted environment and that protecting people and safeguarding should be a governance priority for all charities, regardless of size, type or income.

“I am pleased that this long-running inquiry, which demonstrates the Commission’s resolve and determination to ensure that safeguarding policy issues are addressed comprehensively by charities, has now concluded.

“Our continuing regulatory compliance case involving the Kingdom Hall Trust aims to ensure that the KHT’s safeguarding policies and procedures  protect congregation members and those that come into contact with KHT.”

The full inquiry report is available on GOV.UK.

Timeline of significant developments prior to, and during inquiry

2007

  • Commission opens statutory inquiry into the London Mill Hill Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses after an Elder was convicted for historic sexual offences. The Commission’s inquiry into the London Mill Hill Congregation finds that it did not have a child protection policy.
  • One of the outcomes from the Commission’s inquiry into the London Mill Hill Congregation is that the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain agrees to develop a child protection policy which would be disseminated to all JW congregations.

2010

  • In May 2010, the Commission seeks advice on the draft policy from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (‘NSPCC’).
  • A summary of the NSPCC’s findings is supplied to the charity. The charity also seeks its own advice from a safeguarding consultancy.
  • In finalising the policy, the charity chooses not to adopt all of the NSPCC’s recommendations.

2011

  • Watch Tower distributes child protection policy which all Elders of JW congregations are expected to adhere to.

2013

  • Following the conviction of a former ministerial servant of a JW congregation charity, Charity Commission writes to Watch Tower to raise concerns about the policy and its implementation.
  • Commission seeks advice from NSPCC, which finds the policy to be at odds with UK legislation and guidance.
  • The charity updates and recirculates the policy.

2014

  • March: Commission meets with the charity, to raise its concerns about the revised policy, which does not address concerns raised by NSPCC. The trustees do not clearly set out that Watch Tower is no longer responsible for drafting and disseminating the policy, nor do they state which organisation is now responsible for this.
  • May: Charity Commission opens statutory inquiry.
  • August: Watch Tower challenges decision to open inquiry and legal orders requiring the charity to submit information to the Commission, beginning a period of several years during which the work of the inquiry is constrained.

2016

  • December: Supreme Court refuses the Watch Tower permission to appeal a decision of the Court of Appeal dismissing the appeal against the Commission’s investigation.

2019

  • September: Charity Commission informs Watch Tower that it had commissioned the Ineqe Safeguarding Group to undertake independent review of JW’s child safeguarding policies and procedures.
  • December: Ineqe’s report is provided to Watch Tower, ahead of planned meeting to discuss the findings. The charity cancels the meeting asking to provide a formal response to the independent report.

2020

  • January: Charity provides inquiry with written opinion from its safeguarding expert, which states that the Ineqe report was out of date. Watch Tower demands the inquiry is terminated, claiming the grounds for the inquiry no longer exist.
  • June: After careful consideration, the Commission refuses the request to close the inquiry.
  • July: Charity instigates Judicial Review procedures against the Commission’s refusal to conclude the inquiry and in respect of disclosure.

2021

  • Trustees’ cooperation with inquiry improves following permission from the High Court for Watch Tower to bring Judicial Review procedures against the Commission.

2023

  • Commission concludes that Watch Tower is not the organisation that is currently directly responsible for the safety of JW beneficiaries.

One million pilgrims celebrate World Youth Day in Lisbon

More than one million young Catholics are expected to attend the World Youth Day event in Lisbon this week (2-6 August).

Stages and big screens have been set up for events across the city, with the Pope meeting officials at the National Palace in the historic neighbourhood of Belem, celebrating Mass in Jerónimos Monastery and then taking part in events throughout the week at locations including Cascais on the coast, the central Vasco da Gama Garden and on the Hill of Encounter at Edward VII Park, before the celebrations culminate with a Mass for World Youth Day beside the River Tagus on Sunday (6 August).

For more information, ideas and inspiration on visiting Lisbon, please go to www.visitlisboa.com. 

New Moderator faces ‘hefty challenges’

The head of a Christian charity which fights global poverty has been elected the next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, who has led Christian Aid in Scotland since 2016, will serve as the Kirk’s ambassador at home and abroad for the next 12 months.

The 59-year-old said she is “beyond humbled, inexpressibly honoured and more than a wee bit excited” to represent the Church in this role.

Sally-Foster-Fulton
Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton

Mrs Foster-Fulton is looking forward to meeting and encouraging people involved in church work at local, national and international levels at a time of unprecedented challenge and opportunity.

She was passed the official ring and chain of office by the outgoing Moderator, Very Rev Dr Iain Greenshields.

Mrs Foster-Fulton said: “I am beyond humbled, inexpressibly honoured and more than a wee bit excited to be your Moderator.

“Thank you for your trust, your prayers and the commitment you share to be part of the body of Christ in this place.”

Mrs Foster-Fulton told the General Assembly that she has gone a “bit rogue” with her choice of official Moderator clothing but said there is a reason.

Mrs Foster-Fulton’s jacket was made by Stewart Christie & Co, bespoke specialist tailors in Edinburgh. It is based on the traditional moderatorial jacket but has been developed into a female cut.

It is made of an 18oz piper green barathea, a type of weave of cloth.

“It has felt like an extraordinary time in the life of the planet, the life of the country and the life of the Church of Scotland,” said the Moderator.

“Green is the liturgical colour for ‘ordinary time’ and it reminds us, throughout history, the world, the country, the Church, have experienced extraordinary challenges,” she added.

“And it has been the grit, the determination and the hopeful imagination of individuals and communities who have risen together to those challenges.

“Ordinary time is extraordinary and we know what is at stake – all we need to do is look around us.

“There is a South African phrase ‘Ubuntu’ – best translated ‘I am because you are’.

“The body of Christ has work to do – love to share, justice and equity to seek.

“When I look at you wonderful people, I see an audacious hope.

“So General Assembly, right reverend, let’s roll up our sleeves and bring it.”

Born and raised in South Carolina in the USA, Mrs Foster-Fulton is married to Rev Stuart Fulton, a fellow Church of Scotland minister who serves the parish of Newlands South Church in Glasgow.

The couple, who live in Glasgow, have two adult daughters, Alex and Gracie.

The new Moderator has experience working in parishes, hospital chaplaincy and was convener of the former Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland from 2012-16.

Ordained as a Church of Scotland minister in 1999, Mrs Foster-Fulton’s first charge was Camelon Irving Parish Church in Falkirk where she spent four years.

The married couple took up the role of co-pastors for the PCUSA congregation in Seneca, South Carolina, and stayed for four years before returning to Scotland, the place that the Moderator Designate considers home.

In 2007, Mrs Foster-Fulton was appointed associate minister at Dunblane Cathedral where she served for 10 years before taking up her current role at Christian Aid.

She recently became a grandmother and she said her new role has “shifted her perspective and given new meaning” to her commitment to try and make the world a better place.

“There are hefty challenges facing the Church of Scotland, there are monumental challenges facing the world and the church is not exempt,” added the Moderator. “Across our global neighbourhood, we face a triple threat, ones that feed on each other – climate change, conflict and COVID.

“Together, they add pressure on well-being, a sense of home and culture, on finances and resources – and sadly unsurprising, it is the most vulnerable who suffer most.

“Being a living, breathing, reforming and loving body of Christ in this place continues to be the mission and ministry of the Church of Scotland.”

Dr Greenshields told the new Moderator that he recognised that this is a “proud moment” for her and her family. “You bring considerable and unique experience with you to this important role and calling,” he said.

“Your face and voice are well known to the General Assembly as you served as convener of the Church and Society Council and helped to advance the Church’s work on human rights, climate justice and support for people struggling with poverty in Scotland as well as overseas.

“You campaign relentlessly for what is right in Christ’s name.

“It is in your DNA to be a voice for those in greatest need in our world.

“It is a privilege to honour someone of such vigour and determination and faith should be chosen as the next Moderator of the General Assembly.

“May the Lord bless you in all that you seek to do to promote the cause of Christ.”

Edinburgh man encourages fellow Muslims to register as organ donors

An Edinburgh man who was inspired to become an organ donor is urging people of faith to consider giving others the ultimate gift.

Muhammad Munir, 55, is of the Muslim faith and, despite the difference of opinion on organ donation in the Islamic community, he feels very passionately about the topic.

Mr Munir said: “My religion teaches me that looking after yourself and other people is our number one priority, and my heart says that there is no religion on earth where you wouldn’t want to save someone’s life.”

Organ donation has been debated extensively in pre-modern and contemporary times and some still believe that organ donation is impermissible in the Muslim faith.

Mr Munir continued: “I am of the Islamic faith and there are still some Muslims who believe that you should not become an organ donor after death due to the lack of knowledge and awareness on permissibility of organ donation – we need to raise more awareness!

“In Islam, we pray five times a day. However, our faith states you should look after your health and your body first.”

Mr Munir added: “I’ve had many discussions within my community with people who disagree with my decision to become an organ donor. I try to provide them with logical, scientific information and signpost them to the updated information by the Muslim scholars, but I don’t push them too much as you can only debate with someone who’s open to changing their mind.”

Mr Munir is a Peer Educator volunteer with Kidney Research UK and has been volunteering with the Organ Donation project for the past 5 years. The project focuses on raising awareness and educating the South Asian (Sikh, Hindu and Muslim) ethnic minority communities on organ donation.

Mr Munir, who is partially sighted and works for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), also felt that it was very important to make his family aware of his decision to become an organ donor.

NHS Lothian supports all initiatives to raise awareness of organ donation and Caroline Gallier, Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation, NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Families play a key role in organ and tissue donation and if you die in circumstances where you could be an organ donor, a specialist nurse would check the NHS Organ Donor Register to see if you had signed up.

“They would also speak to your family to ask them about whether you had expressed any more recent views and whether your faith would place any restrictions on donation.

“So, whatever your decision, it’s important your family know what you want.”

If you want to donate after your death, the best way to ensure your family know what you want and honour your decision is to have a conversation with them about it and register as a donor.

You can also record on the register whether your faith/belief is important and should be considered as part of the donation discussion, and you can consult your faith leader for further information.

You can find out more about organ and tissue donation and register your decision online at www.organdonation.scot or by calling 0300 123 23 23.

If you would like to learn more about an Islamic perspective on Organ Donation, please visit the following website here.

Together For Our Planet event

Don’t forget to register for Edinburgh InterFaith Association’s ‘Together For Our Planet‘, event On Wednesday 11th May – 7:30pm.

Following the wonderful Together for our Planet concert last November, what can we do to offer a faith perspective to Edinburgh Community Climate Forum?

Your opportunity to contribute as individuals and communities.

Keynote from Alastair McIntosh, Fellow of the Centre for Human Ecology and
author of Riders on the Storm – The Climate Crisis and the Survival of Being

Chaired by David Somervell, Trustee of Our Future Edinburgh
– partner with EVOC in Edinburgh’s Community Climate Forum

Wednesday 11th May – 7:30pm In person and livestreamed

@fftcnetwork

@sccscot

@EcoSikhUK

@EcoSynagogue

@ecocongregation

@ECTEdinburgh

@CTPIEdinburgh

Survey reveals Islamophobia is the posh person’s prejudice

A survey led by the University of Birmingham says people from middle and upper-class occupational groups are more likely to hold prejudiced views of Islam than people from working class occupational groups.

The survey, which was carried out in conjunction with YouGov, found that 23.2% of people who come from the social group ABC1 harbour prejudiced views about Islamic beliefs compared with only 18.4% of people questioned from the C2DE group.

However, when asked their views about Muslims, or most other ethnic or religious minority groups, older people, men, working class people and Conservative and Leave voters are consistently more likely to hold prejudiced views.

The survey, presented in a report titled ‘The Dinner Table Prejudice: Islamophobia in Contemporary Britain‘, interviewed a sample of 1667 people between 20th and 21st July 2021 which was weighted by age, gender, social grade, voting record, region and level of education to ensure representativeness.

Weighting was based on the census, Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics estimates, and other large-scale data sources.

Other key notable findings in the survey are:

  1. Muslims are the UK’s second ‘least liked’ group, after Gypsy and Irish Travellers: 25.9% of the British public feel negative towards Muslims (with 9.9% feeling ‘very negative’). This compares with 8.5% for Jewish people, 6.4% for black people, and 8.4% for white people. Only Gypsy and Irish Travellers are viewed more negatively by the British public, with 44.6% of people viewing this group negatively.
  2. More than one in four people, and nearly half of Conservative and Leave voters, hold conspiratorial views about Sharia ‘no-go areas’: 26.5% of the British public agree that ‘there are areas in Britain that operate under Sharia law where non-Muslims are not able to enter’. This increases to 43.4% among Conservative voters and Leave voters. In addition, 36.3% of British people, and a majority of Conservative voters (57.3%) and Leave voters (55.5%), also agree that ‘Islam threatens the British way of life’.
  3. Support for prohibiting all Muslim migration to the UK is 4-6% higher for Muslims than it is for other ethnic and religious groups: 18.1% of people support banning all Muslim migration to the UK (9.5% ‘strongly support’). Overall support for prohibiting Christian Migration is 13.1%, Sikh migration is 11.8% and Jewish migration is 12%.
  4. The British public is almost three times more likely to hold prejudiced views of Islam than they are of other religions: 21.1% of British people wrongly believe Islam teaches its followers that the Qur’an must be read ‘totally literally’. The figure for Islam compares with 7.5% for Judaism and the Hebrew Bible, 3.9% for Sikhism and the Guru Granth Sahib, and 4.8% for Christianity and the Bible
  5. British people are more confident in making judgements about Islam than other non-Christian religions but are much more likely to make incorrect assumptions about it: British people acknowledge their ignorance of most non-Christian religions, with a majority stating they are ‘not sure’ how Jewish (50.8%) and Sikh (62.7%) scriptures are taught. In the case of Islam, however, people feel more confident making a judgement, with only 40.7% being unsure. This is despite the fact that people are much more likely to make the incorrect assumption that Islam is ‘totally’ literalistic.

Dr Stephen H. Jones from the University of Birmingham and lead author of the survey says: “Prejudice towards Islam and Muslims stands out in the UK, not only because it is much more widespread than most forms of racism, but also because prejudice toward Islam is more common among those who are wealthier and well-educated.”

The survey also has made specific recommendations to scale back the rise of Islamophobia:

  • Government and other public figures should publicly acknowledge and address the lack of public criticism that Islamophobic discourses and practices trigger, and how Islamophobia stands out compared with other forms of racism and prejudice.
  • Civil society organisations and equality bodies concerned with prejudice and discrimination should acknowledge that systemic miseducation about Islam is common in British society and forms an important element of Islamophobia.
  • Educators should provide clear guidance clarifying when tropes about the Islamic tradition move from acceptable criticism to become harmful.
  • Civil society organisations should introduce religious literacy as a component part of any large-scale equality and diversity campaign or policy initiative.
  • The BBC and other broadcasters should maintain their commitments to religion programming, but with renewed emphasis on combatting intolerance.

Commenting on the recommendations Dr Stephen H. Jones says: “No-one is calling for laws regulating criticism of religion, but we have to recognise that the British public has been systematically miseducated about Islamic tradition and take steps to remedy this.”

Pilgrimage for COP 26: A welcome from Edinburgh

Edinburgh InterFaith Association welcomes you to the Cop 26 Pilgrimage & Launch Event today.

Don’t forget to come along to our Pilgrimage Event for Cop26 as we welcome pilgrims for Climate Justice and join us as we visit different places of worship across Edinburgh.

There will be a silent rebellion mediation at 12 at the National Gallery. And the big launch welcome event will take place at New College at 1.30pm prompt with contributions from Religious Leaders and politicians including our patron the Lord Provost.

The pilgrimage concludes with langar and a short welcome event at the Leith Gurdwara.

Register for the langar facebook.com/events/1220756771753926… This is the first of many great events for Cop 26 – our full programme of events can be viewed at http://edinburghinterfaith.com

UK Sikhs urge Dominic Raab to raise human rights violations against farmers in India

Sikh Organisations and Gurdwaras (Temples) from across the UK have written to The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Rabb, expressing their grave concerns about the human rights violations against farmers and journalists in India:

‘We urge the Foreign Secretary to express our collective concerns on behalf of the British people to India’s Government and raise the matter at the United Nations.

“Security services are indiscriminately detaining and charging protesting farmers and journalists with false charges of terrorism, sedition”

‘The Indian security services are indiscriminately detaining and charging protesting farmers and journalists with false charges of terrorism, sedition, and anti-national conduct. Internet and phone services have been restricted to prevent independent reporting of the situation on the ground in Delhi. Several journalists and farmers have been arrested or gone missing, many protestors have been illegally detained and tortured.

‘The Indian Government is in breach of various UN resolutions and international laws regarding the right to protest, access to information, and free press. The British Government has raised concerns around this right several times concerning the Chinese Government’s crackdowns on peaceful protests.

‘As citizens and residents of Great Britain, we call on Dominic Raab, as our Foreign Secretary to raise these matters urgently with the Indian Government and his counterparts and urge the Indian authorities to act with restraint and resume peaceful dialogue with the farmer groups.

‘We urge the UK Government to pursue this matter with the appropriate authorities and forums at the United Nations. As a Government, which is committed to the rule of law and human rights, there is a positive obligation on the British Government to continuously raise and monitor matters that concern the violation of fundamental human rights anywhere in the world.’

UK Schools spread misinformation about Hinduism, says new report

A new report [1] published by INSIGHT UK reveals that pupils leave school with an incorrect and sparse understanding of Hinduism. INSIGHT UK is an organisation that aims to address the concerns of the British Hindu and British Indian communities.

The document titled “A report on the state of Hinduism in Religious Education in UK Schools”, includes claims of bullying and inferiority complex issues experienced by British Hindus because of the inaccurate teaching of Hinduism in RE.

It states some disturbing findings, including parents highlighting misinformation spread by UK schools, for example linking gender disparity in education in India to Hinduism and linking social issues from South Asia to Hinduism. A teaching book even suggested that Hindus were turning to terrorism.

The report also provides evidence that the subject is not available for most students taking GCSE exams, despite Hindus being the third-largest religious group in the UK. The project by INSIGHT UK was supported and guided by major Hindu organisations in the UK. Asmita Bhudia, a Hinduism Tutor and School Teacher, says, “The choice is taken away from pupils and parents to accurately study Hinduism in many UK schools”.

INSIGHT UK carried out consultations and research with SACRE members, academics, teachers, and parents followed by a national survey, which is being described as one of the most successful Hindu surveys in the UK in terms of responses and coverage.

Data captured showed that the majority of British Hindus were dissatisfied with the teaching of Hinduism in UK schools and unhappy with teachers’ knowledge of the subject. The report mentions that as a result, students in the UK schools are being deprived of the correct knowledge of Hinduism and hence of a true world view.

Recent research has claimed many schools were breaking the law when it comes to RE [2]. This comes at a time when Hindus have faced attacks for practising their faith [3].

This project of INSIGHT UK was supported and guided by the following major Hindu organisations in the country: