Pandemic upheaval creates ‘perfect storm’ for land rights abuses
Washington DC, USThomson Reuters Foundation From forced displacement to conflict over resources, the coronavirus pandemic has created a “perfect storm” for land rights abuses – and the situation is likely to worsen, researchers and activists warned on Thursday. The migration of men to rural areas due to lockdowns and job losses has increased competition over […]
Vatican says bishops should report sex abuse to police
Vatican CityAP The Vatican told bishops around the world on Thursday they should report cases of clergy sex crimes to police even when not legally bound to do so, in its latest effort to compel church leaders to protect minors from predator priests. The Vatican issued a long-awaited manual for bishops and religious superiors on […]
In Egypt, volunteers make meals with love for virus patients
AP Fatma Youssef stuffs rice, chicken or meat and vegetables into boxes spread on her dining table – tens of them in the last few weeks. On some, she scribbles “Be well” in Arabic; on others, she writes “Together, we will get through this.” Youssef doesn’t know who will eat her food. Still, she says, […]
French Prime Minister defends police amid brutality concerns
Paris, FranceAP France’s new Prime Minister is firmly defending the police despite growing concerns about police brutality, and is pledging to crack down on ethnic or religious “separatism” in neighborhoods with large minority populations. In his first major policy speech, Prime Minister Jean Castex vowed to fight racism and anti-Semitism, but didn’t directly address recent […]
GreenSight: The ‘batos’ or bramble
ALVIN JOHNSON looks at where the ‘batos’ or bramble appears in the Bible…
US lawsuit alleges Southern Baptist church’s negligence led to abuse of teen
RNS A prominent Southern Baptist church led by a former denominational president is the subject of a lawsuit that highlights how ignoring “red flags” of manipulative behaviour could lead to sexual abuse. On Sunday, 12th July, Steve Gaines, senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in the Memphis suburb of Cordova, Tennessee, announced at the start […]
How an English slave trader’s statue became a monument for racial justice
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation The statue of a 17th century English slave trader toppled by anti-racism protestors in June was replaced on Wednesday by the sculpture of a Black protester with her fist raised in the air. A monument to Edward Colston, who made a fortune trading West African slaves, was pulled down and pushed in the harbour […]
More nature, more jobs? Green investment seen as driver of coronavirus recovery
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation In recent decades, Costa Rica has doubled its forest cover while tripling the size of its economy – an example of how better protecting nature can create jobs rather than curb them, the Central American country’s environment minister said Wednesday. “Restoring nature is not a burden to economic development,” said Carlos […]
Dealing with death: Months into COVID-19, funeral directors and clergy continue to innovate death care
ALEJANDRA MOLINA, of Religion News Service, reports on how clergy and funeral industry professionals are looking to help those mourning loved ones…
India asks local leaders to boost anti-trafficking drive amid virus threat
Chennai, IndiaThomson Reuters Foundation Village councils and community groups in India have been asked to protect children from traffickers and help authorities identify and rescue missing residents, amid concerns that the coronavirus pandemic is pushing more people into modern slavery. India’s home affairs ministry this month issued an advisory urging state governments to set up […]