News

Iranian president's alternative Christmas message draws fire

The holiday message delivered by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Channel 4 drew a wide range of critics last week.

Bishop urges support for children

The Bishop of Hereford appealed to hundreds of people this week to support children during 2009, the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Year of the Child.

China cracks down on Christians during Christmas week

The officially atheist Chinese Government harassed Christians in different regions of the country in the days leading up to Christmas and on Christmas Eve, says one group that supports the persecuted church there.

Sombre Christmas for India's Christians

It was an unusually sombre-looking Christmas in India this year. The Yuletide cheer was unanimously toned down in the wake of violence on Christians especially in Orissa, Karnataka, Mumbai terrorist attacks and the global economic crisis affecting the nation.

Nepal hopeful after first official Christmas

Nepal celebrated its first Christmas ever after being declared a federal republic in December 2007.

Archbishop attacks pressure to be perfect

The Archbishop of Wales has criticised TV programmes like the X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing for putting pressure on people to be perfect.

ACET sees progress in HIV work

Christian charity ACET says it has succeeded in reaching even more people in the fight against HIV and Aids during 2008.

Sentamu warns banks not to get rich at poor people's expense

The Archbishop of York has warned banks not to get rich at the expense of their poor neighbours.

World celebrates Christmas

Thousands of pilgrims overcame checkpoints and tight security to celebrate Christmas with a mass last night in the birthplace of Christ, Bethlehem.

Being the Good Samaritan

It’s the most wonderful time of the year but for Street Pastors, it’s also the toughest.

Churches under threat in Tajikistan

A new draft law in Tajikistan is threatening to rob churches and mosques of their legal status in 2009.

The quest for invulnerability

Professor Dumbledore’s notes on five of the most famous children’s tales in the wizarding world echo some of the biggest themes explored in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. But they also strike a chord within the reader that rings true as even the most realistic of fiction.

St Nicholas uniting East and West

The Catholic Church’s gift of a relic of St Nicholas to the Russian Orthodox at the Pope’s behest has been hailed by both churches as a “historic” milestone in ecumenical relations.

Coal-fired power plants branded 'toxic Christmas present'

Christian Aid says coal-fired power stations that do not capture and store their carbon emissions dramatically undermine the UK's claim to be leading the battle against climate change.

Christmas offerings bring comfort and joy to Iraq

Aid to the Church in Need food parcels packed with Christmas goodies have gone out to more than 750 families in Iraq who fled persecution at risk to their lives.

Tutu anger over Zimbabwe inaction

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has attacked his native South Africa for failing to take action against Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.