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        <title>Christian Today | World</title>
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                <title><![CDATA[Egyptian Christian killed in Libya after refusing to deny Jesus]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/egyptian-christian-killed-in-libya-after-refusing-to-deny-jesus</link>
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                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anugrah Kumar]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[cross]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2026 10:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[He was killed despite the family paying a ransom.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A 20-year-old Christian from Egypt has been killed by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Libya after he refused to deny Jesus and convert to Islam while held captive by its fighters.
The victim, Milad Malak, was the sole Christian among the Egyptian workers the militants held, Open Doors reported, citing two Muslim friends held alongside him and later freed.
For several days, the captors allegedly tortured him and threatened to kill him to force him to give up Christianity for Islam. Malak turned down every demand, and he is thought to have been killed by the militants after they were unable to force him to convert.
“Even if you cut me into pieces, I would never renounce my faith,” he told his captors, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.
He was kidnapped and killed in early October. Speaking to Worthy News, his sister, Madonna Malek, said the family paid a ransom. The kidnappers kept him because he alone among the captives was a Christian, and they used violence to push him to convert, she said.
Malak served as a deacon at a Coptic church in Sebarbay, his home village in Egypt’s northern Gharbia governorate.
He was among many young Egyptians who went to Libya for jobs as their own economy declined, hoping to provide for his family and settle into a secure life.
He left on Sept. 2, traveling with two friends from Sebarbay, both Muslims. After a one-day trip, the three reached Zliten, a city on Libya’s Mediterranean coast, where they lodged with fellow Egyptians who had come for work. ISIS fighters seized them on the morning of Oct. 4.
The kidnappers abused the captives and demanded money for their release. The two friends went free after their families paid $4,700, and both are now in a hospital in Egypt for medical treatment.
Malak’s family learned of his death from the friends. Relatives then asked the Egyptian government to step in and press for his body to be sent home.
The body was handed over several weeks later.
On Oct. 28, relatives and other Christians gathered to mourn him and honor his life. A family friend said he stayed faithful to Christ until he died.
Libya is ranked No. 9 on Open Doors’ annual World Watch List of the most dangerous countries for Christians.
In the Muslim-majority country, Christians come under heavy pressure to leave their religion.
Both Open Doors and ICC linked Malak’s death to the killing of 20 Coptic Christians and a Ghanaian man by ISIS in Libya in 2015. According to Open Doors, the militants took the men to a beach and beheaded them after they refused a final demand to renounce their faith. ISIS filmed the killings and posted the video online.
Copts belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church, the largest Christian community in Egypt and the Middle East.
Most of the men killed in 2015 came from villages in Minya province in southern Egypt. Like Malak, they were laborers who had gone to Libya to earn money. The Ghanaian victim, Matthew Ayariga, had been working there alongside the Egyptians.
ISIS released the video of the beheadings in February 2015. Egypt responded the next day with airstrikes on ISIS targets in the eastern Libyan city of Derna.
The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II, later declared the 21 men martyrs. In 2023, Pope Francis added them to the Roman Catholic Church’s list of martyrs.
Egypt and Libya share a long land border, and Egyptian laborers have sought work there for decades.
Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 uprising toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi and has been split between rival governments since 2014.
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Widow of Christian killed in Nigeria takes plea for persecuted Christians to Downing Street]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/widow-of-christian-killed-in-nigeria-takes-plea-for-persecuted-christians-to-downing-street</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/widow-of-christian-killed-in-nigeria-takes-plea-for-persecuted-christians-to-downing-street</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A pastor in Nigeria remembers victims of Islamic attacks]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Open Doors) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Pastor Josiah leading some villagers in a time of remembrance in northern Nigeria. He lost his wife and multiple sons in attacks carried out by Fulani militants targeting Christian communities. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2026 09:14:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A Nigerian widow who witnessed Boko Haram militants shoot her husband dead after he identified himself as a Christian is joining a delegation handing in a petition to Downing Street on Thursday.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A Nigerian widow who witnessed Boko Haram militants shoot her husband dead after he identified himself as a Christian is joining a delegation handing in a petition to Downing Street on Thursday.
Afordia, whose husband Isaac Inuwa was killed 12 years ago, is taking part in the handover organised by Open Doors. 
The petition has been signed by more than a million people worldwide and calls for protection, justice and restoration for Christians facing violence across sub-Saharan Africa.
Afordia was travelling with Isaac on 29 October 2014 when men in uniform stopped their car.
“We thought they were Nigerian Army,” she said. “But suddenly some other men came out of hiding with guns shouting at us to get out of the car.
“They asked my husband whether he was a Muslim or an Infidel in the Hausa language. He replied he is neither, but that he is a Christian. They then ordered him to go to the side of the road.
“He knelt down and started praying. Seconds later they shot my husband several times.
“He died on the spot.”
According to Open Doors research, an average of 12 Christians are killed for their faith every day in sub-Saharan Africa. Violence against Christians is more widespread there than anywhere else in the world.
The charity’s international Arise Africa campaign is pressing governments to respond to deadly attacks, sexual violence and displacement affecting Christian communities. 
The plight of Nigeria’s Christians has prompted calls from outside the Christian community for the West to do more.
Writing in The Spectator, Hardeep Singh, deputy-director of the Network of Sikh Organisations, challenged Western leaders over their response to Christian persecution.
Singh urged them to pay greater attention to the plight of Christians in Nigeria, saying: “Is the West listening? It’s about time they did. Nigeria’s Christians need help more than ever.”
The violence has drawn a response from Washington, with US forces carrying out strikes against Islamic State targets in Nigeria’s Sokoto State on Christmas Day 2025. Donald Trump linked the operation to the killing of Christians.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has also publicly condemned attacks against Christians, warning that Nigerian government efforts are failing to protect vulnerable religious communities.
In July, the European Parliament condemned the persecution of Nigerian Christians in a resolution adopted by 510 votes to one. In the resolution, MEPs called on Nigerian authorities to strengthen civilian protections, bring attackers to justice, and end the culture of impunity. They also called on the EU’s religious freedom envoy to pay particular attention to the deteriorating situation facing Christians and other persecuted religious communities.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[European hate speech laws are ‘dangerous’, says politician prosecuted for Christian beliefs]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/european-hate-speech-laws-are-dangerous-says-politician-prosecuted-for-christian-beliefs</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/european-hate-speech-laws-are-dangerous-says-politician-prosecuted-for-christian-beliefs</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Xia-Maria Mackay]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Päivi Räsänen]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Alliance Defending Freedom) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Päivi Räsänen ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2026 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[At a time when “language has become a battlefield” and the meaning of words is being changed, Mrs Räsänen said that such laws were shutting down important debates. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Päivi Räsänen, a Christian politician who was convicted in Finland earlier this year over past comments about homosexuality, has called European hate speech laws “very problematic and dangerous”.
Mrs Räsänen, former Minister of the Interior, shared more about her prosecution at the annual conference of the International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC) in Poland on Saturday.
Finland’s Supreme Court found Mrs Räsänen guilty in March of agitation against a population group over a booklet she authored in 2004 and later shared online. The booklet was titled “Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relationships Challenge the Christian Understanding of Humanity”. It contained statements describing homosexuality as a disorder of psychosexual development and a sexual deviation, which the court found insulting to gay people as a group.
She was convicted under Finnish laws governing war crimes and crimes against humanity following a seven-year legal battle, having previously been exonerated by the district court. The Supreme Court fined her 1,800 euros and ordered that the offending passages be deleted from online versions of the booklet.
With the support of the Alliance Defending Freedom, she is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights together with Bishop Juhana Pohjola and the Luther Foundation Finland who were convicted alongside her for their role in publishing the booklet.
Addressing the IFTCC conference, Mrs Räsänen described how the criminal case against her has led to a “chilling effect” in Finland, causing pastors and other citizens to fear that they too might be prosecuted for past comments. 
Even among those in power, Mrs Räsänen said that many Finnish politicians had approached her privately to express their support, yet “very few” spoke up publicly for fear that they too might be prosecuted. 
Most European countries have some form of hate speech law. In the UK, “stirring up hatred” based on race, religion, or sexual orientation is illegal, while in Germany there are laws criminalising language that attacks the human dignity of protected groups through insults, malicious denigration or defamation. Finland criminalises publicly shared language that threatens, defames or insults groups on grounds including race, religion, sexual orientation or disability. 
At a time when “language has become a battlefield” and the meaning of words is being changed, Mrs Räsänen said that such laws are shutting down important debates. 
She warned that limitations on freedom of speech were moving Europe towards “ideological totalitarianism” where “only one way of thinking about humanity is correct”. Instead, she said that people must be free to disagree, even if it means they may be offended. Christians, she added, must be free to publicly express their faith.
“My writings and my views may be freely opposed and criticised, but labelling opinions as crimes seriously restricts freedom of expression, and that is why the hate speech laws are very problematic and dangerous,” she said. 
Dr Guillermo A Morales Sancho, of the Alliance Defending Freedom, said of European hate speech laws, “The thing that works the most is the chilling effect - the fact that people might self-censor just to avoid being prosecuted.” 
He pointed out that under the European Union's Digital Services Act, the Finnish Supreme Court order against Mrs Räsänen’s booklet now applies to all of Europe. This is because the Act makes content deemed to be illegal in one EU country illegal across all 27 member states. 
“One case can have an amazing impact, actually affecting almost 500 million people and curtailing real speech,” said Dr Sancho. 
Indeed the impact of her conviction has been felt beyond the EU, with the UK having denied Mrs Räsänen a travel authorisation to attend a conference in Northern Ireland this summer. After appealing to Shabana Mahmood, she was eventually issued a visa but not in time to attend the conference. 
Matthew Grech, an ex-gay Christian, will warn against free speech restrictions within the context of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ bans when he meets MEPs at the European Parliament later this month. 
Grech was prosecuted in Malta for “advertising” conversion practices after speaking in a media interview about how he left homosexuality. He was found not guilty in March after a three-year legal battle. However, the prosecution is appealing his acquittal and a decision is expected in January 2027 so the battle is not over yet.
Several European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and Belgium, have some form of conversion therapy ban in place. In the UK, Westminster is currently scrutinising draft legislation that would ban ‘conversion practices’ across England and Wales. Northern Ireland is also considering a ban under separate legislation. 
Grech told the conference there was “so much confusion” around the definition of conversion therapy as he warned that such bans were “affecting freedom of conscience in Europe” and “trying to silence us”. 
Despite the difficulties of the past few years, he said he could “rejoice” at the fact that his prosecution has opened doors for more people to know about the experiences of the ex-gay community.
“God's ways are mysterious, but the Lord is truly amplifying his voice through all of this and so much good has happened because of it. Our stories are being made known throughout the world,” he said.
Mrs Räsänen shared a similar testimony, telling the audience that although there were some “dark days”, she was surprised by the amount of joy she experienced and the many opportunities that have arisen to share the Gospel. 
She said she had been greatly encouraged by countless messages of support from around the world, including from people who have become Christians as a result of following her case. A particularly memorable message came from a gay atheist who criticized her views when the police first started investigating in 2019. Seven years later - the day before the Supreme Court hearing - he reached out again, this time to tell her that he had become a Christian and was now praying for her victory. The message moved her to tears, she said.
Mrs Räsänen went on to say that she considered the last seven years “part of my calling” as she encouraged Christians to be courageous and speak the truth without fear.
”We are now living in a time when we are called to stand firm in those parts of the Scriptures which challenge the current ethos and thinking,” she said. 
“Now it is time to be open about your faith in Jesus and bravely and courageously speak about the teachings of the Bible.
“It doesn’t help if we try to be silent and stay in the corner because they will still find us in the corner. 
“Find courage and openly testify about Jesus.” 
She added, “It is not in vain to defend the Bible, freedom of speech and faith … God is amazing at turning evil into good, so we do not have to be afraid of opposition, criticism and even persecution.”
The conference also heard from her husband, Dr Niilo Räsänen, who called on churches to be a faithful witness. 
He said that many theologians today “have effectively silenced God”, while many European churches have accepted transgender ideology “without asking the hard questions”. 
“If the light of general revelation goes dark and the light of God’s Word goes out too, then we are in a dark place - the nations that have no light understand better than us here in Europe that marriage is between one man and one woman,” he said. 
Mr Räsänen called on the Church to stand firm in its witness. 
“Only around one to two per cent of Finns go to church on Sunday. But the worst thing is not that the number of members is falling. The worst thing is when the Church is changed by the culture around it. That is the main problem.”
He continued, “The Church’s main task is the Great Commission [but] if the Church changes its teachings and becomes liberal, as it is in Finland, it is no longer a witness and the Church does not change the culture but rather the culture changes the Church.”
He added, “The Church’s first task is to stay in the teaching of Jesus and to be a witness to it in the world.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Is religion making a comeback among young Americans? Study urges caution]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/is-religion-making-a-comeback-among-young-americans-study-urges-caution</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/is-religion-making-a-comeback-among-young-americans-study-urges-caution</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[pews church Christianity faith]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2026 08:39:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[New research from Pew Research Center suggests that while there are encouraging signs of religious engagement among younger adults, the evidence of a broader resurgence remains inconclusive.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A growing number of young Americans appear to be attending religious services regularly, raising questions about whether the United States could be witnessing the early signs of a religious revival.
However, new research from Pew Research Center suggests that while there are encouraging signs of religious engagement among younger adults, the evidence of a broader resurgence remains inconclusive.
The report, ‘Religion Remains Stable in the U.S., With Mixed Signals for Young Adults,’ published on 28 October, found that religious participation and belief across the country have largely stabilised following decades of decline.
The research draws on several nationally representative surveys, including Pew’s 2026 National Public Opinion Reference Survey, which gathered responses from 5,511 US adults, alongside findings from earlier surveys to examine changes in religious engagement over time.
According to the findings, 70% of American adults currently identify with a religion, compared with 71% in 2020. 
Similarly, the proportion who pray daily has remained relatively unchanged at 47%, while 44% consider religion very important in their lives.
Monthly attendance at religious services has also remained steady, increasing slightly from 33% in 2020 to 34% in 2026.
One of the most striking findings, however, concerns Americans born between 2004 and 2008, who are now 18 to 22 years old.
Within this group, 41% reported attending religious services at least once a month, a higher proportion than among adults born in the 1960s (34%), 1970s (33%), 1980s (29%) or 1990s (26%).
This contrasts sharply with those born between 2000 and 2003, now aged approximately 23 to 26, of whom just 27% attend services monthly.
Despite their relatively high attendance, the youngest adults (18 to 22 years old) are less religious than the wider population by several other measures. 
Only 34% pray daily, 36% regard religion as very important and 59% identify with a religion.
By comparison, those born between 2000 and 2003 recorded even lower levels of religious engagement, with just 26% praying daily, 27% considering religion very important in their lives and 50% identifying with a religion, making them the least religious age group surveyed on these measures.
The researchers therefore cautioned against interpreting the higher attendance figures as definitive evidence of a revival, saying: “Time will tell whether the relatively high religiousness of today’s youngest adults is a turning point or a blip in the data.”
The study also revealed an unusual pattern in religious attendance among young men and women.
Historically, American women have tended to be more religious than men, although this gap has narrowed considerably over the years. 
In 2007, women were 14 percentage points more likely than men to consider religion very important, compared with just 6 percentage points in 2026.
However, among the youngest adults, aged approximately 18 to 22, 47% of men reported attending religious services at least monthly, compared with 35% of women. 
This contrasts with the wider US population, where 33% of both men and women reported attending services at least monthly.
Pew described this reversal as unprecedented in its findings, stating: “This is something we have not seen before in our surveys.”
Nevertheless, the researchers noted that attendance among young women was also relatively high compared with several older generations, suggesting that the increased participation among the youngest adults cannot be attributed to men alone.
Political affiliation was another significant factor in religious engagement.
Among the youngest adults, 55% of Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents reported attending religious services monthly, compared with 31% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning respondents.
Young Republicans were also considerably more likely to pray daily (53% compared with 22% of young Democrats) and regard religion as very important (51% compared with 23%).
However, the researchers found that relatively high attendance was not limited to young conservatives. 
Young Democrats also attended services more frequently than several older groups within their political party.
The researchers concluded that the pattern was not “an exclusively Republican phenomenon.”
Meanwhile, separate findings on attendance since the Covid-19 pandemic suggest that Americans are increasingly returning to places of worship in person.
In June 2026, 34% of adults reported attending religious services in person during the previous month, compared with just 13% in July 2020, when pandemic restrictions had significantly disrupted religious gatherings.
When virtual participation was included, 45% said they had attended or watched religious services during the previous month.
Both figures were the highest recorded since Pew began tracking these forms of participation in 2020. 
However, researchers stressed that the absence of comparable pre-pandemic data makes it difficult to determine whether attendance has fully recovered.
Despite the apparent increase in participation among the youngest adults, Pew found little evidence that American adults overall have become more religious over recent years.
An analysis tracking the same 5,835 respondents between 2020 and 2025 found no clear increase or decrease in religious engagement across birth cohorts.
The researchers also noted that today’s “youngest adults (ages 18 to 22) are no more religious today than young adults in this age range were in 2014.”
They added: “And young adults between 23 and 26 today are less religious than people in this age range were in 2014.”
Compared with 2007, both groups of young adults surveyed today “are significantly less religious.”
These findings suggest that the long-term decline in American religiousness may have slowed, rather than reversed.
Pew acknowledged several limitations in its research, particularly the relatively small number of respondents in the youngest age group and the difficulties associated with surveying young adults.
The report also noted that younger generations have previously entered adulthood with relatively high levels of religious participation, only for their engagement to decline as they grew older.
“We have no way of knowing whether today's youngest adults will follow that pattern or break it,” the researchers stated.
For churches hoping to see renewed religious interest among younger generations, the findings offer reasons for both optimism and caution.
While the increased attendance among some young adults may signal changing attitudes towards organised religion, the researchers emphasised that a clearer picture will only emerge over time.
The report concluded that there is currently “no clear evidence that any birth cohort we can track over time has become more religious in recent years.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Calls for inquiry into Queensland assisted suicide system]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/calls-for-inquiry-into-queensland-assisted-suicide-system</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/calls-for-inquiry-into-queensland-assisted-suicide-system</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[doctor, healthcare, hospital, assisted suicide, assisted dying, euthanasia]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2026 07:28:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Despite the rise in deaths, the watering down of safeguards has been proposed.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Pro-life group Right To Life has called for an inquiry into the assisted suicide system currently operating in the Australian state of Queensland.
Recent figures have shown that assisted suicide accounted for three per cent of all deaths in Queensland in 2025-2026 - the highest proportion of any state in Australia. Right To Life argued that the figure is only likely to increase, particularly if calls to remove existing safeguards are heeded.
In its third quarter report, Queensland’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board said there were 283 deaths via euthanasia or assisted suicide, with 80 per cent being euthanasia.
The distinction is that in euthanasia a medical professional ends the life of the patient, whereas in assisted suicide the patient is the one to administer the drugs under medical supervision.
Queensland’s official annual report found that in the year from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, some 1,082 people ended their lives by assisted suicide or euthanasia, up by over a third from when the controversial practice was introduced. In the first full year of operation (2023-24), assisted suicide and euthanasia accounted for 793 deaths in the state.
Despite the rise in deaths, the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board has recommended a loosening of safeguards, arguing that the requirement to have an in-person consultation be watered down and that video calls or phone calls be used instead.
Right To Life argues that such a change would make cases of coercion harder to detect.
Alisdair Hungerford-Morgan, Chief Executive of Right To Life, said “We are calling on Queensland’s Health Minister, Tim Nicholls, to commission an urgent independent inquiry into Queensland’s assisted suicide and euthanasia system, including whether claimed safeguards in current legislation are protecting vulnerable people in practice.”
He added, “This will likely get much worse if the law is expanded and safeguards are removed in Queensland, as is being called for by assisted death campaigners and astonishingly by the very Review Board tasked with ensuring the law and its purported safeguards operate properly.”
The group also called on Queensland to publish data on complications arising from cases of assisted suicide or euthanasia, something it does not presently do. Queensland also does not publish numbers on cases of assisted suicide that are refused on grounds of coercion, although it does publish the percentage of people applying who are deemed eligible.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Justin Welby says government reparations for slavery a ‘moral evil’]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/justin-welby-says-government-reparations-for-slavery-a-moral-evil</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/justin-welby-says-government-reparations-for-slavery-a-moral-evil</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/74/97409.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Justin Welby]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Lambeth Palace) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2026 07:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Welby was supportive of Project Spire during his time as Archbishop of Canterbury.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said that forcing British taxpayers to fund reparations for Caribbean nations would be a “moral evil”.
Writing for The Independent, Welby said it would be wrong to impose a “vast fine on the entire British people for a crime they did not commit”, adding that penalising individuals for their conduct is understandable, but not for their nationality.
At first glance, Welby’s comments would appear to put him at odds with his successor, Sarah Mullally, who on a visit to Africa earlier this year called for the Church of England to continue its “journey of repentance” for alleged links to the transatlantic slave trade – seen as an endorsement of the Church’s own controversial reparations programme, Project Spire.
However, while Welby spoke against the idea that the British government should hand over taxpayer cash to Caribbean nations, he did not oppose Project Spire, which he supported during his time in office.
Supporters of Project Spire point out that the plan is not intended as a simple wealth transfer from the descendants of alleged perpetrators to the descendants of alleged victims, but is a programme of investment, grants and initiatives aimed at benefiting communities impacted by the legacy of slavey.
Critics of the plan note that it implies a theology of inherited guilt, the idea that people inherit the sins of their ancestors.
During his time as archbishop, Welby, dismissed this claim, saying, “The Church Commissioners action is not about reparations on account of inherited guilt; it is about living up to its responsibility in the present as a leading impact investor to help create a world that promotes human flourishing for all.”
So while Welby has been supportive of Project Spire, he believes that pure money transfers at the national level are a step too far.
In his article for The Independent, he claimed, “There are so many reasons why the idea of reparations for slavery is wrong … Many UK taxpayers are the descendants of slaves, or came from places affected in west Africa. There would be no justice in who paid. The vast majority of Britons have no connection to slavers’ profits - and nor did their ancestors.”
He added that some Caribbean figures were demanding Britain pay figures far in excess of its present day national wealth.
“Ordinary people from all backgrounds and ethnicities are suffering here at home today,” he said.
“Reparations would amount to a vast fine on the entire British people for a crime they did not commit … Group punishment is a moral evil. It mixes up the guilty and the innocent even when it is about contemporary times, let alone two centuries past.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[South Sudanese churches work for peace as tensions mount]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/south-sudanese-churches-work-for-peace-as-tensions-mount</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/south-sudanese-churches-work-for-peace-as-tensions-mount</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[South Sudan women]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Church Mission Society) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Women in South Sudan working towards peace. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2026 07:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[South Sudan is the world's youngest sovereign nation.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
During the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, radio was notoriously used to incite violence with fake news, misinformation and dehumanising rhetoric. Now there are fears that digital technology could play a similar role in South Sudan, which is at risk of plunging back into civil war.
Between 2013 and 2018 the country was wracked by civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those who followed his Vice-President, Riek Machar. Although the war officially came to an end in 2018, conflict continued in parts of the country thanks to inter-tribal rivalry and the refusal of smaller armed groups to lay down their arms.
Last year larger scale fighting broke out again and Machar was arrested. The country’s first national elections since independence are due to take place in seven weeks, but with the main opposition leader in jail and worsening conflict, it is unknown if the results will be accepted or even if the elections will take place at all.
Churches in the country are doing their bit to counter fake news, hate speech and online incitement.
The so-called “Digital Pledge for Peace” was signed by women from the Abyei and Twic communities in July of last year. Now other groups and churches are joining the movement, in which Christians and Christian leaders repent of past online activity and pledge to set a better example.
Local Paul Lueth, who works with the Church Mission Society (CMS), said, “A single post, share, or voice note can directly cause loss of innocent lives, displacement of families, and community destruction.”
He added, “As disciples, our online behaviour must reflect our faith. Jesus called us to be peacemakers in Matthew 5:9, and biblical stewardship requires self-control over our keyboards just as much as our tongues.”
According to CMS, Christians in the region are running events that promote the idea of using words to build each other up rather than incite violence. The lack of connections and infrastructure in rural areas is a challenge to such work, with pastoral follow-ups difficult to arrange.
Joan Busolo, CMS regional manager for Africa, said, “South Sudan’s peacemakers are bringing a stark reminder to the global Church: digital interactions are never neutral. Words shared online carry real-world weight, making digital responsibility an essential duty for Christians everywhere.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[‘Major achievement’ hailed as Israeli officials step in to stop anti-Christian harassment]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/major-achievement-hailed-as-israeli-officials-step-in-to-stop-anti-christian-harassment</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/major-achievement-hailed-as-israeli-officials-step-in-to-stop-anti-christian-harassment</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/92/99276.jpeg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Israeli officials visit a Christian community in Jerusalem.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Religious Freedom Data Center) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Israeli officials visit a Christian community in Jerusalem. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 07:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Harassment against Christian is sometimes justified by appeals to the Jewish religion.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC), a group which monitors anti-Christian hate incidents in Israel, has welcomed intervention from senior Israeli officials as a “major achievement” for its work.
For the last three years the RFDC has produced quarterly reports documenting acts of harassment against Christians.
In its most recent report, which covered the third quarter of this year, there was yet another rise in “incidents” in which “acts of harassment” took place. 
The report found that spitting at Christians or at their buildings was by far the most common form of abuse, with an astonishingly large proportion taking place in just one street in Jerusalem’s Old City.
While spitting is the most common form of harassment, vandalism, verbal and physical abuse as well as assault have all been reported.
Christian clergy are typically targets and many have taken to going out in plain clothes in the hopes of avoiding the abuse. The RFDC’s reports indicate that some Jewish families encourage their children to take part in the abuse, while other perpetrators see their actions as religiously justified.
The RFDC’s hotline is used to record incidents, however the group estimates that many more go unrecorded and unpunished.
At the end of October, Israel’s Deputy State Attorney visited the Old City with a delegation of legal officials to meet some of the victims, including the mother of a nine year old boy who was pepper sprayed in the eyes.
A spokesperson for the RFDC, which has noted the shamelessness of the attacks, welcomed the concern shown by Israeli officials.
“Not a single participant remained indifferent to the testimonies they heard. More than once, I could see shame in their eyes. None of this would have happened without good, caring people within the system, first and foremost Ms. Yifat Raveh of the Ministry of Justice, who has been working with determination and dedication to advance solutions,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson indicated that a legislative initiative to ban spitting may be on the way.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Joshua Wong’s imprisonment condemned as Christian activist handed 10-year sentence]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/joshua-wongs-imprisonment-condemned-as-christian-activist-handed-10-year-sentence</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/joshua-wongs-imprisonment-condemned-as-christian-activist-handed-10-year-sentence</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[hong kong]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Unsplash) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:23:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Joshua Wong’s new 10-year prison sentence has drawn condemnation from politicians and human rights campaigners, who are calling for the Christian pro-democracy activist’s release.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christian pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to another 10 years in prison in Hong Kong, prompting renewed calls for his release.
The 30-year-old activist was sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under Beijing’s national security law.
He has already been in prison since November 2020 and had been expected to be released in January 2027 but now faces remaining behind bars until late 2036.
Responding on X, Lord Alton said: “Although unjustly held behind bars, Joshua Wong’s passion for freedom, democracy and humanity must continue to inspire those of us who enjoy the freedom which Joshua is denied.”
It is Wong’s second conviction under the national security legislation imposed by Beijing in 2020. 
Former security minister Tom Tugendhat also paid tribute to Wong following his sentencing. 
“Take a moment today to think about the courage of Joshua Wong. A young activist [whose] only crime is defending the liberty of others in Hong Kong,” he wrote on X.
He added: “He could have run. He could have lived in exile. He chose courage.”
Human rights organisation Hong Kong Watch called on governments to challenge the prosecution and press for Wong’s immediate and unconditional release.
“Advocating for freedom and democracy is not a crime,” it said.
Wong rose to international prominence as a teenage leader of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, which sought greater democracy in Hong Kong. He later co-founded the political party Demosisto, which disbanded when the national security law came into force.
Raised in a Christian family, Wong has previously spoken about the influence of his faith on his campaigning and linked his pursuit of justice to the Christian responsibility to be “salt and light in society”. 
He was already serving a sentence of four years and eight months, handed down in November 2024, for conspiracy to commit subversion.
Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith called on the UK government to act. 
“The sentencing of Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison is an absolute disgrace and yet another example of the Chinese Communist Party's brutal suppression of democracy and freedom in Hong Kong,” he said. 
“I raised Joshua Wong's case in the House of Commons in September, calling on the Government to confront Beijing over its persecution of peaceful protesters.
“China has torn up the Sino-British Joint Declaration and systematically dismantled the freedoms it promised to uphold. Britain has a moral and historic responsibility to the people of Hong Kong. Strong words are no longer enough.
“The Government must act, impose sanctions on those responsible and demand Joshua Wong's, and Jimmy Lai's, release.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Settler attacks in Taybeh leading to exodus of Christians]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/settler-attacks-in-taybeh-leading-to-exodus-of-christians</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/settler-attacks-in-taybeh-leading-to-exodus-of-christians</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/92/99236.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[File picture of attack in Taybeh in July 2025]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Aid to the Church in Need) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ File picture of attack in Taybeh in July 2025. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:24:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Taybeh has lost 10 per cent of its population in three years.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Father Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest in Taybeh, the West Bank’s only Christian village has warned that continued attacks by Israeli settlers is leading to an exodus from the town.
Taybeh is reported to have been the target of frequent attacks by Israeli settlers, who locals say have vandalised the village, attempted to burn down the church, torched cars and damaged olive groves by grazing their cattle and starting fires.
In August the IDF declared the village to be a “closed military zone” meaning that the town is off-limits to Israelis and foreigners. A spokesman for the IDF stated the move was made to “protect residents in the area" after "several violent attacks by Israelis in the region".
Speaking at an event in London, organised by the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Father Fawadleh said that 16 families and many individuals had left the village in the last three years, causing it to lose around 10 per cent of its population of 1,200.
“People will go from this land. One day it will be empty of Christians and Christianity will lose its roots," he said. 
He added, “We don’t ask for any privilege for Christians. We ask for basic human rights. Our problems are the threats, that we are stuck in our homes and can’t get to our land, and migration.”
The priest added that the closed military zone enforced by the IDF was severely hindering the economic life of the village by inhibiting the movements of the population.
“I can’t spend seven hours a day just getting to and from my home," he said.
The priest said that the settlers were fanatics, echoing concerns raised the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, who said that some Jewish leaders had even encouraged the attacks by claiming that Israeli Jews are the legitimate owners of the land and therefore permitted to take olives from Palestinian-owned groves in the West Bank.
Such views, the patriarch’s said, were "unfounded, very worrying and dangerous, and absolutely unacceptable".]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Bishop raises plight of Christians caught in Sudanese civil war]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/bishop-raises-plight-of-christians-caught-in-sudanese-civil-war</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/bishop-raises-plight-of-christians-caught-in-sudanese-civil-war</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/83/98394.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bishop Philip Mounstephen]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Diocese of Winchester) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Bishop Philip Mounstephen ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:29:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Sudan has been in a state of civil war for most of its post-independence history.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Bishop of Winchester has highlighted the plight of Sudanese Christians caught up in the country’s latest civil war.
Since April 2023 Sudan has been locked in a vicious civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Both factions were previously aligned and the current conflict is essentially a battle for supremacy between two formerly allied warlords.
The latest conflict is sadly far from an aberration in Sudan’s post-independence history. For most of the 70 years since independence, Sudan has been embroiled in one major civil war or another, with even times of relative peace being marked by near constant regional insurgencies and conflicts.
The current war is believed to be at least partially fuelled by both foreign governments and militant groups from other African nations. At one point Russia’s Wagner Group was believed to be aiding the RSF, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was accused of funnelling equipment, also to the RSF, via an airport in Chad. The UAE denies the allegations.
Christians have petitioned the Premier League to intervene against Manchester City, which is owned by the UAE’s deputy prime minister.
Last week in a House of Lords debate the Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mounstephen, said that churches in Sudan are being used as shelters from aerial bombardment and that both sides in the conflict have used churches for military purposes.
The bishop asked the government what assessment it has made "on the situation of freedom of religion in Sudan and what steps particularly they are taking to ensure that the urgent humanitarian assistance … is also reaching vulnerable and historically marginalised religious communities, including in the Nuba mountains?”
The Nuba mountains is the home of much of Sudan’s historic Christian community.
Lord Wood of Anfield, speaking on behalf of the government, responded by stating that the government is providing £146 million in humanitarian support to Sudan every year.
“We are pleased to say [the aid] is reaching millions and millions of people …,“ he said. 
"We are providing help to local responders using NGOs and local organisations, including religious organisations, as partners and destinations for funding.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Displaced Lebanese Christians see hope of homecoming as olive harvest approaches]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/displaced-lebanese-christians-see-hope-of-homecoming-as-olive-harvest-approaches</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/displaced-lebanese-christians-see-hope-of-homecoming-as-olive-harvest-approaches</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/92/99268.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Lebanon, Fr Maroun Youssef Ghafari]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Aid to the Church in Need) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Fr Maroun Youssef Ghafari, Maronite priest, in southern Lebanon, on the border with Israel. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:03:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Families from Alma Al-Chaab hope access to their olive groves will pave the way for a permanent return, as displacement places growing pressure on their finances.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christian families displaced by conflict in southern Lebanon are hoping that the olive harvest will mark an important step towards returning to their homes after more than six months away, according to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
Residents of Alma Al-Chaab, a Christian village near the Israeli border, remain scattered across Lebanon, unable to return permanently despite hopes of rebuilding their lives.
ACN reported that around ten farmers received permission from the Lebanese Army in September to clear overgrown land and tend to their olive groves.
The farmers were seeking further authorisation to harvest their crops, with the picking season expected to begin after mid-October.
Some olive groves and agricultural land in the region have been destroyed or severely damaged during the conflict, leaving farmers facing the challenge of restoring their livelihoods.
Maroun Ghafari, Maronite Chorbishop and the village’s parish priest, said the harvest represents more than an economic opportunity, offering families renewed hope of eventually returning home.
“If this stage succeeds, we will be moving along the path we hope to follow,” he told ACN.
During July and August, about 50 residents of Alma Al-Chaab were able to make brief visits to their village through supervised weekly convoys arranged with the involvement of local stakeholders and organisations including ACN.
However, the visits were bittersweet, with returning families confronted by the damage left behind.
“A smile and a tear reflect some of what we are enduring,” Fr Ghafari told ACN.
The priest estimates that around 100 residents are ready to return, although this depends on a political decision and access to essentials including food, medicine, drinking water, fuel and financial support.
Restrictions on movement could also complicate daily life, particularly during medical emergencies, prompting the parish to request a safe passage route.
Meanwhile, displaced families continue to struggle with mounting expenses, including rent, school fees, food and healthcare, while public assistance remains limited.
“Without divine providence, the displaced families would have died of hunger,” Fr Ghafari told ACN.
Despite the uncertainty, he said the community continues to draw strength from its Christian faith and shared commitment to returning home.
“Prayer in general … remains the strongest spiritual weapon for facing visible and invisible enemies,” he added.
The community’s displacement comes amid wider instability in southern Lebanon following renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah earlier this year.
Despite a ceasefire announced on June 20 2026, Israeli military operations and continuing security restrictions have prevented many residents from returning to their communities.
In September, the United Nations warned that renewed hostilities had deepened Lebanon's humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, damaged infrastructure and mounting economic hardship.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 333,000 people remained internally displaced as of September 9, while over 818,000 had begun returning to their areas of origin.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Canadians admire and appreciate Jesus but remain wary of Christianity, survey finds]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/canadians-admire-and-appreciate-jesus-but-remain-wary-of-christianity-survey-finds</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/canadians-admire-and-appreciate-jesus-but-remain-wary-of-christianity-survey-finds</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/92/99267.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa, Canada]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:51:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A new national survey has revealed a striking contrast in Canadians’ attitudes towards Jesus and Christianity, with many expressing “admiration and appreciation for Jesus” while associating the Christian faith with judgment, control and division.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new national survey has revealed a striking contrast in Canadians’ attitudes towards Jesus and Christianity, with many expressing “admiration and appreciation for Jesus” while associating the Christian faith with judgement, control and division.
The research, conducted by Angus Reid Group in partnership with Alpha Canada and The Message Canada, found that 76% of Canadians regard Jesus as loving and 73% as selfless.
However, 64% described Christianity as judgmental, 62% said it causes arguments, and 57% considered it controlling.
The findings, released on 15 October, suggest that although many Canadians remain interested in spiritual matters, negative perceptions of organised religion continue to present challenges for churches seeking to engage with the wider public.
The study, titled ‘Seeds of Openness: How Canadians View Faith Conversations, the Church and Jesus’, surveyed 3,000 Canadian adults online between 10 and 18 February 2026.
An accompanying report, ‘Sharing Jesus’, written by Dr Bill Hogg, president of The Message Canada, examines what the findings mean for Christian evangelism.
According to the research, nearly two-thirds (64%) of Canadians consider themselves spiritual, but in their own way, while 56% are receptive to spiritual or transcendent experiences.
Around 70% of adults actively seek understanding and conversations about meaning, purpose, beliefs and spirituality, or often think and speak about these topics, suggesting that declining attachment to religious institutions does not necessarily indicate a lack of interest in faith.
Among the questions weighing most heavily on respondents were whether everything would turn out all right (52%), what would bring them genuine happiness (51%) and what happens after death (43%).
Over two-thirds also believed that Canadian society lacks a common sense of meaning and purpose capable of bringing people together.
Dr Hogg suggested that these concerns present an opportunity for churches to engage with people’s deeper questions about life and faith.
“The Church has an opportunity to show that Jesus and the King Jesus story offer a credible and life-giving answer to the meaning Canadians already know they need,” he wrote.
Nevertheless, the research also uncovered considerable resistance to Christianity.
Around three-quarters of non-Christians expressed no interest “in exploring Christianity in any form”, while approximately half reported feeling uneasy when people spoke openly about their faith.
The report also found that many non-Christians believe religion has historically “been used to control or harm people”, contributing to distrust towards religious institutions.
Despite these reservations, personal relationships appear to play an important role in determining whether people are willing to engage in conversations about Christianity.
More than eight in ten non-Christians (81%) reported having at least one practising Christian in their social circle, often a close friend or family member, while 67% had previously discussed faith with a churchgoing Christian.
Among non-Christian respondents, 26% had done so within the previous year, while 41% had engaged in such a conversation more than a year earlier.
However, experiences of these discussions varied considerably.
Nearly half of non-Christian respondents who had discussed faith with a churchgoing Christian described their most recent conversation as respectful, while approximately one-third considered it personal.
A similar proportion characterised the experience as preachy.
Slightly more than one in four of these encounters were classified as positive connections marked by openness, mutual understanding and respect.
The report emphasised that trust and the quality of personal relationships are often more influential than formal religious activities in encouraging people to consider Christianity.
It observed that “rapport is a precondition and respect is permission”, highlighting the importance of listening and genuine friendship rather than pressuring others to accept particular beliefs.
The findings also revealed a lack of confidence among Christians themselves when it comes to evangelism.
For the purposes of the study, practising Christians were defined as those who attend church at least monthly and pray or read the Bible at least weekly.
Fewer than one-third of practising Christians reported having the confidence to speak to others about their Christian beliefs, with only 30% considering themselves sufficiently knowledgeable and 31% feeling at ease doing so.
The report identified a need for churches to provide greater support and practical training to help believers communicate their faith clearly and sensitively.
It also noted that Christians were more likely to discuss their beliefs with fellow Christians than with those outside the faith.
Nearly eight in ten practising Christians reported speaking about faith with other believers at least sometimes, compared with approximately six in ten who did so with non-Christians.
When such conversations occurred, they tended to focus on personal experiences and general beliefs, with fewer addressing church activities, Bible teaching, or the historicity of Jesus and Scripture.
Dr Hogg encouraged churches to place greater emphasis on Jesus himself, particularly given the comparatively favourable perceptions of him among the Canadian public.
“Orbiting around the Person of Jesus—His character, His stories, His cross and resurrection—can open doors that might remain closed if we begin by defending the institutions of ‘religion’, ‘Christianity’ or ‘the Church’,” he wrote.
The report also highlighted the importance of providing welcoming environments where people can openly discuss faith, ask questions and explore Christian beliefs.
Among non-Christians, 42% found the idea of a dedicated space for faith conversations appealing, rising to 53% among non-practising Christians.
Alpha Canada, which organises free gatherings combining food, short films and discussions about Christianity, said the findings reinforced the importance of creating welcoming environments where people can explore religious questions without pressure.
The national director of Alpha Canada, Shaila Visser, commented: “We believe that everyone deserves a safe and welcoming space to explore life's questions.
“This data tells us this is what Canadians are looking for, and we want to support churches in creating that space.”
Dr Hogg similarly said: “Trust is earned through authentic relationships.
“An antidote to polarization is hospitality: welcoming honest questions, listening without defensiveness, and respecting people without pressuring them to agree.”
The report ultimately calls on churches to prioritise prayer, equip Christians to share their faith, focus more directly on the message of Jesus and provide opportunities for open discussion.
It concludes: “For the Church, this moment is an invitation and an opportunity. By focusing on relational proximity, honest conversation, humble storytelling, and prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, Christians in Canada can share Jesus in ways that resonate deeply with the longings of their neighbours.
“Evangelism in this context is less about volume and more about presence—less about winning arguments and more about sharing Jesus in word and deed.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[British Church leaders stand in solidarity with South Sudanese Christians as civil war looms]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/british-church-leaders-stand-in-solidarity-with-south-sudanese-christians-as-civil-war-looms</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/british-church-leaders-stand-in-solidarity-with-south-sudanese-christians-as-civil-war-looms</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/71/97100.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[South Sudan]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2026 11:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Senior church leaders in Britain have committed to stand in solidarity with Christians in South Sudan as the country teeters on the brink of a full on civil war.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Senior church leaders in Britain have committed to stand in solidarity with Christians in South Sudan as the country teeters on the brink of a full on civil war.
South Sudan became the world’s youngest independent sovereign nation when it separated from Sudan in 2011. Much like Sudan, the country has been plagued by civil conflict for much of its history.
Between 2013 and 2018 the country was wracked by civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those who followed his Vice-President, Riek Machar. The conflict was an almost exact mirror of Sudan’s current civil war, which is also between two former allies.
Although the war officially came to an end in 2018, conflict continued in parts of the country thanks to inter-tribal rivalry and the refusal of smaller armed groups to lay down their arms.
Last year larger scale fighting broke out again and Machar was arrested. The country’s first national elections since independence are due to take place in seven weeks, but with the main opposition leader in jail and worsening conflict, it is unknown if the results will be accepted or even if the elections will take place at all.
In October Christian Aid and the Church of England convened a meeting of British and South Sudanese church leaders as well as interested NGOs.
In a letter to attendees the Rev Tut Kony Nyang Kon, General Secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches, said, "We long for an end to violence, killings and insecurity that have plagued our society for too long. We are working tirelessly to mobilise communities for peace and to build bridges between different groups. We pray for and encourage political actors to prioritise dialogue over confrontation at his juncture of our fragile political transition and ask for your support in this.”
In a joint response the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, Gordon Kennedy, said, “We have heard your longing for peace and have seen your efforts to mobilise communities to build bridges. Your role in peacebuilding is known around the world. In the coming months, it can prevent even greater suffering affecting the people of South Sudan, at this critical and volatile time in the run up to elections.
"We commit to stand with you, in solidarity, in prayer and in the spirit of the Ecumenical Peace Pilgrimage. We also know that far more than elections will be needed for peace. We pray that leaders will have priorities aligned with the heart of Jesus Christ."]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[‘Light in the Darkest Places’: UK churches urged to pray for persecuted Christians this November]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/light-in-the-darkest-places-uk-churches-urged-to-pray-for-persecuted-christians-this-november</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/light-in-the-darkest-places-uk-churches-urged-to-pray-for-persecuted-christians-this-november</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Passion]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Pixabay ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2026 07:23:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[As part of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, UK churches are being encouraged to set aside time in November to unite in prayer for Christians facing persecution around the world.]]></description>
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As part of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, UK churches are being encouraged to set aside time in November to unite in prayer for Christians facing persecution around the world.
This year’s International Day of Prayer is being marked on 1 and 8 November. Voice of Persecuted Christians is encouraging participation with resources under its theme ‘Light in the Darkest Places’.
Voice of Persecuted Christians has produced free resources to help churches pray for believers facing persecution because of their faith in Jesus.
Among the stories being highlighted is that of Sultan, a Christian convert who was attacked after his family found out about his change of faith.
According to the organisation, Sultan’s father assaulted him with a metal bar, while he was later beaten by a mob who also set ablaze his Bible, clothing and other possessions.
Despite the violence, he has since committed his life to spreading the gospel and says his ministry has led many others to embrace Christianity.
“If I carry this burden for the gospel, then the gospel can reach the whole world,” he said. “We are full of joy even though there is persecution.”
His testimony is one of several included in a collection of materials created for churches, small groups and individuals observing the day.
Stories from Christians in Kenya, India and Ethiopia also feature in the material, alongside suggested prayer points, a Bible reading and guidance on how Christians can respond.
The resources also include an adaptable PowerPoint presentation and a Bible talk outline based on John 1:1–5.
A six-minute film telling the story of Christians in Ethiopia is also available through the organisation’s website.
Voice of Persecuted Christians said the resources were intended to help congregations move beyond a general awareness of persecution and pray about specific situations facing Christian communities.
The organisation is also preparing for a UK visit by its Ethiopian partner Moti, who spearheads 10/40 Ministries in Ethiopia.
His ministry includes church planting, discipleship, leadership training and assistance for Christians experiencing persecution, particularly in areas where there are relatively few Christians.
Moti is expected to begin a speaking tour of the UK in November, during which he will share about Christian ministry and persecution in Ethiopia.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Liechtenstein Prince blocks abortion law reform, advocates greater support for mothers]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/liechtenstein-prince-blocks-abortion-law-reform-advocates-greater-support-for-mothers</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/liechtenstein-prince-blocks-abortion-law-reform-advocates-greater-support-for-mothers</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Liechtenstein government building]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:26:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois has refused to approve legislation that would have eased the country’s abortion restrictions, arguing that greater efforts should instead be made to support pregnant women. ]]></description>
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Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois has refused to approve legislation that would have eased the country’s abortion restrictions, arguing that greater efforts should instead be made to support pregnant women. 
The proposed amendment to Liechtenstein’s Criminal Code, which passed through the Parliament by a narrow margin in September, would have allowed doctors to perform abortions during the first three months of pregnancy without the need for specific legal grounds. 
It also sought to lift existing restrictions on the public advertising and promotion of abortion services and procedures.
However, Prince Alois, who holds the constitutional authority to withhold royal assent from legislation, has rejected the proposals.
A statement issued by the Princely House said he “remains convinced that the proposed reform is not compatible with ensuring adequate protection of unborn life”.
The decision follows a closely contested parliamentary vote in which 13 lawmakers supported the amendment and 12 opposed it.
Liechtenstein, a small European principality situated between Switzerland and Austria, has some of Europe’s most conservative abortion laws.
Under existing legislation, abortion is generally prohibited, although exceptions apply in certain circumstances, including when continuing a pregnancy poses a serious threat to the woman’s life.
Rather than relaxing existing laws, Prince Alois has advocated strengthening assistance for women and families throughout pregnancy and following childbirth.
“I am convinced that many people share the objective of providing the best possible support to women in difficult situations while at the same time protecting unborn life,” he said.
The royal family’s involvement in maternal support services extends beyond the current legislative debate.
The Prince’s wife, Hereditary Princess Sophie, founded the Sophie von Liechtenstein Foundation, which provides counselling, financial assistance to pregnant women and psychological support to families. 
The Prince’s decision has been welcomed by pro-life charity Right To Life UK, which praised the royal couple’s commitment to supporting mothers while maintaining restrictions on abortion.
Catherine Robinson, a spokesperson for the organisation, described the Prince and Princess as “royals of principle” who “have shown the courage and compassion to put their principles into practice”. 
She praised the Prince’s constitutional intervention and the Princess’s foundation for helping mothers navigate difficulties “that can make an unexpected pregnancy feel overwhelming”.
“When women discover they are pregnant, they should be met with the practical help and support they need to continue their pregnancy,” she said.
“That help needs to be there after their baby is born, too. Help with everyday costs and the practical demands of caring for a child can make an enormous difference to a mother who is worried about how she will cope.
“Protecting unborn babies in law and helping their mothers are both essential. The Prince and Princess have set an example that others in public life would do well to follow.”
The developments in Liechtenstein come amid wider debates across Europe over abortion legislation and the extent of legal protections afforded to unborn children.
Poland’s Parliament recently approved two proposals to ease abortion restrictions, including provisions concerning severe foetal abnormalities and the removal of criminal penalties for people assisting with unlawful abortions. 
However, the measures face a potential veto from President Karol Nawrocki, who opposes liberalising the country's abortion laws.
In Scotland, the Scottish Greens are pushing for the decriminalisation of abortion, prompting warnings from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) that this could significantly weaken safeguards.
The question of support for pregnant women has also received international attention. 
A recent report by UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, Reem Alsalem, recently raised concerns about forced and coerced abortions, highlighting economic hardship and social pressures in particular.]]></content:encoded>
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