Catholics are more liberal than you might think
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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: 'No10 lied to hide distaste for Donald Trump's speech in UK'
When Tony Blair was prime minister, he was accused of trying to 'muscle in' on the Queen Mother 's funeral. Now, Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has become embroiled in a row involving Buckingham Palace himself. Downing Street – and by extension the Royal Household – has been caught in a lie about the coming state visit of Donald Trump. No10 claimed the US President was unable to address both houses of Parliament because his visit would not start until Wednesday, September 17 – the day after the House of Commons breaks for the party-conference recess. However, I understand that parliamentary clerks made it clear that this excuse was groundless. They pointed to a precedent in 2010 when Pope Benedict addressed both houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. That occurred, neatly enough, on September 17 – when the Commons had also broken for its conference recess the day before. 'There was no huffing and puffing about Benedict addressing us out of term-time,' says a senior parliamentary figure. 'It is clear that Sir Keir Starmer's advisers simply did not want President Trump making a speech at the Palace of Westminster. They are entitled to their view, but they should not bend the truth by claiming that the dates made any such speech impossible.' Benedict's address was not without controversy. Before his state visit he urged Roman Catholic bishops to fight a gay-rights Bill with 'missionary zeal'. His arrival in the country drew protests from human-rights campaigners. Downing Street and Buckingham Palace did not want the White House to think President Trump was being snubbed, even though that clearly seems to be the case. A No10 spokesman tells me: 'We're delighted that President Trump accepted His Majesty's offer of an unprecedented, historic second state visit, and the Prime Minister looks forward to welcoming President Trump to the UK.' Back touring Britain in September, Eric Idle, 82, rules out a stage reunion with his Monty Python colleagues. They last did ten shows together in London in 2014. Idle, who recently fell out with John Cleese, Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam over Python's business affairs, snaps: 'I don't think this lot will get together and be funny. I don't think it's possible. I want to be funny with new people, or jam with other wonderful musicians.' 'It's your day!' top tips for brides by newlywed Toff Having married BrewDog pub chain founder James Watt in March, Georgia Toffolo has compiled some advice for brides-to-be. Here are the seven pearls of wisdom from the I'm A Celebrity winner, 30, who wore a Divine Atelier gown, left, when she exchanged vows with Watt, 43, both pictured right, in Aberdeenshire: You shouldn't have to invite people for the sake of it. Your guest list isn't a diplomatic summit. Invite people you love. It's your day, not networking. You shouldn't feel guilty for that. Wedding cakes are a waste of money. We had the children bake ours that morning. No fancy tiers, no overpriced price tag. Just made with pure love. Best decision ever. Flowers are overpriced and overrated. I grabbed daffodils straight out of the vase on our kitchen table, and you know what? They were perfect. £2 from the supermarket and not a single florist in sight. You don't need to spend the morning apart. Who made that rule up? Waking up together on your wedding day is actually really romantic (and calming). The chance to share your nerves and excitement together is something to be cherished. Children SHOULD be at weddings. Children bring the best chaos, particularly on the dance floor. They add magic, not mess. No need for a three-course meal. We had burgers at BrewDog. Grazing tables, pizza ovens, food trucks... all way more fun. You don't have to change your surname. He can take yours. Or double-barrel. Tradition is optional, your identity isn't. Have King's garden woes hit Highgrove's kitchen? It's not just in the gardens of his Gloucestershire retreat that King Charles is apparently struggling to keep staff. Highgrove is advertising not just for a head chef, but a sous chef, a chef de partie, a commis chef and an assistant hospitality manager. The roles are advertised as permanent and full-time, with 'up to £30,000' offered for the hospitality role, and 'up to £38,000' for the head chef position. A Sunday Times investigation last weekend claimed 11 of the King's 12 gardeners had quit following complaints about his 'demoralising' and 'impolite' feedback. His charity, The King's Foundation, found evidence of staff shortages and suggested a pay review. Bonkbuster author Dame Jilly Cooper says she's a failed matchmaker in real life thanks to Bluebell, her 'larky and bossily assertive' greyhound. 'If I wanted to introduce a single man to a woman and put them on my sofa, Bluebell would saunter in, leaping between them, waggling her silken hips to separate them,' she says of her pet, who died four years ago. Dame Jilly, 88, reflects: 'Having a dog stops one reaching for the gin.' Party girl Pike's tickled pink about stage role Treading the boards in this country for the first time in 15 years, Saltburn star Rosamund Pike is determined to prove that she fits the stage like a glove. The Oxford graduate, 46, wore an eye-catching pair of fuchsia opera gloves to the first-night party following the debut performance of Suzie Miller's new play, Inter Alia. The former Bond girl, who has two children with her businessman boyfriend Robie Uniacke, 64, paired them with a floral dress by Erdem. Banksy has a big secret: More than a dozen of his works are hidden away at Switzerland's embassy in London. Asked which of the street artist's pieces no one has ever seen, his first agent and photographer, Steve Lazarides, replies: 'The Swiss Embassy car park.' He explains: 'It was bats*** crazy. The old Swiss ambassador put on a full-on rave down in the car park at the Swiss Embassy and invited Banksy.' Speaking at his talk in east London, Crime Pays – The Untold Story Behind Banksy, in association with Grove Gallery, Lazarides adds: 'I'd say between ten and 15 complete works are on the walls of that embassy.'
Economist
3 days ago
- Economist
Catholics are more liberal than you might think
IN MAY WHITE smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel indicating the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost to become Pope Leo XIV. He succeeded Pope Francis, who had spent more than a decade promoting a more open-minded outlook within the Roman Catholic church. From the beginning Leo signalled a change of tone, donning the traditional red mozzetta (a short cape) that Francis eschewed and reportedly choosing the grand Apostolic Palace over Francis's modest apartment. Yet on many substantive issues—such as blessings for same-sex couples and attitudes to migration—he is following the progressive path of his predecessor.
NBC News
4 days ago
- NBC News
IDF says strike on Gaza's only Catholic church was an accident following investigation
The Israeli military says its forces "accidentally" hit Gaza 's only Catholic church last week following a probe into a strike that killed three people and injured nine others, including a parish priest who was a close friend of the late Pope Francis. The deadly strike on July 17 drew international condemnation, including from the Vatican, with Pope Leo XIV calling for an end to the 'barbarity of war." President Donald Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the mortar strike, with his administration calling for an investigation into the incident. "Everyone is appalled," White House spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at the time. Netanyahu's office subsequently expressed regret over the strike, while the Israeli military said they would conduct an investigation. On Wednesday, it announced that the Southern Command had completed its inquiry the day before, determining that troops had struck the church "due to an unintentional deviation of munitions," in line with their preliminary statement that the strike was accidental. The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged that the impact of the strike "caused damage to the structure" of the church and "injured several Gazan civilians." It did not acknowledge that three people were killed in the incident, according to church officials. The IDF did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News on why the fatalities were not mentioned. In an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper shortly after the strike, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed doubts over Israel's initial statements which called the incident a mistake. 'We are not a target. They say it was an error. Even if everybody here believes it wasn't,' Pizzaballa said. The late Pope Francis had made near-nightly calls to the Holy Family Church throughout the war in Gaza and up until the days before his death in April, speaking with parish priest, Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, who was injured in last week's attack. The IDF said adjustments had been made to 'improve the accuracy of fire' during the operation in which the church was struck — and that following the incident, 'guidelines for opening fire near religious buildings, shelters, and other sensitive sites were further clarified.' Asked for further information on what adjustments had been made and how guidelines were further clarified, an IDF spokesperson said they would not elaborate beyond the initial statement. Throughout the war in Gaza, civilians have frequently been killed in strikes impacting civilian buildings and shelters, including religious sites. Last week's incident was also not the first time the Holy Family Church has come under attack. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem accused Israeli forces of fatally shooting a mother and daughter as they walked inside its grounds in December 2023. Francis condemned the attack at the time. Israeli officials denied responsibility. The IDF sought to emphasize Wednesday that it had facilitated the transfer of aid to the Holy Family Church, in addition to coordinating the visit of a delegation on behalf of the Greek and Latin Patriarchs, who were accompanied by a group of Christian clergy. Pizzaballa was among those to make the rare and dangerous trip, with Israel having sealed off the enclave to visits from foreign officials. The IDF's completion of its probe and the release of its findings were markedly swift, with the military still yet to release the results of a growing number of investigations since the start of the war in Gaza. Israel launched its assault following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage, marking a major escalation in a decadeslong conflict. Since then, more than 59,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including thousands of children, according to the Palestinian health ministry in the enclave, while much of the territory has been destroyed.
