Ruth Gledhill

• Nearly half of English people do not realise Jesus was a real person

  Nearly half of non-Christians said they were "not open" to an experience or encounter with Jesus and nearly one-third actually felt uncomfortable.

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  Jihadists will try to infiltrate Syrian refugees to US, Ben Carson warns

  Republican front-runner Ben Carson said that the US should take care of its own poor and deprived, and that Syrian refugees should be resettled in their own part of the world, not America.

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  The state of Israel 'has every right' to exist and prosper, says Pope

  Pope Francis told a delegation from the World Jewish Congress: "To attack Jews is anti-Semitism, but an outright attack on the State of Israel is also anti-Semitism."

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  Christians and Muslims murdered in sectarian violence in Central Africa

  Three Muslim officials were taken hostage and killed. Three Christians were then also killed in a revenge attack in the CAR capital, Bangui.

• Generous faith: Giving to charity a priority for millennial Christians

  Christians aged between 18 and 37 are "extremely generous" and giving to charity is a top priority for them, a new survey shows.

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  Sacked gay priest condemns 'homophobic hate' of Catholic Church

  Poland-born Krzysztof Charamsa, 43, wrote: "Today, I side with the fantastic people who are homosexual, for centuries humiliated by a fanatical Church. I no longer accept the salvation that excludes – without any foundation whatsoever – a part of humanity."

• Pope to issue post-Synod document on the 'joy of family'

  The Pope is expected to follow-up the three-week Synod on the Family with an exhortation on "the joy of the family"

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  Another evangelical church demolished in Muslim-majority Sudan

  There are growing fears for Christians in Sudan after another church was destroyed.

• 'God is not to be seen as male' says top woman bishop

  Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek, who will be inaugurated as one of 26 bishops in the Lords later today, said: "God is not to be seen as male. God is God."

• Stop the talking. It is decision time for the Anglican Communion, says Archbishop

  In his latest pastoral letter, Kenya Archbishop Eliud Wabukala says: "There is now a shared realisation that the time for dialogue is over and there must be a decision that will settle the future direction of the Communion and free us from being dragged down by controversy and confusion."

• Final report from Synod urges 'pastoral discernment' on divorced and remarried Catholics

  The Catholic Church moved to soften its stance banning remarried divorcees from Holy Communion and other sacraments. However, the three-week Synod on the Family in Rome has ended with no indications that a less hostile language on homosexuality is close to being adopted and with no change of mood on contraception.

• US faith leaders sign pledge denouncing religious bigotry

  Religious leaders from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths called on the nation protect the rights of all believers.