Managua (ENI). A corruption scandal encircling former President Arnoldo Aleman is also enveloping the hierarchy of Nicaragua's Catholic church, bringing church-state relations in this Central American country to their worst point in decades. On 11 October, Nicaraguan police and army troops seized the broadcast studios and antenna of La Poderosa, a church-owned radio station in Managua that had become the voice of the embattled former president, who is facing charges of having stolen tens of millions of dollars during his 1997-2002 administration. [693 words, ENI-02-0385]

Swiss Reformation monument gets new additions - one a woman

Geneva (ENI). Four new names have been chiselled onto the Wall of the Reformers, one of the world's principal monuments of the Protestant Reformation and one of the most visited sites in Geneva, a cradle of the Reformation. Among the new names is that of a woman, Marie Dentière, a Flemish-born 16th-century Reformation lay theologian - and the first woman to take a place at the monument beside Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and other luminaries of the movement that gave birth to Protestantism. [708 words, ENI-0383]

As drought continues, Zimbabwe's clergy pray for rain

Harare (ENI). In farming areas anywhere, praying for rain can be frequent, but in drought ravaged southern Africa where rains usually come at this time of the year, the prayers have a special poignancy. As Zimbabwe continues to experience unusually dry weather, 62 Christian church leaders in the central Zimbabwe city of Gweru held an inter-denominational prayer service for rain. [309 words, ENI-02-0384]

29 October 2002

New Delhi (ENI). Leaders of India's Dalits are flouting a state law against conversions by calling for mass conversions to Christianity and Buddhism - religions that do not have a caste tradition like Hinduism that treats them as "untouchables". The call comes after massive Christian-led protests on 24 October against the law introduced in October in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. [378 words, ENI-02-0382]

Congo Christians ask world churches for aid to cope with crisis

Brazzaville (ENI). Church leaders in the Republic of Congo are calling for help from the international community as thousands in the violence-torn country, fleeing bloodshed at the hands of rebels, are taking refuge in the capital. Since mid-October, two bands of rebel militia known as "Ninjas" have sown terror in a 30 kilometre area south of Brazzaville, committing assassinations, looting villages, setting vehicles on fire and committing petty blackmail, say residents. The havoc has effectively cut off principal food supply lines into the capital. [559 words, ENI-0380]

Nigerians hoping promoted cardinal's odds of becoming pope now better

Abuja (ENI). Many Nigerians are taking great pride from the elevation by Pope John Paul II of Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze to the Vatican's top liturgical post and believe it will enhance his chances of becoming pope. The cardinal changes from being the Vatican's top officer for inter-religious dialogue - a key link between Roman Catholics and Muslims - to heading the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, replacing Chilean Jorge Arturo Medina Estévez. [409 words, ENI-02-0381]

28 October 2002

Oxford, Ohio (ENI). Americans should use restraint and refrain from judging or retaliating against black Muslims after arrests for 10 sniper shooting deaths in the Washington, DC area, national ecumenical and inter-religious leaders have said. Leaders of the US National Council of Churches and the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington are calling for prayer for both victims and shooters, support for their families and emotional reassurance for children in the Washington area. [374 words, ENI-02-0377]

Pioneering declaration agreed in Finland now world-wide benchmark

London (ENI). After 10 years, the Porvoo unity declaration by British and Irish Anglican churches and Nordic and Baltic Lutheran churches continues to influence ecumenical developments world-wide, says one of its authors, Dean John Arnold. A well known ecumenist who is soon to retire as the dean of Durham Cathedral in England, Arnold said that the Porvoo statement had helped similar agreements in North America and also a unity covenant currently being considered in England by the Methodist Church and the (Anglican) Church of England. [356 words, ENI-02-0378]

'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus' message debated by archaeologists

New York (ENI). Religious scholars and archaeologists are debating the significance of what some are calling a major discovery - possibly the oldest archaeological reference to Jesus. The reference - found in an inscription on a burial box, or ossuary - is actually made to James, who in New Testament accounts is referred to as Jesus' brother. The inscription reads: "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus", and is, according to the Washington, DC-based Biblical Archaeology Review, "the first-ever archaeological discovery to corroborate biblical references to Jesus". [454 words, ENI-02-0379]

25 October 2002

Abuja (ENI). A presidential aspirant in Nigeria has claimed that more than 200 000 people have been killed in religious and ethnic conflicts in the country in the last three years. Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, who is running for the presidency from the ruling People's Democratic Party, said the slayings were the result of ethno-religious upheavals across the country between May 1999 and October 2002. [304 words, ENI-02-0376]

Ukrainian cardinal criticises Rome bureaucracy over Orthodox dialogue

Warsaw (ENI). The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has accused "Rome bureaucracy" of impeding relations between Catholics and Orthodox Christians, and urged the Vatican to show greater understanding of Orthodox concerns. "Vatican bureaucracy poses a barrier to ecumenical dialogue," said Cardinal Lubomyr Husar. "I think we lack the courage to speak the truth clearly - the Pope must be distinguished from the Curia [Vatican bureaucracy]." [359 words, ENI-03575]

Zimbabwean bishop snubs meeting to end church feud

Harare (ENI). A bid to resolve a feud rocking the Anglican church's Harare diocese has flopped after the diocese's bishop, Nolbert Kunonga, snubbed a meeting convened by Theophilus Naledi, the dean of the church's province of Central Africa. The closed meeting at a Harare hotel sought to patch up differences between Kunonga and 14 of the church officials he had attempted to bar from performing duties at the St Mary and All Saints cathedral in Harare. [321 words, ENI-02-0374]

24 October 2002

Nairobi (ENI). Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's founding president, has launched his presidential campaign and asked for prayers, while at the same time African church leaders pleaded for peace in elections that could see the ruling party lose for the first time. The 41-year-old Kenyatta, President Daniel arap Moi's favourite, was chosen as the candidate for the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU), despite the opposition of some senior party members, several of whom defected after he was nominated. [475 words, ENI-02-0373]

Church leaders in Philippines lament public apathy to anti-war drive

Manila (ENI). Church leaders lament that public support for an anti-war campaign has been lukewarm after a series of terrorist bombings in the Philippines. "Public support for the anti-war campaign had been lukewarm, despite the clear anti-war positions of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines," Bishop Allan Ray Sarte of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines told reporters. Government critics see the bombings as a reaction to their government's all-out support for a possible United States war against Iraq. [393 words, ENI-02-0372]

23 October 2002

New Delhi (ENI). When somebody like Jimmy Carter wins the Nobel Peace Prize it's hard for anyone to object, even if the loser is a man who has spent time close to hell and is using his twilight years caring for abandoned lepers in India. "A much worthier person than me has been chosen," said Polish missionary Marian Zalazek, when he heard that the former United States president had been awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize and that he had not. "I'm not disappointed." [855 words, ENI-02-0371]

22 October 2002

Managua (ENI). A year after Digna Ochoa was shot dead in her Mexico City office, the crusading human rights lawyer's death remains unsolved, and many fear it may become one of a long list of unresolved political assassinations in Mexico. Ochoa, a 37-year-old former Dominican nun, was shot twice at point blank range on 19 October 2001. No arrests have been made in the case, which the government recently turned over to a third prosecutor. [494 words, ENI-02-0369]

Catholics balk at handing over mission hospital to Zimbabwe government

Harare (ENI). The Roman Catholic Church is resisting attempts by the Zimbabwe government to take over a mission hospital in rural Lupane in the southern province of Matabeleland for fear the government will run the institution down. The government has indicated it intends to take over St Luke's Mission Hospital, 160 kilometres north-west of the city of Bulawayo, and upgrade it to a provincial referral hospital for Matabeleland. [472 words, ENI-02-0368]

Scottish church guides children to safe surfing on the Internet

London (ENI). Worries about children unwittingly "talking" to strangers on the Internet and giving out vital personal or family information have prompted the Scottish Episcopal Church to launch a children's guide to safe surfing. The church's four-page leaflet offers advice on enjoying the Internet without risk, and net-savvy children and their parents are being encouraged to download the information. [338 words, ENI-02-0370]

21 October 2002

New Delhi (ENI). Indian Christians have joined national protests over the slaying of five members of India's lowest caste near New Delhi by a mob following rumours that the victims had slaughtered a cow. The lynching was "one of the most horrendous crimes against humanity and it is also an indication of the present condition of Dalits in this country", decried the National Council of Churches in India in a statement. [508 words, ENI-02-0367]

Villagers face starvation as Zimbabwe president clashes with charities

Harare (ENI). President Robert Mugabe has lashed out at charities and international aid agencies working in Zimbabwe for "meddling with our national affairs", banning the United Kingdom-based Save the Children from distributing food aid in a critical district. The president also singled out the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), which his government accuses of backing opposition candidates in rural district council elections in the north-western district of Binga, where the opposition last week won 16 of 21 wards contested. [477 words, ENI-02-0366]

Inter-faith leaders adopt peace declaration in South Africa

Johannesburg (ENI). Representatives from seven major religions and 21 African countries have adopted a historic declaration, committing themselves to working for peace on the African continent. The great variety of delegates to the Inter-Faith Peace Summit - among them South Africa's Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris and Benin's High Priest of Voodoo, Houna Agbessi Daagbo Hounon and Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation - underlined the summit's achievement in forging a common dedication to peace. [446 words, ENI-02-0365]

18 October 2002

Warsaw (ENI). No crew cuts and jeans for these priests while on duty. Leaders of the (Orthodox) Church of Greece have rejected a request by priests to be allowed to dispense with traditional beards, cassocks and head-dress. The church's Holy Synod decided to preserve the traditional dress after considering arguments made by some clergy that these were uncomfortable and lacked "relevance" in current times. [500 words, ENI-02-0364]

17 October 2002

Manila (ENI). Church leaders have asked for prayers and calm after condemning two bombings in the southern Philippines which killed six people and wounded about 150 and which authorities have blamed on a group fighting for a separate Islamic state. "We pray for the victims and their families as we ask God for justice. Let not hostility reign in our hearts but justice," Monsignor Hernando Coronel, spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said after the two bombs went off in adjacent shopping malls in Zamboanga City. [442 words, ENI-02-0363]

Anglicans, Catholics warn Nigeria not to consider war with Cameroon

Abuja (ENI). Anglican and Roman Catholic church leaders have warned Nigeria not to consider the option of war over the award of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to neighbouring Cameroon by the world court at the Hague. Senior Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola, in reacting to the 10 October judgement against Nigeria, advised his government to exercise restraint in handling the issue of the disputed land, after the ruling sparked some heated statements. [462 words, ENI-02-0362]

Evicted priest in Zimbabwe goes to mountain-top to 'speak to God'

Harare (ENI). Father Patrick Joseph Kelly, a Roman Catholic priest who fled his Zimbabwe parish under threats from militant supporters of the ruling political party, has gone into the mountains to pray for "divine intervention" after church leaders failed to resolve his predicament, says one of his colleagues. "Father Kelly has gone to the hills in Nyanga to speak to God and seek divine intervention," said the Rev Michael Bennet of St Paul's church in the eastern town of Mutare. "So far we have not heard from him. [392 words, ENI-02-0361]

16 October 2002

Geneva 16 October (ENI)--Iran strongly condemns the terrorism inflicted on the United States by the September 2001 attacks, but by looking to war with Iraq, America will play into the hands of Osama bin Laden, Iranian vice president Sayyid Mohammad Ali Abtahi has warned. Speaking at a high-level international meeting on Christian-Muslim dialogue organised by the World Council of Churches Geneva, Abtahi said the basic measures the US was taking were not working to their advantage due to the country's refusal to right wrongs committed against the Palestinian people and in carrying out attacks on Muslim countries like Afghanistan. [676 words, ENI-02-0359]

Christians and Muslims tell each other they need to face differences

Geneva (ENI). Muslims and Christians should not play down their religious differences but rather face them and learn to respect them, a leading Orthodox prelate has told international political and religious leaders gathered here. "Religious identity is stronger than ethnic or cultural identity. It tends to build walls between people. However, we cannot allow these walls to stand," asserted Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, who is co-moderator of a three-day international inter-faith conference in Geneva sponsored by the World Council of Churches. [631 words, ENI-02-0360]

Indian churches call for calm after anti-Falwell protests turn into riots

New Delhi (ENI). Major church groups in India have called for calm after violence triggered over the weekend between Hindus and Muslims in the western state of Maharashtra left nine people dead and continued this week. Rioting broke out in the town of Sholapur after Muslim protesters forced Hindu shop owners to close their shops as part of a Muslim-led protest against televised comments made by prominent US conservative pastor Jerry Falwell bashing the prophet Mohammed. Falwell has since publicly apologised for his statements. [433 words, ENI-02-0358]

15 October 2002

Sydney (ENI). The head of the Anglican Church in Australia, Archbishop Peter Carnley, has said he believes Australia should give priority to combating terrorism in south-eastern Asia, rather than to a war with Iraq. Speaking about the bombings in Bali, in which up to 200 people, mostly Australians, are thought to have died, Carnley said the shocking loss of life and injury had "shattered any illusions we may have had about the threat to Australians posed by terrorists. Terrorism can rear its ugly head even in the most idyllic surroundings." [613 words, ENI-02-0357]

Judge finds insufficient proof for allegations against Sydney archbishop

Sydney (ENI). Allegations of sexual assault made against Australia's most senior Catholic leader, Archbishop George Pell of Sydney, could not be substantiated, a church-appointed inquiry has concluded. Both Pell and his accuser claimed vindication from the findings. Pell said the inquiry's head, retired Supreme Court judge Alec Southwell "had gone as far as the terms of reference allowed him to go in exonerating me". [270 words, ENI-02-0356]

Philippine legislators hit by Catholic resistance to reproductive health law

Manila, October 15 (ENI)-Philippine lawmakers proposing legislation to help regulate the country's ballooning 80 million population are facing an uphill battle due to opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, which has labelled the proposed law as "anti-marriage, anti-family and anti-life". The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines has described the proposed Reproductive Health Care Act as a law "seeking to legalise abortion under the guise of reproductive health care". Proponents of the legislation say it does not seek to legalise abortion, but instead to ensure the government informs and educates child-bearing Filipino women about their right to reproductive health care. [404 words, ENI-02-0355]

14 October 2002

Johannesburg (ENI). South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma has invited Africa's religious leaders to participate actively and visibly in the new efforts by political leaders to bring peace to the strife-torn continent. Zuma urged religious leaders to play a "key role" in monitoring the commitments which Africa's political leaders are making to peace under the newly-launched African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), a major economic initiative for the continent. [499 words, ENI-02-0354]

Daughter of ex-Zimbabwe bishop threatened after opposing new bishop

Harare, 14 October (ENI) --A feud rocking the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe's capital has taken a macabre twist with a daughter of the former bishop of Harare reportedly receiving a death threat for opposing Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, the controversial head of the diocese. Pauline Makoni, a daughter of the retired bishop of the Harare diocese and wife of a prominent Zimbabwean banker, was among 19 church leaders and choristers who had been accused by Kunonga of inciting other parishioners to turn against him. The Daily News, an independent newspaper, reported that a vehicle pulled up at the Makonis' home in Harare, and an envelope was thrown over the gate in which there was a note saying the church leaders should resign or face death. [359 words, ENI-02-0353]

11 October 2002

Harare (ENI). The Roman Catholic Church has accused Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasa of intimidating the opposition and downplaying the severity of the famine which threatens millions of people in Zambia and other southern African countries. "We find it disturbing that our government finds it difficult to recognise the fact that the hunger situation in the country is so serious that people are dying," the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace said in a statement. [433 words, ENI-02-0349]

Congo's Catholic bishops call for dialogue between government and rebels

Brazzaville (ENI). Following the death of a French Roman Catholic missionary who had been abducted by rebels, Roman Catholic bishops have called on the Republic of Congo's leaders and the militia to find a peaceful solution to the violence wracking the country. Jean Guth, 63, a priest who had worked in the country since 1967, was kidnapped by a rebel militia known as the Ninjas on 31 March as he was returning by car to his parish after celebrating Easter mass in a nearby village. [448 words, ENI-02-0350]

Churches, used to caring for AIDS patients, now urged to up advocacy

New York (ENI). Churches and organisations working with them, long dedicated to the care and treatment of those living with HIV and AIDS, are being asked to increase their advocacy efforts in the fight against the disease. "We've not seen the commitment to advocacy match the commitment of direct assistance and care," said Linda Hartke, who heads the Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, which organised a 7 October meeting on the issue of US churches and church-related agencies in Washington, DC. [366 words, ENI-02-0352]

Donated mosquito nets to be used in campaign to fight malaria in Nigeria

Enugu, Nigeria (ENI)--A shipment of nearly 2000 mosquito nets is to be used in the Roman Catholic Church's preventive health programme for people living in Nigerian rural areas to help combat malaria, one of Africa's deadliest diseases. The government of Germany presented the donation of 1800 treated mosquito nets last month to the Annunciation Specialist Hospital, a tropical disease facility in Emene, near the city of Enugu in south-eastern Nigeria. [264 words, ENI-02-0351]

10 October 2002

New Delhi (ENI). Christians in Pakistan have gained the opportunity to vote for any candidate in the first general elections held in this country in three years - regardless of the religion of the contestant. Christians were previously allowed to vote only for Christian candidates and were therefore more enthusiastic "than ever before" about the parliamentary elections, otherwise characterised as lacklustre. [497 words, ENI-02-0346]

US church leaders denounce Falwell's 'hateful' words against Muhammad

New York (ENI). A wide range of US religious organisations have condemned comments made by the US evangelical leader Jerry Falwell, who in a nationally televised interview broadcast called the Islamic prophet Muhammad a "terrorist". "Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses, and I think Muhammad set an opposite example," Falwell, who is known for making provocative statements, said in the interview broadcast on the CBS news programme "60 Minutes". [563 words, ENI-02-0347]

Zimbabwe Anglican bishop's ban on cathedral choir cancelled

Harare (ENI). Choristers at Harare's Anglican cathedral were unable to sing over the past two Sundays after they had been barred by the courts from entering St Mary and All Saints for showing their displeasure with the local bishop's praises for President Robert Mugabe and his ruling party. But this week they may be back. Nolbert Kunonga, the Anglican bishop of Harare, had gained a temporary court ban on the choir and church leaders after they accused the bishop of misusing his position by praising controversial government actions from the pulpit. The presiding magistrate, however, cancelled the order after the bishop failed to turn up at the court and explain his application. [411 words, ENI-02-0344]

Latvian churches say poll result boosts Christian voices in legislature

Warsaw (ENI). Church representatives in Latvia say a victory by centre-right parties in parliamentary elections that also saw a strong showing by a new party supporting Christian values should result in a "more sympathetic attitude" to Christians in the former Soviet republic. "People were dissatisfied with the present government and wanted significant changes," said Dzintas Laugalis, a spokesman for Latvia's Evangelical Lutheran church. The Riga-based pastor was speaking after the 5 October election had endorsed Latvia's newly formed New Times party as the leading group. There was also a strong showing by the country's First Party, which had campaigned on "Christian values". [466 words, ENI-02-0348]

Bishop rebuts critics of knights' tombs and male saints on windows

London (ENI). The authors of a report that calls into question the value of knights' tombs in churches and "stained glass windows filled with male saints" have hit back at accusations of political correctness. At a press conference to launch Presence and Prophecy, a guide to church mission in the community, the authors denied that they were attacking traditional church furnishings because such fittings were seen as a deterrent to non-churchgoers. [370 words, ENI-02-0345]

9 October 2002

Tegucigalpa (ENI). A Guatemalan appeals court has ordered a new trial for four men convicted of slaying a Roman Catholic bishop. In a ruling that dismayed church leaders and human rights activists, the Fourth Court of Appeals in Guatemala City annulled last year's conviction of three military officers and a Catholic priest for the 1998 assassination of Juan Gerardi, the auxiliary bishop of Guatemala City. Gerardi, who was head of the church's human rights office, was beaten to death just two days after he released a report on the country's 36-year civil war that said the military was responsible for most of the abuses committed during the war. [647 words, ENI-02-0343]

Law against conversions could threaten Christian relief work, say churches

New Delhi (ENI). Indian Christians have warned that new legislation in the southern state of Tamil Nadu banning conversions by "force, allurement or fraudulent means" could put Christian relief work at risk. The Tamil Nadu state government claimed the measure was aimed at preventing attempts by "some religious fundamentalists and subversive forces to create communal disharmony in the name of religious conversion". [424 words, ENI-02-0342]

8 October 2002

New York (ENI). Under the shadow of a possible US war over Iraq, laity and clergy from a range of faiths and continents meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, re-committed themselves to the cause of peace as part of a world-wide effort to overcome violence. "Religion has encouraged violence, and that has been a strain in each [major religious] tradition," said the Rev. Gilbert Friend-Jones of the Central Congregational United Church of Christ in Atlanta, which co-sponsored the event from 4 to 5 October along with the United States Conference for the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Emory University. [303 words, ENI-02-0341]

Canadian Anglicans abandon e-mail elections

Vancouver (ENI). An Anglican ecclesiastical province in Canada that made news last May by using e-mail ballots to elect its new metropolitan has now taken steps to abandon this form of election - the first such system in the world-wide Anglican communion. The council of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada, made up of seven dioceses in eastern Canada, representing more than 1000 congregations, voted to revise its election laws to prohibit electronic voting. Members of the provincial council had objected that electronic voting couldn't ensure complete secrecy. [338 words, ENI-02-0340]

7 October 2002

Warsaw (ENI). Minority Protestant churches in Belarus have deplored the adoption by the upper house of the country's parliament of a proposed religious law which some say will force the closure of hundreds of Protestant communities and entice people to emigrate. If signed by the president, the law will restrict organised prayer to registered religious communities, re-impose censorship on religious publishing and restrict educational and charity work to churches which have had at least 10 registered communities in Belarus for more than 20 years. [536 words, ENI-02-0338]

Pope canonises Josémaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei

Rome (ENI). Before a record crowd at St Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II has canonised Josémaria Escriva de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei, an institution that has stirred as much admiration as controversy in the Roman Catholic Church world-wide. The consecration of the Spanish-born saint brought 300 000 people to St Peter's Square - "a record crowd for a canonisation", wrote the Turin daily newspaper La Stampa. La Repubblica of Rome noted: "The elevation of Escriva will remain one of the most controversial acts of this pontificate." [408 words, ENI-02-0339]

4 October 2002

Warsaw (ENI). The head of Latvia's Evangelical Lutheran Church has urged voters in upcoming parliamentary elections to support candidates who will fight corruption and defend social justice, while dismissing accusations the church is seeking political power. "These are clearly crucial elections, in which it's very important to elect politicians who will continue our country's move towards membership of NATO and the European Union," said Lutheran Archbishop Janis Vanags. But Vanags rejected media claims that church leaders were backing a newly formed centre-right party led by a Lutheran pastor which is fighting the elections. [471 words, ENI-02-0334]

Role of Orthodox church to be 'more important' as EU enlarges

Amsterdam (ENI). The president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, has told Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I that the Orthodox Church will play a more important role as the European Union brings in mainly Orthodox countries into membership. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I of Constantinople, one of the world's most senior Orthodox leaders, met Prodi in Brussels. The meeting preceded reports that the European Commission would recommend that 10 candidate countries, including Cyprus which has a strong Orthodox presence, be invited to join the EU in 2004. [343 words, ENI-02-0337]

Pastors say they are hounded by ruling party militants in Zimbabwe

Harare (ENI). Pastors in Zimbabwe say their work is being disrupted as they are prevented from ministering to perceived opposition supporters because of threats from militants supporting the ruling Zimbabwe African National African National Union - Patriotic Front. Since January this year, at least three Roman Catholic priests and several nuns have been forced to flee their parishes - two nuns were abducted and later released outside the southern town of Masvingo. Three other pastors were attacked by Zanu-PF militants who accused the clerics of supporting the opposition as the Zimbabwe National Pastors Network says its members have been pressured not to minister to suspected Movement for Democratic Change members. [380 words, ENI-02-0336]

Protestant leader receives Germany's highest award

Bielefeld, Germany (ENI). The leader of Germany's Protestants, Manfred Kock, has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the country's highest award to individuals. Kock, who is chair of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), received the award from President Johannes Rau at a ceremony in Berlin to mark the 12th anniversary of German unification. Making the award to Kock and other recipients of the Order of Merit, Rau said they had made "outstanding achievements for our society". [246 words, ENI-02-0335]

Racing-car cleric brings mass to the fast lane

Oxford, Ohio (ENI). Father Phil De Rea spends most weekends at race tracks throughout the United States, visiting drivers, saying masses and comforting families when mishaps occur, with arguably one of the most unusual ecumenical ministries. For more than 15 years, De Rea has been the Roman Catholic chaplain for the Championship Auto Racing Team (CART), a US-based rival to Europe's Formula One racing series. A boyhood friend of American racing great Mario Andretti, De Rea emphasises compassion and Christian values in what can be a cut-throat environment of commercialism and competition. [446 words, ENI-02-0333]

3 October 2002

New Delhi (ENI). Christians leaders in New Delhi have joined their Hindu, Sikh and Muslim counterparts in a peace march against the spread of hatred in the name of religion. Church of North India Bishop Karam Masih and Roman Catholic Archbishop Vincent Concessao joined prominent national leaders for the final stretch of the five-day march which ended at Raj Ghat - the Mahatma Gandhi memorial - on 2 October, a national holiday commemorating Gandhi's birthday. Christian school children were among hundreds from schools in Delhi who carried placards saying "Shed hatred" and "Let's keep Gandhi alive". [382 words, ENI-02-0332]

Churches called to tackle sin of violence against women

Geneva (ENI). The Lutheran World Federation is calling on churches around the world to tackle the issue of violence against women, which it describes is a "sin" that harms individuals, communities and the church's image. "Violence cuts across all barriers and looms over women of all ages as they cry out for strong affirmative action to be taken," said Priscilla Singh, the LWF's secretary for women in church and society. Singh's message was echoed in the World Health Organization's World Report on Violence and Health which suggests that nearly one in four women will experience sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. [392 words, ENI-02-0331]

Orthodox church to debate future as peace-builder at US meeting

New York (ENI). The Orthodox church will need to define itself in the future as an arbiter and peace-maker in an increasingly violent world, say several participants at a major international conference looking at the role of the church in society. The conference, meeting from 3 to 5 October at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology near Boston, Massachusetts is examining the future of Orthodox churches in the light of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and a rapidly changing international environment. [335 words, ENI-02-0330]

2 October 2002

Geneva (ENI). The general secretary of the World Council of Churches has expressed dismay that none of those involved in past deadly attacks on Christians in Pakistan has faced trial and he has called on the government to bring to book those responsible for the latest killings. Dr Konrad Raiser, the WCC general secretary, wrote to Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, expressing the council's "shock and profound distress" over the 25 September attack on a Christian non-governmental organisation in Karachi. Seven members of the Pakistani ecumenical organisation's staff were killed in the attack. [297 words, ENI-02-0326]

Russian patriarch and Israel's Sharon meet in Moscow

Moscow (ENI). Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church has met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during Sharon's two-day visit to Moscow and expressed concern about Christian pilgrims being unable to visit holy sites in the Middle East. "We are grieving for the victims of terrorist acts and military conflict which is borne by the peoples of Israel and Palestine," Patriarch Alexei told Sharon in a one-hour meeting at St Daniel's Monastery, the patriarch's official residence. [437 words, ENI-02-0328]

Churches say development needed to aid peace process in Sri Lanka

New Delhi (ENI). Church leaders and Christian activists in Sri Lanka have said that action to rebuild war-ravaged areas and restore the economy is now needed to assist the government's bid to seek peace after 19 years of armed conflict. At the same time "Bringing Children Home" an international conference on children affected by armed conflict, started Tuesday in Colombo. The Tamil Tigers, the rebel group fighting in the armed conflict, are said to have recruited children. Welcoming the peace talks, Duleep de Chickera, Anglican bishop of Colombo, said: "Now there is a gradual shift from suspicion to trust." [399 words, ENI-02-0327]

Muslim and Christian leaders in Nigeria sharply divided on Sharia law

Abuja, Nigeria (ENI). Christian and Muslim leaders who have met to discuss religious tension in Nigeria remain sharply divided on the strict Islamic Sharia law that has been implemented in 12 Nigerian states. At a sometimes-tetchy meeting of Nigeria's Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) last weekend, Christian leaders told their Muslim counterparts that the Sharia laws, which call for punishments such as stoning, amputation of hands and floggings for certain offences, were not right for Christians. [400 words, ENI-02-0329]

1 October 2002

Abuja (ENI). Christian leaders have denounced calls from the Nigerian parliament for the impeachment of President Olusegun Obasanjo, warning that it could derail democracy in the country. The executive of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the country's main ecumenical body, representing Protestant, Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, on 25 September called on the nation's legislators to halt moves to impeach the president. [615 words, ENI-02-0325]

Polish churches dedicate 'cemetery of reconciliation' for German civilians

Warsaw (ENI). Polish church leaders have dedicated the country's first cemetery to commemorate German civilians who died in communist hands after Germany's defeat in 1945. The cemetery is at a former internment camp in Lambinowice in southern Silesia where at least 1500 Germans are believed to have died in 1945 and 1946 after being rounded up by Soviet and Polish forces. Those who died, mostly from typhus and maltreatment from camp officials, had been buried in unmarked graves at the camp. [503 words, ENI-02-0324]

Go to ENI Home Page