UK School Celebrates “Refugee Week” Instead of Easter. Norwood Primary School in Eastleigh, Hampshire, this year canceled its traditional Easter observance in the name of “diversity and inclusion.” The observance was apparently seen as too discriminatory in favor of Christians. In its place the headmistress of the school introduced a “Refugee Week.” Hussain, Nasser. “Canceling Easter.” Events. FirstThings.com, 9 Apr. 2025. Web. 8 May 2025.
History Repeats as Whale Swallows Man. On February 8, 23-year-old Chilean kayaker Adrián Simancas was literally swallowed by a humpback whale off the Patagonian coast of South America. The incident was captured on video by his father, who was in a nearby kayak. The swallow-ee, who survived, described feeling a slimy texture and hearing strange noises inside the whale’s mouth. Simancas thought he was about to die. However, after holding him in its mouth for a few seconds, the whale spit him out again. Diaz, Andrea. “‘I felt a slimy texture brush my face’: Man describes being swallowed by whale.” BBC Mundo. BBC.com, 14 Feb. 2025. Web. 8 May 2025.
Church of England Bans Non-Alcoholic Wine, Gluten-Free Bread from Communion. In February the Church of England officially affirmed that non-alcoholic wine and gluten-free bread cannot be used as substitutes when taking communion. Ahead of the General Synod, held in London, the denomination’s leadership reiterated that the bread used in the sacrament must be made from wheat flour, and wine must be the fermented juice of the grape in order to be consecrated. Some C of E leaders had objected to this restriction as representing an “injustice of exclusion,” but they were overruled. Others saw the discussion as relatively inconsequential, especially in light of recent clergy abuse scandals. Klett, Leah. “Church of England bans non-alcoholic wine, gluten-free bread from communion: ‘injustice’.” News. ChristianPost.com, 10 Feb. 2025. Web. 8 May 2025.