Pope’s visit to France stirs debate over immigration, secularism
Paris, FranceReuters Pope Francis’ scheduled visit to France next week has stirred debate in the French political class, with left-wing politicians criticising the president for attending Mass while the far-right objects to the Pope’s positive views on immigration. Francis will travel to Marseille, France’s second city and a historic gateway for immigrants, where he is expected […]
Books: Looking to Thessalonians for a new way forward on the issue of religious freedom
DAVID ADAMS reads Michael F Bird’s thought-provoking examination of what religious freedom looks like in an age of secularisation…
Essay: On the dangers of mixing faith and partisan politics
Rev TIM COSTELLO looks at how the fear of secularism is driving support for conservative politics in the US – and elsewhere…
THE INTERVIEW: DAVID ZAHL, AUTHOR OF ‘SECULOSITY’
AYSHA KHAN, of Religion News Service, speaks to David Zahl, author of ‘Seculosity’, about how he believes, in contrast to the view that US society is becoming more secular, it’s actually becoming more religious about more things…
Indian state’s ‘anti-conversion law’ to be repealed
World Watch Monitor Christian groups have welcomed a surprise announcement by a nationalist chief minister of a state in north-east India that he will ensure that a law preventing conversions from one faith to another is repealed. Pema Khandu, a Buddhist who heads the nationalist BJP-led state government in Arunachal Pradesh, told an audience of […]
Good Friday holiday reinstated in Christian-majority Indian state after protests
World Watch Monitor Widespread protests have forced the government in Christian-majority Meghalaya State in north-east India to restore the Good Friday holiday. The coalition government, to which the Hindu nationalist BJP is a partner, had declared in a circular that Good Friday would be a normal “working day”, but the move was withdrawn on Tuesday, 27th […]
Nepal PM ‘commits to address’ Christian concerns ahead of elections
Nepal’s Prime Minister has committed to addressing the Christian community’s concerns over religious freedoms, reports Asia News. Some estimates put its number at four per cent of the population. Dinesh Bhattarai, advisor to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, said the commitment “will be immediately put into practice and everything will be settled before elections”. Prime Minister […]