What the papers said in the week ending 3 December 2022
Churches:
We have received more column inches than is usual – interest drawn to the news that the 2021 Census shows fewer than half the population declaring a Christian Faith. Census 2021 in charts: Christianity now minority religion in England and Wales | Census | The Guardian
This is in keeping with a progressive decline at least from the 1950s. It is a shock to reality, for in daily life and in weekly church life, it is clear that few people now live to the Christian Faith, though more will have it as a reference within their thoughts and spiritual reflections. Christianity is still the most common faith declared in England and Wales, but ‘No Faith’ is coming up fast and will surely become the majority before soon, indeed, in reality it may be so already. We older people hold most strongly to the Christian Faith but we are blamed by some analysts for having failed to pass on our belief to younger generations. The Jewish Faith and Sikhism, though small, are maintaining their numbers, and Islam and Hinduism are increasing. It is a complex and changing picture, seen also in other countries.
- For The Church of England there are additional challenges as questions are being made about their role in government and the monarchy Calls grow to disestablish Church of England as Christians become minority | Census | The Guardian
- The decline and fall of the established church | Anglicanism | The Guardian
Elsewhere, the Pope’s comments have not been welcome for some Russians: ‘Racist’ interview with Pope Francis causes fury in Russia | Pope Francis | The Guardian
The hazards of some Evangelical movements are realised: ‘Exposed to horrendous things’: young people in UK speak out against evangelical church | Evangelical Christianity | The Guardian
Finances:
The cost of living crisis is biting, biting hardest for those with the least resources: UK households have cut energy consumption by 10%, say suppliers | Household bills | The Guardian
- Millions of households will be spending nearly third of income on fuel by spring | Fuel poverty | The Guardian
- Blame for this situation is based on a number of factors: Brexit added nearly £6bn to UK food bills in two years, research finds | Brexit | The Guardian
- But the effects include retrenchment by some businesses – reducing services and hours at work: HSBC to close more than one in four bank branches in the UK | Banking | The Guardian
- A hundred UK companies sign up for four-day week with no loss of pay | Work-life balance | The Guardian
- The rich are loathe to share their wealth: UK super-rich less charitable than decade ago, says charity chief | The super-rich | The Guardian
- Those in the greatest need often find it hard or impossible to access benefits which they are due: Half a million vulnerable households miss out on help with energy bills | UK cost of living crisis | The Guardian
- With poverty comes poorer health: Poorer women in UK have sixth-highest cancer death rates in Europe, WHO finds | Cancer | The Guardian
- Politics has complicated the flow of skilled workers between countries to the detriment of some: Brexit has worsened shortage of NHS doctors, analysis shows | NHS | The Guardian
Science and medicine:
Diet has influence on health and longevity: Plant-based diet can cut bowel cancer risk in men by 22%, says study | Nutrition | The Guardian
Hype on the latest ‘breakthrough’ in the search for a cause and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is sustained, even by the most responsible of newspapers: Drug slows cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients, study reveals | Alzheimer’s | The Guardian
It may be a step, but it is not a sure one and it is associated with hazards – and expense and logistics which mean it is not the right way. For me this feels like a determined push for recognition of the Amyloid Hypothesis, and for returns for the massive investments which have been made over decades. Investment in strategies which we know do work – in prevention and better care – would be more welcome.
Pollution has its consequences: Native mussel numbers down almost 95% since 1960s, Thames survey finds | Marine life | The Guardian
- Trees are beautiful company – and improve life wherever they go: Tree health resilience strategy (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- frib002.pdf (forestresearch.gov.uk)
And also:
We have become used to the notion of people being identified as ‘A National Treasure’, but I am learning about an international league of wonderful things: – What links baguettes, bees and bear hunts? All join Unesco ‘human treasures’ list | Unesco | The Guardian
Bernard Cribbins lives on through his work which is being featured this Christmas: BBC Radio to celebrate life of Bernard Cribbins over Christmas | Radio | The Guardian
Donald Sutherland was a celebrated ‘conchi’ and continued to be an activist late into life: Don Sutherland obituary | Activism | The Guardian
Doddie Weir used his fame to call attention to the hazards of his sport: Doddie Weir obituary | Rugby union | The Guardian
We have accumulated evidence that our health and social care system has been stretched beyond its capacity for competence: Care crisis left my brother relying on the kindness of friends and volunteers | Social care | The Guardian
But heroes still perform miracles as of angels: Michael Rosen writes poem in tribute to NHS nurses after Covid recovery | NHS | The Guardian
David Jolley. Chair of Christians on Ageing, in a private capacity December 2022
