News

UN hears of religious discrimination against 'untouchables' in India
Church leaders in India have spoken out against discrimination faced by Christian and Muslim Dalit (untouchable) communities.

'The Church is waking up:' Leaders celebrate prayer in the UK
Church and community leaders from all over the country came together in Parliament on Wednesday to launch the Joining the Dots 2014 prayer movement and to celebrate ahead of what is hoped to be "a year of transformation" in the UK.

Catholic Church in drive to increase confessions
Following an increase in the number of believers going to Confession, a Catholic bishop is encouraging more followers to take up the practice during Lent and is offering a range of online resources to help.

Breakfast clubs a 'lifeline' for poor families
Kellogg's has found that a quarter of families are making use of free school breakfast clubs

US: Girl Scouts chief executive on the defensive over pro-abortion claims
The Girl Scouts of the USA has come under fire from pro-life groups for the supposed promotion of pro-abortion advocacy politician Wendy Davis. Anna Maria Chavez, CEO of GSUSA, has responded in a video.

The cost of a Christian's safety in Syria: 17 grams of gold
Christians in one rebel controlled city in Syria will reportedly have to pay a tax of 17 grams of gold or face the consequences.

Government urged to create 'fairer and less divided' nation
The Bishop of Peterborough has given his first speech in the House of Lords, in which he called on the Government to establish a "fairer and less divided" nation.

Can historic global Churches maintain central authority or must they devolve?
Experts on Catholicism, Anglicanism and Pentecostalism gathered in Whitehall last night to debate the future of the global Church.

Arizona Governor vetoes bill allowing businesses to refuse services on religious grounds
A bill in Arizona that would have permitted businesses run by religious people to refuse service to gay customers has been vetoed by the state's governor.

Week of prayer for social action projects
Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols have announced a week of prayer for church social action projects

Prayers to commemorate Japan tsunami
Nippon Sei Ko Kai, the Anglican Church in Japan, has released special prayers to commemorate the triple disaster that struck the country on 11 March 2011.

The mental health legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland
The days of extreme violence may be over but churches are dealing with an "internalised" violence manifesting itself in high levels of suicide, alcoholism and substance abuse

Russell Crowe woos Pope with invitation to watch his Noah film
Russell Crowe has reached out to Pope Francis with an invitation to show him the new film he's starring in, Noah.

Calls for UK to work with Ukrainian church
Bishop Stephen Platten sees important role for churches in building reconciliation in Ukraine

Bishop of Truro to co-chair food bank inquiry
The Bishop of Truro will partner with Labour MP Frank Field to chair a major parliamentary inquiry into food poverty and the increased demand for foodbanks in the UK.

Teen pregnancy rate on the decline
Pregnancies among those under 18 continue to decline, according to new numbers from the office for national statistics.