Pope says possession of nuclear weapons “immoral”; churches sign statement calling for their abolition
Rome, ItalyAP Pope Francis on Thursday marked the 75th anniversary of the nuclear attack on Hiroshima by calling for peace and repeating that not only the use of atomic weapons but their mere possession is immoral. Francis sent a message to organisers of the anniversary commemoration, recalling that he had prayed at the Hiroshima peace memorial during […]
Global recovery could be faster if COVID vaccine made available to all – WHO chief
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters Economic recovery around the world could come faster if any COVID-19 vaccine is made available to all as a public good, World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday. He was speaking in an online panel discussion with members of the Aspen Security Forum in the United States moderated by […]
Canadian pastor guilty of defying Myanmar’s coronavirus law
Yangon, MyanmarAP A court in Myanmar on Thursday sentenced the Canadian pastor of an evangelical church to three months imprisonment after finding him guilty of violating a law intended to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Myanmar-born David Lah was charged with flouting a ban on large gatherings by holding a religious meeting in Yangon […]
UK’s leading Tate galleries face heat over racist slavery mural in restaurant
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation A top British art institution faced calls on Wednesday to move a restaurant featuring a “repellent” mural depicting child slavery by the celebrated 1930s artist Rex Whistler. Black lawmaker Diane Abbott added her voice to growing demands for Tate Britain to relocate its restaurant out of the hand-painted room, with images […]
Health Insight: How should I clean my cloth mask?
Australian academics BRETT MITCHELL, of the University of Newcastle, and PHILIP RUSSO, of Monash University – in an article first published on The Conversation – look at how to properly clean your cloth mask…
Magazine report is aimed at silencing nuns on sex abuse, says Vatican critic
Vatican CityRNS An article in a Jesuit magazine describing alleged exploitation of nuns in Catholic convents has been criticised as an attempt to silence members of women’s religious orders who have begun to speak out against sexual abuse by priests. “I think there is a possibility of a revolt of religious sisters,” said Lucetta Scaraffia, the former […]
COVID-19 death of “well-loved” Texas pastor shows coronavirus spread to rural areas
RNS A small United Methodist church in Texas is “absolutely heartbroken” after losing its pastor to COVID-19 as the pandemic spreads to rural areas of the country previously spared by the virus, according to its district superintendent. Rev Tom Wood, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Itasca, Texas, died July 29, according to his obituary posted […]
Nicaragua archbishop rejects that chapel fire was accidental
Managua, NicaraguaAP Managua’s Roman Catholic Archbishop celebrated Mass on Wednesday in front of a fire-scorched chapel at the capital’s cathedral and reiterated the church’s assertion that the fire was a “savage and terrorist” act and not an accident as reported by the National Police. Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes did not say who he believes was responsible […]
From AI to COVID-19: UK Christian apologist John C Lennox tackles big issues in new books
DAVID ADAMS speaks with world-renowned Christian apologist and Oxford University mathematics professor John C Lennox about his most recent books – one tackling the issue of artificial intelligence and the other the coronavirus pandemic…
Religious freedom in America: popular and polarising
Washington DC, USAP The principle of religious freedom is important to most Americans. But as President Donald Trump touts his support for it during his re-election bid, there are notable fault lines among people of different faiths and political ideologies over what it truly means. About eight in 10 Americans said religious freedom issues are […]