Church

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  Salvation Army launches Big Collection to support people in need

  The Salvation Army is hoping people's small change will make a big difference for people in need across the UK and Republic of Ireland this autumn.

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  Nearly half of US evangelicals think their church teaches elements of the prosperity gospel

  About four in 10 evangelical Christians say they attend a church where they're taught elements of prosperity gospel, according to a poll.

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  Rare medieval Bible returned to Canterbury Cathedral 500 years after it went missing

  A rare medieval Bible that went missing from Canterbury Cathedral 500 years ago has now been safely returned to its former home.

• Ireland's Catholics hoping Pope's visit will revive interest in the Church

  Bernie and Tom Byrne can barely conceal their excitement as they prepare for a visit to Ireland by Pope Francis that they hope will bring back the young believers that have deserted the Catholic church after decades of scandal.

• Vatican says Pope will meet victims of sexual abuse during Ireland visit

  Pope Francis will meet victims of clergy sexual abuse during his visit to Ireland this weekend, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

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  Rise in the number of young people wanting to join the priesthood

  The Church of England has reported a rise in the number of young people wanting to be ordained into the priesthood.

• Pope condemns 'long ignored' sexual abuse after damning Pennsylvania grand jury report

  Pope Francis, facing simultaneous clergy sexual abuse crises in several countries, on Monday wrote an unprecedented letter to all the world's Catholics asking each of them to help uproot "this culture of death".

• Vatican breaks silence to voice 'shame and sorrow' over damning Pennsylvania sex abuse report

  In a long statement that broke the Vatican's silence over a damning US grand jury report, spokesman Greg Burke said the Holy See was taking the report 'with great seriousness'.

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  Damning dossier reveals decades of abuse by Pennsylvania Catholic clergy

  Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania sexually abused thousands of children over a 70-year period and silenced victims through 'the weaponization of faith'.

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  John Smyth victims slam 'cynical and disingenuous' Titus Trust apology

  Smyth died on August 11 at his home in Cape Town after a heart operation. He was exposed as having carried out vicious beatings on young men he groomed through Iwerne.

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  Australian archbishop begins home detention over sex abuse cover-up

  A former Australian archbishop was spared jail on Tuesday when he was ordered to serve his one-year sentence at home.

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  Rick Warren's Saddleback Church celebrates 50,000 baptisms

  In an email to the congregation before the service, Warren said reaching the milestone 'brought tears to my eyes'.

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  Former monk held over killing of bishop at Egyptian monastery

  The killing last month of Bishop Epiphanius, a 64-year-old scholar who had led the Abu Makar Monastery in Wadi Natroun, prompted the church to impose strict new measures on its clergy.

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  Survivor regrets Iwerne abuser John Smyth died before being brought to justice

  Smyth, who was accused of sadistically beating young men he groomed at the Iwerne camps, died at his home in Cape Town aged 77 following a heart operation.

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  St Lawrence: The Christian martyr who died telling a joke

  Today is the feast day of St Lawrence (225-258), one of the earliest Christian martyrs and one of the few who died telling a joke.