World

Paul Ryan backs down in spat with Catholic House chaplain Patrick Conroy
Paul Ryan backs down in spat with Catholic House chaplain Patrick Conroy

US House speaker Paul Ryan has found himself in a battle with the House chaplain, Patrick Conroy, after it emerged Ryan forced him to resign.

Christian academy shut down after controversy over bible references in student handbook
Christian academy shut down after controversy over bible references in student handbook

A school board in Alberta, Canada has voted to close a Christian academy last week, following controversy over censorship of certain biblical references in the student handbook.

Ruins of ancient 1st century Christian site found in former ISIS-held region in Syria
Ruins of ancient 1st century Christian site found in former ISIS-held region in Syria

The ruins of a Christian church that is believed to be built as far back as the first century A.D. was found at a site in northern Syria where the Islamic State dumped their trash.

Ethiopian court considers appeal of evangelical Christian convicted of offending members of Orthodox church
Ethiopian court considers appeal of evangelical Christian convicted of offending members of Orthodox church

An Ethiopian court has announced that it will hear the appeal of an evangelical Christian who was convicted of "causing outrage to religious peace and feeling," after a lower court turned down his plea in March.

Former bishop of Exeter in controversial Syria visit questions evidence for Assad chemical attack
Former bishop of Exeter in controversial Syria visit questions evidence for Assad chemical attack

A former bishop who held high-level talks with the Syrian regime hours after last month's western air-strikes has said he was 'appalled' by the intervention and questioned whether president Bashar al-Assad was behind the chemical attack on Douma.

US officials return thousands of ancient artefacts seized from Hobby Lobby back to Iraq
US officials return thousands of ancient artefacts seized from Hobby Lobby back to Iraq

US officials have returned more than 3,800 artefacts illegally obtained from suppliers in Iraq and sold to Hobby Lobby, the giant craft store chain owned by evangelical Christians.

Beheaded body of Christian pastor found in India
Beheaded body of Christian pastor found in India

The beheaded body of an abducted pastor was found by a reservoir in eastern India yesterday morning.

Three US Christians held in North Korea could be released
Three US Christians held in North Korea could be released

Three American Christians detained in North Korea could be released having reportedly been moved from a labour camp to a hotel on the outskirts of the capital city Pyongyang, according to CBN News.

Bavaria's mandate to display crosses in public buildings draws opposition from Protestants and Catholic bishops
Bavaria's mandate to display crosses in public buildings draws opposition from Protestants and Catholic bishops

The Bavarian government's mandate to require public buildings to display crosses at their entrances has been criticized by some Catholic bishops and Protestants.

Indian state passes anti-conversion legislation Christians fear will be used against them
Indian state passes anti-conversion legislation Christians fear will be used against them

India's Uttarakhand state has become the latest state in the country to enact legislation tightening restrictions around religious conversions.

Leah Sharibu: The Christian schoolgirl who refused to obey Boko Haram and deny her faith
Leah Sharibu: The Christian schoolgirl who refused to obey Boko Haram and deny her faith

Leah Sharibu was not released with 104 of her school mates because she refused to recant her Christian faith.

Church bells ring every evening across Manila after priest shot dead
Church bells ring every evening across Manila after priest shot dead

Church bells will be rung across the archdiocese of Manila every evening to remember another priest shot dead in the Phillippines.

Israel at 70: The Haifa years – 6 stories
Israel at 70: The Haifa years – 6 stories

Heeding the words of Robert Wistrich to 'do something' about the antisemitism prevalent in the UK, from 2003-6 I engaged with the churches and the media.

Church shooting: At least 15 dead after gunmen open fire on CAR worshippers
Church shooting: At least 15 dead after gunmen open fire on CAR worshippers

At least 15 people including a Catholic priest were killed in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR) on Tuesday, when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a church service.

Archaeologists discover lost 'biblical' city, claim it proves Bible is accurate
Archaeologists discover lost 'biblical' city, claim it proves Bible is accurate

Archaeologists are claiming a lost city in Israel helps prove the Bible's account of King David is historically accurate.

'Secret church' dating back to first Christian centuries survived Islamic State
'Secret church' dating back to first Christian centuries survived Islamic State

A 'secret church' in Syria dating back to the first centuries of Christianity has been discovered by archaeologists in a territory held by Islamic State for more than two years.