Staff writer

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.

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.

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.

The 21 Day Challenge: How 3 weeks could revolutionise your spiritual life
Christian commitment to a year of spiritual resolve can be a daunting prospect, but three weeks may be all it takes to revolutionise your life. YouVersion, the team behind the popular Bible App, are once again inviting users to undertake the '21 Day Challenge', starting today.
Egyptian court hands down suspended sentences to 15 Muslim attackers after Coptic church violence
An Egyptian court yesterday sentenced 15 Muslim defendants to a year in jail, charged with attacking an unlicensed Coptic Church in a village south of Cairo.

Stop competing! Christian charities told to end rivalries and unite
Christian charities are being urged to set aside internal competition and rivalries in pursuit of fighting global poverty.

Church of England's 'culture of secrecy' under the spotlight in abuse inquiry
A public inquiry into sex abuse in the Church of England will focus on the institution's culture of secrecy.

Don Bosco: 7 quotes from the saint who taught by kindness
St John Bosco or 'Don Bosco' (1815-1888), whose feast day is today, was an Italian Catholic priest who worked in Turin.

Salvation Army launches group singing initiative for dementia sufferers
The Salvation Army has launched an innovative, spiritually-minded new programme to help those suffering from dementia, using singing to connect dementia victims and their carers, and to prompt memory recollection.

Kazakhstan targets home groups, private prayer in new religious freedom crackdown
Christians, Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses have been subject to increasingly punitive restrictions on religious freedom in Kazakhstan. New amendments to law would expand limitations - including an effective ban on private home groups.

'We are followers of Jesus Christ, not foreign agents': Australian bishops hit out at proposed new law
Proposed new legislation in Australia could force priests, and potentially any Catholic involved in advocacy, to register as a 'foreign agent' of the Vatican, bishops have warned.

Parents want control over sex and relationships education, polling from Evangelical Alliance shows
The public wants parents at the heart of new 'relationships education' proposals, with a large majority wanting parents informed of the curriculum content ahead of time and to know who is delivering classes, new polling has found.

Chinese cardinal who says Vatican has 'sold out' warns Francis against reconciling with Communist regime
Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong has revealed that he traveled recently to Rome for a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican to relay his concerns over proposals aimed at reconciling the Catholic Church in China and the government-backed Patriotic Catholic Association.

When is Ash Wednesday 2018? And what is Lent?
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of fasting and penance observed for thousands of years by many Christians including, especially, Catholics as well as Anglicans, Methodists and Lutherans.