Jerusalem (ENI). Palestinian Christians in the Gaza Strip have joined with leaders from the Islamist movement Hamas to protest against Israeli military operations in Gaza and in Lebanon, while calls for a halt to aerial bombing by Israel seems to have been heeded for a time. In Gaza, protesting Palestinian Christians called on the international community to aid the Palestinian and Lebanese people in the face of "Israeli aggression". International agencies, church groups and governments have pleaded for a halt to fighting to allow civilians to flee, and to let in humanitarian aid. [624 words, ENI-06-0608]

Russians now in line, to venerate saints' relics, in place of Lenin

Moscow (ENI). Soviet citizens used to stand in endless lines to venerate Vladimir Lenin's embalmed remains on Red Square. Now Orthodox believers are standing in round-the-clock lines to venerate saints' relics. In the latest example of such religious fervour, over 40 days nearly 2.5 million believers across Russia, Ukraine and Belarus venerated what Orthodox Christians believe to be St John the Baptist's hand, the Moscow Patriarchate reported after the relic's return to Montenegro, its home since 1941. [355 words, ENI-06-0607]

Zambian bishops pre-empt election announcement with guidelines

Lusaka (ENI). Zambia's Catholic bishops have issued a pastoral statement, setting guidelines for the upcoming 2006 elections, the fourth since the country's return to multiparty politics in 1991. President Levy Mwanawasa has announced 28 September as the date for the elections and he has dissolved the national parliament and cabinet. [313 words, ENI-06-0609]

28 July 2006

Geneva (ENI). There is "an eerie silence" surrounding the "most deadly of all wars" World Council of Churches' head, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, has told churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo before the country's first democratic elections in 46 years. WCC general secretary Kobia, in a pastoral letter to member churches in the DRC ahead of the 30 July elections has appealed to Congolese leaders - and to the wider world - to provide resources and good governance to enable progress in the central African country that has the largest UN peacekeeping force in the world. [524 words, ENI-06-0604]

Christians protest tightening of anti-conversion law in Indian state

New Delhi (ENI). Christian groups have decried changes to laws said to enshrine "freedom of religion" by legislators in India's central state of Madhya Pradesh, ruled by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), a party opponents describe as having a Hindu nationalist agenda. Under an amendment to the Freedom of Religion Act passed without discussion in the state legislature, the government now requires persons changing their religion to report to authorities about it one month before doing so. The existing law requires people changing their religion to report this to the government within one month of making the move. [441 words, ENI-06-0603]

Korea churches urge Bush to talk and lift sanctions on North Korea

Seoul (ENI). The head of Korea's National Council of Churches has written to US President George W. Bush urging the lifting of sanctions on North Korea and also the use of diplomacy to replace an armistice signed on the Korean Peninsula in 1953 with a peace agreement. Anglican Bishop Park Kyung-Jo, president of the National Council of Churches in Korea said he had sent his letter on behalf of churches to Bush. In it he said: "It is generally understood that the sanctions against North Korea since 1950 have been enforced by the USA in its own political interest. Experts indicate that the sanctions against North Korea have been one of the significant causes of the increasing suffering of the North Korean people." [523 words, ENI-06-0605]

Boesak accuses S. Africa's ANC of reinstating race division language

Cape Town (ENI). The former president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Rev. Allan Boesak, a one-time leader of South Africa's African National Congress in the Western Cape province, has provoked a storm in the ANC after telling trade unionists the ruling party has brought back the language of racial division. Boesak told a National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa conference held in Cape Town that South Africa has brought back the language of racial division and it needs to say this is wrong. Boesak noted, "We took the wrong direction." [380 words, ENI-06-0606]

27 July 2006

Jerusalem (ENI). Holy Land Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan says the only way to stop all the military operations in the region and to ensure that no more human life is taken, is to negotiate around the unsolved and urgent core issue - the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "It is time to negotiate around the unsolved and urgent core issue," said Bishop Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land in a pastoral letter. [431 words, ENI-06-0602]

Churches, except for Catholics, back first real Congo poll in 46 years

Nairobi (ENI). The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) says its supports the elections scheduled for 30 July in the Democratic Republic of Congo despite reported pre-voting irregularities in the country's first democratic poll in 46 years. But the country's Roman Catholic bishops have refused to endorse the poll, although the elections have received the backing of their counterparts in South Africa. [395 words, ENI-06-0600]

HIV among aboriginal groups to get hearing at Toronto conference

Vancouver, Canada (ENI). The 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto with delegates from 153 countries and 7000 participants will meet in a prosperous country which has a relatively low rate of HIV infection on a global scale. What delegates might not know is that one particular group of Canadians has been particularly hard hit by infections. Governmental and church workers fighting to contain the disease face a difficult battle trying to stem HIV infections among aboriginal Canadians. [459 words, ENI-06-0601]

26 July 2006

Geneva (ENI). The Conference of European Churches has added to calls for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East and the release of all hostages, while in Beirut, two Christian youth and student groups had warned the violence could have negative repercussions on Christians in the region. "The call for a cease-fire has up to now gone unheeded by those who have the power to effect it," said CEC general secretary Archdeacon Colin Williams in a statement. [362 words, ENI-06-0599]

Nowhere is safe in South Darfur residents tell aid agencies

Nyala, Darfur (ENI). People living in South Darfur camps in Sudan continue to live in fear despite the signing of a cease-fire in May. "We came here to be protected but we are not safe," is the resounding echo from a group of sheikhs housed in a refugee camp in Bilel in South Darfur. "There are bandits and armed groups both inside and outside the camps." Men say they dare not leave the camps for fear of being killed, and women are afraid that if they leave the camps to collect firewood they run the risk of being attacked by armed militias. [614 words, ENI-06-0596]

Kenya archbishop backs opponents of changes to HIV drugs law

Nairobi (ENI). Kenyan Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi has joined civil society groups, HIV/AIDS activists and people living with HIV in opposing an amendment to a law that could lead to an increase in the cost of some essential drugs by 1000 per cent. "This is incredible and unacceptable," Nzimbi told Ecumenical News International. "There has to be a consideration for poor Kenyans who just cannot afford the drugs." [365 words, ENI-06-0598]

Founder of Soviet secret police 'loved Christ', reports newspaper

Moscow (ENI). Feliks Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet secret police, "loved Christ very much", Argument i Fakty, a Russian weekly newspaper published in Moscow has reported. The words were attributed by the newspaper to Dzerzhinsky's sister Yadwiga who is believed to have died in 1949. "Christ's commandments were deeply rooted in his heart," the newspaper quotes her in a 19 July report as having written of her brother, who organized mass arrests and executions and was known as "Iron Feliks". He was also known for helping a huge number of orphans and homeless people who appeared after the Bolshevik Revolution and Russian Civil War. [343 words, ENI-06-0597]

25 July 2006

Cape Town (ENI). The South African Council of Churches (SACC) has called on the government in Pretoria to help broker peace in the Middle East crisis by inviting representatives of warring groups - including the Israeli, Palestine and Lebanon leadership - to meet in South Africa to negotiate an end to hostilities in the region. The SACC represents all of the country's major Christian denominations and it said the process, which would be facilitated by the South African government, could be modelled on the country's post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission. [514 words, ENI-06-0592]

Philippine bishops in coup row accuse Arroyo of dirty tricks

Manila (ENI). Six Roman Catholic bishops who have been outspoken critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's government have accused the administration of "dirty tricks" after being accused of fomenting a conspiracy against the national leader. The bishops spoke out against illegal gambling said to involve top officials, extra-judicial killings allegedly involving military and police agents, and some have filed impeachment complaints against Arroyo to eke out the truth behind accusations of vote-rigging in elections during 2004. Now they are fending off allegations that they were involved in a coup plot to unseat Arroyo in February. [420 words, ENI-06-0595]

Orthodox church speaks out in feud over British bishop

Moscow (ENI). The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has condemned its Constantinople counterpart based in Istanbul for receiving into its fold the former administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate's London-based Diocese of Sourozh. Bishop Basil Osborne joined the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in June after clashing with Moscow over the course for the British diocese. [369 words, ENII-06-0593] Jerusalem gay pride festival called off due to Middle East fighting

Jerusalem (ENI). Plans to hold a gay pride festival in Jerusalem that encountered strong opposition from religious leaders have been cancelled due to the fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. "Now is not the appropriate time for celebrations," said Hagai El-Ad, one of the organizers of the festival. The proposal to hold the week-long international festival in Jerusalem had helped Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders find a rare common ground in their opposition to a celebration they said was sacrilegious, especially by being held in the Holy City. [232 words, ENI-06-0594]

25 July 2006

Cape Town (ENI). The South African Council of Churches (SACC) has called on the government in Pretoria to help broker peace in the Middle East crisis by inviting representatives of warring groups - including the Israeli, Palestine and Lebanon leadership - to meet in South Africa to negotiate an end to hostilities in the region. The SACC represents all of the country's major Christian denominations and it said the process, which would be facilitated by the South African government, could be modelled on the country's post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission. [514 words, ENI-06-0592]

Philippine bishops in coup row accuse Arroyo of dirty tricks

Manila (ENI). Six Roman Catholic bishops who have been outspoken critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's government have accused the administration of "dirty tricks" after being accused of fomenting a conspiracy against the national leader. The bishops spoke out against illegal gambling said to involve top officials, extra-judicial killings allegedly involving military and police agents, and some have filed impeachment complaints against Arroyo to eke out the truth behind accusations of vote-rigging in elections during 2004. Now they are fending off allegations that they were involved in a coup plot to unseat Arroyo in February. [420 words, ENI-06-0595]

Russian Orthodox church speak out in feud over British bishop

Moscow (ENI). The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has condemned its Constantinople counterpart based in Istanbul for receiving into its fold the former administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate's London-based Diocese of Sourozh. Bishop Basil Osborne joined the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in June after clashing with Moscow over the course for the British diocese. [369 words, ENI-06-0593]

Jerusalem gay pride festival called off due to Middle East fighting

Jerusalem (ENI). Plans to hold a gay pride festival in Jerusalem that encountered strong opposition from religious leaders have been cancelled due to the fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. "Now is not the appropriate time for celebrations," said Hagai El-Ad, one of the organizers of the festival.The proposal to hold the week-long international festival in Jerusalem had helped Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders find a rare common ground in their opposition to a celebration they said was sacrilegious, especially by being held in the Holy City. [232 words, ENI-06-0594]

24 July 2006

Geneva (ENI). Christian groups that advocate fair trade say the collapse of talks aimed a securing new rules for conducting international commerce is a blow against poor people and puts the entire World Trade Organization in jeopardy. "It seems that the selfish intransigence of the US and Europe has finally wrecked any chance of a successful outcome for these trade talks which were meant to help developing countries," said Claire Melamed, the senior trade analyst for British-based Christian Aid. [522 words, ENI-06-0591]

Lutherans and Catholics hail agreement in Seoul with Methodists

Geneva (ENI). A top Lutheran leader has hailed a decision by the world's Methodist churches to sign up to an agreement that brought Catholics and Lutherans closer together on a key issue that rent them apart at the time of the Protestant Reformation. "We have overcome a theological difference, which has divided Western Christianity since the time of the Reformation," the Rev. Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation told a global meeting of Methodists in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. [398 words, ENI-06-0588]

Sri Lanka bishop fights Britain's visa fingerprint obligation

Colombo (ENI). The Anglican Communion has its headquarters in London but Anglican Bishop Duleep de Chickera of Sri Lanka says he will not visit Britain unless it lifts the mandatory fingerprinting of visa applicants from his nation, or applies it to citizens of all countries. "This is discriminatory and an insult to the Sri Lankan citizens," said Chickera, as he described his campaign against British fingerprinting requirements for Sri Lankan visa applicants, along with citizens of several African nations. "I know this decision is a costly one for us as our mother church is there. But, my conscience does not permit me to honour this partisan requirement," Chickera told Ecumenical News International. [301 words, ENI-06-0589]

Zambia, Kenya bishops condemn Milingo's campaign on celibacy

Lusaka/Nairobi (ENI). Roman Catholic bishops in Zambia and Kenya have denounced calls by former Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo for the Vatican to lift the celibacy rule for priests. The president of the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu, took the unusual step of criticising unnamed local churches that came out in support of Milingo's move to fight for the abolition of celibacy in the Catholic Church. [437 words, ENI-06-0590]

21 July 2006

Rome (ENI). World Christian leaders, including the Pope and the head of the World Council of Churches, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, have called for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East while urging their faithful to pray for peace in the region. Pope Benedict XVI called for a day of prayer and penance on 23 July. Separately, Kobia, in a pastoral letter appealed to WCC members to urge their governments to exercise pressure for an immediate cease-fire. [575 words, ENI-06-0585]

Church groups demand Lebanon-Israel cease-fire to deal with crisis

Jerusalem/Vatican City (ENI). Church relief agencies are pleading for an urgent cease-fire so emergency assistance can be provided to hundreds of thousands of civilians uprooted and threatened by Israeli bombarding of Lebanon and Hezbollah attacks on Israel. "The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is reaching catastrophic levels," said the Geneva-based Action by Churches Together International noting that the Middle East Council of Churches had set up an emergency council to deal with the calamity and destruction in Lebanon. [504 words, ENI-06-0584]

World Methodists agree to sign up to Lutheran-Catholic agreement

Seoul (ENI). World Methodists have agreed to endorse a 1999 Lutheran-Roman Catholic agreement on the doctrine of justification, a key doctrinal question at the time of the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The endorsement came at a meeting in Seoul of the 500-member governing body of the World Methodist Council in advance of the 20-24 July World Methodist Conference in the South Korean capital. [249 words, ENI-06-0587]

Zambian bishops warn against bringing tribal politics into election

Lusaka (ENI). Roman Catholic Church leaders are warning Zambia's electorate to be wary of politicians intent on splitting the nation on tribal or regional lines ahead of a general election scheduled for later this year when a new president will be chosen. Some commentators have expressed fears tribalism is developing in the southern African country after the leadership of the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) became dominated by Tongas from the southern region. The split follows the election of Hakainde Hichilema who has succeeded a fellow Tonga, the late Anderson Mazoka, as party president. [348 words, ENI-06-0586]

20 July 2006

Seoul (ENI). One of the largest Protestant gatherings ever in Korea has begun in Seoul at the 19th World Methodist Conference where global church unity and the unification of a country split in the Cold War, teetering on uncertainty, are expected to engage delegates. Korean delegates present for the start of the conference said that following the recent launch of a series of test missiles by the North that triggered fears of regional nuclear proliferation, there would be special prayers and discussions on the peaceful unification of their country. [450 words, ENI-06-0582]

Churches urge talks between Somalia president and Islamists

Nairobi (ENI). African churches are backing a move supported by some of the international community for Somalia's interim president, Abdullahi Yusuf, to hold peace talks with the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which controls much of the southern part of the country and is said to have the backing of al-Qaeda. "It will be easier for the transitional government to engage in negotiations with one group than it is to try to deal with various warlords," said the All Africa Conference of Churches in a statement. The African church grouping said an opportunity of reaching lasting peace had presented itself in the talks and it should not be squandered. [335 words, ENI-06-0580]

Brazil's Methodists vote to reject cooperation with Catholics

Brasilia (ENI-ALC). The general council of the Methodist Church in Brazil has voted to withdraw from interchurch bodies that include the Roman Catholic Church and non-Christian groups in membership. "This is a real backward step," Methodist Bishop Adriel de Souza Maia told the Latin American and Caribbean News Agency (ALC) following the decision taken at the meeting of the denomination's general council at Aracruz in the state of Espirito Santo. [572 words, ENI-06-0581]

German church campaign against forced prostitution to continue

Bielefeld, Germany (ENI). Church officials in Germany have pledged to continue a campaign against human trafficking although fears about a massive rise in forced prostitution during the soccer World Cup proved largely unfounded. "We are confident that in the long run we can succeed in raising public awareness about the human rights violations against women," said Michael Handrick, head of the campaign organized by the "Diakonisches Werk", the social service agency of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). [340 words, ENI-06-0583]

19 July 2006

London (ENI). Christians in Lebanon, Israel and throughout the world are praying for an immediate cessation of hostilities that have engulfed the Middle East and wreaked havoc in a country that 10 days ago was edging back to normality after decades of war. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said in a letter to the heads of churches in Lebanon: "I have been alarmed at the spiral of violence, the vicious circle of attack and retaliation, that has developed over the last few days." [498 words, ENI-06-0579]

World Methodists to sign up to Lutheran-Catholic agreement

Geneva (ENI). A global gathering of Methodist churches is set to sign up to a groundbreaking agreement between Lutherans and Roman Catholics on the doctrine of justification, a key doctrinal question at the time of the 16th century Protestant Reformation. "This was one of the issues that created the split that formed the Protestant church," said the Rev. George H. Freeman, general secretary of the World Methodist Council. He was peaking in advance of the World Methodist Conference in Seoul. [575 words, ENI-06-0577]

Sri Lanka Tamil fishermen 'caught between devil and deep blue sea'

Potpathy, Sri Lanka (ENI). The fishing community in Sri Lanka's troubled north and east is suffering intensely. Some families are forced to sneak illegally across the sea into neighbouring India, says a prominent church leader as the ethnically-riven island slides into a state of full-out civil war once again. "What's the point of going for fishing in a situation like this? It's better to do something else," says fisherman B. Gnanaselvem, from Potpathy, a hamlet near Point Pedro, the northern tip of Sri Lanka that depends on the resources of the sea. [530 words, ENI-06-0576]

Hong Kong Christian leader urges legislature: Protect asylum seekers

Hong Kong (ENI). A Hong Kong Christian leader has urged legislators to formulate an asylum policy and to safeguard the basic human rights of those seeking haven in the territory. The Rev. Hans Lutz, spokesperson of the Hong Kong Christian Council's justice and social concern committee, attended a legislative council panel meeting on 18 July. There, he asked the Hong Kong government to provide asylum seekers basic assistance such as shelter, food, clothing, medical care and education for children. [336 words, ENI-06-0578]

18 July 2006

Manila (ENI). The Philippine government is interceding with the Vatican for Roman Catholic churches and other religious facilities to offer shelter to overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon after the bombardment by Israel of Beirut and southern Lebanon. "Our countrymen will be moved to areas where the [Philippine] embassy can ensure their safety, such as Catholic parishes and churches," said the Philippines foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo. [460 words, ENI-06-0575]

Churches in Zambia speak out on 'indecent dressing' among women

Lusaka (ENI). Some Christian leaders in Zambia are calling for the Church in their country to play a stronger role in fighting moral decay and indecent dressing by women, seen in some quarters as a trigger to sexual promiscuity in a nation ravaged by HIV/AIDS. At the same time other church members have warned that strident calls about female attire can trigger violence against women. The United Church of Zambia Copperbelt Presbytery bishop, the Rev. Committee Njase, has urged the church in his country to play a critical role in fighting the increasing levels of indecent dressing and moral decay among Zambian women. [554 words, ENI-06-0574]

Argentina author says pastors, churches can't diagnose depression

Buenos Aires (ENI-ALC). Cuban author Pastor Jorge A. Leon says neither churches nor their ministers are automatically qualified to diagnose depression. Pastor Leon, who has lived in Argentina for many years questioned an article published in the La Nacion newspaper advocating religious training as an efficient way to help people who are depressed. The author of "Pastoral Psychology for all Christians" and another 15 books about the subject, Leon argues that depression is not a spiritual state but is an illness caused by various factors and which has many forms that frequently even doctors are not willing to diagnose it and prefer to use the backing of a team. [390 words, ENI-06-0573]

18th century missionary inspires Indian women in equality quest

Chennai, India (ENI). The work of a Protestant missionary from Germany who arrived in India 300 years ago and saw education as essential for human development, is inspiring Lutheran women in the south Asian country to campaign for equality. Lutheran missionary Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, who landed on 9 July 1706 at Tranquebar (known as Tarangambadi in Tamil), then a Danish colony on India's eastern coast, is credited with setting up the first public school for girls in India in 1710. [361 words, ENI-06-0572]

Nazi-era naval vessel to be turned into floating church in Croatia

Warsaw (ENI). A Roman Catholic monastery in Croatia has found use for a former German naval vessel by arranging to have it turned into a floating church. "It will be used as a sailing church for the young, who will be able to travel the Adriatic, pray and meditate as part of church-sponsored religious cruises," Croatia's Jutarnji List newspaper reported, noting the ship had been handed over to communist-ruled Yugoslavia as war compensation in 1945. [154 words, ENI-06-0571]

17 July 2006

Jerusalem (ENI). Galilee sites where Jesus is said to have performed miracles have been hit by Hezbollah rocket fire as fighting deepened between Israel and the militant movement which is based in Lebanon. Hezbollah rockets hit targets near Nazareth, Jesus' childhood home town, as well as Tiberias and the banks of the Sea of Galilee in Israel where the Gospels say that Jesus walked on water, performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes and calmed a storm. [440 words, ENI-06-0570]

War crimes charges should not block peace in Uganda say churches

Nairobi (ENI). Church leaders in Uganda and Africa say a war crime indictment against rebel leaders in Uganda must not stand in the way of peace talks to end a 19-year-long civil conflict in the northern part of the country. "We have an opportunity for a peaceful settlement," the Rev. Grace Kaiso, executive secretary of the Uganda Joint Christian Council, told Ecumenical News International from Kampala. Peace talks between representatives of the Ugandan government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army were to continue, after a confrontational start to the negotiations in the Southern Sudan town of Juba. [444 words, ENI-06-0568]

Vatican envoy: No death penalty but more Philippines killings, an anomaly

Manila (ENI). The Vatican's envoy in Asia's most populous Roman Catholic country has said a rash of killings of activists and journalists appears to be in contradiction with the Philippine government's recent abolition of the death penalty. "I am surprised that in the Philippines there is still a high incidence of moral and political violence against those who profess different political ideologies," Papal Nuncio Archbishop Fernando Filoni told a forum. [361 words, ENI-06-0567]

Petrol bomb explodes in Malawi church during Mass

Blantyre, Malawi (ENI). Pandemonium broke out at St Francis Roman Catholic Church in Malawi's capital Lilongwe when a home-made petrol bomb blew up during Sunday Mass on 16 July, injuring 24 people, three of them seriously. Assistant parish priest, the Rev. Peter Mateso who was celebrating Mass when the bomb exploded told the media that worshipper Blessings Stephano who sat next to the unknown bomber was admitted to city's Kamuzu Central Hospital and was in a coma. Police could not immediately determine why the explosion took place. [324 words, ENI-0569]

14 July 2006

Warsaw (ENI). The only Christian player in Iran's national soccer team has been named "Christian star of the World Cup" in a poll undertaken by a Dutch ecumenical Christian group. Andranik Teymourian, a 23-year-old midfielder, received 31.3 per cent of votes in the online contest, organized by Gristelijk, a group of Protestant and Roman Catholic teachers and lecturers, out of a shortlist of 11 leading Christian soccer players. [238 words, ENI-06-0564]

Catholics should let priests marry, Zambian archbishop tells US press

New York (ENI). A Zambian Roman Catholic archbishop who garnered headlines in 2001 for his marriage to a Korean woman which he later renounced under pressure from the Vatican has launched a campaign seeking an end to his church's rules about celibacy. "The Church has nothing to lose by allowing priests the option to marry," Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo said in a statement announcing the campaign. "Historically, out of holy marriages have come priests, popes and loving servants of God and the Church." [297 words, ENI-06-0563]

Government reins in doomsday group that angers Kenyan churches

Nairobi (ENI). Kenyan officials have cracked down on a religious group deemed to be a sect after church leaders in the country expressed outrage at its claim the world will end on 12 September due to a massive nuclear war. The district commissioner of Kenya's central Nyandarua District, Khamasi Shivogo, declared the activities of the "House of Yahweh" group were illegal, saying they could cause a breach of the peace. "The group is distorting the scripture to suit their needs. It is a group we are warning our people against," said the Rev. Emmanuel Nkoitiko of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. [337 words, ENI-06-0565]

Orthodox Jews attack pro-Israeli Christian tourists in Jerusalem

Jerusalem (ENI). A shadow has been cast over increasingly warm ties between Jews and Christian supporters of Israel after an attack on a group of pro-Israeli Christian tourists visiting a Jewish ultra-Orthodox enclave in Jerusalem. The Christian visitors wore orange T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "Love thy neighbour as thyself" during their tour of the enclave of Mea Shearim in the heart of Jerusalem. A group of about 100 ultra-Orthodox men spotted the group of about 50 tourists and pushed, shoved and beat them in the incident which took place at the end of June. Three of the tourists and a policeman who tried to stop the mob were lightly injured in the attack, a police spokesperson said. [274 words, ENI-06-0566]

13 July 2006

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches has expressed alarm at new violence in northern Israel and in Lebanon and is strongly urging all parties to immediately stop hostile acts, reverse the escalation of the conflict and end all use of war rhetoric. "The use of force and the harsh rhetoric of war are driving the new government of Israel and its neighbouring states deeper into a chasm of killings and destruction, and farther away from the prospect of peace," said the Rev. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the WCC, the world's largest grouping of churches, in a statement. [368 words, ENI-06-0562]

Headscarf and mosque controversies stir in Bulgaria

Sofia (ENI). Bulgaria's Commission for Protection Against Discrimination has been asked to rule on a case of two Muslim school pupils banned from wearing traditional Islamic headscarves to classes. The incident is the first known of its kind in Bulgaria, where Muslims make up about 12 per cent of the country's 7.4 million people. A ruling by the commission is expected in about two weeks. Fatme Kehayova and Mihaela Vassileva, who study at a high school in Smolyan, were banned from wearing headscarves but have refused to comply. National education minister, Daniel Vulchev, has supported the school, saying Bulgaria is a secular state. [372 words, ENI-06-0561]

Religious leaders urge G8 in Russia to keep promises on HIV and AIDS

Geneva (ENI). Thirty-nine religious leaders from around the world, including Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have signed a statement sent to the G8 heads of state, calling on them to keep their promises and scale up their response to HIV and AIDS. The statement was signed by another Nobel Peace Laureate, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader. Signatories included the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mark Hanson, and the Rev. James Christie, president of the Canadian Council of Churches. [396 words, ENI-06-0560]

Holy Land church leaders urge US Congress to drop Palestinian vote

Jerusalem (ENI). Church leaders in the Holy Land are urging members of the US Congress to abandon completely a pending resolution that would accuse the Palestinian Authority of persecuting Christians. In a letter, the church leaders say Congress members have misunderstood problems confronting Christians in the Holy Land. They urge lawmakers to abandon a resolution that "will in no way help or support us or the Palestinian Christian community". [390 words, ENI-06-0559]

12 July 2006

Thrissur, India (ENI). Bomb blasts that have killed 190 people and wounded more than 600 in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai are "beyond all understanding" and are a "heinous crime" that has shattered the lives of many innocent families, say Indian churches. Churches in India joined in the condemnation of the seven bomb blasts that rocked Mumbai on 11 July. "We express our deep condolences to the bereaved families and condemn this inhuman act that surpasses all understanding," said the National Council of Churches, which group 29 Christian and Protestant denominations. [455 words, ENI-06-0555]

Appointment of new Vatican media chief heralds changes

Rome (ENI). Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the head of Vatican Radio as the new director of the Holy See Press Office in a reorganization of the Vatican's media operations. Vatican Radio's director general, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, a member of the Jesuit order, was named to succeed Joaquin Navarro-Valls, a Spanish layman and journalist who had been in the post since 1984. [359 words, ENI-06-0556]

US church group hails turnabout on Geneva Convention

Oxford, Ohio (ENI). The US National Council of Churches has praised the announcement that all detainees held by US forces across the world, including those at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will receive protection under the Geneva Conventions. "We're very pleased to hear it because we've been arguing for years the detainees need to be treated properly and fairly. This means that due process will be applied to them," said Tony Kireopoulous, NCC associate general secretary for international affairs and peace. [248 words, ENI-06-0557]

Some Malawi Presbyterians want to reconsider ties with US church

Blantyre, Malawi (ENI). Church of Central Africa Presbyterian leaders in Malawi say the denomination may consider cutting ties with its US counterpart due to a perception that the US church now allows the ordination of homosexuals under certain circumstances. The moderator of the Malawi church's northern Livingstonia Synod, the Rev. Maurice Munthali, told local media his denomination is praying that a new resolution by the US church does not impact on the church in the central African nation. [349 words, ENI-06-0558]

11 July 2006

Harare (ENI). President Robert Mugabe's bid to control churches has been dealt a severe blow by the ousting of one of his "praise-singers", Bishop Peter Nemapare, as president of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the independent Standard newspaper reports. Nemapare, a bishop in the African Methodist Church in Bulawayo, was voted out by more than 55 bishops and heads of denominations who attended a meeting on 5 July, the Standard reports. [437 words, ENI-06-0553]

Fear stalks Tamil village after killing of Christian family

Allaipiddy, Sri Lanka (ENI). Fear is writ large on the face of the 350 families on the islet of Allaipiddy near Jaffna, the heartland of ethnic Tamils on the northern fringe of Sri Lanka. The fishing village surrounded by Sri Lankan Navy camps is yet to recover from the 13 May massacre when four unidentified gunmen shot dead eight people in the house of the richest man on the island. Nobody in the village will speculate about who was responsible, but human rights activists assert that the Sri Lankan security forces were behind the shootings at the Christian household in an ongoing conflict that has pitted Tamil rebels against the Sri Lanka government. [666 words, ENI-06-0554]

Moltmann declared No 1 in 20th century at theology world cup final

Geneva (ENI). German Protestant Juergen Moltmann has been declared the greatest theologian of the 20th century in the final round of the Systematic Theology World Cup that took place on the Internet while the world's top soccer tournament was happening in Germany. "Moltmann's relevance for his age, as well as his impact on church and academia was considered to be more significant," noted Finnish theologian Patrik Hagman who staged the four-week contest on the Web site http://shrinkinguni.blogspot.com/ [346 words, ENI-06-0552]

Bible can be seen through Japanese tea ceremony, says pastor

Tokyo (ENI). The Bible can be read in the spirit of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, says a pastor who teaches the ritual renowned for its tranquillity and attention to detail that has been influenced by Zen Buddhism. The Rev. Toshio Takahashi is author of a new Japanese book entitled "The Bible as Seen Through the Japanese Tea Ceremony", published by Forest Books. [423 words, ENI-06-0551]

10 July 2006

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches has denounced proposals to tighten US sanctions on Cuba that would isolate the Cuban Council of Churches as constituting "remarkably aggressive interference in religious matters". The proposals say the US Department of Commerce should no longer grant licenses for humanitarian aid to Cuba that would go through the Cuban Council of Churches because the church body, according to the proposals, is controlled by the Cuban government. [368 words, ENI-06-0548]

Church of England takes step towards having women as bishops

London (ENI). The Church of England's general synod has voted that the appointment of women as bishops is theologically justified, but hurdles remain before the measure can be implemented in the Anglican denomination. "I must pay tribute to Anglican women who have been tested for nearly 90 years," the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, told the synod. "They have kept the faith and remained loyal to the Church of England." [375 words, ENI-06-0546]

Israeli rabbi seeks Pope's help against gay festival in Jerusalem

Jerusalem (ENI). Israeli Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar has written to Pope Benedict XVI to urge him to speak out against plans to host a gay pride festival in Jerusalem in August. "The city which the entire world looks up to due to its holiness and glory, is now being attacked by evil people who wish to violate its honour and humiliate its greatness with deeds that the Torah (Hebrew Scriptures) despises, as well as all other religions," Amar, the chief rabbi for Sephardi Jews, who originate from the Middle East, wrote in a letter to the pontiff. [297 words, ENI-06-0550]

Theologians launch first Africa Bible Commentary

Nairobi (ENI). African theologians have launched the first African Bible Commentary, or ABC as it has been dubbed, in Nairobi, with the support of Kenya's retired president Daniel arap Moi. "It is my hope the Lord may use the ABC to draw its readers closer to God and to ignite a fire of spiritual awakening in Churches throughout Africa and the world," said Moi during the official launch of the commentary. [422 words, ENI-06-0549]

Brazilian academics say soccer is almost like a secular religion

Sao Leopoldo, Brazil (ENI-ALC). Sport is almost a secular religion with its myths, rules and revered heroes, often competing with religion when games are played at the same time as church services, say two Brazilian researchers. Professors Ricardo dos Santos and Francisco Teixeira, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, are editors of a book entitled: "Football and politics, the construction of a national identity". Their conclusion that soccer is like a secular religion is one of the findings in the book recently published by Brazil's Mauad Publishing. In it 14 authors deal with class, race and geography in sport. [384 words, ENI-06-0547]

7 July 2006

Bielefeld, Germany (ENI). In the face of declining income and loss of members, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the country's main Protestant umbrella, is proposing sweeping organizational changes, including cutting the number of pastors by a quarter over the next 25 years. "If you can no longer afford to do everything then you have to set priorities," EKD chairperson, Bishop Wolfgang Huber, has written in an introduction to the reform proposals published by the group's council, or top governing body. [396 words, ENI-06-0545]

Zambia church leaders say opposition thirst for power seems futile

Lusaka (ENI). Church leaders in Zambia have warned that some opposition party leaders are exhibiting a "selfish appetite for power" by fighting amongst themselves, thereby risking losing the general elections scheduled for this year. "This thirst for power is very dangerous," said the Rev. Japhet Ndhlovu, general secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia. "If the opposition continue with these wrangles, then these alliances are not going anywhere ... If these people lose, they will start complaining." [391 words, ENI-06-0542]

Christian Web site targeting pornography riles some faithful

Oxford, Ohio (ENI). It describes itself as the "No. 1 Christian porn site", the target is the US adult entertainment industry, but its distribution of purple and yellow covered Bibles with the slogan "Jesus loves porn stars" is drawing fire from others who follow the same faith. Pastors Mike Foster and Craig Gross created the XXXchurch ministry in 2002 with two goals: to get the Christian church talking about pornography from the pulpit and to go directly to preach redemption to the producers and buyers of pornographic videos and materials. [384 words, ENI-06-0543]

20th century theologians square up for theology world cup final

Geneva (ENI). Germany and Switzerland may have been knocked out of the world's top soccer tournament, but on 9 July the two nations are facing off in the finals of the Systematic Theology World Cup to find the greatest theologian - living or dead - of the 20th century. German Protestant Juergen Moltmann will face Swiss Roman Catholic Hans Urs von Balthasar in an online poll on the Web site of Finnish theologian Patrik Hagman, http://shrinkinguni.blogspot.com/ The contenders are judged by Internet surfers who decide on the winner. [491 words, ENI-06-0544]

6 July 2006

Nairobi (ENI). A Christian leader involved with peace making in East Africa has urged the international community to support an ongoing peace process in Somalia, warning that a parallel initiative could deepen the crisis in the country situated on the Horn of Africa. "The international community should strengthen the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to play a mediation role, give support to the Transitional Federal Government to form a state and desist from starting a parallel peace process, ignoring what has been done," said the Rev. Fred Nyabera. He heads the a grouping of churches in the region. [371 words, ENI-06-0541]

Polish church defends public worship by archbishop who resigned

Warsaw (ENI). Poland's Roman Catholic church has defended a public comeback by one of its archbishops four years after he resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct made against him in a leading Polish newspaper. "While accepting his resignation, the Holy See stressed he could participate in public ceremonies," said Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan. Archbishop Juliusz Paetz resigned in March 2002 facing accusations of sexually molesting trainee priests in Poznan, after Polish newspapers reports. Paetz has maintained his innocence. [326 words, ENI-06-0539] Lutheran in India praised for valuing existing religions

Chennai, India (ENI). Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, the first Protestant missionary known to have to set foot in India 300 years ago in 1706, is being celebrated by secular and religious groups for cherishing the existing religions at the time. "He [Ziegenbalg] valued existing religions and wanted to bring out societal harmony," said S. P. Thyagarajan, head of the University of Madras in Chennai, during a keynote address at a seminar on Ziegenbalg's contribution to civil society at the anniversary celebrations. [693 words, ENI-06-0540]

5 July 2006

Moscow (ENI). The World Summit of Religious Leaders, the largest interfaith gathering to convene in Russia since the time of the Cold War, has closed by passing a resolution condemning terrorism, economic inequality, environmental abuses and the denigration of moral values in the modern world. "We condemn terrorism and extremism in any form, as well as attempts to justify them by religion," reads the statement. "We deplore the activities of pseudo-religious groups and movements destroying freedom and health of people as well as the ethical climate in societies." [649 words, ENI-06-0538]

Philippine president's office tries to cool tiff with Catholic leaders

Manila (ENI). The office of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has denied there is a rift between the country's Roman Catholic bishops and the administration following statements from both sides challenging the other. "We appeal to all parties concerned to refrain from wedge-driving by depicting that there is a brewing rift between the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and the administration when there is none," said presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye. [450 words, ENI-06-0537]

Zambia concerned about archbishop missing from Rome

Lusaka (ENI). Zambia's government is seeking clarification from the Vatican about the whereabouts of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo following reports in Lusaka-based media that the Zambian prelate had disappeared from his residence in Rome. "We have a consular duty to look after the interests of Zambians wherever they are," the chief government spokesperson, Vernon Mwaanga was reported as saying. "Archbishop Milingo is an important and respected citizen of Zambia .... There is every reason to get concerned." [329 words, ENI-06-0535]

Indians commemorate arrival of first Protestant missionary 300 years ago

Chennai, India (ENI). Week-long celebrations are underway in Chennai to mark the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the first Protestant missionary to India. "The arrival of Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg in Tranquebar in 1706 no doubt marked a remarkable change in the lives of the Tamils in that area," declared Surjit Singh Barnala, governor of India's Tamil Nadu state inaugurating the celebrations. [455 words, ENI-06-0536]

4 July 2006

Jaffna, Sri Lanka (ENI). The worsening security situation in Sri Lanka is disrupting the lives of ordinary citizens, especially in the Tamil majority areas in the north and east of the island, say beleaguered residents. "Everyone is living in fear and life is becoming extremely difficult," said the Rev. Selliah Nesakumar, Anglican archdeacon of Jaffna which has been engulfed in two decades of civil war between Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan forces. "We are caught up between two powers and the people are helpless." [362 words, ENI-06-0532]

Church leaders urge US to intercede on Israel situation

Jerusalem (ENI). Church leaders have urged the United States to intercede to prevent Israeli-Palestinian violence from spiralling out of control following the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Islamic militants in the Gaza Strip. "The United States, as Israel's closest ally, must work closely with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz and insist that they restrain their military response and work with [Palestinian] President Abbas to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis," said Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of 21 Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant church organizations in the US. [314 words, ENI-06-0531]

Slimly funded Malawi Christian university gets to fourth year on 'faith'

Blantyre (ENI). It might lack the classic columns of the world's top institutions and it has very modest funding, but northern Malawi's Presbyterian-run University of Livingstonia has notched four years and now boasts an enrolment of 500 students. The church conceived the idea of creating the institution without resources like books and money, the university's vice-chancellor Henry Kirk, a veteran US educationist told the local media. "When I asked Reverend Matiya Nkhoma [the synod's general secretary] in 2002 about the university's budget, he said they didn't have a budget, but had faith," said Kirk. [510 words, ENI-06-0533]

3 July 2006

Moscow (ENI). More than 200 religious leaders from several dozen countries have arrived in Moscow for the World Summit of Religious Leaders, which is scheduled to adopt a resolution addressed to the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) countries who are to meet in St. Petersburg on 15-17 July. "Attempts are being made to divide the world along religious or ethnic lines, to drive a wedge first of all between Christianity and the Islamic world," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his address to the gathering. "The world is practically being forced into a conflict of civilisations." [463 words, ENI-06-0530]

China dissident joints Hong Kong universal suffrage prayers, march

Hong Kong (ENI). Beijing-based Christian writer Yu Jie has joined a march for universal suffrage in Hong Kong, and said he wished that Chinese people might also freely exercise their right of assembly. Organisers said about 58 000 people took to the streets to demand universal suffrage on the ninth anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, when the former British colony was returned to Chinese rule. Before the march, Protestants and Roman Catholic Chinese prayed for democracy in Hong Kong, as well as religious freedom in mainland China. There, Hong Kong's Catholic bishop, Cardinal Joseph Zen, stated: "Universal suffrage will be good for Hong Kong and for China." [455 words, ENI-06-0527]

Christian bodies welcome new UN human rights standards

Geneva (ENI). International church organizations have hailed the adoption of a pact by the newly-inaugurated UN Human Rights Council that would make the abduction by governments of their opponents and critics a crime against humanity. "The adoption of this convention confirms a positive development in international law towards the rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation," stated Guillermo Kerber, responsible for the human rights issues' programme at the World Council of Churches. [404 words, ENI-06-0526]

US Southern Baptist leader says he wants to open denomination

Oxford (ENI). The new president of the Southern Baptist Convention says his unexpected success in the contest to lead the biggest Protestant denomination in the United States signals a victory for grassroots Baptists. The Rev. Frank Page's first ballot election with 50.48 per cent of the vote at the denomination's annual meeting "signalled a defeat for the SBC's conservative powerbrokers, who have hand-picked all but one president since 1979", the independent Associated Baptist Press news service reported. In comments to journalists after his election at the 13-14 June meeting, Page said he wanted to create a more open denomination. [339 words, ENI-06-0528]

Some Zimbabwe church leaders not happy with NGO protests

Harare (ENI). Some of Zimbabwe's mainstream church organizations have accused non-governmental organizations of opening old wounds by commemorating the first anniversary of an internationally-condemned slum clearance exercise. But NGOs in turn accuse such church leaders of not doing much to help rehabilitate the victims of the state-sponsored campaign that drove 700 000 people from their homes ostensibly as part of slum clearance. The church leaders have been accused of being in cahoots with the government. [441 words, ENI-06-0529]

Japanese Christian women's group marks 120 years

Tokyo (ENI). It was founded 120 years ago, but the leaders of Kyofukai, the Japan Christian Women's Organization, say it still has a job to do in a society marked, they warn, by violence and moves towards militarism. "The moves that prevent the creation of an equal society in which men and women can live is never separate from the current trend of politics, which paves the way for militarism in which the rule of power will dominate society", said Rutsuko Shoji, director of Step House, the organization's centre for women fleeing domestic violence. At least 120 women had been killed by their husbands between 1992 and 2002, noted Shoji, a member of the board of directors of Kyofukai, the oldest Christian women's organization in Japan. [371 words, ENI-06-0525]

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