News

Cigarette display ban considered

Retailers could be forced to take cigarettes off display, under government plans to crack-down on smoking.

Litvinenko's widow demands inquest

The widow of poisoned Russian emigre Alexander Litvinenko has asked British authorities to press ahead with an inquest that she hopes will shed light on suspected Russian state complicity in his murder.

Muslim converted by Pope says life in more danger

An outspoken Muslim author and critic of Islamic fundamentalism who converted to Christianity at the hands of Pope Benedict said on Sunday he realised he was in greater danger but he has no regrets.

Be wise about sex

Rejoice in your partner and don't get lost because of folly

Church leader wants multi-denominational visit to Holy Land

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland has invited the leaders of other denominations to join him in a solidarity visit to the Holy Land.

Faith schools under fire from teachers

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is to debate a motion calling for faith schools to be abolished on the basis that they undermine community relations.

'Death is overcome' - Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, challenged people in his Easter sermon on Sunday to accept the inevitability of death but also to receive the newness of life after death that only God can give.

Conservative Anglicans hope crisis brings transformation

Breakaway bishop Martyn Minns believes that the deep divisions in the Anglican Communion are not the end of the story.

Palau brings historic event 'home' to Argentina

Luis Palau evangelistic event draws historic 800,000 to world's broadest street, the famed Avenue 9 de Julio in Buenos Aires.

Sentamu joins open-air baptisms on Easter Sunday

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, joined 20 people as they enter their new life with Jesus Christ through open air baptisms in York city centre on Easter Sunday.

German Jewish leader criticises Pope over prayer

The leader of Germany's Jewish community said on Friday she was surprised Pope Benedict could have allowed a new version of a Good Friday prayer for the conversion of Jews.

British minister defends embryo research bill

Britain's government is right to push through hybrid human-animal embryo legislation after a Roman Catholic cardinal attacked the government for "endorsement of experiments of Frankenstein proportion", Health Minister Ben Bradshaw has told the BBC.

Mission Aviation Fellowship helps with peace negotiations in southern Sudan

"If MAF hadn't flown in the peace conference's facilitator, there would have been great strife. They were our Wings of Peace," affirms Seth Le Leu, Country Director for World Vision in Sudan.

McCain's pastor a sharp contrast to Obama's

John McCain's Phoenix pastor, Dan Yeary, is a folksy patriotic Southern Baptist who opposes abortion and believes homosexuality to be a biblical sin, but says Christians have an obligation to love such sinners.

At Easter mass, Pope baptises famous Muslim convert

Pope Benedict led the world's Catholics into Easter on Saturday at a Vatican service where he baptised a Muslim-born convert who is one of Italy's most famous and controversial journalists.

Evangelical Christians defend Jim Packer over suspension threat

Reform, an evangelical group within the Church of England, has hit out at the Bishop of New Westminster in Canada for threatening to suspend respected evangelical theologian Dr Jim Packer from ministry after he sought the oversight of the Primate of the Southern Cone.