News

Egyptian court hands down suspended sentences to 15 Muslim attackers after Coptic church violence

An Egyptian court yesterday sentenced 15 Muslim defendants to a year in jail, charged with attacking an unlicensed Coptic Church in a village south of Cairo.

Stop competing! Christian charities told to end rivalries and unite
Stop competing! Christian charities told to end rivalries and unite

Christian charities are being urged to set aside internal competition and rivalries in pursuit of fighting global poverty.

Lord Carlile slams 'unwise and foolish' Church of England statement on Bishop George Bell
Lord Carlile slams 'unwise and foolish' Church of England statement on Bishop George Bell

Lord Carlile, who published an independent report into the Church of England's handling of an allegation of sexual abuse against Bishop George Bell, has attacked the Church for issuing a statement yesterday saying that it had received 'fresh information' concerning the late bishop.

Religious extremists use schools to 'indoctrinate impressionable minds', Ofsted chief warns
Religious extremists use schools to 'indoctrinate impressionable minds', Ofsted chief warns

Some religious schools are being used to 'indoctrinate impressionable minds with extremist ideology' under the guise of religious belief, the head of Ofsted is warning.

New investigation into late Bishop George Bell as CofE says it has received 'fresh information'
New investigation into late Bishop George Bell as CofE says it has received 'fresh information'

The Church of England today said that it had received 'fresh information' concerning the late Bishop George Bell, with Christian Today understanding that a new complainant has come forward following publicity about allegations against the bishop.

Jewish New Year for Trees, and how the well rooted can help others with spiritual integrity
Jewish New Year for Trees, and how the well rooted can help others with spiritual integrity

Just as today small Jewish children all over the world will take part in a ceremony that will hopefully help them grow into mentoring trees – adults planted well into the soil of their own being – so the enshrining of tree-planting in a Jewish religious festival is as important as the commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt which takes place exactly two months from now at Pesach, or the autumnal call to judge ourselves and be judged at Rosh Hashanah.

Three cheers for the Church of England Evangelical Council's statement on marriage and sex
Three cheers for the Church of England Evangelical Council's statement on marriage and sex

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has issued what it calls a 'reflection' on Anglicanism, marriage and sex. Here are some reasons why evangelicals of whatever hue or shade should rejoice.

Evangelical Anglicans warn they might walk away if CofE departs from 'apostolic truth'
Evangelical Anglicans warn they might walk away if CofE departs from 'apostolic truth'

An umbrella body for evangelicals in the Church of England has issued a stark warning of consequences for Church unity if it departs from 'apostolic truth' on sexual ethics.

Church of England's 'culture of secrecy' under the spotlight in abuse inquiry
Church of England's 'culture of secrecy' under the spotlight in abuse inquiry

A public inquiry into sex abuse in the Church of England will focus on the institution's culture of secrecy.

Don Bosco: 7 quotes from the saint who taught by kindness
Don Bosco: 7 quotes from the saint who taught by kindness

St John Bosco or 'Don Bosco' (1815-1888), whose feast day is today, was an Italian Catholic priest who worked in Turin.

CofE and Methodist unity plans 'threaten the fundamentals' of Church, Anglo-Catholics warn
CofE and Methodist unity plans 'threaten the fundamentals' of Church, Anglo-Catholics warn

Anglo-Catholics are warning proposals to end 200-years of schism with the Methodist Church 'threaten the fundamentals' of the Church of England.

Salvation Army launches group singing initiative for dementia sufferers
Salvation Army launches group singing initiative for dementia sufferers

The Salvation Army has launched an innovative, spiritually-minded new programme to help those suffering from dementia, using singing to connect dementia victims and their carers, and to prompt memory recollection.

When Spurgeon died: How a life of faith prepared him for its end
When Spurgeon died: How a life of faith prepared him for its end

Charles Haddon Spurgeon had suffered from ill-health for many years, tormented by gout, rheumatism and Bright's disease.

Kazakhstan targets home groups, private prayer in new religious freedom crackdown
Kazakhstan targets home groups, private prayer in new religious freedom crackdown

Christians, Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses have been subject to increasingly punitive restrictions on religious freedom in Kazakhstan. New amendments to law would expand limitations - including an effective ban on private home groups.

Trump's first State of the Union address singles out Christian North Korean defector, reaches out to Dreamers

Donald Trump alarmed seasoned observers last night with provocative rhetoric about North Korea and Christians in his first State of the Union address, highlighting the plight of a tortured Christian defector who was in the audience.

Pope investigates Chilean Bishop Barros after new information emerges
Pope investigates Chilean Bishop Barros after new information emerges

Pope Francis is sending the Vatican's top expert on sex abuse to investigate the case of a Chilean bishop accused of covering up a paedophile priest's crimes.