Christian Today staff writer

• Retired Bolivian bishop appointed cardinal by Pope Francis denies he has a secret family

  A retired Bolivian bishop recently selected by Pope Francis to be made a cardinal is denying claims that he fathered two children and had a wife while serving as a bishop.

• Rome's Christian catacombs: The accidental discovery of the art of the early church

  On this day in 1578 a momentous discovery of Christian history was made in Rome, completely by accident.

• All over for Paige Patterson at Southwestern after damning new revelations

  Paige Patterson, the controversial former head of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has been stripped of the title 'president emeritus'

• Hong Kong cardinal urges release of abducted underground Chinese bishop

  Hong Kong's Cardinal Joseph Zen has implored the release of Cui Tai, an underground church bishop reportedly abducted by Chinese authorities in April.

• Indian Christian murdered in 'honour killing'

  An Indian Christian was beaten to death this week after marrying another Indian Christian of a higher caste.

• Church of England insurer launches competition celebrating church volunteers

  The Church of England's insurer, Ecclesiastical, has launched a national competition open to every Anglican church in the UK, to celebrate the work of church volunteers.

• Pope Francis to Russian Orthodox: Catholics will not meddle in your affairs

  Pope Francis has promised the Russian Orthodox Church that Catholics will not 'meddle' in its affairs, saying 'those who meddle, do not obey the Holy See' and adding he will 'never allow' an attitude of division between the Churches.

• Pope Francis to honour Mafia-slain priest in Sicily

  Pope Francis will later this year visit the neighbourhood and parish connected with a Sicilian priest killed by the Mafia in 1993, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the death of the 'First Martyr of the Mafia'.

• Fulani herdsmen want to exterminate Christians says Nigerian bishop

  Up to 100 Christians have died this year at the hands of nomadic herdsmen.

• Televangelist claims God told him he needs a $50m private jet

  A televangelist has said that God told him he needs a fourth new jet, adding that if Jesus was on Earth today he would travel on a plane and not a donkey.

• Westminster Abbey to open previously hidden gallery regarded as 'best view in Europe'

  A previously hidden space on top of Westminster Abbey in London which was once used for storage has been turned into a new gallery with a spectacular view on the nave that opens to the public on June 11.

• Catholic Church in Australia to enter redress scheme for sex abuse survivors

  The Catholic Church in Australia has committed to taking part in a new national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, two top religious groups said today.