Lagos (ENI). Nigerian Roman Catholic and Anglican Church bishops have warned that unless the government makes strenuous efforts to check pandemic corruption in the country, there might be a revolution that could sweep political leaders from power. The bishops uttered their warnings in interviews with ENI focusing on what they considered to be the pervasive nature which corruption had assumed in Africa's most populous country. [615 words, ENI-02-0322]

Welsh church quashes plan for ecumenical bishop

London (ENI). A long-standing plan to create an ecumenical bishop to serve several denominations in Wales has been vetoed by the (Anglican) Church in Wales, despite being supported by the church's bishops and other denominations. The proposal, which would have had the bishop belonging equally to each of the denominations supporting it, was approved by the governing body of the Church in Wales by 137 votes to 106, but failed to gain the required two-thirds majority. The ecumenical bishop would have served an area of east Cardiff, joining the Church in Wales, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the Covenanted Baptist Church. [363 words, ENI-02-0323]

27 September 2002

Bauchi, Nigeria (ENI). Christian and Muslim leaders in the state of Bauchi have forged a peace organisation to counter the persistent religious conflicts that have in some parts of Nigeria pitched adherents of the two faiths against each other for more than a decade. The new interfaith body, called Movement for Peace between Christians and Muslims in northern Nigeria's Bauchi State, co-chaired by a Christian and a Muslim, was launched when religious leaders meeting drew a correlation between inter-religious peace and the country's economic and world status. [353 words, ENI-02-0320]

Archbishop warns of 'anti-Catholic campaign' as Russia bars more priests

Moscow (ENI). The barring from Russia this month of two more Catholic priests is evidence of a "widespread anti-Catholic campaign", says the leader of Russia's minority Roman Catholics who has issued an appeal to human rights organisations. The appeal to both Russian and international organisations came from the Roman Catholic Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, who also holds the title of Metropolitan in Moscow. [608 words, ENI-02-0319]

Dutch church's leaders gripped by nostalgia, claims professor

Amsterdam (ENI). A prominent intellectual leader in the Mennonite Church in the Netherlands has angered the small church's leadership by accusing them of being consumed with backward looking prejudice. Sjouke Voolstra, a professor at the church's seminary in Amsterdam, made his charge in a recent interview with the Algemeen Doopsgezind Weekblad, a Dutch Mennonite weekly newspaper, when he accused the church leaders of being possessed by "nostalgic nationalism". But Voolstra's criticisms were rejected by the church's chairperson, Anne De Jong. [408 words, ENI 02-3218]

Credit cards nudge out collection plates in US congregations

New York (ENI). In increasing numbers, US parishioners are telling their churches: "Put that on my credit card." While electronic giving may never entirely replace the traditional collection plate, charging offerings to a credit card or bank account is becoming an increasingly popular way to donate to a local parish or congregation. But some churches object, saying offerings within a service are an integral part of worship. [590 words, ENI-02-0321]

26 September 2002

New Delhi (ENI). Following the latest lethal attack on a Christian target in their country, some churches in Pakistan have declared that they are being made to suffer because of the policies of the United States. In a statement, the National Council of Churches in Pakistan blamed the "unfair false assumptions adopted by [the] United States of America" for the recent attacks on Christian targets in Muslim-majority Pakistan. The statement followed the killing by unidentified gunmen of seven workers at the Idare-eb Amin-o-Insaf (Institute for Justice and Peace), an ecumenical social service centre, in Karachi. [583 words, ENI-02-0317]

Nigerian Christian leaders say voter registration rigged

Abuja (ENI). Nigerian Christian leaders have decried as "fraudulent" a national voters' registration drive that ended on Saturday in preparation for next year's scheduled general elections. The church leaders charge that the voter registration drive carried out over a 10-day period was high-jacked by politicians, who in some states bought registration cards from electoral officers, disenfranchising Christians, who make up an estimated 40 per cent of the country's population. [573 words, ENI-02-0314]

Catholics in Malawi incensed by 'provocative' Muslim radio programme

Harare (ENI). The Roman Catholic Church in Malawi has asked the country's broadcasting regulatory authority to take action against a Muslim radio station for running what the church describes as "provocative and insulting programmes". Monsignor Joseph Kim has complained to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority about a phone-in programme aired on Malawi's Radio Islam on 17 and 21 August, according to the Media Institute of Southern Africa, a non-governmental organisation that seeks to promote free and pluralistic media. [530 words, ENI-02-0316]

Churches in India call for calm after attack on Hindu temple

New Delhi (ENI). Churches in India have condemned the massacre at a crowded Hindu temple in Gujarat state and added their voices to calls for peace in the western Indian state where hundreds were killed in sectarian riots earlier this year. Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, said the killing of innocent worshippers at the temple was "a blatant attempt on the part of anti-social and anti-democratic forces to disturb the religious harmony of the country". [312 words, ENI-02-0315]

25 September 2002

Harare (ENI). A Roman Catholic priest who last month was forced to leave his Zimbabwe parish under threat from militants of the ruling political party says he now wants to leave the country, after the church leadership failed to protest against his forced departure. The Rev. Patrick Kelly was forced to leave his parish in Nyanga near the Mozambique border by militants of President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party and alleged agents of the Central Intelligence Organisation. [430 words, ENI-02-0313]

Sikhs and Christians in India meet over conversions row

New Delhi (ENI). Top Indian Sikh and Christian leaders have met in New Delhi to deal with a dispute over complaints that Christians had offered inducements to Sikhs to convert to Christianity. They agreed to set up a forum of leaders of minority religious groups in India "to bring the minorities together", Roman Catholic Archbishop Vincent Concessao told ENI following the meeting on 20 September. The talks followed the conversion in August of 22 Sikhs at Bhilai in central Chattisgarh state. [328 words, ENI-02-0312]

24 September 2002

Jerusalem (ENI). Local church leaders in the Holy Land have expressed their strong opposition to a gathering of thousands of Christians who have given their full support for Israel's struggle with the Palestinians. The leaders were speaking in reaction to the presence of pro-Zionist Christians, who have come to Israel for the Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles. The Christians ­ many of them from the United States ­ gave a huge public outpouring of support to the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. [553 words, ENI-02-0310]

Zimbabwe's Catholic bishops plead for food aid to be de-politicised

Harare (ENI). Zimbabwe's Roman Catholic bishops have urged their government to "quickly de-politicise" the procurement and distribution of food to thousands of starving villagers in the famine-hit southern African nation. The call from the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference coincided with complaints, mainly by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, that the government's ongoing food distribution programme favours supporters of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front. Separately, the main governing body of the Lutheran World Federation, which concluded its annual meeting on 17 September in Wittenberg, Germany, agreed "to urgently draw public attention to the serious humanitarian crisis in southern Africa". [565 words, ENI-02-0308]

Germany's Protestant leader wants talks with Schroeder's new government

Bielefeld, Germany (ENI). The leader of Germany's Protestants has called for talks on social issues and international peace keeping with the government of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who has returned to office in a closely fought election. In a message of congratulations to Schroeder, Manfred Kock, the head of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), which accounts for more than 26 million Protestants, called for the resumption of talks between the churches and the government. [275 words, ENI-02-0309]

Religion writer prize winner says religious knowledge vital in today's world

Geneva (ENI). The recipient of the 2001 John Templeton "European Religion Writer of the Year" prize, Henri Tincq of the daily newspaper Le Monde, has asserted at a ceremony in Paris that religious knowledge is critical to understanding today's world. "The religious dimension has become essential to any analysis of the contemporary world," Tincq, who runs the religion desk at Le Monde, said at the 19 September award ceremony held in the offices of the French Protestant Federation. The award is administered by the Conference of European Churches on behalf of the US-based John Templeton Foundation. [250 words, ENI-02-0311]

23 September 2002

London (ENI). More than 700 people who took to the jungle after a massacre at their medical compound in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached safety, mission sources in London have learned. The party of doctors, nurses and patients from Nyankunde made a dramatic trek of about 170 kilometres through savannah and dense forest to reach the town of Oicha, losing no member of the group on the journey. [509 words, ENI-02-0307]

Canadian bishop critical of Anglican Archbishop's fears of schism

Vancouver, Canada (ENI). A Canadian bishop has accused the outgoing archbishop of Canterbury of oversimplifying a complex issue after the most senior cleric in the Anglican Communion, in his final speech to Anglican leaders, raised an alarm over dioceses and individual bishops "taking unilateral action" in controversial issues such as sexuality. Addressing the triennial session of the Anglican Consultative Council - meeting from 15 to 26 September in Hong Kong - Archbishop George Carey expressed his concern over the threat of schism in the Anglican Communion following the decision by the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster and its bishop, Michael Ingham, to authorise the blessing of same-sex couples. [561 words, ENI-02-0306]

Dutch woman pastor confident about WCC despite Kaessmann resignation

Amsterdam (ENI). The World Council of Churches will remain an important platform for women church leaders despite the resignation this month of Lutheran Bishop Margot Kaessmann, says a Dutch member of the WCC's central committee. Kaessmann, from Germany, one of the most prominent women involved in the church grouping, resigned from its central committee early this month, protesting at changes in future WCC worship and decision-making procedures intended to ease tensions between the Protestant and Orthodox members of the ecumenical body. However, Wies Houweling, an ordained Reformed minister, says she believes discussion between Protestants and Orthodox in the WCC is "now more open" than it was in the past. [582 words, ENI-02-0305]

20 September 2002

Kafanchan, Nigeria (ENI). Church leaders in Nigeria have decried the non payment of public workers' salaries - often for periods of months - by federal and state governments, warning that it could lead to social unrest and undermine the country's democracy. [442 words, ENI-02-0304]

United churches show 'hope for the future' of ecumenical movement

Amsterdam (ENI). Despite claims by some people that the movement for Christian unity is running out of steam, the world-wide increase in the number of united or uniting churches in recent years proves them wrong, say representatives of the churches who have just been meeting in the Netherlands. [482 words, ENI-02-0303]

19 September 2002

Nairobi (ENI). Religious leaders have criticised the sacking by President Daniel arap Moi of his vice president, George Saitoti, but in joining the voices of dissent, the Anglican leader Archbishop David Gitari this week evoked the public wrath of the nation's leader. The churches in Kenya censured as undemocratic the action on 31 August by the 78-year-old president, who has ruled Kenya for 24 years, but who is expected to stand down after the national elections, to be held in either December or January. They accused Moi of seeking to impose his own chosen successor on the 30 million Kenyans. [555 words, ENI-02-0301]

Indian Christians chary of controversial curriculum accepted by court

New Delhi (ENI). Christian education experts have reacted with caution to a ruling by the Indian Supreme Court opening the way for the introduction of a controversial national school curriculum that includes the study of religion. A three-judge bench on 12 September upheld the new curriculum, which Christian education groups charged had a Hindu bias on history and other school subjects. Mani Jacob, a Christian education leader, suggests that judicial acceptance of education on religions is a generally positive sign. [560 words, ENI-02-0302]

19 September 2002

Wittenberg, Germany (ENI). Underground mining and policing are often cited as among the most stressful of jobs, but being a Palestinian Christian bishop in Jerusalem is high pressure work that could easily be included by the experts in their catalogue of demanding occupations. In the thick of the intractable conflict in the Middle East is Munib A. Younan, the Lutheran bishop in Jerusalem, who serves congregations in Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories. He says the media needs to cover more about what Palestinians and Israelis are doing to strive for peace in their troubled region. [655 words, ENI-02-0299]

Australian Catholic leaders urge end to mandatory refugee detention

Sydney (ENI). Australian Roman Catholic leaders have released a detailed working paper proposing new solutions to one of the country's most pressing moral issues - the reception, processing and care of asylum seekers. The document, which draws on the experience of Catholics who have worked with asylum seekers, proposes an end to the long-term mandatory detention of refugees, and the creation of a commissioner for refugees independent of government, but with investigative and decision-making powers. [456 words, ENI-02-0300]

17 September 2002

Warsaw (ENI). Protestant leaders in Belarus have warned that many of their congregations could face closure under a proposed religious law giving priority status to the country's Orthodox church. The law, soon to go before the upper house of parliament for final vote, was a means of "restricting Protestants", said the church leaders who have appealed for support from fellow Christians abroad. The legislation would restrict organised prayer to registered religious communities, and limit educational and charitable activity to churches that have had at least 10 registered communities in Belarus for at least 20 years. Among other provisions, the proposed law requires government approval for religious publications and forbids regular religious gatherings in private homes. [799 words, ENI-02-0297]

From Wittenberg to Winnipeg for Lutheran World Federation

Wittenberg, Germany (ENI). The main governing body of the Lutheran World Federation on Tuesday ended its annual meeting, the last before the 62-million-strong church grouping holds its once-every- six-years assembly next July in Winnipeg, Canada. "Many of the people were moved to be here in the place where the [Lutheran] movement began," said LWF President Dr. Christian Krause at the final news conference of the LWF's council. Like last year, the council was originally to have held its meeting in Jerusalem, but because of security risks there, was forced this year to gather in the city where in 1517 theologian Martin Luther posted his 95 theses, thus igniting the Protestant breakaway from Rome. [557 words, ENI-02-0298]

16 September 2002

London (ENI). A powerful message from the disabled "Superman" star Christopher Reeve was the highlight of a conference to launch Britain's national bank of stem cells for medical research. The cell bank, a US$4 million project by the government-funded Medical Research Council, is described as the first of its kind in the world. It will provide stem cells for researchers seeking ways to repair diseased and damaged body-parts. [863 words, ENI-02-0296]

13 September 2002

New Delhi (ENI). As the Sri Lankan government prepares for historic peace talks with Tamil rebels next week, churches in the island nation are mustering support for the peace process, even in the face of opposition by hard-liners from the Sinhalese majority. Representatives of the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam), known as the Tamil Tigers, will meet for talks in Thailand from 16 to 18 September in an attempt to resolve a two decade-old ethnic conflict that has claimed nearly 65 000 lives. [546 words, ENI-02-0293]

Nigerian Christians and Muslims pray for peace on anniversary of riots

Jos (ENI). A week-long programme of prayer and fasting has brought Muslims and Christians together in the central Nigerian state of Plateau on the anniversary of the bloody religious conflicts that broke out here. A series of religious riots between Muslims and Christians began on 7 September last year, soon engulfing the state and leaving more than 5000 people dead, as well as destroying about 100 villages and forcing 500 000 to flee their homes. The government-supported commemoration began last Saturday, 7 September, and will conclude in churches and mosques this weekend. [339 words, ENI-02-0294]

Jerusalem hospital threatened with closure by Israeli tax

Wittenberg, Germany (ENI). Leaders in the Lutheran World Federation fear the Israeli government is about to impose an employer's tax that could cause the closure of the only hospital offering modern treatment for certain illnesses to people living in the Palestinian territories. Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan, which serves Israel, Jordan and Palestine, said the LWF-run Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem was the only specialist cancer unit in the territories and the sole centre for kidney dialysis. "Now that they are imposing this tax, the danger is that the hospital will close," Younan told journalists attending the 10-17 September meeting of the LWF council, the organisation's main governing body, taking place here. [448 words, ENI-02-0295]]

'Ave Maria' signals incoming call for some Dutch mobile phone users

Amsterdam (ENI). Dutch mobile phone users can now choose to programme their phones with ringtones based on religious melodies rather than on the usual secular tunes. The Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands has recently launched an internet service offering mobile phone users a choice of 15 tunes based on such well-known Catholic melodies as Ave Maria and Salve Regina. The internet service, called catholictunes.nl, claims it is a world first. [234 words, ENI-02-0292]

12 September 2002

New York (ENI). On a day unlike any other in American history, the United States commemorated the anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks with solemn but simple ceremonies and acts of remembrance that paid tribute to the dead and also underlined the nation's role as a global superpower. The commemorations in New York, Washington DC and elsewhere in the country looked both inward and outward, with ceremonies offering succour to victims' families and to the grieving, while President George W. Bush and other political leaders took the opportunity to affirm the resolve of the US in the war against terror. [721 words, ENI-02-0291]

Religions brought together by 11 September, says US Lutheran leader

Wittenberg, Germany (ENI). If the perpetrators of the 11 September attacks one year ago had hoped to drive religious believers apart, they failed, a prominent Lutheran bishop from the United States said on Wednesday. Since that date there had been more contact between people of different religious faiths than before, said Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, speaking to journalists attending the meeting in Wittenberg of the main governing body of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). [530 words, ENI-02-0290]

Nigerian bishops march on legislature to protest against mass poverty

Awka, Nigeria (ENI). Eight Nigerian bishops marched on Tuesday to the house of assembly of Anambra state in south-eastern Nigeria in protest against government policies which, they said, had created mass poverty. The bishops decried what they called the "ugly situation in the country", expressing concern about the hardship being faced by the Nigerian people. They met members of the assembly and were received by Barth Onogbolu, speaker of the Anambra state legislature, who later told ENI that the legislators had listened carefully to the bishops and their demands. [484 words, ENI-02-0289]

11 September 2002

Sergiev Posad, Russia (ENI). In an emotional ceremony televised across Russia last week, two colossal bells were hoisted to the belfry of the Holy Trinity St Sergius Monastery, one of the holiest sites of the Russian Orthodox Church. They are part of a programme of the monastery, located 70 kilometres north-east of Moscow, to replace a set of three bells torn down and smashed by the Bolsheviks in 1930 as part of an anti-religious campaign. The two bells installed last week are the biggest produced in Russia in 200 years. They weigh 27 tons and 35.5 tonnes respectively, and together cost about US$1 million to make. [485 words, ENI-02-0288]

Peruvian cardinal testifies before judge investigating Fujimori era

Lima (ENI). Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani of Peru has testified before a judge investigating the role of former President Alberto Fujimori in two massacres in the early 1990s. Cipriani was summoned to testify after allegations were made that the cardinal had been consulted about what to do with the bodies of ten victims of one of the massacres, which took place in 1992. The allegations, which Cipriani vigorously denies, came in court testimony from former Prime Minister Alberto Bustamante. In Bustamante's testimony, leaked to the press, he said he had been told by former Peruvian spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos that a Peruvian general now retired had telephoned Cipriani about the massacre. The allegations are widely believed to be an attempt to discredit the cardinal. [406 words, ENI-02-0287]

Foreign Anglicans join in 'provocative' protest against same-sex blessings

Vancouver (ENI). Dissident Canadian Anglicans were joined by church leaders from abroad at a conference last week protesting against the decision by the Canadian Anglican diocese of New Westminster to authorise same-sex blessings. Four foreign bishops and archbishops joined Canadian priests and parishes at the meeting, which ended on 3 September and was called by opponents of the New Westminster decision. The presence of the African, Asian and US clerics at the conference hosted by the dissenting Anglican Communion in New Westminster was described as "provocative and inflammatory" by the sitting bishop of the diocese, Michael Ingham. [801 words, ENI-02-0286]

10 September 2002

Wittenberg, Germany (ENI). Leaders of the Lutheran World Federation gathered in this city where Lutheranism has its beginnings have urged member churches to seek dialogue with other faiths to ensure that no "confrontation between religions is allowed to develop anywhere in the world". The first call was made by retired Bishop Christian Krause, the president of the LWF, to the 49-member main governing body of the federation, which represents more than 95 per cent of the 65 million Lutherans world-wide. Krause was speaking on Tuesday, the first day of the LWF's council meeting in Wittenberg, where in 1517 Martin Luther, then a theology professor, led the Reformation. [641 words, ENI-02-0285]

9 September 2002

New Delhi (ENI). Church activists in India have welcomed the decision of a key United Nations committee to recognise, for the first time, the caste system as a form of racial discrimination. The UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination passed a resolution on 22 August that includes the caste system under its definition of racial discrimination. The measure confirms a position long held by Christian and other activists in India. [529 words, ENI-02-0283]

Irish Catholic Church names commission to investigate abuse complaints

London (ENI). The Catholic Church in Ireland has become the latest branch of the church to investigate child sexual abuse with the naming of a commission headed by a retired judge. The judge, Gillian Hussey, 65, picked a team of seven members for a commission strongly weighted towards professionals with practical skills, including a social worker, a child-care manager and two psychologists. The independent commission faces a widespread public view that the church has hushed up cases of abuse. [598 words, ENI-02-0284]

6 September 2002

Geneva (ENI). Lutheran Bishop Margot Kaessmann from Germany - one of the most prominent women in the World Council of Churches - has resigned from the ecumenical body's central committee in protest at key proposals intended to help participation by Orthodox churches in the organisation. Kaessmann said that the effectiveness of the WCC was being affected by tensions between Protestantism and Orthodoxy and that Protestant and Orthodox churches should consider having separate world organisations if they were unable to bridge their differences. [740 words, ENI-02-0279]

Christians in India reject charge of conversion by 'inducement'

New Delhi (ENI). Prominent church leaders in India have rejected an accusation that Christians have engaged in conversion "by inducement", a charge made by a senior Sikh leader following the recent conversion of two dozen Sikhs. "This is nothing more than a panic reaction," said Geevarghese mar Coorilos, president of the National Council of Churches in India, a grouping of 29 Orthodox and Protestant churches. [572 words, ENI-02-0280]

Looking back on reform shows bright future for Lutherans says author

New York (ENI). The author of what is being called the first-ever single volume history of global Lutheranism says the church's tradition can face the future with optimism because of its strong belief in reform and the way in which it "looks toward the future". "We are a pilgrim people, a forward-looking people, which is why we can face the present," says Eric Gritsch, a noted church historian and professor emeritus at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Gritsch's "A History of Lutheranism", is set to be released shortly by the Minnesota-based Fortress Press, a church publishing house. [680 words, ENI-02-0282]

Mark 1 September as a day for the environment, churches told

Geneva (ENI). Churches should set apart the first day of September each year as a day of prayer for the environment, the World Council of Churches has proclaimed. The call to make 1 September "a day of prayer for creation and its sustainability" was made at a meeting in Geneva of the central committee of the WCC, the ecumenical organisation's main governing body. The request echoed an earlier appeal made by Bartholomeos I, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, to Christians world-wide to celebrate 1 September as Creation Day. [391 words, ENI-02-0281]

3 September 2002

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches, the world's biggest ecumenical organisation, is to cut its spending back drastically in the face of predictions of significantly reduced income. "We are in a crisis. Let's be frank and straightforward," said Catholicos Aram I, moderator of the WCC's central committee. [901 words, ENI-02-0278]

WCC meets Orthodox grievances with sweeping changes

Geneva (ENI). The main governing body of the World Council of Churches has approved sweeping changes in the way the world's largest ecumenical organisation will worship and conduct its business in an attempt to accommodate differences between Protestant and Orthodox Christians. The WCC's central committee voted with little dissent to replace its parliamentary voting procedure with a consensus model of decision-making, a measure supported by Orthodox churches. [673 words, ENI-02-0274]

Wanted: Theologically-grounded CEO for mission impossible

Geneva (ENI). Looking for an impossible job? The World Council of Churches may just have one for those seeking to be both a CEO and a theological supremo. The main governing body of the world's largest ecumenical organisation approved a "role description" for the person who will succeed Dr Konrad Raiser, who retires next year after 11 years as the WCC's general secretary. At a press conference following the close of the WCC central committee meeting, its vice-moderator, Marion Best of the United Church of Canada, described the general secretary job as "totally impossible for one person". [321 words, ENI-02-0276]

Church body looks at 'deeply entrenched' racism within its midst

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches called for a review of past and present racism in member churches and outlined a process to redress injuries inflicted by discrimination. "Racism is still deeply entrenched even in the life of the churches, who fall short of realising the vision of being just and inclusive communities," said Dr Konrad Raiser, WCC general secretary. [512 words, ENI-02-0277]

World Council of Churches to hold next assembly in Brazil

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches, the world's biggest church grouping, is to hold its next assembly scheduled for 2006 in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. The assembly takes place every seven to eight years, usually gathering several thousand participants and is the WCC's highest decision-making body. WCC general secretary Dr Konrad Raiser told journalists on Tuesday that the Porto Alegre assembly would be the first time the WCC had responded to an invitation from a national church council that included the Roman Catholic Church. [346 words, ENI-02-0273]

Le Monde journalist wins European religion writer of the year award

Geneva (ENI). Henri Tincq, a journalist responsible for religious affairs on the French daily newspaper Le Monde, has won the 2001 John Templeton award as the "European Religion Writer of the Year", the organisers have announced. The announcement of the award, valued at 3500 Swiss francs (US$2370), was made in Geneva by the Office of Communications of the Conference of European Churches, which administers the award on behalf of the US-based John Templeton Foundation. [272 words, ENI-02-0275]

2 September 2002

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches has called on the United States to desist from military threats against Iraq and on Baghdad to respect United Nations Security Council resolutions, including demands that it destroy all weapons of mass destruction and that it co-operate fully with UN inspectors. The call was made by the central committee of the WCC, the ecumenical body's main governing body, which said it was "alarmed about the persistent effort of the Government of the United States ... to gather international support for a new military action against Iraq with the stated objective of overthrowing the present government" in Baghdad. [540 words, ENI-02-0272]

WCC warns of India and Pakistan nuclear threat, urges disarmament

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches has urged the governments of India and Pakistan to dismantle their nuclear arsenals and to stop developing more nuclear arms. The WCC central committee, the main governing body of the WCC, cautioned that military confrontations in South Asia pose "a major threat to world peace". [543 words, ENI-02-0271]

WCC calls for end to Israeli occupation, Palestinian suicide bombings

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches, which has sought peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict throughout its 50-year history, has renewed its call for an end to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and a halt to Palestinian suicide bombings. While the statement by the WCC's central committee - the main governing body of the world's largest ecumenical organisation - broke no new ground, a top WCC staff member called it part of a "consistent and persistent effort" by the WCC to produce a settlement. [397 words, ENI-02-0269]

WCC condemns US military role in Colombia

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches has warned of a military escalation in Colombia's almost 40-year-old civil war and called on the United States to cease its military aid to the Colombian government. The WCC's main governing body, its central committee, meeting in Geneva until 3 September, said that the violence in Colombia posed a threat to the "entire Latin American continent". [468 words, ENI-02-0270]

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