SIGHT-SEEING: WHY PASTORS FALL – THE CAUSE AND CURE
Writing from the US, BRIAN NIXON, in an article first published by ASSIST News Service, looks at the challenges facing church leadership today – and what can be done about it…
North Korea asks for food aid as its president discusses denuclearisation
World Watch Monitor As the leaders of North Korea and the United States are scheduled to meet in Vietnam for a second round of denuclearisation talks, North Koreans continue to flee human rights abuses and increasing food shortages. As with the first round of talks, the conditions that make North Korea the toughest place on […]
Australia’s labour abuse crackdown will protect slaves – official
Thomson Reuters Foundation Modern slavery victims should not fear Australian authorities despite a major crackdown on unscrupulous labour brokers who exploit foreign workers, a senior official for the country’s border force said on Tuesday. Dozens of people have been detained or deported following raids by the Australian Border Force, which launched Operation Battenrun in December […]
In depth: Vatican treasurer convicted of sexually abusing 13-year-old boys
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell has been found guilty on five charges of child sexual abuse committed more than two decades ago against 13-year-old boys in Australia – the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of child sex offences. The guilty verdict was made public on Tuesday following the lifting of a […]
In the US, United Methodist committee rejects One Church Plan, which would allow LGBT clergy
St Louis, USRNS In a surprise, the plan recommended by the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops was rejected Monday by the denomination’s decision-making body. The so-called One Church Plan did not pass out of General Conference’s Legislative Committee to be considered by delegates Tuesday during the plenary session. As Rev Joe Harris presides, the […]
Children barred from attending church in Tajikstan, 5,000 Christian calendars burned
World Watch Monitor Tajik authorities implementing a new religion law are barring children from attending religious services and have burned thousands of calendars with Bible verses. Amendments to Tajikistan’s Religion Law came into force in January last year, giving the state greater control over religious education, and increasing the amount of information religious organisations must pass on […]
India forest dwellers to fight mass eviction order with protests
Bangkok, ThailandThomson Reuters Foundation India’s forest-dependent communities are to petition and protest against a court order to evict more than one million Indigenous people whose land claims were rejected, land rights campaigners said on Monday. Earlier this month, India’s Supreme Court asked officials in nearly two dozen states to submit details of claims that were […]
THE WAY IN
Most of us understand religion like going to university. You join the religion, you can now wear the T-shirt. But salvation is not assured. Graduation day – but Christians are already living a life of service in assurance they’s passed, says Paul Clark. PICTURE: Vasily Koloda/Unsplash. You have to do years of study, many tasks, […]
ZIMBABWE: “NO PLACE TO SELL” – THOUSANDS HIT IN STREET VENDOR CRACKDOWN
TONDERAYI MUKEREDZI, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports…
Eyeing Amazon synod, Brazil accuses church of “leftist agenda”
Sao Paolo, BrazilRNS While the Vatican’s synod on clergy sexual abuse has grabbed headlines in much of the world, another meeting of bishops, slated for October 2019, is already making news here, with some in the administration of Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, reportedly calling the synod a platform for “leftist agenda”. In 2017, Pope […]