Church

• 

  A boy wrote to Pope Francis inviting him on a pilgrimage for sick children. He received a remarkable reply

  The Pope not only took the time to reply in person. He hinted strongly that he might indeed consider attending the annual pilgrimage in Loreto, Italy next year.

• 

  Pioneer ministry: How a new generation of ministers is changing the face of mission

  The Church Mission Society has just seen the most students ever graduate from its Pioneer Mission Leadership Training programme.

• 

  The Church of England should back gay marriage, 'keep up' with society, education secretary says

  The UK's Education Secretary has said the Church of England should 'keep up' with modern attitudes in society and allow gay marriage in its churches.

• 

  Pope Francis condemns 'Church of the pure': 'Good and evil are totally entwined'

  'Good and evil are totally entwined', said Pope Francis at the Vatican this morning, declaring that 'we are all sinners'. He implored Christians not to label any one group or place as bad, warning against a judgmental 'Church of the pure'.

• 

  Billy Graham explains what all cults have in common - and it's scary

  Jesus warned about wolves in sheep's clothing and 2,000 years on that warning still stands. But how can we know a cult from a true church? Billy Graham said there is one thing all cults have in common and it makes all the difference.

• 

  Church of England criticised over its response to clergy abuse claims

  The Church of England has been pastorally compromised by its compensation insurance company, clergy abuse survivors have alleged.

• 

  Eritrean Patriarch detained for 10 years has attended church – but it's a fig leaf for continued repression, campaigners say

  The Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch, detained at home since 2007, has been allowed to attend a church service for the first time since his arrest – but supporters say in spite of this there has been no reconciliation with the regime.

• 

  Cardinal Mueller admits 'shame' for Church child abuse but denies responsibility for German choir school scandal

  Former Vatican doctrinal chief Cardinal Muller has denied accusations that he must face 'full responsibility' for the abuse scandal in a German choir school revealed this week. It was revealed on Monday that more than 500 boys in a Church choir school were abused over a period of six decades.

• 

  Jerusalem Church leaders urge freedom of worship following historic mosque closure after gun violence

  Church leaders in Jerusalem are urging freedom of worship in the city, calling for continued access to the historic al-Aqsa Mosque after it was closed following gun violence last week.

• 

  Gaming for God: New card game asks the Church 'what is mission?'

  The UK's first ever mission themed card game, designed to provide a fun way for people to examine their personal view of what mission is, has been launched by Church Mission Society (CMS).

• 

  Clergy burnout: Why stress affects church ministers, and what they can do about it

  Stress and mental health are increasingly in the news, with everyone from Princes William and Harry to journalists describing episodes of anxiety or depression. But for some reason the mental health of clergy has often overlooked – until now.

• 

  Scottish Anglican cathedral is UK's first to host same-sex weddings

  A cathedral in Scotland has become the UK's first Anglican cathedral to host same-sex weddings.

• 

  Fuller Theological Seminary closes some campuses

  The influential US evangelical institution Fuller Theological Seminary is closing several of its locations because of the growing for online education and the increase in online enrollment. The seminary said it was 'retooling for a different world'.

• 

  More than 9 in 10 British kids don't go to church: Here's how Scripture Union is helping change that

  Christian charity Scripture Union England & Wales laid down a call to churches to increase their outreach work with children and young people, as part of The 95 Campaign.

• 

  Was this Catholic cardinal a saint or a pro-Nazi war criminal?

  Representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have agreed to disagree on the legacy of controversial wartime cardinal – seen as a criminal by Orthodox Serbs, and a saint by Catholic Croats.