News

Ruined Albanian churches could be tourist magnet if repaired
Many old Albanian Orthodox churches and the art they contain lie in ruins due to decades of neglect but they could attract tourists if they are repaired, according to experts.

Bishops under pressure to explain 'dismissive' rejection of transgender services
Church of England bishops are under pressure to explain their 'dismissive' consideration of transgender liturgies.

Jeremiah's hope: How we can learn from the faith of Israel's great prophet
Jeremiah's decision to buy his family land from his kinsman was more than just a commercial transaction.

A sabbath rest from gadgets: Why it's good for the soul
More than half (57 per cent) of US evangelical leaders say they take a sabbath from electronic communication devices.

Catholic bishops defend their involvement in Congo's troubled politics: 'The Church acts as arbitrator'
Catholic bishops in the Congo have defended their involvement in politics after criticism from the president at their presence at recent demonstrations.
Landmark Vatican-China deal over 'illegitimate bishops' ready to sign
A breakthrough deal between the Vatican and China over the appointment of bishops could be signed within days, according a source quoted by Reuters.

City Harvest Church's Kong Hee escapes longer jail time for fraud
A megachurch pastor accused of misusing millions of dollars in donations has escaped a longer jail sentence.

How Tearfund homes are changing lives three years after Nepal's devastating earthquake
Tearfund is celebrating the completion of 108 earthquake-resistant houses in Nepal.

Ancient pool discovered near Jerusalem could be site where Ethiopian eunuch was baptised
An ancient pool near Jerusalem has been unearthed by archaeologists is being linked to where Philip may have baptised the Ethiopian eunuch.

Home Office rejects calls to regulate sharia courts in Britain
The Home Office is rejecting calls for the government to regulate sharia courts, warning that to do so would legitimise the quasi-legal structures that operate outside the British legal system.

Now Forward in Faith Anglo-Catholics blast CofE-Methodist unity plans
Another group of Anglo-Catholics has strongly opposed proposals to end 200 years of schism between the Church of England and the Methodist Church, saying they represent 'a fundamental breach'.

Kidnapped nun asks for help from Pope Francis in jihadist video
A nun who was kidnapped nearly a year ago in Mali has appeared in a video in which she asks for Pope Francis to intervene, according to reports from the Mauritanian agency Al-Akhbar and the American centre of surveillance of jihadist movements, SITE.

Is the Acts of the Apostles a film-maker's dream?
According to Affirm Films, Paul, Apostle of Christ is the story of Luke, who risks his life to visit Paul, 'held captive in Nero's darkest, bleakest prison cell'.

EXCLUSIVE: Bishop blasts disgraced priest allowed to defend George Bell at Church of England's headquarters
It is 'outrageous' that a disgraced priest banned from ministry has been allowed to speak at the Church of England's headquarters, a bishop said today.

Black Lightning: Racism, justice and the cost of your God-given gifts
'Black Lightning' is the latest comic-book superhero to hit the small screen, but he's a far cry from what you know. This sharp show engages institutional racism, crippling injustice and the quest for what's right in a bloody, broken world.

Horror as Dutch doctors euthanise 29-year-old woman with mental health troubles
Opponents of assisted dying have reacted with horror after doctors in Holland performed the euthanasia of a 29-year-old woman who was suffering from mental health problems but was physically fit.