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        <title>Christian Today | World</title>
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            <title>Christian Today | World</title>
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                                                        <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Retired bishop forcibly disappeared in Nicaragua]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/retired-bishop-forcibly-disappeared-in-nicaragua</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/retired-bishop-forcibly-disappeared-in-nicaragua</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Nicaragua]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 08:48:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The current whereabouts of the bishop remains unclear]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Nicaraguan government of President Daniel Ortega has been called to act following the forced disappearance of Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara.
Mata, 80, is bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Estelí. He has previously survived cancer and has a pacemaker, prompting concerns about his health.
Although he retired in 2020, Bishop Mata’s arrest is believed to have been prompted by his presence at a mass in June in which he offered prayers for the persecuted church in Nicaragua.
According to Open Doors, Nicaragua is the 32nd worst persecutor of Christians in the world, with the situation having deteriorated significantly since 2018 when there were a series of anti-government protests.
Bishop Mata was reportedly arrested on 29 June but was, according to the authorities who arrested him, returned to his home on 4 July where he apparently remains under guard. Supporters of the bishop are concerned he remains under surveillance and subject to movement restrictions. There are fears he may not be at his home at all.
There are conflicting reports about why Nicaraguan authorities arrested the bishop. Some reports state it was due to his remarks at the mass, while others cite concerns about the “origin of properties and family ties inconsistent with his status as a priest”.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has said it is “concerned” about the arrest of Bishop Mata, adding that it “condemns the practice of hiding the whereabouts of individuals who have been subjected to arbitrary arrests as one of the most serious patterns of repression in Nicaragua”.
Exiled Nicaraguan lawyer and activist Martha Patricia Molina also condemned the arrest, telling ACI Prensa, “The forced disappearance of Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata is a serious matter; this constitutes a crime against humanity committed by agents of the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship. He has been missing for 19 days, and the co-dictators have not made any further statements on the matter,”
Molina noted that claims the bishop has been returned home remain unproven.
“No one in his circle has any news of him, and concern among the laity and the Catholic Church in general is even greater due to the medical conditions he suffers from, conditions that are almost certainly not being treated properly," she said. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Appeal for aid as DRC Ebola death toll reaches 1,000]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/appeal-for-aid-as-drc-ebola-death-toll-reaches-1-000</link>
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                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/90/99038.jpeg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Tearfund staff in the Democratic Republic of Congo.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Elijah Muweza/ Tearfund) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Tearfund staff help share prevention and awareness messages to pregnant women at a clinic in Mahagi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 08:45:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Misinformation and lack of awareness have added to the challenges of tackling the disease.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christian development charity Tearfund has called for additional assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as it continues to battle an outbreak of Ebola.
The current outbreak is the 17th such occurrence in the DRC in half a century. However, despite the regularity with which the country has been hit, ignorance and poverty have compounded the situation.
Workers on the ground say that many people do not know how serious Ebola is, while some even doubt the existence of the disease at all. Some medical workers have been attacked.
Simple hygiene practices like hand washing can go a long way towards fighting the disease, but in parts of the country where clean water is in short supply, such practices can seem like an unaffordable luxury.
Months after the outbreak first began it has been confirmed that the death toll has now reached 1,000.
Poppy Anguandia, Tearfund’s Country Director in the DRC said, “This is a grim milestone to have reached in what is emerging as the fastest Ebola outbreak on record. Tearfund’s focus on engaging faith leaders and community outreach is vital to building trust, helping to correct misinformation, and delivering life-saving water and sanitation services.”
A part of Tearfund’s effort has been centred on providing religious leaders with the resources they need to become trusted authorities on health matters. This approach is aimed at promoting practices that will fight the disease, while also combating misinformation.
More physical aid has also been provided in the form of chlorine, handwashing stations and efforts to disinfect local churches. The group is also making use of local radio stations, again to combat misinformation. Similar efforts are planned for online platforms like TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.
Anguandia thanked Tearfund donors for their support but said more was needed to bring the crisis to an end.
“We are incredibly grateful to the UK public for their generosity so far, which has already enabled these life-saving interventions," she said.
"Tearfund remains dedicated to standing with the most vulnerable, but further support is urgently required to sustain this first line of protection against Ebola.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Pakistani court to review case of abducted Christian girl]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/pakistani-court-to-review-case-of-abducted-christian-girl</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/pakistani-court-to-review-case-of-abducted-christian-girl</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/90/99033.jpeg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Maria Shahbaz]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: ADF International) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Maria Shahbaz ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:24:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Hundreds of Christian and Hindu girls are abducted every year, possibly more.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Pakistani Federal Constitutional Court is due to hear a review petition on the case of Maria Shahbaz, a Christian girl allegedly kidnapped and subject to forced conversion and marriage.
Shahbaz’s parents say she was just 12 when she was kidnapped and forced to marry her abductor, 30-year-old Shehryar Ahmad.
In March the Federal Constitutional Court rejected a petition filed by Shahbaz’s father, leading to protests across Pakistan by Christians and human rights organisations.
Subsequently, the Pakistani government formed a 37-member national consultative committee. The committee is charged with reviewing the case and proposing measures that would put a stop to forced conversions and marriages.
Legal advocacy group ADF International says Pakistani authorities have failed to uphold their own laws. The courts have so far failed to verify Shahbaz’s age, as is required, and have ignored laws that state minors cannot consent to conversion or marriage.
Tehmina Arora, ADF’s Director of Advocacy for Asia, said, “This case is a crucial moment in the movement to protect young girls from the crisis of forced marriage in Pakistan. 
"We hope that Pakistan’s highest court will soon agree to review Maria’s case and re-examine the evidence that was previously relied upon by the lower courts.
"Maria must be freed and safely returned to her family, where she will be safe from harm and able to practice her Christian faith.”  
The abduction of minority girls has been an ongoing problem in Pakistan for years. Christians and Hindus, typically at the bottom of society, are often seen as fair game and find little to no support from the courts.
In many cases courts have effectively rubber stamped the actions of abductors by recognising the forced marriages as legitimate.
It is not known how many Christian and Hindu girls are abducted in this way every year, but it is believed to be in the hundreds and possibly over a thousand.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Is politics driving Gen Z away from church? New study raises questions]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/is-politics-driving-gen-z-away-from-church-new-study-raises-questions</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/is-politics-driving-gen-z-away-from-church-new-study-raises-questions</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Duncan Williams]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/76/97621.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: JDA Worldwide) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Faith leaders praying for Trump at the White House. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A new study has found that the close association between Christianity and US President Donald Trump has become a barrier to church attendance for many young adults, including a significant number who identify as Christians.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new study has found that the close association between Christianity and US President Donald Trump has become a barrier to church attendance for many young adults, including a significant number who identify as Christians.
Research by the Billy Graham Center Research Institute surveyed 2,365 American adults aged 18 to 28 through NORC's AmeriSpeak panel between August and September 2024. The study was supported by the Lilly Endowment and led by Professor Rick Richardson of Wheaton College.
Participants were asked whether they agreed with the statement: "Christians’ support of Trump has made me less likely to go to church."
Across the full sample, 48% agreed with the statement to some degree, while around 1 in 5 (20%) said they strongly agreed. A similar proportion (21%) strongly disagreed.
The findings differed significantly depending on religious identity. 
Among Gen Z adults who identified as atheists, 72% said support for Trump among Christians had made them less likely to attend church. The figure was 65% among agnostics, while a slim majority of those describing themselves as having no particular religion also agreed.
However, the researchers cautioned that the findings do not mean politics is the only reason young adults are staying away from church. Many respondents may have little interest in attending religious services for a variety of personal, social or philosophical reasons, with political associations representing only one factor.
The research found that the issue affects some young adults who identify as Christians. Among those describing themselves simply as Christian, 44% said the association between Christianity and Trump had made them less likely to attend church. The figure was 42% among Catholics and 30% among Protestant young adults.
The study also examined whether political associations were affecting those who already attend church.
Among young Christians who attend weekly, 38% said Christians’ support for Trump had been a barrier to them attending more often. Among Christians who never attend church, the figure was 40%.
The researchers said the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that young Christians would automatically return to church if political links disappeared. 
However, the results suggest that a significant number of young adults see the perceived relationship between Christianity and Trump as an obstacle to becoming more involved in church life.
Around 20% of Generation Z adults in the survey said they attend church regularly. Among the remaining 80%, respondents were almost evenly divided between those who said politics had no impact on their attendance and those who said the association between Christianity and Trump had made them less likely to attend.
The study comes amid continuing debate in the United States about the relationship between Christian identity and political affiliation, particularly among evangelical Christians who have strongly supported Trump during recent elections.
The researchers concluded that the connection between faith and politics is likely to remain an important factor in shaping the future of American Christianity, particularly as younger generations decide how they relate to churches and religious communities.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[UN report finds many young people want to get married but find it hard to do so]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/un-report-finds-many-young-people-want-to-get-married-but-find-it-hard-to-do-so</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/un-report-finds-many-young-people-want-to-get-married-but-find-it-hard-to-do-so</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[children]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:49:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Money and housing are the main barriers to marriage and children.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A UN report has suggested that across the world young people want to get married and have children, but often find it difficult to do so.
The report, which is based on a survey of 108,000 people aged 18 to 39 across 73 different countries, said that low fertility rates were no longer the preserve of highly developed countries.
Two-thirds of the world’s population now live in countries were the fertility rate is below 2.1 children per woman.
Even in countries with relatively high birth rates, the number is often on a downwards trajectory.
The Demographic Futures Survey found that the majority of young people (70 per cent) wish to get married, with the only disagreement being on whether to cohabit before or after the marriage (34 per cent supported cohabitation prior to marriage). Only 16 per cent of respondents said they wished to remain single.
Wishes and reality are different, however, and around a quarter of those who wish to find a long-term partner said they were currently single and not dating. The figure was higher for men (30 per cent) than for women (19 per cent).
One of the biggest obstacles to forming a partnership is economic insecurity. Over half of respondents (57 per cent) said that economic insecurity or housing constraints presented the biggest barrier to forming a long-term relationship.
When it comes to children, the average ideal is to have two children, although in most of Africa the preferred number tends to by higher.
The findings also reveal that men tend to want more children (2.62) than women (2.43). 
Reality is again somewhat different, as the average number of children that people tend to have is uniformly lower than the ideal number they wish to have.
Among childless 35 to 39 year olds, most still wanted to have children - 79 per cent of men and 72 per cent women.
Once again housing and economic uncertainty are identified as the main culprits, with 72 per cent saying these represented a barrier to having children. Other common factors given were the lack of a suitable partner and health problems.
The report states, “The findings underscore the wider conditions that shape young people’s choices.
"Enhancing economic opportunities, employment security, affordable housing, accessible childcare and gender equality can help create the conditions to support young people to have the number of children they want, when they want them, and build the lives they aspire to lead.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church elder and worship leader among dead in fresh wave of attacks in eastern DRC]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-elder-and-worship-leader-among-dead-in-fresh-wave-of-attacks-in-eastern-drc</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/church-elder-and-worship-leader-among-dead-in-fresh-wave-of-attacks-in-eastern-drc</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Democratic Republic of Congo]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:22:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A church elder and a worship leader were among six people killed in an attack on a rural Christian community in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A church elder and a worship leader were among six people killed in an attack on a rural Christian community in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 
It is one of three assaults in the region, all occurring between 12 and 16 July, that have left more than 20 people dead and residents living in fear of more violence, says Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians around the world.
An Open Doors field contact confirmed that the attack took place in the commune of Mangina, in North Kivu Province's Beni Territory, on 14 July.
Alongside the six deaths, six more people were injured, one person is missing, and two houses were burned down.
News outlets said fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked an area west of Beni city on 12 July, killing seven civilians and three soldiers from the Congolese Armed Forces. A further 10 people are reported to have died in a separate attack in Mangina on 16 July.
Pastor Nkulu, a church leader in Mangina whose name has been changed for security reasons, said he had sheltered 10 Christians in his own home after they were forced to flee their homes during the attack. 
"Fear is increasing," he said, and normal church activities have also been hampered as a result of the violence. 
He appealed for prayer "for the safety of the rural commune of Mangina and for the strengthening of the faith of Christians". 
Eastern DRC has been blighted by violence, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian - it currently ranks number 29 on Open Doors' World Watch List of the 50 worst countries for persecution and violence against Christians. 
Open Doors said the ADF's presence has had "a significant emotional impact on many locals".
"These latest attacks will further heighten fear. Please pray for the region and our brothers and sisters who live there," it said. 
The ADF, a militant group with links to so-called Islamic State, has been targeting communities in North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri province, where the population is overwhelmingly Christian.
A recent Amnesty International report found that the vast majority of the ADF's victims have been Christians, largely because the group operates in predominantly Christian areas.
Investigators for the human rights group spent months interviewing survivors, witnesses and officials, and concluded that many of the abuses documented amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity. 
A propaganda video released by the Islamic State's Central Africa Province in September 2025 spoke of a fight against "crusaders".
Among the deadliest incidents recorded by investigators was a massacre at a church in Komanda that killed more than 40 worshippers.
Survivors described repeated assaults on villages, farms, health centres and even funerals, often carried out with guns, machetes, axes and hammers.
Many said they felt abandoned by security forces who arrived too late, if at all, to intervene. The report also documented sexual violence and mass abductions, including those of children who were forced into militant camps.
Former child captives said they were trained to fight and subjected to beatings and forced labour. They were also pressured to adopt Islamic practices under threat of death.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Erling Haaland buys historic Christian manuscript, donates it to local library]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/erling-haaland-buys-historic-christian-manuscript-donates-it-to-local-library</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/erling-haaland-buys-historic-christian-manuscript-donates-it-to-local-library</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/90/99031.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Erling Haaland]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Haaland bought the manuscript together with his father, who was also a professional footballer in his day. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Professional footballers may be known for their lavish lifestyles - fast cars and big houses - but one footballing superstar decided to use his fortune to give a historic Christian manuscript to his local library.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and his father decided to fork out $134,000 for the Heimskringla, a collection of Viking sagas that dates back to the late 16th century, EWTN reports.
The sagas document the lives of all sections of Norse society in the middle ages and detail the spread of Christianity in Norway.
Haaland himself is widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of the present day, scoring more goals than any other player in the 2025/26 Premier League season. At the recent World Cup he had the fourth highest personal goal tally.
His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was also a professional footballer in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The Heimskringla is believed to have been created in 1594, however it is also believed to be a copy of a much earlier document produced by an Icelandic scholar in the 13th century.
The original was in Old Norse and tells the story of King Olaf Haraldsson, who converted to Christianity and was later recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church. Over the centuries he has become a symbol of both Norwegian national pride and identity, and its spiritual formation as a Christian country.
The Haalands have donated the manuscript to the public library in their hometown of Bryne.
Erling Haaland told Norwegian media, “I want the book always to lie open so that people can read about those who came from where I come from, from Bryne and Jæren."
He added, “I’ve been lucky enough to live out my dream through football, and I know not everyone gets that chance. Books give so many more people the chance to dream big, see new possibilities and find their own path.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Iraqi PM asks Christians to return following mass exodus]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iraqi-pm-asks-christians-to-return-following-mass-exodus</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iraqi-pm-asks-christians-to-return-following-mass-exodus</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Robert Parr]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/81/98121.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Iraq]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Aid to the Church in Need) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The cross on the roof of a church in Qaraqosh in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:49:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Does he really want them back or is it a move to impress Donald Trump?]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The 2003 invasion of Iraq by a US-led coalition may have toppled a dictator, but it also marked the beginning of an exodus of Christians from the country.
While the campaign against Saddam Hussein was over in short order, decades of conflict with militant groups, including the notorious ISIS, followed.
In that time the Christian population went from around 1.5 million, to less than a quarter of a million.
Now Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is encouraging émigré Christians to return. Christians have reacted with scepticism to the plea, which came with promises of investment in health and education and land allocation projects.
A report by journalism organization Nirij suggested that such promises were unlikely to convince Christians to return to Iraq because they failed to address the root causes of why they fled the country to begin with, namely the failure of Iraqi governments to provide security and rule of law, and ongoing concerns about political marginalisation.
In interviews with Christian activists, Nirij found a number of common grievances. As well as protection from violent extremists, many Christians wanted the restoration of properties that had been confiscated or illegally occupied.
Others complained of anti-Christian discrimination in the Muslim-majority nation and of a lack of meaningful political representation.
Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mosul, Kerkheslokh (Kirkuk), and the Kurdistan Region Mor Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf told Nirij, “Calling on Christians to return without addressing what forced them to emigrate will not produce any results.”
Nirij raised the possibility that Iraqi overtures to its former Christian community could actually be an attempt to curry favour with US President Donald Trump.
Trump, who has significant electoral support from Evangelical Christians, has often signalled his support for Christians overseas, most recently Nigeria, a fact that has apparently not gone unnoticed in other world capitals.
Earlier this month, Chinese authorities released a pastor held in arbitrary detention for nine months. Reports suggest the release was ordered by President Xi Jinping as a goodwill gesture to the US on its 4 July Independence Day celebrations.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Evangelical leaders sue to overturn religious symbol ban in Switzerland]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/evangelical-leaders-sue-to-overturn-religious-symbol-ban-in-switzerland</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/evangelical-leaders-sue-to-overturn-religious-symbol-ban-in-switzerland</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Markus Hofer, Joseph Kabongo and Michael Mutzner in front of the Reformation Wall in Geneva. Magali Girardin]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Magali Girardin) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (L-R) Markus Hofer, Joseph Kabongo and Michael Mutzner in front of the Reformation Wall in Geneva. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:44:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Three evangelical leaders have filed a lawsuit challenging a recent constitutional amendment in Switzerland that bans lawmakers in the Canton of Geneva from wearing visible religious symbols, the Swiss Evangelical Alliance announced on Monday.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Three evangelical leaders have filed a lawsuit challenging a recent constitutional amendment in Switzerland that bans lawmakers in the Canton of Geneva from wearing visible religious symbols, the Swiss Evangelical Alliance announced on Monday.
Geneva’s cantonal parliament, the Grand Council, narrowly passed the constitutional amendment on Nov. 21, before Geneva citizens officially approved the religious symbol ban with a 51.4 percent majority in a public referendum on June 14. 
The new restriction applies to members of Geneva’s cantonal parliament, known as the Grand Council, as well as municipal councils.
Michael Mutzner, director of the Christian Public Affairs Association and a local church president, filed the lawsuit alongside Markus Hofer and Joseph Kabongo. Hofer represents the World Evangelical Alliance at the United Nations as an accredited representative, while Kabongo is a theologian and retired pastor with the Evangelical Party.
Mutzner argued that Christians must defend religious freedom for all faith communities, not just their own.
“Religious freedom is either for all, or, ultimately, for no one,” said Mutzner. “When the rights of one religious community are restricted, the freedoms of all communities become more fragile. It’s a slippery slope. For Christians, this is a matter of loving our neighbor and wanting for others the same freedom we want for ourselves.”
Such rights are also in Christians’ interests, he said.
“History shows that once fundamental freedoms are weakened for one group, they rarely stop there,” he said. “Defending the rights of others today helps safeguard the freedoms of everyone tomorrow.”
According to Mutzner, local measures in Geneva intended to limit Muslim street prayers have already impacted Christian churches. For example, some evangelical churches can no longer hold baptisms in Lake Geneva because authorities reserve the necessary permits exclusively for state-approved religious communities.
Mutzner cited the biblical passage 1 Timothy 2, which urges believers to pray for authorities so that citizens can live peaceful lives. He urged fellow evangelicals to pray for politicians, court wisdom and a society that values freedom, justice and mutual respect.
He also encouraged speaking up peacefully whenever anyone’s fundamental freedoms face a threat, regardless of which religious community suffers the restrictions. Finally, he called on Christians to live out the gospel with humility and love, stating that defending religious freedom protects individual conscience rather than special privileges for Christians.
The Swiss Evangelical Alliance opposed the ban in its statement, arguing that the amendment curtails fundamental rights. The group noted that while it supports a secular state that guarantees neutrality and religious peace, secularism should not suppress religious beliefs in democratic spaces.
Unlike civil servants who directly embody the state, parliamentarians represent the diversity of their voters, the Alliance stated. Forcing elected officials to conceal their religious beliefs severely limits religious freedom and raises serious questions regarding the Swiss Federal Constitution.
The evangelical alliance emphasized that freedom of religion protects believers and non-believers alike. In a pluralistic democracy, citizens must retain the right to elect representatives who openly stand by their religious, philosophical, or political convictions.
The evangelical alliance previously fought a similar restriction in the 2019 Geneva Secularism Act. A court ultimately overturned that restriction following opposition from the group. Ongoing baptism restrictions at Lake Geneva are unacceptable to the alliance. The group noted that the rules force some Christian communities to travel to the neighboring canton of Vaud or to France to hold their services.
Religious freedom must apply in public spaces as long as citizens respect public order and the rights of others, said the group.
The Swiss Evangelical Alliance will closely monitor proceedings before the Constitutional Chamber of the Geneva Court. The group warns that the final decision in Geneva will likely influence similar political efforts across other Swiss cantons.
© Christian Daily International]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[US passes bill to halt Nigeria aid over violence against Christians]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-passes-bill-to-halt-nigeria-aid-over-violence-against-christians</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-passes-bill-to-halt-nigeria-aid-over-violence-against-christians</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Vincent Matinde]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Yelwata memorial]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Facebook) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The unveiling of a memorial to the Christians killed in Yelwata, Nigeria ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:43:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[An effort to withhold 100 per cent of United States aid to Nigeria until the Nigerian government takes effective steps "to prevent and respond to violence in the country" has passed the US House of Representatives.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
An effort to withhold 100 per cent of United States aid to Nigeria until the Nigerian government takes effective steps "to prevent and respond to violence in the country" has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
The provision is part of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act, which the House passed on Wednesday. The legislation still requires approval by the Senate and President Donald Trump's signature before it can become law.
The bill originally proposed withholding 50% of U.S. assistance to Nigeria. However, lawmakers approved an amendment by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., to increase that to 100% until the U.S. secretary of state certifies that Nigeria is taking effective action to protect Christians and hold perpetrators of religious violence accountable.
"My amendment to withhold 100% of U.S. aid to Nigeria until its government stops the slaughter of Christians has passed," Steube wrote on X after the vote. "American taxpayers should never bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered."
Supporters of the legislation say the measure is intended to pressure President Bola Tinubu's government to improve security in regions where Christian communities have repeatedly come under attack from armed groups.
Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.V., who sponsored the broader legislation, said Christians in Nigeria have endured years of violence while receiving insufficient protection from the government.
“Christians in Nigeria continue to endure horrific violence, murder, and persecution while a majority of the world turns a blind eye to their suffering. President Trump has taken bold actions to strike the terrorists in Nigeria, and this bill sends a clear message that the United States will continue to stand with persecuted Christians across the globe, especially in Nigeria,” Moore said after the passage. “This important bill also holds foreign governments accountable and ensures American taxpayer dollars advance our national interests.”
If enacted, the legislation could affect millions of dollars in American assistance that supports health care, humanitarian relief, security cooperation, governance programs and development initiatives across Nigeria. The United States provided about $929 million in foreign assistance to Nigeria in 2024, making it one of Washington’s largest aid recipients in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2025, that figure reduced to $616 million. according to U.S. foreign aid data.
While the exact programs affected would depend on how the law is implemented, a suspension of aid would likely complicate cooperation between Washington and Abuja at a time when both countries continue to work together against extremist groups operating in northern Nigeria.
Nigeria’s complex security situation  
Nigeria has long battled multiple security crises. Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province continue to wage insurgencies in the country's northeast, while heavily armed criminal gangs operate across the northwest. In the country's Middle Belt, violence involving farming communities, nomadic herders and armed militias has claimed thousands of lives over the past decade.
Many Christian organizations argue that Christians have been disproportionately targeted, particularly in Plateau and Benue states, where churches and predominantly Christian villages have suffered repeated attacks.
Human rights organizations and conflict researchers, however, say the situation is more complex. Groups such as the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project have found that both Muslims and Christians have suffered heavily from insurgent violence, banditry and communal conflict, although Christians have also experienced attacks specifically because of their faith. 
Right groups say insecurity is fueled by a combination of religious extremism, competition over land and water, ethnic tensions, organized crime and weak governance. That complexity has been central to the Nigerian government's response.
Tinubu's administration has consistently rejected allegations that the country is witnessing a government-backed campaign against Christians. Nigerian officials maintain that terrorism and criminal violence affect citizens regardless of religion.
Responding to criticism from Washington last year, Tinubu said Nigeria's security challenges affect people “across faiths and regions” and insisted the country remains committed to religious tolerance. Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala also said jihadist groups “had killed people from all faiths, or none,” while emphasizing that Nigeria remained committed to fighting violent extremism.
The debate has intensified under Trump, who has repeatedly accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians.
The current legislation reflects a broader shift in Washington’s approach under the Trump administration, which has increasingly tied foreign assistance to religious freedom concerns.
Earlier this year, Moore said the proposed legislation followed a congressional investigation into violence against Christians in Nigeria that he conducted at Trump's request.
“The Tinubu Administration is spending millions lobbying Congress while failing to adequately address the genocide Nigerian Christians face daily,” Moore wrote when the House Appropriations Committee first advanced the proposal in April.
Supporters argue that conditioning aid would force Nigerian authorities to prioritize security reforms, prosecute attackers more aggressively and better protect vulnerable communities.
Critics, however, warn that reducing U.S. assistance could have unintended consequences by weakening programs that directly benefit ordinary Nigerians, including health services, humanitarian assistance and security cooperation aimed at combating extremist organizations.
The legislation has also renewed international debate over how the violence in Nigeria should be characterized.
While many church leaders and religious freedom advocates describe the attacks on Christian communities as systematic persecution, several researchers caution against reducing Nigeria’s security crisis to a single religious narrative.
Conflict analysts note that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have killed Muslims as well as Christians, while farmer-herder violence often stems from disputes over land, grazing routes and local political tensions that overlap with religious identities.
For now, the measure remains only a proposal.
The Senate must approve its own version of the appropriations bill before lawmakers reconcile differences between the two chambers. The final legislation would then require Trump's signature before any restrictions on aid could take effect.
Even so, the House vote sends one of the clearest signals yet that concerns over religious freedom in Nigeria have become a significant issue in Washington. Whether the measure ultimately becomes law or is modified during negotiations, it is likely to increase diplomatic pressure on Tinubu’s government to demonstrate measurable progress in protecting vulnerable communities and addressing one of Africa's most persistent security crises.
© Christian Daily International]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[How a partnership between African churches is helping communities see again]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/how-a-partnership-between-african-churches-is-helping-communities-see-again</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/how-a-partnership-between-african-churches-is-helping-communities-see-again</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[VisionSpring]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: VisionSpring/Katende Joseph) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Rev Samuel Saka carrying out an eye screening at St Andrew’s Church in Nakasongola. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Rev Irene Akuku]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: VisionSpring) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Rev Irene Akuku (R) is enthusiastic about the programme. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 07:53:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[For millions of adults in low-income and rural areas, poor vision affects everything from earning a living to reading Scripture. Christian Today spoke with Rev Irene Akuku and Julius Mujuni about why churches have become key partners in expanding access to vision care in Uganda.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Across much of Africa, churches have long been more than places of worship - they are also trusted centres of community life that step in where public services cannot reach. 
Now, a partnership between global social enterprise VisionSpring and church networks in Uganda, Zambia and Malawi is adding an unexpected dimension to that role: training pastors to carry out vision screenings and distribute affordable reading glasses to people in their communities.
For millions of adults in low-income and rural areas, poor vision affects everything from earning a living to reading Scripture. Through VisionSpring's Reading Glasses for Improved Livelihoods programme, churches are helping to address a need that is both practical and frequently overlooked.
Christian Today spoke with Rev Irene Akuku, a health coordinator in the Church of Uganda, and Julius Mujuni, VisionSpring’s Uganda lead, about why churches have become key partners in expanding access to vision care, and what lessons this model could hold for churches around the world.
CT: What made you want to get involved in this programme? 
Rev Irene: It’s now been one year since we started partnering with VisionSpring in East Busoga Diocese. As part of the programme we were trained in how to screen people’s eyes and provide reading glasses. This is very necessary because many people have eye problems - some that we could not really address before. Because of the economic status of our people here, some cannot even afford a pair of reading glasses, even though they really need one. 
Julius: Uganda has a population of just over 50 million people and yet we only have about 200 ophthalmologists and 240 ophthalmic clinical officers. It is therefore a very understaffed country in terms of the eyecare services it can provide to people. There are nearly 5 million Ugandans that need reading glasses and cannot easily access them. 
Rev Irene: Our congregations had difficulty even reading their Bibles but after giving them glasses, they were able to do so, which helps nurse their spirit and their relationship with God. But of course there are also physical challenges. Everyday things like reading, writing, cooking, and washing are difficult when you have sight problems. By making glasses accessible, we can address such problems. Already we have screened over 1,000 people and been able to give out reading glasses to almost 700 people at an affordable price. 
CT: How do you think this ministry reflects the Church’s calling to demonstrate the Gospel in both word and action?  
Rev Irene: The Bible tells us in Matthew Chapter 6 that the eye is the light of the body. That gives us, as a church, a real sense of purpose in this work. It shows people that we care about more than just the spiritual - we care about the whole person, body and soul. It's been a hugely valuable programme, and one we're deeply grateful for. 
CT: Why do you think churches are particularly well placed to deliver vision care? 
Julius: Trust is actually a major issue because for millions of Ugandans, the only people they’ve seen wearing glasses are people like head teachers or government officials - people who are generally well-off. And yet getting old is not only an experience for the rich; ageing affects everybody.  
What VisionSpring is doing is normalising the wearing of glasses in low-income communities by changing the perception that glasses are a privilege for the select few. We believe that the cost of glasses should be affordable for everyone and we do this by selling glasses at just $3 a pair.
But there are other myths we need to address. Some people wonder whether wearing glasses will hurt or even make their eyesight worse. There are some who think that because they do not go to school, they do not need to wear glasses. There's even a myth that women who wear glasses might not be seen as 'wife material'. 
The Church is really well positioned to address these concerns because it is a trusted entity within the community. We worked with the Anglican Church of Uganda because, as the second biggest Church in Uganda, it has a footprint across the country and we can use existing church structures to leverage that community trust and address these myths around wearing glasses. 
Church leaders can spread the message that glasses are not just a tool to read with but something that helps them with their work, too, so they can be more productive. And the great thing is that you do not need a university degree to screen someone and dispense the right pair of glasses. Anyone with basic knowledge can do it.  
Rev Irene: We have trained around 60 people, including clergy and laypeople, to screen and dispense reading glasses. Sometimes when lay volunteers were out in the community, people were initially cautious so they would say, “Call Reverend Irene.” When I reassured them that it was a good thing, they trusted me as the diocesan health coordinator. As Julius said, there is more trust in us as church ministers.

CT: Do you have a particularly memorable story of someone whose life was transformed after receiving a pair of reading glasses? What difference did it make? 
Rev Irene: The father of a friend of mine had to take early retirement because of eye problems. He couldn’t even leave the house or cross the road alone. So, I screened him and gave him a pair of reading glasses. Now he is very happy and I became a family friend because of that. He told me that even though he cannot go back to work, he’s able to read some of the Bible now and walk around outside by himself. So his life really improved.
Julius: We actually have many stories of people telling us, for example, that they were no longer able to read their Bible but now they can easily follow the Scripture when the reverend is teaching in church. In Uganda people do a lot of financial transactions on their phone, like payments for utilities or sending money to one another, and one person told us how they were making quite a few errors and now they’re not making these errors anymore. Imagine if you’re supposed to send $20 to somebody but you miss one digit and send money to the wrong phone number. It can become a very serious and costly issue. And we’ve had stories of smallhold farmers screaming with joy that they can now do hand pollination for their vanilla crops. Some agricultural tasks, like hand-pollinating vanilla, require good near vision. Instead of hiring what we call 'young eyes' to sort their cereals for them, they can do the work themselves by wearing glasses and cut the cost.
CT: Local churches around the world often step in to meet practical needs where public services are stretched. Do you see partnerships like this becoming part of a wider response to healthcare challenges across Africa?
Julius: We see this as a long-term partnership. We've seen significant success already with our colleagues in Zambia and Malawi, where we're working with the Council of Churches, and we'd like to expand this into other countries. As I mentioned, the Church has a very clear role to play in ensuring access to these services for people who wouldn’t otherwise have any. So we want to use the Church's structures and leverage its resources, including its people. Many churches, like the Church of Uganda, run hospitals and health facilities. Using this infrastructure to expand access will go a long way toward helping the millions of people who need glasses but don't have them.
Rev Irene: Many people have more than just eye problems. Sometimes when we have announced we are coming to a particular area to do eye screenings, people have turned up with quite different challenges. So I would like to see the programme expand beyond vision problems in the future. 
CT: How have pastors responded to this training and what would you say to a pastor who hasn't engaged with the programme yet - why should they get involved? 
Julius: Right now we are only working with 10 dioceses - and the Church of Uganda has 39 dioceses. But we are getting constant calls from other dioceses saying they also need this programme and asking us when we will start there too.
The response from pastors involved in the programme so far has been very positive because often they are the first people to receive a pair of glasses, and a good number of them are first-time wearers. So, when they themselves have experienced this immediate effect on their ability to read small text, they’re amazed. The impact is instant. 
In terms of encouraging more pastors, I would say something similar to what Rev Irene said earlier about Matthew 6: if your congregation can’t see clearly, how are you going to help them follow what you’re teaching? I strongly believe that the more clearly people can read their Bibles, the more easily pastors will be able to teach. However, it's also important for pastors to demonstrate that it's not only about being able to read God’s Word; it is also an economic intervention because wearing glasses can help them to do more. That is very important. 
CT: What can the wider global Church learn from what you're doing?
Julius: What the global Church can learn from us is to think about how it can use the Church’s reputation, trust and structures to intervene in sectors where the government is not able to intervene - be it in health, education, disaster response or other areas. The Church has a role to play across so many sectors so it should leverage its existing structures to create impact not only through biblical teachings and nourishing people spiritually, but in strengthening their communities. 
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                <title><![CDATA[French evangelicals express ‘deep sadness’ after parliament approves assisted suicide law]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/french-evangelicals-express-deep-sadness-after-parliament-approves-assisted-suicide-law</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/french-evangelicals-express-deep-sadness-after-parliament-approves-assisted-suicide-law</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[doctor, health, healthcare, medical, assisted dying, assisted suicide]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[France’s leading evangelical body has expressed “deep sadness” after the country’s parliament approved legislation legalising assisted suicide.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
France’s leading evangelical body has expressed “deep sadness” after the country’s parliament approved legislation legalising assisted suicide, describing the move as a significant ethical turning point and renewing calls for greater investment in palliative care.
The National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) issued a statement following Wednesday’s vote in the National Assembly, which backed legislation permitting certain adults with incurable, life-threatening illnesses to receive assistance to end their lives.
The bill, which was approved by 291 votes to 241 after three parliamentary readings, now awaits a ruling from France's Constitutional Council before it can become law. 
Responding to the decision, CNEF said the legislation represented a “major ethical and anthropological turning point” for France.
The evangelical body said it had spent more than three years engaging with the issue through parliamentary hearings, open letters and public debate, consistently arguing that “every human life possesses intrinsic and absolute value, from its beginning to its natural end”.
It warned that legalising assisted suicide weakens the long-standing principle that human life should not be intentionally ended.
CNEF rejected suggestions that the legislation reflected social solidarity, arguing instead that genuine fraternity means accompanying people through suffering rather than “hastening” death.
The organisation expressed concern that the new law could create indirect pressure on elderly, disabled and seriously ill people, who may begin to feel they are placing an undue strain on their families or on society.
Rather than introducing assisted suicide, CNEF said the French government should have prioritised expanding access to palliative care, noting that specialist end-of-life services remain unavailable in many parts of the country.
The council voiced support for healthcare professionals who may face ethical dilemmas under the new legislation, calling for robust protection of their right to conscientious objection.
It further encouraged evangelical churches across France to strengthen practical support for people approaching the end of life, including pastoral visits. 
“Today more than ever, our local communities are called to be witnesses of hope, presence, and concrete solidarity with the most vulnerable,” the statement concluded.
The legislation fulfils a commitment first made by President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 to open a pathway to “assisted dying”. 
Under the bill, eligible adults suffering from “a serious and incurable illness in an advanced or terminal stage” would be permitted to end their lives by taking prescribed lethal medication themselves or, where they are physically incapable, having it administered by a healthcare professional.
The measure has attracted broad public support in opinion polls but has also drawn criticism from religious groups, medical professionals and campaign organisations, who have warned that vulnerable people might feel compelled to opt for assisted suicide and have likewise called for greater investment in palliative care instead.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Court orders Saeed Abedini to return 5-year-old daughter to mother in Turkey]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/court-orders-saeed-abedini-to-return-5-year-old-daughter-to-mother-in-turkey</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/court-orders-saeed-abedini-to-return-5-year-old-daughter-to-mother-in-turkey</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gryboski]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/5/63/56378.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Pastor Saeed Abedini]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (YouTube Screenshot/#FreeIran Grand Gathering 2016) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Pastor Saeed Abedini ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A federal court in Virginia has ordered Saeed Abedini, who garnered headlines in the 2010s when he was imprisoned for his faith in Iran, to return his 5-year-old daughter to her mother in Turkey.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A federal court in Virginia has ordered Saeed Abedini, who garnered headlines in the 2010s when he was imprisoned for his faith in Iran, to return his 5-year-old daughter to her mother in Turkey.
U.S. District Senior Judge Norman Moon of the Western District of Virginia ruled last Friday that Abedini had taken the girl out of Turkey and to the U.S. in 2024 without permission from her mother, Niloofar Aragh, an Iranian Christian refugee.
“Based on the substantial evidence introduced during today’s hearing, including respondent’s history of failure to comply with court orders and respondent’s correspondence insisting he would defy an order transferring custody, the court finds it necessary to order this custody transfer immediately,” Moon wrote, according to Religion News Service.
Aragh and Abedini reportedly met in Turkey and lived together for several years. Abedini claims to have performed a ceremony that made them effectively married, though legally speaking they were not.
Devon Slovensky, attorney for Aragh, told RNS that Abedini’s claims that he was still being threatened by the Iranian regime worked against his argument for custody of the girl.
“Then the question became, well, why do you need your daughter close to you if you’re being stalked and these people are persecuting you wherever you go?” Slovensky asked.
“What we see here is an Iranian Christian refugee fighting to get her child back through a court system where she can’t even speak the language, and being successful. … I think that is, like, a really awesome story about righteousness and justice.”
Abedini garnered headlines in 2012 when he was put under house arrest and then imprisoned in his native Iran for participating in Christian home churches in the Islamic Republic.
Naghmeh Panahi, Abedini's ex-wife, launched an online fundraiser aimed at helping to raise money to support Aragh, which as of Wednesday totaled a little over $15,000. 
According to the fundraiser, the girl was 3 years old when she was taken out of Turkey by Abedini, whom the petition referred to as "a fugitive from Turkey."
"More than a year and a half of her short life has been spent apart from her mother, her brother, and the only home she ever knew," the petition states. "After eighteen months of relentless effort, a U.S. court has agreed to hear this mother's case. Attorneys have stepped forward to represent her without advance payment, giving this family a genuine chance to be together again."
Abedini's plight in Iran as Iranian-American pastor became a major focal point of religious freedom advocacy groups, as well as a subject of multiple congressional hearings.
While her husband was imprisoned, Panahi regularly spoke at events and on Capitol Hill on his behalf, urging for his release amid reports that he was being tortured and denied medical care.
In November 2015, Panahi announced she was suspending her advocacy, citing her husband’s alleged history of abuse against her, even while imprisoned.
After Pastor Abedini was released in January 2016, the couple divorced in April 2017, with Saeed Abedini denying the allegations his ex-wife made in 2015.
In February 2017, Abedini was sentenced to 180 days in jail and community service and fined $1,000 for violating a restraining order that Panahi took out against him.
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[France votes to legalise assisted suicide]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/france-votes-to-legalise-assisted-suicide</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/france-votes-to-legalise-assisted-suicide</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[France]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Unsplash) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:40:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[France's National Assembly has given final approval to a landmark law to legalise assisted suicide.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
France's National Assembly gave final approval on Wednesday to a bill allowing adults to receive lethal medication, ending years of debate over the issue. 
Lawmakers in the lower house of parliament passed the measure 291-241, after backing it in three earlier readings.
The vote completes the National Assembly's work on legislation that President Emmanuel Macron first proposed over three years ago.
Macron said on social media that he had made a commitment to the French people in 2022 to open a path towards "assisted dying", and that the pledge had now been fulfilled.
The bill still requires review by France's Constitutional Council before it can come into effect.
It would make assisted suicide legal for adults with a "serious and incurable" life-threatening illness "in an advanced or terminal stage", which is causing physical or psychological suffering that cannot be relieved.
Patients, who must be able to express a free and informed choice, would self-administer a lethal substance, unless they were physically unable to do so, in which case a doctor or nurse would administer it instead. 
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has asked the Constitutional Council to examine the legislation, a process that could still affect its final provisions or timeline.
Polling has shown broad support for the legalisation of assisted suicide in France.
Opponents have warned that the law could put pressure on elderly people and those with illnesses or disabilities to end their own lives.
The Catholic Church has opposed the bill, and one bishop has said he would deny communion to lawmakers who voted for it.
Conservative presidential candidate Bruno Retailleau argued that a society built on solidarity should protect its most vulnerable members rather than offering them death.
The campaign Alliance Vita, which opposes assisted suicide, called instead for better access to palliative care.
If the bill clears constitutional review, France will join a number of countries where assisted suicide is already legal, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Global persecution report raises concerns about erosion of religious freedom in the West]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/global-persecution-report-raises-concerns-about-erosion-of-religious-freedom-in-the-west</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/global-persecution-report-raises-concerns-about-erosion-of-religious-freedom-in-the-west</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Robert Parr]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[St Pauls Cathedral Church of England]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:01:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The report looks at over 20 countries but also includes a section on “hindrances to religious freedom in the West”.]]></description>
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International Christian Concern (ICC) has released its 2026 Global Persecution Index (GPI), a report that details the plight of persecuted Christians around the globe.
The report looks at over 20 countries, most of which are in Africa or Asia, and shines a spotlight on three world leaders, although it also includes a section on “hindrances to religious freedom in the West”.
In terms of the West, the GPI raises a number of high profile cases concerning freedom of religion and speech, notably the conviction of Finnish parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen under hate speech laws.
It also expresses concerns about abortion clinic buffer zone laws and convictions relating to silent prayer, as well as cases of teachers being fired over their Christian beliefs. 
Highlighted in the report are a number of cases in the UK, including that of Dr Bernard Randall who was dismissed by a Christian school after telling pupils they did not need to agree with LGBT ideology, and the case of Dr Aaron Edwards, who lost his job as a Methodist college for posting a tweet that supported the biblical view of marriage. 
The report expresses particular concern that "growing Islamization in Europe encroaches on Christianity and other faiths".
"While Christians in Western nations don’t experience the same horrific persecution that believers in other hot spots face, religious freedom in corners of the West is eroding," the report says.
On a worldwide level, the GPI states that religious freedom is under “mounting pressure”. Governments hostile to Christianity are increasingly clamping down on believers not only within their borders, but externally. The report also states that “Western technologies and markets”  are sometimes used to enable or sustain persecution.
China in particular was singled out for repressing its religious minorities overseas, with members of house churches, Uyghur Muslims and Falun Gong practitioners all being targeted – apparently with the help of Silicon Valley hardware and software, which ICC says is being used for surveillance.
Looking at Nigeria, the deadliest country for Christians, the GPI states that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not create the sectarian violence that plagues parts of the country, he stands accused of “deepening” the rift between Christian and Muslim when “he abandoned the longstanding tradition of presidential candidates choosing a running mate from a different faith”.
Since coming to power two years ago, it is estimated by Amnesty International that over 10,200 people have been killed in sectarian or bandit attacks in Nigeria.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, was also placed under the spotlight by the GPI. Modi, the report argues, “has overseen a sharp rise in Hindu nationalism and a corresponding decline in religious freedom across India."
While not as deadly as Nigeria, the GPI states that in India in the year ending 1 July 2026 there were 94 attacks on Christian homes or business, 42 religious buildings destroyed, and 1,134 Christians forced to flee their homes.
Moving to the Americas, the GPI took Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua to task. Although in office since 2007, a real downturn in the situation there started in 2018 when the security services violently put down protests.
“Since then,” the GPI states, “Ortega has expelled Catholic charities, confiscated church property, shut down faith-based universities, and stripped citizenship from prominent priests and bishops."
ICC President Shawn Wright said of this year’s report, “This year’s Global Persecution Index is a sobering reminder that millions of our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to pay a high price for their faith.
“Behind every statistic is a real person: someone who has chosen faithfulness to Jesus over safety, comfort, or even life itself. Our hope is that this report not only informs decision-makers and stakeholders, but moves readers to act with urgency, conviction, and compassion.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Evangelicals raise concern about detention of families and children under EU's stricter asylum rules]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/evangelicals-raise-concern-about-detention-of-families-and-children-under-eu-s-stricter-asylum-rules</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/evangelicals-raise-concern-about-detention-of-families-and-children-under-eu-s-stricter-asylum-rules</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[European Parliament, EU]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[National security and compassion are not “competing values”, the EEA argued.]]></description>
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The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) has said it is troubled by the European Parliament’s decision to permit the detention of families and children who have illegally entered the bloc.
The European Parliament (EP) recently approved a new version of what is known as the EU Return Regulation (ERR). Simply put, the ERR sets out the legal framework by which non-EU nationals who do not have a legal right to remain in an EU state, can be removed.
The latest ERR widens the grounds on which a person can be detained and increases the length of time for which they can be detained. Safeguards and appeal processes have also been slimmed down and “return hubs” will be established outside of the EU.
In a statement, the EEA said that migration was not a “side issue” and that every person, regardless of background or legal status is made in God’s image.
It said, “We recognise the legitimate duty of governments to manage migration responsibly, secure external borders, and combat human trafficking. None of this stands in tension with our faith; it flows from a proper concern for order and the common good. At the same time, several elements of this Regulation trouble us. Detention will now last longer and can apply to families with children."
The EEA said it was concerned that the return hubs would face little public scrutiny and there was no clear guarantee that good conditions would be maintained in such facilities.
“These changes fall hardest on those whose situations are already difficult to assess," it said.
"Converts are one such group: their claims rest on personal testimony rather than paperwork, and a rushed or opaque process leaves little room to get that assessment right. Victims of trafficking and other vulnerable people face similar risks.”
The EEA said that for the last decade it has developed resources to deal with asylum seekers who claim to be converts to Christianity and to be fleeing persecution.
National security and compassion are not “competing values”, the EEA argued, adding that Europe was “capable of holding both”.
“We therefore ask the European Commission and Member States to preserve genuine access to legal remedies, give particular care to converts and other vulnerable claimants, ensure transparency and independent monitoring wherever return hubs are established, and continue to consult civil society as the rules are implemented," it said. ]]></content:encoded>
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