Week Commencing 26th July 2021

30th July

From The Guardian, in a celebration of one of the most religiously diverse cities in the UK, this September Coventry will be hosting 24 hours of art, theatre, music, and debate aimed at exploring belief and promoting the connections between faiths.

29th July

From The Guardian, former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked after a Vatican investigation confirmed he had sexually molested adults and children, has been charged the sexual abuse of a teenage boy during a wedding reception in 1974.

The Guardian reports: Lucia Mantione, a 13-year-old girl who was murdered in 1955, has finally been finally given the funeral she was denied due to an arcane Catholic law that forbade funerals for those who died a “violent death”.

27th July

From The Guardian, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 73, once a close ally of Pope Francis, and nine other defendants have been accused of extortion, embezzlement, money-laundering and abuse of office. This will be the largest criminal trial in the Vatican’s modern history.

25th July

“Christmas is not just for Christmas”. The BBC reports, a Christmas celebration, complete with carols and mince pies has taken place in the middle of summer at the Priory Church of Peter in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. The event was held not only for those who were unable to have a traditional Christmas celebration due to the coronavirus pandemic, but to show that the significance of Christmas is not limited to one day of the year.