Harare (ENI). Desmond Tutu, the former South African Anglican archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and some sympathisers in the United Kingdom have formed a charity to aid commercial farmers in Zimbabwe affected by their government's controversial land reforms. The Zimbabwe Agricultural Welfare Trust has been established in Britain to "provide a focal point for international support" for farming families and other agricultural workers caught up in the haphazard and sometimes violent land redistribution programme. [682 words, ENI-02-0156]

29 May 2002

Amsterdam (ENI). Dutch Roman Catholic bishops have denounced the country's outgoing centre-left government for being "anti-religious" and have called for a closer relationship between the churches and the new government. In a letter made public this week, the Catholic bishops listed a number of recent controversial social issues on which they opposed the government, from euthanasia to same-sex marriage. The bishops' letter was addressed to Piet Hein Donner, the person charged by Queen Beatrix to lead negotiations between political parties to form a new coalition government, which could, on past experience, take weeks if not months. [402 words, ENI-02-0154]

28 May 2002

Thrissur, India (ENI). Major church groups in India have called for restraint as the prospect of war looms over South Asia, where dozens of civilians on both sides of the line dividing India and Pakistan have been killed in sporadic gunfire over the past two weeks. Troops amassed along the border of the two nuclear-armed countries reportedly exchanged heavy fire today, and Pakistan announced that it had carried out its third successful missile test in four days. [727 words, ENI-02-0153]

27 May 2002

Amsterdam (ENI). As political leaders in the Netherlands worked to form a coalition following this month's general election, heads of church bodies were trying to make sense of the extraordinary success of the fledgling anti-establishment political party Pim Fortuyn's List (LPF). Only three months after the LPF was launched, it gained 26 parliamentary seats to become the country's second biggest party in parliament, behind the conservative Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). Many observers are waiting to see whether the CDA will form a coalition government that includes the LPF. [513 words, ENI-02-0143]

24 May 2002

New York (ENI). A predominately white jury has convicted a former member of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan for the 1963 bombing of a church in Birmingham, in the southern US state of Alabama, that killed four young black girls. The 22 May conviction of Bobby Frank Cherry, 71, marked the conclusion of a long battle by black clergy to convict a group of former Klansmen of one of the most notorious crimes committed at the time of the 1960s civil rights struggle. The bombing stunned the world and has often been cited as a landmark in demonstrating the depth of hatred and racism that existed in the US at the time - and in eventually galvanising public support for federal civil rights legislation. [645 words, ENI-02-0151]

Bishop's mansion too grand for 'servant of the Word of God'

London (ENI). A Catholic bishop has announced that he is going to sell his 16-room episcopal residence, whose grandeur he says is "not appropriate", and take up life on the road, moving around his diocese. Patrick O'Donoghue, the Roman Catholic bishop of Lancaster, in northern England, plans to stay at a succession of deaneries in order to get closer to the 116 000 Catholics in his diocese. Much of the proceeds of the sale of the bishop's house will be used on projects to relieve social deprivation in the diocese. O'Donoghue will use a set of rooms in the cathedral as his permanent base. "My job is not that of managing director of The Church plc [public limited company], but servant of the word of God and shepherd of the flock," he explained in a pastoral letter. [569 words, ENI-02-0150]

24 May 2002

New York (ENI). US Christian leaders have taken a key step towards enlarging ecumenical dialogue in the United States in a move that might lead to the creation of a new national body that could eventually replace the US National Council of Churches (NCC). The new body would include Anglican, Evangelical, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic and mainline and predominately black Protestant churches. [684 words, ENI-02-0149]

22 May 2002

Thrissur, India (ENI). Indian Christians are hailing new federal legislation making primary education a "fundamental right" for children ages six to 14 under the Indian Constitution. The bill, which passed unanimously in the upper house of parliament (Rajya Sabha) on 14 May, makes elementary education compulsory and free. It will help combat both illiteracy and child labour, church leaders say. [502 words, ENI-02-0147]

US religious freedom commission names countries it finds most repressive

New York (ENI). A US government commission appointed to investigate violations of religious freedom outside the United States has claimed that repression against religious believers is worsening in a number of countries, particularly in Sudan, North Korea and Turkmenistan. "Sadly, the situation world-wide has been growing worse," Lawrence Goodrich, a spokesman for the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, told ENI following the release earlier this month of the commission's annual report. The commission was established in 1998 by legislation passed by the US Congress and approved by former President Bill Clinton. [727 words, ENI-02-0148]

21 May 2002

Nairobi (ENI). A week after calling on Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi to give up politics to make way for a new generation of leaders, the country's top Anglican announced his own intention to retire. Anglican Archbishop David Gitari said in a letter to church officials on 15 May that he would "retire on reaching 65 years of age in September as required by church edict". The letter was written a week after the archbishop challenged Moi, 76, to quit the chairmanship of the ruling party, KANU (Kenya African National Union), when his presidential term expired at the end of this year. Moi has been president of Kenya for 24 years. [452 words, ENI-02-0145]

Church court reduces sentence against bishop in sexual misconduct case

Oxford, Ohio (ENI). An Episcopal (Anglican) Court of Review has reduced the sentence against a Montana bishop who resigned last year over an episode of sexual misconduct which occurred 20 years ago. The ruling brings to an end the litigation linked to Charles "Ci" Jones III, who resigned as bishop of Montana in February 2001 after a church court issued a sentence of deposition against him - a penalty that would have stripped him of his ordained status entirely. The review court - convened for the first time in the history of the US Episcopal church - reaffirmed the lower court's ruling that Jones was guilty of immorality and conduct unbecoming of clergy but reduced the sentence from deposition to a five-year suspension. [434 words, ENI-02-0146]

17 May 2002

Havana (ENI). Cuban Protestant leaders have welcomed former US President Jimmy Carter's visit to their country, saying that they hope it will help improve relations between the United States and Cuba. During his six-day visit, which ends today, Carter had a private meeting with 33 Cuban Protestant leaders, and attended an ecumenical service at which senior Cuban politicians were also present. Carter's visit is the first to Cuba by a past or present US president in more than 40 years. [1067 words, ENI-02-0144]

16 May 2002

East London (ENI). The Catholic hierarchy in South Africa will report priests against whom there is prima-facie evidence of child molestation, according to a senior Catholic official. "Where the law says we must report a crime we will do so," said Richard Menatsi, secretary general of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference. Information about child sexual abuse heard in the confessional, however, will not be reported to police. "Under no circumstances will a priest hearing confession break the sacred seal of secrecy attached to the sacrament of confession," Menatsi said this week. [509 words, ENI-02-0143]

15 May 2002

London (ENI). A Victorian children's hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful, has beaten several modern hymns to become the most popular choice of couples at Methodist weddings in Britain. The top 12 favourite wedding hymns emerged from a survey of more than 200 ministers for the report Marriage in the Methodist Church, which will be debated by Britain's Methodists at their annual conference in July. Morning Has Broken was the second most popular choice and Lord of All Hopefulness was the third. [629 words, ENI-02-0142]

15 May 2002

By Cedric Pulford London, 15 May (ENI)--A Victorian children's hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful, has beaten several modern hymns to become the most popular choice of couples at Methodist weddings in Britain. The top 12 favourite wedding hymns emerged from a survey of more than 200 ministers for the report Marriage in the Methodist Church, which will be debated by Britain's Methodists at their annual conference in July. Morning Has Broken was the second most popular choice and Lord of All Hopefulness was the third.

David Gamble, Methodist secretary for pastoral care and personal relationships, who organised the survey, told ENI: "Couples are often more traditional with hymns and music than ministers would like them to be.

"When they are asked about hymns, they remember the ones they sang at school."

Other sections of the report refer to the changing profile of marriage and call on the Methodist church to respond to these changes.

The report found that four out of five Methodist ministers provide couples with some form of marriage preparation, but fewer than half of these follow through with continuing support for marriage and family life.

Among other aspects of marriage and the church, the Methodist conference will debate the challenge to churches of British government plans to liberalise the marriage law, allowing religious wedding ceremonies to be held outside church buildings.

The favourite hymn for weddings, All Things Bright and Beautiful, was written by Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander and published in 1848. It is sung to two tunes - a 19th century melody of the same name composed by W.H. Monk, and Royal Oak, a melody based on a traditional dance.

The verses were intended to illustrate the opening of the Apostles' Creed and to introduce children to the wonder of God the creator: not only "all creatures great and small" but also "all things wise and wonderful" - "the Lord God made them all".

The hymn has become one of the best-loved in the English language, appealing to adults also with its simple, clear theology, pleasing rhymes and obvious piety.

Valerie Ruddle, a composer for hymns and a member of the Methodist Church Music Society, thought All Things Bright and Beautiful was the favourite at weddings because it was "a cheerful hymn for a cheerful occasion".

She told ENI: "I'd guess Royal Oak is the more popular tune. Since it was originally a dance, it's really bright and cheerful. The Monk tune is rather old-fashioned - the sort of ordinary hymn one sings with a straight face."

In addition to All Things Bright and Beautiful, Mrs Alexander, the wife of a clergyman who became the Anglican primate in Ireland, wrote about 400 other hymns, including There Is a Green Hill Far Away and Once in Royal David's City.

She proved herself a woman of her time with the third verse of All Things Bright and Beautiful, which suggests that social class distinctions are God-given: "The rich man in his castle,/The poor man at his gate,/God made them, high or lowly,/And order'd their estate."

Upwardly mobile couples marrying in a Methodist church are unlikely to be worried by the verse: it has been omitted from Hymns and Psalms, the official Methodist hymnbook.

The top 12 hymns for Methodist weddings were as follows:

1. All Things Bright and Beautiful

2. Morning Has Broken

3. Lord of All Hopefulness

4. Give Me Joy in My Heart

5. Amazing Grace

6. Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

7. As Man and Woman

8. Love Divine

9. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

10. Lord of the Dance

11. Praise My Soul the King of Heaven

12. One More Step Along the World I Go [629 words]

14 May 2002

Oxford (ENI). As Barcelona marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Antoni Gaudi, the visionary architect whose unusual buildings have left their mark on the city, many of his admirers are hoping that the architect will be beatified by the Roman Catholic Church. Its Barcelona diocese has started the process that might lead to his beatification, said Lluis Bonet, the rector at Gaudi's most famous building, Barcelona's Church of the Holy Family. [612 words, ENI-02-0141]

13 May 2002

Amsterdam (ENI). The Council of Churches in the Netherlands has called on Christians to be guided by "biblical values" such as justice, peace and solidarity with disadvantaged people when voting in the country's general election on Wednesday. The council's call, issued in an open letter to its member churches, was made against a background of public support for the policies of populist politician Pim Fortuyn, before he was shot dead last week. Fortuyn's views had struck a chord among voters despite the Netherlands' reputation as a broad-minded and tolerant country. [449 words, ENI-02-0140]

10 May 2002

Bethlehem (ENI). A 38-day Israeli military siege around the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem ended peacefully today. The stand-off came to an end as part of a deal in which one group of Palestinians sheltering inside the church was sent into exile and another group was transferred to the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians were among those who took refuge in the church on 2 April when Israeli troops entered Bethlehem during a sweep for Palestinian militants. [316 words, ENI-02-0139]

Bucking previous trends, 'demand for religion' on the rise in Canada

Vancouver (ENI). Flying in the face of previous surveys, a recent study by Canada's foremost religion pollster suggests that Canada is undergoing a period of spiritual renewal, both inside and outside its churches. A survey of 3500 Canadians found that weekly church attendance was up, the core membership of churches had stabilised and the large number of people who attended church only irregularly were not "deserting the ship". The trend held true particularly among mainline Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Canada and Roman Catholic churches. [848 words, ENI-01-0138]

Churches full as Christians celebrate Easter in post-Soviet Russia

Moscow (ENI). Churches in Russia were full last weekend as Christians celebrated the Orthodox Easter, which fell this year on 5 May. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top government officials attended the Easter service in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, presided over by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II and broadcast by the main television channels. In a televised address to the nation, Putin paid tribute to the Easter celebrations, which, he said, demonstrated "the increased positive impact of the Russian Orthodox Church and other traditional churches of our fatherland on the life of society". [433 words, ENI-02-0137]

8 May 2002

Nairobi (ENI). Lutheran church leaders from Africa have publicly acknowledged serious shortcomings in their churches' past response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. At a meeting in Nairobi this week, the Lutheran leaders condemned the role played by the church in the "stigmatisation" and "discrimination" of people living with HIV/AIDS, saying that "our churches have not always been safe or welcome places". [720 words, ENI-01-0136]

7 May 2002

Jerusalem (ENI). The Israeli military has said that an end to the 36-day standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was being delayed because no country was yet willing to take 13 Palestinian militants holed up inside the shrine. Israel appeared to be close to lifting its military siege, under a plan in which wanted Palestinians would be deported to Italy. However, it was not clear whether Italy had outright rejected being part of the deal. [560 words, ENI-02-0135]

'Green Patriarch' honoured for environmental stance

Oxford (ENI). Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I of Constantinople, the spiritual head of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, has been honoured with the 2002 Sophie Prize for his work in defending the environment. The prize, sponsored by the Norwegian Sophie Foundation, includes an award of US$100 000 - one of the most generous in the field of the environment and sustainable development. The Ecumenical Patriarch was awarded the prize in recognition of his "pioneering efforts in linking faith to the environment", the Sophie Foundation said in announcing the award. Bartholomeos I has been called the "green patriarch" because of his interest in the natural environment. [483 words, ENI-02-0134]

6 May 2002

Oxford, Ohio (ENI). The Presbyterian Church (USA) is cutting funding and personnel for overseas mission programmes by 10 per cent as a result of a US$5.3 million budget reduction. The executive committee of the church's General Assembly Council (GAC) voted last month by 10 to 1 to approve a $130 million budget for 2003 that cuts programmes and immediately eliminates the jobs of 43 national staff members and 34 long-term mission workers. "A lot of people are jumping to the conclusion we are doing this because church members are withholding money," the PCUSA's associate director for communication, Gary Luhr, told ENI. "That simply is not true." [517 words, ENI-02-0133]

3 May 2002

New Delhi (ENI). Christian leaders are calling on the international community to put pressure on the Indian government to end the continuing bloodshed in the western state of Gujarat. "More than an internal issue, the Gujarat [violence] is now an international social concern," said mar Coorilos, president of the National Council of Churches in India and assistant metropolitan of the Bombay diocese of the Orthodox Syrian Church. More than 900 people, the vast majority of them Muslims, have been killed and more than 100 000 left homeless in Gujarat in what are being called India's worst sectarian riots in a decade. [475 words, ENI-02-0132]

Wrangle over Orthodox Church in Estonia edges towards resolution

Moscow (ENI). A long-running dispute involving Estonia's second biggest denomination has come a step closer to resolution with the church's official registration as a religious body. The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate was registered by the Estonian government on 17 April - a move welcomed by Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow as an "important step in the right direction". Until the registration, the denomination had no legal rights to its church buildings, and its clergy had no social security guarantees, according to archpriest Nikolai Balashov, a Moscow Patriarchate official who took part in the negotiations that led to the registration. [582 words, ENI-02-0131]

2 May 2002

New York (ENI). Two prominent US religious leaders have criticised the administration of President George W. Bush following reports that the US government is considering a military campaign to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. In separate interviews with ENI on 1 May, Robert Edgar, the general secretary of the National Council of Churches, and John Thomas, the president of the United Church of Christ (UCC), said such plans - which have received wide media attention in the United States in recent days - would endanger civilian lives in Iraq and also prove destabilising for the region. [765 words, ENI-02-0130]

1 May 2002

London (ENI). Diane Pretty, a British woman suffering from motor neurone disease, has failed to persuade a European court that her husband should be allowed to help her commit suicide. Pretty had appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, whose rulings are binding in Britain under the European Convention on Human Rights. She wanted an assurance that after her death her husband, Brian, would not be prosecuted for having helped her. [661 words, ENI-02-0129]

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