News

Catholic League urges boycott of Golden Compass movie

Religious activists at the Catholic League have followed up their boycott of The Da Vinci Code movie in 2006, this time highlighting The Golden Compass movie, which is due for release at Christmas.

Former Archbishop of Birmingham dies aged 78

The former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham has died over the weekend, aged 78.

'Our faith works,' say 20,000 Faithworks members

The church is a vital player in the quest for community cohesion, says Faithworks leader.

American diocese approves split from Episcopal Church

Despite a warning from the head of The Episcopal Church, members of the American Diocese of Pittsburgh voted overwhelmingly Friday to leave the national church.

Second man arrested in UK over 'explosives' terrorism fears

Police investigating the discovery of "potentially explosive material" at a house in northern England arrested a second suspect under anti-terrorism laws on Saturday.

Pakistan's Musharraf to invoke emergency rule

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has decided to impose emergency rule and will seek approval from the cabinet on Saturday, a senior security official said, in a move that will put off elections due in January.

Madeleine parents hopeful six months after disappearance

The parents of Madeleine McCann said on Saturday that they remain hopeful their daughter is still alive, six months after she went missing while on holiday in Portugal.

Thousands flee floods in Mexico

Thousands of people fled a Mexican city on Friday after flood waters burst through sandbag barriers in a disaster that left 800,000 people homeless and most of the state of Tabasco under water.

Irish priests fear driving bans over Eucharist wine

Celebrating more than one mass a day may push Roman Catholic priests over the alcohol limit if tougher drink driving rules come into effect in Ireland, a leading clergyman said on Friday.

Racy photos from Britney Spears' new album upset Catholics

Photos from Britney Spear's new album, Blackout, showing the pop star coyly sitting on a priest's lap in a confessional booth has drawn strong reactions from the Catholic community.

Christians commence California firestorm clean-up operation

News about the widespread California wildfire have faded from the headlines, but Christian organisations and churches remain behind to help clean up the overwhelming destruction left by the fires.

Iranian filmmakers expose Christian murder cases

Two brothers, a murdered father and an untold story of pain and forgiveness are the inspirations behind an award-winning documentary on the secret death of a prominent evangelical pastor in Iran.

Christian students, faculty forced to don Muslim garbs

Students and teachers at a primary school in England were forced to dress up as Muslims to celebrate a belated Muslim festival although most were Christians.

Venezuela bishops say Chavez reforms grant State too much power

Roman Catholic bishops have warned that attempts at constitutional reform in Venezuela by President Hugo Chavez restrict the rights of citizens and grant too much power to the State with a "president who is re-elected indefinitely".

Russia's Putin honours Stalin's victims at Moscow killing field

President Vladimir Putin has attended a memorial service conducted by Patriarch Aleksei II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, at a church built near a Soviet police secret killing field, where at least 20 000 people were executed at the peak of dictator Joseph Stalin's bloody purges.

Believers inspired to transform Britain's communities

Christians taking part in the Faithworks conference this week have been challenged and inspired to be part of the solution to Britain's social problems.