A NEW REPORT from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has stirred up controversy in the Catholic Church with conservative groups in the US hastening to point out that it merely represents the view of a department at the Vatican and does not carry the authority of the Pope. But the report’s call for [...]
Archbishop Valentino Mokiwa has urged a leading candidate for president to promise to return mission schools nationalized by the government to the church. Speaking at a school fundraising event on 24 Oct 2011 in Dar es Salaam, Dr. Mokiwa asked Edward Lowassa MP to return the schools if he wins the presidency. Elections are scheduled [...]
The Diocese of Atlanta has been asked to rehabilitate Pelagius. Delegates to the diocesan convention will be asked to reverse the condemnation of the Council of Carthage upon Pelagius, and to explore whether the Fifth century heretic may inform the theology of the Episcopal Church. Resolution R11-7 before the convention states in part: “Whereas the [...]
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has announced that the Sudan will become Africa’s first theocracy and will give state sanction to Sharia law. In a 12 Oct 2011 speech to university students in Khartoum, President al-Bashir stated: “Ninety-eight percent of the people are Muslims and the new constitution will reflect this. The official religion will be [...]
Church leaders in South Africa have denounced the government of President Jacob Zuma for its attempts to spy on the country’s faith groups and turn them in to vassals of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). On 18 Oct 2011 the National Church Leaders’ Consultation issued a joint statement saying they “resent the efforts” of [...]
The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council has rejected the Anglican Covenant. On 24 Oct 2011 the council unanimously endorsed a resolution recommending the General Convention – the governing body of the Episcopal Church – not endorse the covenant as it now stands. The Anglican Covenant was a political and theological threat that would alter the American [...]
Two rural American dioceses have voted to amalgamate to form a diocese covering the northern two-thirds of the state of Wisconsin. On 22 Oct 2011, the annual convention of the Diocese of Fond du Lac and a special meeting of the Diocese of Eau Claire convention each voted to ask the General Convention of the [...]
With No Surrender (15), Alan Bleasdale – who will forever be tagged ‘the writer of Boys from the Black Stuff’ – has written an acerbic comedy about sectarianism in 1980s Liverpool. Michael Angelis plays Mike, the new manager of The Charleston, a run-down nightclub, outside which no car is safe for more than 30 minutes. [...]
The eyewitness footage taken at the clashes between Christians, Muslims and the Egyptian Army inCairoon October 9 is shocking. It shows soldiers beating defenseless protestors lying on the ground, an Army tanker mowing people down by driving over them, dead and injured bodies. Being critical on the Egyptian military’s investigation into the events, several [...]
For all those who like poetry, Bradford Cathedral’s Jane Williams Library group have issued an invitation to “Poetry Please”: two events that will help you discover poems, linked by a theme, and from a wide range of writers. Both will be hosted by Joyce Simpson who has been working at Leeds Trinity University College [...]
Synod says farewell to Bishop
Assisted suicide changes rebuffed
Women bishops move a step closer after debate
Minister gets unusual Valentine’s card
‘Be more confident in faith’
RAF hero priest dies, aged 89
Dialogue urged to prevent discrimination litigation
Missing millions trial underway in S.A.
American church boycott of Starbucks begins
Ulster bishop to lead SAMS-Ireland