Origianlly published in Charisma News Facebook and the First Amendment have been at the centre of a debate over the anti-homosexual comments of teachers in Florida and New Jersey. Now, a housing association manager in England is meeting with ill treatment over some same-sex comments of his own. Adrian Smith, […]
World
Methodist clergy in US vow to marry gay couples
Originally published in The Christian Century Risking their careers or standing in the United Methodist Church, at least 164 clergy and six congregations from Long Island to the Catskill Mountains and southern Connecticut are vowing to marry same-sex couples. Hundreds of UMC clergy elsewhere in the US have made similar […]
Gilad Shalit Release: Israeli Soldier Home After 5 Years; 477 Palestinian Prisoners Freed
Originally published in Christian Post The Middle East has been abuzz Tuesday after an Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas for five years returned to the Jewish state, while hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many held for violent crimes, were released in exchange for his freedom. Shalit, 25, was greeted by […]
‘Minor victory’ in case of Iranian pastor facing death sentence threat
Originally published in Baptist Press The attorney for imprisoned Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Court will review his case if the appeals court returns it, CNN reported on Ocober 13. “The reversal is a minor victory for the two-year-old legal battle; the Supreme Court passed on […]
Egypt’s finance minister resigns – then changes his mind
Originally published in The Sydney Morning Herald Egypt’s Finance Minister Hazem el-Beblawi has reversed his decision to quit after the country’s military rulers urged him to stay, capping a day of confusion as officials seek a transition to civilian rule after February’s revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak. ”It’s more logical […]
Egyptians mourn massacre of Coptic Christians
[notice]Orthodox leaders call for three days of fasting, prayer, mourning.[/notice] By Wayne King — Compass Direct News Funeral services were held yesterday in Cairo for some of the victims of a military attack against a group of Christian protestors that left 26 dead and hundreds wounded. In the wake of what […]
Iranian court tells pastor to return to Islam or face execution
Originally published in BosNewsLife An Iranian court has asked the pastor of one of Iran’s largest house church movements to abandon his faith in Christ and return to Islam if he wants to avoid execution, a church official told BosNewsLife Sunday, September 25. On “the first day” of his trial […]
Abbas: Decision on UN bid will take weeks, not months
By Reuters — originally published in Jerusalem Post Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday he expected the Security Council to finish debating his nation’s application for full UN membership within weeks, not months. His comments came as reaction to speculations that the Security Council could potentially sit on […]
Tensions over Palestinian statehood reach boiling point
By Chris Mitchell and John Waage — Originally published in CBN News The showdown over the Palestinians’ UN bid for statehood bid has reached the 11th hour. Despite strong pressure from the US, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he’ll ask for full UN membership in his Friday speech to the […]
UK lawyer to brief SA Christians on danger of anti-Christian laws
United Kingdom barrister Paul Diamond, who specialises in defending the rights of Christians in a culture that has become hostile to believers, will address a church conference in Stellenbosch next week. Shofar Conference Speakers Other speakers at the conference include the fathers of the modern worship movement Brian Doerksen (Canada) […]