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Spectator
5 days ago
- General
- Spectator
Recovering the Sacred: Why young Christians are returning to church
Something mysterious is happening in churches across Britain: a growing number of young Christians are showing up. Millennial men, in particular, appear to be turning back to Christianity: there has been a four to five-fold increase since 2018 in 18-to-24-year-old males attending church. What's going on? Three hundred Spectator subscribers gathered in the beautiful surroundings of St Bartholomew the Great, the oldest parish church in the City of London – and one which has seen for itself this surge in young Christians worshipping – to find out why. Michael Gove, Editor of The Spectator, was joined by Damian Thompson, presenter of the Holy Smoke podcast, and the Revd. Marcus Walker, Rector of St Barts. The Provost of the London Oratory, Father Julian Large; the Revd. Professor Andrew Davison, Oxford Regius Professor of Divinity; and Dr Cosima Gillhammer, Fellow in Medieval English at Oxford's Lady Margaret Hall, also shared their thoughts on what appears to be an unexpected recovery of the sacred. As well as hearing from the panel, the audience enjoyed sung Catholic and Anglican motets from the choir of St Barts. – and rounded off the event with a glass of wine and a chance to speak to the panellists. Marcus Walker said that the 'signs of resurrection go well beyond St Barts: 'The Pentecostals are doing well. Conservative and charismatic evangelicals are booming. The rural church, much ignored by national church visions and strategies are seeing green shoots rising. And we hear of a huge uptick in baptisms in once Catholic France – 10,000 at Easter – and once Lutheran Sweden.' St Barts has fostered a sense of community among its younger members with annual retreats for young adults, active WhatsApp groups and pub trips after church services. But Walker suggests that these things are 'less important than the broader pan-ecclesial elements which are drawing people to church' – not least the collapse of the humanist creed. The end of the 'heady optimism of the 1990s and noughties' – and the fading idea that humanity 'has got it all right and it's only going to get better' – means God is firmly back in the picture, he said. 'Reconnecting with eternity gives us a peace which the world cannot give,' Walker said. It's a picture that Father Julian Large recognises. He says that the uptick in young worshippers has been particularly noticeable since the pandemic: 'After the doors were reopened, we found ourselves facing a veritable tsunami of new parishioners. The average age of the congregation now is considerably younger than it was before.' Many young people, he says, have become more sceptical towards traditional voices of authority and the mainstream media after Covid and lockdown. 'They are in search of truth and authenticity,' he says. 'I think that we can agree that something's happening. Even on the train and in the street, I seem to hear young people talking about Christianity more than ever', says Davison. He told the audience of Spectator readers that, even during midweek services which traditionally were less popular, there are now few empty pews. The reason why, suggests Davidson, is that the church offers something in short supply: hope. 'There seems to be some correlation between the people for whom life seems particularly bleak and those…who are coming to church – especially the young, perhaps even especially young men,' Davison said. To join us at the next Spectator event, click here.
Spectator
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Recovering the Sacred: listen to our unique Spectator event celebrating the rediscovery of tradition by young Christians
Last week The Spectator held a live event entitled 'Recovering the Sacred' in the glorious surroundings of St Bartholomew the Great, the oldest parish church in the City of London. The speakers included two London parish priests – one Anglican, one Catholic – who have contributed much to the growing interest among young people in traditional liturgy and Christian theology, a development that the hierarchy of their respective churches certainly didn't foresee. They were the Rev Marcus Walker, Rector of St Bart's, whose Prayer Book Evensongs and Eucharists attract large numbers of young professionals to his ancient church; and Fr Julian Large, the Provost of the Brompton Oratory, where an increasingly youthful congregation flocks to Latin Masses. We also heard from Dr Cosima Gilhammer, a Fellow in English at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, whose writings on the rhythms and symbolism of the liturgy are deeply inspiring; The Spectator's editor, Michael Gove; and the Rev Prof Andrew Davison, Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University, who also holds a doctorate in biochemistry. The evening concluded with a panel discussion chaired by Holy Smoke's presenter, Damian Thompson, and – a real treat – a performance of Catholic and Anglican motets sung by the renowned choir of St Bart's. The event was completely sold out. Inevitably, many were disappointed not to attend in person – but the microphones were running, and so we are delighted to present 'Recovering the Sacred'.
Chicago Tribune
12-02-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Survivors of child abuse at Illinois youth detention centers file more lawsuits in hopes of change
Marcus Walker said the sexual abuse he experienced two decades ago as a teenager at an Illinois youth detention facility has haunted his life. After a staff member gave him drugs and sexually abused him, he joined a gang hoping it would protect him. It didn't. For years the now 37-year-old suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. He still has suicidal thoughts. 'I just kept going back and forth to prison because I didn't know how to cope,' he said Tuesday at a news conference as he wiped away tears. He's among 800 people who have filed complaints since May against juvenile detention centers in Illinois alleging they were sexually abused by employees. The Illinois lawsuits are part of a wave of complaints against juvenile detention centers nationwide including in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Hampshire. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they were sexually assaulted unless they consent to being identified or decide to tell their stories publicly, as Walker and others who've filed lawsuits have. Most lawsuit plaintiffs are identified by initials in the lawsuits. The latest batch of Illinois complaints —filed Monday — represents 133 people. They detail alleged abuse from 1997 to 2023, including rape, forced oral sex and beatings by counselors, corrections officers, kitchen staff and others. One complaint, representing 89 people, names the state of Illinois and two state agencies, while 44 other individual complaints name Cook County, which ran a Chicago juvenile detention center. 'The State of Illinois has had notice of such abuse for decades and nonetheless neglected to protect its confined youth from sexual abuse and failed to implement policies necessary to ensure such protection,' said one lawsuit filed Monday that characterizes the abuse as 'systemic.' While the number of lawsuits has grown, few cases of sexual abuse at juvenile detentions facilities have gone to trial or resulted in settlements. Arrests are infrequent. Attorneys said Tuesday that local prosecutors have enough details to start building criminal cases and blasted state leaders in Illinois, which has stood out nationally for the volume of cases. Some alleged abusers in the lawsuit are named. 'How many more men and women who were sexually abused as children need to come forward in these cases before you take these cases seriously and do something?' said New York-based attorney Jerome Block, whose firm has filed complaints in Illinois and other states. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and state Attorney General Kwame Raoul, whose office has investigated church sex abuse cases, didn't respond to messages seeking comment Tuesday. Pritzker, who took office in 2019, initially said the allegations took place before his administration. As more lawsuits were filed, his office declined comment. When asked about the growing number of lawsuits in October, he called them 'unacceptable' and said the state was paying 'close attention.' He also acknowledged more cases would follow. 'There are law firms who are, you know, calling everybody from years gone by to ask if they'd like to be a part of a lawsuit like that and so we'll probably see more people joining the lawsuit,' he told reporters during an unrelated news conference in Chicago. Officials with The Department of Juvenile Justice declined to comment citing pending litigation. An Illinois Department of Corrections spokeswoman didn't return a message seeking comment. Allegations from all the Illinois lawsuits are eerily similar. Many plaintiffs allege their abusers threatened them with beatings, transfers to tougher facilities and longer sentences if they reported the abuse. Some were given rewards like food, cigarettes or the chance to play video games if they kept quiet. Many alleged abusers in the lawsuits are identified as the survivors remembered them, including by physical descriptions, first names or nicknames. Dozens of alleged repeat offenders are also named. Hundreds of former detainees allege rampant sexual abuse in Illinois and Cook County youth detention centers: 'Wouldn't wish my situation on anybody' Charles Graves, now 39 and living in central Illinois, said he was 13 years old when he was abused at facilities in Harrisburg and Joliet. 'I tried to speak up about the abuse to other staff members and I was punished,' he said Tuesday surrounded by other survivors who often nodded in support. The lawsuit naming the state, filed in the Illinois Court of Claims, seeks damages of roughly $2 million per plaintiff, the most allowed under law. Arguments are expected in court later this month. The others that are individual complaints from 44 individuals filed in Cook County Circuit Court are focused on the troubled Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago. Cook County officials declined comment citing pending litigation. Walker, who lives in downstate Decatur, said becoming a father last year has motivated him to tell his story publicly and keep going. 'I felt so much self doubt,' he said. 'If it wasn't for my baby, I don't know if I'd even be here.'
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
100+ new child sex abuse lawsuits filed against Illinois youth detention centers
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Dozens more victims have come forward claiming they were sexually assaulted while in juvenile correction centers run by the state of Illinois and Cook County. More than 100 new cases filed on Monday bring the total number to 800. The accusers said the effects of the alleged abuse have been deep and long-lasting for these men and women. They said they're choosing to speak out now, because they know they're not alone, and they don't want what they say they've experienced to happen to anyone else. "I can't live. I feel like I'm just existing," said Marcus Walker, who spent time at Illinois Youth Center Harrisburg in downstate Illinois. "Prior to it, I had never been in handcuffs, never been in trouble. After that situation happened, I joined a gang in there ... thinking that was going to help me. It didn't." Walker said he became the victim of systemic sexual abuse by a state employee who worked there. "She gave me drugs and alcohol, and used her power to sexually abuse me," he said. Walker said the abuse haunts him still today. "Just kept going back and forth to prison, because I didn't know how to cope. I just came home July 7th of 2023. I'm still dealing with it. I had my first baby. He's 10 months old, and I deal with PTSD on a daily basis. I hardly get any sleep," Walker said. He is one of 800 men and women who have filed similar complaints against the state and county over how they've handled sexual abuse in their juvenile detention facilities. "I made mistakes to end up there, but no mistake could justify the way I was hurt and sexually abused by staff members there," said Charles Graves. CBS News Chicago previously reported on hundreds of similar cases last year. Another 133 new cases were filed on Monday. "The juvenile justice system promises rehabilitation, but instead for our clients the system was nothing more than a pipeline for suffering," said Kristen Feden, an attorney with Philadelphia-based law firm Anapol Weiss. Attorneys for the victims said, by dismissing the cases, the state is defying the Illinois Childhood Sexual Abuse Act, which allows victims to seek justice within 20 years of the alleged crimes. "The state is refusing to accept any responsibility in these cases," said attorney Jerome Block, a partner at New York-based Levy Konisberg LLP. CBS News Chicago reached out to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office, Gov. JB Pritzker's office, and Cook County leaders for a response, but has only heard back from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, which said they're not able to comment on active litigation, but that all allegations of staff misconduct are investigated internally. Attorneys for the victims said they weren't aware of any results of those investigations. Breaking down the best commercials from the Super Bowl Here's what could be behind surging flu cases, plus symptoms to watch New poll on Trump approval rating as steel, aluminum tariffs set
CBS News
11-02-2025
- CBS News
More than 100 new accusers file child sex abuse lawsuits against Illinois juvenile detention centers
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Dozens more victims have come forward claiming they were sexually assaulted while in juvenile correction centers run by the state of Illinois and Cook County. More than 100 new cases filed on Monday bring the total number to 800. The accusers said the effects of the alleged abuse have been deep and long-lasting for these men and women. They said they're choosing to speak out now, because they know they're not alone, and they don't want what they say they've experienced to happen to anyone else. "I can't live. I feel like I'm just existing," said Marcus Walker, who spent time at Illinois Youth Center Harrisburg in downstate Illinois. "Prior to it, I had never been in handcuffs, never been in trouble. After that situation happened, I joined a gang in there ... thinking that was going to help me. It didn't." Walker said he became the victim of systemic sexual abuse by a state employee who worked there. "She gave me drugs and alcohol, and used her power to sexually abuse me," he said. Walker said the abuse haunts him still today. "Just kept going back and forth to prison, because I didn't know how to cope. I just came home July 7th of 2023. I'm still dealing with it. I had my first baby. He's 10 months old, and I deal with PTSD on a daily basis. I hardly get any sleep," Walker said. He is one of 800 men and women who have filed similar complaints against the state and county over how they've handled sexual abuse in their juvenile detention facilities. "I made mistakes to end up there, but no mistake could justify the way I was hurt and sexually abused by staff members there," said Charles Graves. CBS News Chicago previously reported on hundreds of similar cases last year. Another 133 new cases were filed on Monday. "The juvenile justice system promises rehabilitation, but instead for our clients the system was nothing more than a pipeline for suffering," said Kristen Feden, an attorney with Philadelphia-based law firm Anapol Weiss. Attorneys for the victims said, by dismissing the cases, the state is defying the Illinois Childhood Sexual Abuse Act, which allows victims to seek justice within 20 years of the alleged crimes. "The state is refusing to accept any responsibility in these cases," said attorney Jerome Block, a partner at New York-based Levy Konisberg LLP. CBS News Chicago reached out to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office, Gov. JB Pritzker's office, and Cook County leaders for a response, but has only heard back from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, which said they're not able to comment on active litigation, but that all allegations of staff misconduct are investigated internally.
