Rome (ENI). Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Bartholomeos of Constantinople, seen by many Orthodox Christians as their spiritual leader, have met in Rome and pledged to promote church unity, despite difficulties that remain. Pope John Paul expressed regret for the crusaders' plundering of Constantinople - now Istanbul - in 1204 saying it was one of the "painful facts of the past" that had aggravated relations between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox churches. [587 words, ENI-04-0402]

Swedish pastor sentenced to one month's jail for offending homosexuals

Stockholm (ENI). A Swedish court has sentenced a pastor belonging to the Pentecostal movement in Sweden, Ake Green, to a month in prison, under a law against incitement, after he was found guilty of having offended homosexuals in a sermon. Soren Andersson, the president of the Swedish federation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights (RFSL), said on hearing the sentence that religious freedom could never be used as a reason to offend people. "Therefore," he told journalists, "I cannot regard the sentence as an act of interference with freedom of religion." During a sermon in 2003, Green described homosexuality as "abnormal, a horrible cancerous tumour in the body of society". [357 words, ENI-04-0403]

Faith community to play bigger role at Bangkok AIDS conference

Bangkok (ENI). Representatives from more than 100 faith-based organizations say they "will be at the heart and soul" of the 15th International Aids Conference in Bangkok in July. The Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance said that organizations from Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist traditions will highlight the "vital, but often unrecognised role they play in fighting the spread of the virus and caring for those with it". [454 words, ENI-04-0401]

Indian Catholic leader hopeful after new government's assurances

New Delhi (ENI). The new prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh, has told the leader of the country's Roman Catholics that "some of the disturbing trends in recent years", such as attacks on Christians, would be a thing of the past under his new government. Singh also praised Indian Christians for rendering "commendable service" in areas neglected by others, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India told Ecumenical News International after meeting the prime minister. [273 words, ENI-04-0400]

29 June 2004

Bangkok (ENI). Countries in Asia are the worst violators of religious freedom, with Saudi Arabia, North Korea and Laos topping the list, according to the "2004 Report on Religious Freedom" published in Rome by the Italian section of Aid to the Church in Need. The sixth edition of the report published by ACN, an international aid organization of the Roman Catholic Church, looks at 183 countries, detailing abuse, discrimination and persecution linked to religious freedom suffered by various denominations. [369 words, ENI-0399]

US church council lauds Supreme Court ruling on detainees

New York (ENI). The US National Council of Churches has welcomed a Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the legal right of foreign nationals detained at the Guantanamo Bay US military base in Cuba to challenge their confinement. Echoing the court's belief that a "state of war is not a blank cheque for the president", the Rev. Robert Edgar, the NCC's general secretary, said the principle of law had won. [363 words, ENI-04-0398]

Malawi clergy divided over president's election reconciliation bid

Blantyre (ENI). Senior clerics in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Malawi are at loggerheads over an initiative by the new president to promote reconciliation after a High Court challenge to May's general election results. In the poll, the president's United Democratic Front party won with 34 per cent of the votes cast. Churches and civil affairs groups charged that the election was riddled with serious irregularities and violence, and that there was massive vote rigging. [409 words, ENI-04-0397]

SE Asian journalists grapple with 'stereotypes' based on religion

Manila (ENI). Grappling by nations on how to deal with global terrorism has triggered debate among Southeast Asian journalists on ways of helping promote harmony by avoiding stereotypes based on religion. "Dangerous labels can kill and can ignite more conflict. So you can label me with any other adjectives but not with my religion," said Abhoud Syed Linga, executive director of the Institute of Bangsa Moro Studies based in Cotabato City in southern Philippines. [542 words, ENI-04-0396]

28 June 2004

Bielefeld, Germany (ENI). German churches have welcomed a decision by the country's highest court reaffirming the law on shopping hours that does not allow Sunday trading. The law limits opening hours on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and bans almost all shops from opening on Sundays. Exceptions are made on request for shops at airports, railway stations, petrol stations and some tourist areas. [344 words, ENI-04-0391]

Hayford to head Pentecostal group as Evangelicals draft guidelines

Cincinnati, Ohio (ENI). The Rev. Jack Hayford, head of the biggest US congregation of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, which has seen rapid recent growth in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa, has been voted in to lead the denomination. The nationally-known evangelist from Southern California replaces the Rev. Paul Risser, who resigned in March following investment decisions in what turned out to be a scam that could cost the Pentecostal denomination as much as US$15 million. [435 words, ENI-04-0393]

Expelled bishop says Zambian churches abusing freedom of worship

Lusaka (ENI). Expelled Church God in Zambia Bishop John Mambo has said freedom of worship is being abused at an alarming rate in Zambia through daily church conflicts in which some denomination leaders are engaged in power struggles. The former head of his church in Southern and Central Africa, Mambo described his expulsion and that of 15 others from the denomination as shameful to God and the church. Mambo said it was an insult to the church in Zambia and the international church in the United States for an administrative assistant to expel an ordained bishop. [295 words, ENI-04-0395]

Bulgarian church warns against the spell of Harry Potter

Sofia (ENI). The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has lashed out against popular fictional boy wizard Harry Potter, warning that magic spells are both real and dangerous. In a front-page article in the June edition of the official church newspaper, followed by an interview by a senior church official with the mass-circulation daily newspaper 24 Chassa (24 Hours), the church said "magic is not a children's game". [392 words, ENI-0394]

25 June 2004

New York (ENI). The US National Council of Churches, a long-time critic of Washington's policy towards Cuba, has asked the administration of President George W. Bush to reconsider a set of new economic and political measures against Cuba.In a letter to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, NCC General Secretary Robert Edgar said the measures would only serve to continue and even strengthen what Edgar called "the failed policies of the past 40 years". [305 words, ENI-04-0390]

Ecumenical Patriarch's visit to Rome seen as easing of tensions

Sofia (ENI). Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I will visit Rome on June 29 for the celebration of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, in what is seen as a potential thawing of relations between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The Macedonian News Agency reported that Bartholomeos would visit the Vatican at the invitation of Pope John-Paul II to celebrate together the 40th anniversary of the first meeting of the heads of the two Churches, held in Jerusalem. [349 words, ENI-04-0392]

24 June 2004

Canterbury, England (ENI). Opponents of Zimbabwe's ruling party are pinning hopes on the recently appointed Roman Catholic Archbishop of Harare, Robert Christopher Ndlovu, to breathe life into stalled peace talks between President Robert Mugabe's group and the opposition. "No-one knows the new Archbishop's political position yet. But church leaders have played important roles as bridge builders in the past," a source in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) told Ecumenical News International." Ndlovu replaces Archbishop Patrick Chakaipa, who died from cancer in April 2003 at the age of 71, and who Mugabe claimed supported his policies. [424 words, ENI-04-0386]

Norwegians grapple with anti-Semitism and Islamophobia

Stockholm (ENI). Inspired by a Church of Sweden campaign for a just peace in the Middle East, the Norwegian Interchurch Council (Lutheran) and the Islamic Council of Norway, formed a contact group to jointly fight against Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. In a statement, the group said they regard the situation in Israel and Palestine with deep concern. The Islamic Council and the Interchurch Council of the Church of Norway first formed a contact group in 1994 so their adherents could jointly contribute towards peace and justice. [383 words, ENI-04-0387]

US Catholic bishops ease stance on withholding communion

New York (ENI). US Roman Catholic bishops have eased their stance on withholding Holy Communion from Catholic politicians who disagree with church teaching, prohibiting abortion for pregnant women. Instead, the bishops, at a private retreat in the state of Colorado, decided that the church should deny formal honours or awards to such politicians. It should also not provide them a platform from which to speak, they said. [332 words, ENI-04-0388]

UK Christian organization dealing with finance doubles membership

London (ENI). Many churches in Britain have shrinking congregations, but an organization that helps church volunteers hold their own with a welter of financial and accountancy requirements is proving so popular members have doubled in little more than a year. The Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers, at its annual meeting on 7 July, will announce membership of 535 - up from 257 in March 2003. [316 words, ENI-04-0389]

23 June 2004

Vancouver (ENI). Edward Scott, former primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and former moderator of the main governing body of the World Council of Churches, known for his outspokenness on social justice issues, has been killed in a car accident. Scott, 85, died after the car in which he was travelling on 21 June left the highway near Parry Sound, Ontario, and rolled onto a metal culvert. Scott was known as the controversial "Red Primate" to those who disagreed with his many social justice causes, Canada's Anglican Journal reported. [667 words, ENI-04-0384]

Beliefs in hell divide church workers in Finland, but faith is firm

Helsinki (ENI). A Finnish study about commitment to Christian faith among church employees in the country, centring on beliefs such as the existence of hell, has triggered strong national debate and some divided opinions. An investigation by Kati Niemelä, a senior researcher at the Church Research Institute in Finland, circulated in May, gained widespread publicity in the Finnish media. The discussion focussed largely on whether employees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland or parishioners should believe in the doctrine of hell or not. [468 words, ENI-04-0385]

22 June 2004

Manila (ENI). Roman Catholic leaders in the Philippines say the Vatican is concerned about a potentially volatile political situation following elections in Southeast Asia's oldest democracy and which is also the region's largest Christian nation. "The Pope is worried about our political situation and everything happening in our country ... and is praying for us because the Philippines is one of the largest Catholic countries in the world, next to Brazil and Mexico," Bishop Ramon Arguelles, the new head of the archdiocese of Lipa, Batangas told journalists. [419 words, ENI-04-0382]

US religious leaders apologise for Iraqi abuse in TV ads

New York (ENI). The US National Council of Churches (NCC) is promoting an advertisement it hopes to run on Arab television networks in which US religious leaders apologise for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US troops. The advertisements are promoted by FaithfulAmerica.org, a "progressive faith movement" project that the NCC is supporting along with two social advocacy groups, True Majority and Res Publica. In the spots, four US religious leaders - Donald Shriver (Protestant), Imam Feisal Abdur Rauf (Muslim), Sister Betty Obal (Roman Catholic) and Rabbi Arthur Waskow (Jewish) - appear in succession. [442 words, ENI-04-0381]

Serbian Orthodox church pledges closer ties with Roman Catholics

Warsaw (ENI). Serbian Orthodox leaders have pledged closer cooperation with the Roman Catholic church after inaugurating contacts with the Vatican. "We must be aware of the responsibility we bear," Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle told participants at a Belgrade meeting of the Council of European Roman Catholic Bishops Conferences (CCEE). ''If we remain solely at the level of speaking and writing, we will be like a tree with beautiful leaves but without fruit". A joint press statement said closer inter-church contacts ''disproved the position of atheist circles that churches are a divisive factor in society'', and would further "the real spiritual unification of Europe". [359 words, ENI-04-0383]

21 June 2004

Geneva (ENI). European church leaders have welcomed the adoption of a European Constitution, but have noted they would have been happier if the document had an explicit reference to the Christian roots of Europe in its preamble. "After a first attempt at adopting the constitution failed last December this is an important step towards building a more integrated Europe," Dr Keith Clements, General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches said in a statement, the day after the constitution was adopted by the European Union heads of government in Brussels. [431 words, ENI-04-0378]

Indian Christian groups rally behind harassed Jesuit activist in Gujarat

Thrissur, India (ENI). Christian and human rights groups have joined in condemning Gujarat authorities for harassing Roman Catholic Jesuit priest Cedric Prakash who has spearheaded a justice campaign for victims of inter-religious violence in the state. The All India Christian Council, the Global Council of Indian Christians and the All India Catholic Union rebuked the Gujarat government, which is controlled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Their criticism came after police officials summoned the priest for questioning the previous week and threatened to impound his passport. [386 words, ENI-04-0379]

Swedish women use shares in companies to promote values

Stockholm (ENI). As a shareholder in the multinational clothing retailer H&M, the Church of Sweden has the right to take part in the shareholders' general meetings and women from the denomination have exercised these rights, using them to criticise management of the company. Birgitta Lertséus, member of Church of Sweden Women, represented Sweden's Lutheran church at the H&M general meeting, held in Stockholm in May. "I expressed our dissatisfaction with the weak representation of women in the management and board of directors," said Lertséus. [447 words, ENI-04-0380]

Major Byzantine art exhibition proves a hit in New York

New York (ENI). In a city where new art is created and hailed for innovation, an exhibition of three centuries of Byzantine art, dating from 1200 onwards, has proven a surprise hit. Visitors have overwhelmed the Metropolitan Museum's landmark "Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261-1557)", 350 pieces culled from collections in more than 20 countries, museum officials said. This prompted the Metropolitan to extend the showing by an additional day during the upcoming 4 July holiday (US Independence Day) weekend. [383 words, ENI-04-0377]

18 June 2004

Nairobi (ENI). Delegates of the Sudan Ecumenical Forum from Africa, Europe, and North America have hailed recent peace protocols signed between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement /Army and the government of Sudan, but they would like to see a final agreement clinched. Forum chairperson Bishop Kevin Dowling, a South African Roman Catholic, said: "We are concerned the momentum must be continued," He urged the signing of a final and full peace agreement in addition to the protocols of 26 May, in order to end Africa's longest war. [427 words, ENI-04-0375]

UK Anglican priest says media makes girls' murder difficult to forget

London (ENI). Tim Alban Jones, the Anglican priest in a town where two 10-year-old girls were murdered, has said continuing media publicity two years later is making it hard for parents and the community to put the tragedy behind them. Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both aged 10, disappeared in August 2002 from Soham, eastern England. Their bodies were found after a two-week search that made headlines around the world. Ian Huntley, the caretaker at their school, is serving life imprisonment for murdering them. [371 words, ENI-04-0374]

Presbyterian Church membership in US shows sharp decline

New York (ENI). Membership in the Presbyterian Church (USA) declined sharply in 2003, prompting the denomination's leadership to call for "prayer and repentance". Figures released earlier this month by the Louisville, Kentucky-based church show that the denomination had 2 405 311 active and confirmed members at the end of 2003, a drop of 46 658 from 2002 -- the largest proportional decline since 1983. [360 words, ENI-04-0376]

17 June 2004

Nairobi, 17 June (ENI) --The decision by the Anglican Church of Canada to affirm "the integrity and sanctity" of same sex relationships, has been strongly condemned by senior African bishops of the Anglican Communion. African Anglican leaders attending a church summit on HIV/AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya from 7- 10 June met on 10 June over same sex relationships and said they would intensify prayers for the Anglican Communion, which they described as deeply torn by this issue. [356 words, ENI-04-0372]

Defiant Botswana churches reject polio vaccination campaign

Gaborone (ENI). Health authorities in Botswana are facing resistance from some religious groups which refuse to allow children of their members to take polio vaccines, thereby frustrating a government effort to stem the contagious disease. The disease which was believed to have been eradicated 13 years ago has reappeared in Ngamiland district where a case was confirmed prompting the ministry of health to take immediate action. [369 words, ENI-04-0373]

Polish shrine displays Papal shooting memento

Warsaw (ENI). The bullet-holed sash worn by Pope John Paul II when he was shot in Rome 23 years ago has gone on exhibition for the first time in his native Poland. ''This article symbolises both faith and martyrdom,'' said Stanislaw Tomon, spokesperson for the country's Jasna Gora national shrine which launched the showing. ''It is soiled with the blood of a man who was gravely wounded for fulfilling the papal office. As such, it's a living sign of the Holy Father's faithfulness to his vocation.'' [353 words, ENI-04-0371]

16 June 2004

New York, June 16 (ENI) -- The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, has voted to leave the Baptist World Alliance. The convention had accused the alliance of accepting liberal theology including a growing tolerance of homosexuality, support for women in the clergy and "anti-Americanism". Delegates officially cut ties with the alliance at the denomination's annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. [397 words, ENI-04-0368]

Founder of WCC Programme to Combat Racism gets S. African award

Geneva (ENI). President Thabo Mbeki has presented Baldwin Sjollema, the first director of the World Council of Churches' Programme to Combat Racism, with the Oliver Tambo award, the highest honour South Africa gives to civilian foreigners. A 77-year-old Dutch sociologist, who lives near Geneva, Sjollema was decorated by Mbeki on 16 June in Pretoria for his commitment to the liberation of South Africa from its racist ideology of apartheid. [495 words, ENI-04-0370]

US court strikes down challenge to words 'Under God' in pledge

New York, June 16 (ENI) - The United States Supreme Court has, in an 8-0 decision, struck down a challenge brought by an avowed atheist who did not want his daughter to recite the words "under God" in the US Pledge of Allegiance. While the decision keeps the words in the pledge for now, it was not a clear-cut victory for those who had wanted the court to solidly affirm the disputed part of the pledge, which the father said violated the traditional US separation of church and state. [278 words, ENI-04-0369 ]

15 June 2004

Lusaka (ENI). The government in Lusaka has commended churches for emulating the early European missionaries in the provision of health care services for the poor through the Church Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ). Speaking at the 34th Annual Council of the CHAZ in Lusaka, Vice-President Nevers Mumba recalled the history of David Livingstone, the Scottish doctor from the London Missionary Society, who died in Zambia, establishing missions intended to uplift standards of the poor. [368 words, ENI-04-0366]

Award-winning film shows Kenya-Danish culture clash

Copenhagen (ENI). Viewers of an award-winning film, made jointly by Danish television and the World Council of Churches, witness a clash of church civilizations that is to be used for teaching confirmation classes by the Church of Denmark. The Danish/WCC film in May earned top honours at the 15th European TV Festival of Religious Programmes - the most important festival of its kind - in the documentary category. [517 words, ENI-04-0365]

Canadian Anglicans show dismay and delight on gay, lesbians stance

Vancouver (ENI). Delight, dismay and disagreement have greeted the Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod affirmation, with a show of hands, of "the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships". This decision came barely 18 hours after deferring approval to the blessing of gay unions. And later nine bishops issued a statement saying that delegates "committed an error when they approved the statement" affirming the integrity and sanctity of same-sex relationships. They felt the resolution passed pre-empted a study authorised in an earlier vote. [486 words, ENI-04-0367]

14 June 2004

Nairobi, 14 June (ENI) --Church leaders from 39 African countries, meeting in Nairobi, have declared an all out war against AIDS and poverty, two problems threatening to annihilate the continent's population. "Africa has sounded a distress call to reverse depopulation of her people by the HIV/AIDS pandemic," members of the All Africa Conference of Churches said in a statement at the end of a three-day summit. [349 words, ENI-04-0364]

Church of Scotland moderator calls for stronger European identity

Geneva (ENI). The moderator of the Church of Scotland, Dr Alison Elliot, has rued the attitude shown by British people during the recent elections for the European Parliament, and has called for a stronger identity for the continent. "I consider myself very fortunate in having spent a lot of time in mainland Europe," said Elliot, speaking at an event to mark the 500th anniversary of Swiss reformer, Heinrich Bullinger, in Zurich. [384 words, ENI-04-0362]

Polish Orthodox doubt new property law will have fair application

Warsaw (ENI). Poland's minority Orthodox church says the right it has won to reclaim properties seized under communist rule without protracted administrative procedures will not necessarily result in even-handed treatment before the law. "Unfortunately, written laws don't mean the same for everyone here," said Grzegorz Misijuk, spokesman for Poland's 570 000-member Autocephallous Orthodox church. ''Although each year begins with declarations of ecumenical intent, the rest of the year tells a different story." [397 words, ENI-04-363]

11 June 2004

Manila (ENI). After recently declaring there was no conspiracy to commit massive fraud in the 10 May Philippines' national elections, a Roman Catholic bishops group is now caught between two warring political groups, feuding over the poll. "At least 17 bishops and Social Action Directors nationwide report that elections in their respective dioceses have been generally clean, honest and peaceful" and although there were reports of vote-buying and vote-rigging these were "isolated cases and would not change the overall election results." [417 words, ENI-04-0360]

Churches in Kenya await court decision over Islamic courts

Nairobi (ENI). Church leaders in Kenya are awaiting a court decision on their opposition to the entrenchment of Islamic courts, popularly known as Kadhis, contained in a draft constitution proposed in March by a national body honing the new document. The leaders from the Methodist, the Presbyterian and the leading Pentecostal churches under the banner, The Kenya Church, signed a sworn declaration demanding the removal of the courts, a move that the Anglican Church has also backed. [379 words, ENI-04-0361]

UK vicar turned best-selling author sees writing as part of his ministry

London (ENI). Graham Taylor finds no conflict between being a best-selling writer and an Anglican vicar. He writes extremely fast, leaving plenty of time for his parish duties in Cloughton, northern England. As G. P. Taylor, he is the author of Shadowmancer, the children's book that reached number one in both Britain and the United States - a feat he hopes to equal with his second book, Wormwood. This has just been published in the UK and will appear in the US towards the end of the year. Both books tackle the largest of themes - the attempted overthrow of God by the forces of darkness. Gutsy teenagers pull off feats of derring-do against a terrifying array of evil spirits, with help from the Archangel Raphael in disguise. [753 words, ENI-04-0359]

10 June 2004

Nairobi (ENI). Churches in Africa have been urged to tap into the US$2 billion Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and to redefine their missionary role to patients by making use of available resources to fight HIV/AIDS in the continent. "You have the facilities, the trust and the influence," Vinand Nantulya, an official of the Global Fund told the heads of African churches gathered for an HIV/AIDS summit in Nairobi. "But we are concerned that you are not in the arena." [456 words, ENI-04-0358]

Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul court for dismissal of Bulgarian

Sofia (ENI). Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, soon after a bruising dispute with the Greek Orthodox Church, faces new difficulties after appearing in an Istanbul court on criminal charges of illegally dismissing a Bulgarian priest. Bartholomeos I, known as the "first among equals" of Orthodox Christians, appearing in his clerical robes, defended himself in an Istanbul court against charges of breaking the law by dismissing a Bulgarian priest. [469 words, ENI-04-0357]

Journalist from Alsace winner of European religion writer of the year

Geneva (ENI). Jacques Fortier, religion writer for the Strasbourg-based daily newspaper Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace, was on Thursday named the winner of the 2003 John Templeton award for the European Religion Writer of the Year. The announcement of the award, valued at 5000 Swiss Francs, was made in Geneva. Fortier's entry included an article on the tensions between the Russian Orthodox Church and Roman Catholics; a feature story on a local museum dedicated to Jean-Frédéric Oberlin (1740-1826), a well-known Alsatian pastor who was also a pedagogue, an agronomist, a botanist, an artist and a philosopher; and a short story on Saint Nicholas. [402 words, ENI-04-0355]

Evangelicals in Chile explain why they are burgeoning

Santiago (ENI). Chile has one of the fastest growing number of Evangelical adherents in Latin America even though its relatively successful economy, in a continent plagued with poverty and despair, is seen as a potential counterpoint to this situation. Chilean Evangelicals - or those who do not identify with any organized, traditional confession from the Protestant churches - are mostly Pentecostals and today they represent more than 15 per cent of the 16 million population. [717 words, ENI-04-0356]

9 June 2004

Thrissur, India (ENI). The death of a Christian in custody, who had been facing charges under Pakistan's draconian blasphemy law, after he was hit fatally by a policeman guarding him in hospital, has left Pakistani church leaders feeling "helpless". "We are very sad about what has happened," the Rev. Arthur James, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan told Ecumenical News International. "I can only say we are feeling helpless. Churches can do nothing but raise slogans about this." [369 words, ENI-04-0353]

Danish Cabinet minister accused of muzzling Lutheran council

Copenhagen (ENI). A conflict has been brewing between the Danish government's minister of church affairs, Tove Fergo, and the Council on International Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark about who speaks on behalf of the church. Fergo, herself a Lutheran pastor, claims the council, which is responsible for the Lutheran church's contacts to other denominations nationally and internationally, has arrogated too much power to itself by making public statements. [425 words, ENI-04-0352]

Thai Buddhist retreat offers haven for all faiths

Chiang Mai, Thailand (ENI). Glad to be back at work? "At least, now I can relax. My holidays were so busy; I'm exhausted!" Sound familiar? Holidays can be hectic, visiting friends from dusk to dawn and going everywhere. Getting back to the office, by comparison, may seem like blessed relief. Yet it need not be so, especially if you have the discipline to spend your time seriously winding down. So, what about spending your vacation in a Buddhist monastery? Sound more daft than daunting? Believe me, there are few better ways of rejuvenating body, mind and spirit. [1061 words, ENI-04-0353]

8 June 2004

New York (ENI). Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, is being mourned as a symbol of an ascendant America, that was witnessing an increasingly vociferous US Christian right. Reagan, the former Hollywood actor and California governor, who died on 5 June at the age of 93 at his home in Los Angeles, aligned himself publicly with Christian conservatives at a time when they became a potent political force in the 1980s. [430 words, ENI-04-0350]

Church of Ireland bishop warns of new danger from paramilitaries

London (ENI). Paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland are destroying the communities that they had purportedly been founded to protect as they turn to crime, Anglican Church of Ireland Bishop Alan Harper has warned. "The truth is that communities are being destroyed by the very organizations that arose to be their protectors," said the Rev. Harper, whose Connor diocese incorporates some of the worst affected former conflict areas of North Belfast. "Paramilitaries consume and destroy their host community." [432 words, ENI-04-0351]

7 June 2004

Bern (ENI). Pope John Paul II was fired up by thousands of young people who enthusiastically greeted him during his two-day visit to Switzerland, the 103rd foreign trip for the pontiff that ended with his return to Rome on 6 June. The trip fell short, however, as an exercise in ecumenical bridge-building with the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches refusing to attend a Papal Mass in the Swiss capital because the Roman Catholic Church does not allow Protestants and Catholics to share the Eucharist (Holy Communion). [676 words, ENI-04-0347]

Holy Land Christian leaders believe prayers may have been answered

Jerusalem (ENI). Christian leaders in the Holy Land believe some of their prayers may have been answered with the dismissal of a top Israeli bureaucrat, who had been denying visas for clergy and volunteers. The firing of Israel's Population Register director, Hertzel Gedj, by the interior minister, has raised some hopes that Christians have made a critical gain in the battle over the issuing of visas. [367 words, ENI-04-0349]

Zambian interior minister censures 'corrupt' pastors

Lusaka (ENI). Zambia's Home Affairs minister, Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has lambasted what he says is an increasing number of church leaders who do not have a "passionate desire" to serve God but rather seek to use the pulpit to get rich. Shikapwasha, a pastor in the Family Worship Centre in Lusaka, made this observation when he ordained Enock Njovu as a pastor of the Kabulonga Baptist Church in Lusaka. [334 words, ENI-04-0348]

4 June 2004

New Delhi, 4 June (ENI)--Churches and Christian action groups in India have urged the new coalition government of the world's largest democracy to take corrective action to make religious minorities feel secure and to provide equal opportunities for them. The demand came after the United Progressive Alliance, led by the secular Indian National Congress party took control of the country on 22 May following its electoral defeat of a coalition led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in May. [358 words, ENI-04-0346]

Anglican head said to support Prince Charles marrying divorcee

London, 4 June (ENI)--The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has reportedly said he would support the marriage of Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and his long-time companion, Camilla Parker Bowles. Williams' view was disclosed by London's The Times newspaper on 3 June, quoting an unnamed "friend of the prince". The newspaper said that Williams, after secret talks with Charles last year, had dropped his objections to the couple - both divorced - marrying. [368 words, ENI-04-0344]

Cleric elected by Maori church heads New Zealand Polynesia Anglicans

Auckland, 4 June (ENI)--The Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia has elected Te Whakahuihui Vercoe as its archbishop and primate, the second Maori to hold the position. "The Anglican Church in these islands took an historic leap forward in its bicultural journey on 14 May when the Most Reverend Vercoe was installed as archbishop and primate," the church said in a statement. [287 words, ENI-04-0343]

Australian 'traditional' Anglican urges Zambia church to be outspoken

Lusaka, 4 June (ENI)--Archbishop John Hepworth, the head of the worldwide Traditional Anglican Communion, has called on the church in Zambia to speak out on important national issues. Hepworth, whose branch of the church is known as The Anglican Catholic Church of Australia, was a guest of Zambia's Continuing Anglican Communion during the ordination of four Zambians to the priesthood, at Makeni Ecumenical Centre in Lusaka. [188 words, ENI-04-0345]

3 June 2004

New York (ENI). Deep concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan have spurred more than 100 members of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church in the United States to demonstrate outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C. The protest was led by Francis Campbell Gray, the assistant Episcopal bishop for the state of Virginia. It aimed to draw attention to human rights abuses in Darfur, western Sudan and to protest about a seizure of church offices in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. [423 words, ENI-04-0342]

Canadian Anglicans defer decision on same-sex blessings till 2007

Vancouver (ENI). Delegates to the Anglican Church of Canada's general synod have voted to delay a decision on the acceptance of same-sex blessings until its next meeting in 2007. The proposal at the Canadian church's main legislative body, that individual dioceses should have a "local option" to accept or deny such a rite for parishioners, had led to fierce debate in the church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. [241 words, ENI-04-0341]

2 June 2004

Rome (ENI). Pope John Paul II will make his first international trip since visiting Slovakia in September with a two-day visit to Switzerland, scheduled to begin on 5 June, that is facing disputes over priestly celibacy, the ordination of women, and relations with Protestant churches. The Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches said it would not attend a Papal Mass in the Swiss capital, Bern, on Sunday because the Roman Catholic Church does not allow Protestants and Roman Catholics to share the Eucharist (Holy Communion). [524 words, ENI-04-0339]

Canadian Anglicans elect leader as church considers same-sex blessings

Vancouver (ENI). Archbishop Andrew S. Hutchison of Montreal has been elected primate, or senior leader, of the Anglican Church of Canada, as the church's synod prepares to vote on the issue of blessing same-sex partnerships. Hutchison, aged 65, was elected on the fourth ballot, taking 165 of the 261 votes cast at the meeting of the general synod, the church's main legislative body, in St Catherine's, Ontario, the Anglican church stated. [332 words, ENI-04-0340]

Indian church 'Communion' seen as new landmark in unity

New Delhi (ENI). Three churches in India have celebrated their coming together as the Communion of Churches in India at a solemn ceremony in the Indian capital. The inauguration of the new communion, grouping the Church of North India, the Church of South India, and the Mar Thoma Church, all of which say they have links to Anglicanism, was marked at a service in New Delhi. [468 words, ENI-04-0338]

1 June 2004

Quito (ENI). Cuba faces a tense political climate, marked by US restrictions seen as strengthening economic sanctions against the communist nation, and opposition leaders and churches are urging the holding of a national dialogue to discuss the future of the country. "The situation here is so difficult, following the announcement by President George Bush of his administration's new plan to foster political changes in the island, that some people compare it to the climate of the October 1962 missile crisis," said Enrique Lopez Oliva, a journalist and writer on religion affairs, in an interview with Ecumenical News International from Havana. [626 words, ENI-04-0337]

Disband fraudulent elections' watchdog, demand Malawi clergy

Blantyre (ENI). Leading church groups in Malawi want the Malawi Electoral Commission to be disbanded as they say it causes electoral chaos by triggering court cases and had therefore failed to manage national general elections held on 20 May. The Public Affairs Committee, a civil affairs umbrella group backed by some church leaders, was joined by other prominent clerics in urging Malawi's new president to speedily investigate corruption scandals involving senior public officers in the previous government who amassed large wealth within short periods, outside the law. [518 words, ENI-04-0336]

Polish church dismisses call for supermarket chapels as stunt

Warsaw (ENI). A proposal that chapels be built in Poland's booming post-communist shopping malls and hypermarkets has been rejected as a "marketing gimmick" by the chief spokesman for the country's Roman Catholic bishops' conference. US shopping centre designer Eric Kuhne told Poland's Zycie Warszawy daily newspaper that Catholic chapels in hypermarkets would enable the shopping centres to be "connected to the culture and traditions of the city". They would bring hypermarkets "closer to the faithful" at a time when more and more Polish families were choosing to spend Sundays shopping, the architect said. [369 words, ENI-04-0335]

Amnesty's annual report rebukes governments, armed groups

New York (ENI). In a report that strongly rebukes governments and armed groups alike, Amnesty International said the past year produced "the most sustained attack on human rights and international humanitarian law in 50 years". The international human rights advocacy group said in its yearly report released in London and in Washington that a "war on global values" was destroying the human rights of ordinary people and leading to a "world of growing mistrust, fear and division". While the report was not a formal examination of abuses committed on religious grounds, it appraised abuses committed in the name of values and religious ideologies. [468 words, ENI-04-0334]

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