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        <title>Christian Today | World</title>
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                <title><![CDATA[Haitian bishop warns gangs are targeting Church as violence forces parish closures]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/haitian-bishop-warns-gangs-are-targeting-church-as-violence-forces-parish-closures</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/haitian-bishop-warns-gangs-are-targeting-church-as-violence-forces-parish-closures</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Haiti]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[“We keep praying, singing and dancing,” says one local bishop despite the daily threat of violence.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Catholic Church in Haiti is facing mounting attacks from armed gangs seeking to weaken one of the country’s few remaining institutions willing to challenge them, according to a Haitian bishop.
Bishop Joseph Gontrand Décoste of Jérémie told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that churches, clergy and religious communities were increasingly being caught up in the violence that has engulfed large parts of the Caribbean nation.
Bishop Décoste described the Church as one of the last significant voices resisting the influence of armed groups.
“We are the last remaining bulkhead - moral, ethical, spiritual and prophetic,” he said. “That is why they want to eliminate us.”
According to ACN, gangs are estimated to control between 70% and 90% of capital Port-au-Prince and have also established a presence in parts of the Artibonite and Centre departments.
Armed groups are reportedly imposing illegal tolls in areas under their control, while widespread insecurity has forced churches, schools and religious communities to abandon their buildings.
Around 40 Catholic parishes have shut down in Port-au-Prince, alongside approximately 15 in Haiti’s central plateau and another 10 in Artibonite.
The violence has extended to Catholic schools and religious houses, some of which have been attacked, set ablaze or occupied, with some reportedly converted into bases for criminal gangs.
Priests, seminarians and religious sisters have also been among those targeted.
During the first seven months of 2026, two priests were abducted and a seminarian was killed, according to ACN.
The violence follows a series of attacks against Catholic clergy and religious communities in recent years. 
Members of the Little Sisters of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Sisters Evanette and Jeanne, were fatally attacked by gang members while undertaking their ministry in Mirebalais in March 2025. Nine religious sisters, five brothers and four priests were also kidnapped during 2024.
In spite of the deteriorating security situation, Bishop Décoste told ACN that the Church was continuing its ministry wherever possible, including providing pastoral support and practical assistance to thousands of people displaced by the violence.
Prayer, radio broadcasts and online teaching have also enabled churches to continue reaching communities where normal parish activities have become difficult or impossible.
“We keep praying, singing and dancing,” Bishop Décoste said. “In Haiti we say: ‘As long as they haven’t cut off our head, we still have hope of wearing a hat.’ That is why we never lose hope.”
The worsening security crisis has also complicated Haiti’s attempts to restore elected government.
Legislative and presidential elections had been scheduled for 30 August but have been pushed back until December. 
However, Church sources have raised doubts over whether elections will be possible while armed groups retain control over significant parts of the country.
Haiti has not held national elections since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, after which the country’s political and security crisis deepened and armed groups substantially expanded their influence.
Bishop Décoste thanked supporters of ACN for continuing to assist the Church as it operates amid the crisis.
“This capacity for resilience is possible thanks to the great support we feel from organisations like Aid to the Church in Need,” he said. “Your prayers sustain us enormously; without them we could not carry on. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Canadian family claim Christian grandmother was euthanised against her wishes]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/canadian-family-claim-christian-grandmother-was-euthanised-against-her-wishes</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/canadian-family-claim-christian-grandmother-was-euthanised-against-her-wishes</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/90/99091.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Brigitte ‘GG’ Stegemann]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Facebook) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Brigitte ‘GG’ Stegemann ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:01:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The 83-year-old grandmother allegedly could not correctly answer questions on how many siblings she had and yet was declared mentally capable.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A family in Canada has alleged that their 83-year-old grandmother was euthanised despite her stated Christian beliefs and lack of mental capacity to consent to the procedure.
Brigitte “GG” Stegemann was euthanised under Canada’s controversial MAID programme on 10 July. According to her family, she was unable to answer basic questions, such as how many siblings she had, but was still deemed mentally capable by doctors of consenting to assisted suicide.
In a lengthy Facebook post, her family spoke of “systemic failures, [a] lack of transparency, and profound procedural violations” in GG’s final days. They also described their grandmother’s treatment as “a severe breach of medical ethics, informed consent, and basic human dignity”.
GG’s granddaughter, also called Brigitte, held legal Power of Attorney and was the primary contact for all decisions relating to GG’s medical and personal care.
GG, who spent her last two years in a care facility, was diagnosed with untreatable Stage IV stomach cancer earlier this year.
According to GG’s family, around two months before she died a meeting was held to discuss the possibility of assisted suicide. During the meeting “GG clearly stated that she did not wish to pursue it. As a devout Christian, she explicitly expressed that MAID conflicted with her personal beliefs and faith.”
The family allege that shortly after this meeting medical staff continued holding discussions about the possibility of assisted suicide while the granddaughter was away on a 10-day holiday. During that period other family members visited GG and found her to be “extremely weak and largely unresponsive”.
However, by 6 July her demeanour had shifted dramatically, GG was “sitting upright in bed, talking, smiling and interacting”, leading the family to question why she “appeared so heavily sedated” on previous occasions.During another meeting on the possibility of assisted suicide, GG’s family questioned who had instigated the meeting, and allege that “no clear answer was ever given” by what they described as increasingly defensive and hostile medical staff.
The family were informed that staff had met with GG twice during the granddaughter's 10-day absence. Later, the staff allegedly set about determining whether GG was mentally capable of giving informed consent to assisted suicide.
GG’s family described this as “a deeply alarming farce”.
“Throughout the assessment, GG repeatedly provided objectively incorrect answers to basic, factual questions about her own life and immediate family," they said. 
Her family say they had to correct “the vast majority” of her answers.
GG, they say, could not correctly state how many siblings she had and how many of those siblings were still living, despite having spoken to one the previous week. During the interrogation “she began to cry, stating, ‘I forgot about the grandkids,’ visibly confusing her living siblings with her great-grandkids”.It is alleged that following a meeting between the doctor and GG, in which Brigitte and other family members say they were not permitted to join, GG was declared “capable of making her own decisions”. 
GG’s termination was scheduled to take place a few days later and the family allege that when Brigitte talked with GG about the process she “appeared confused and visibly distressed”.
“She responded with words to the effect of, ‘I'm going to die Friday? They're going to kill me Friday?’ She wept for an extended period, repeatedly stating that she had made a mistake. Brigitte comforted her and reassured her that if she had changed her mind, she had the absolute right to tell the medical team on Friday that she did not want to proceed.”
On the day of the termination the family claim that when the doctor attempted to speak to GG, “she was silent, her hands tightly clasped together in a fixed prayer position."
According to the family's account, “When GG remained completely silent and gave no response, Brigitte felt a sudden wave of relief and a big smile came over her face, believing that the procedure would finally be halted because the strict requirement for final consent had not been met. Tragically, we were left alarmed and horrified when the clinical team completely ignored her silence and carried the procedure forward regardless.”GG died moments later.
On their Facebook post, the family stated, “What happened to Brigitte ‘GG’ Stegemann was a systemic failure driven by clinical arrogance, a total lack of transparency, and a blatant disregard for the safeguards meant to protect vulnerable patients.“One of our greatest ethical concerns is that GG had explicitly declined MAID, stating it violated her Christian faith. Once a vulnerable patient explicitly declines this path, the facility should never have targeted her for re-evaluation behind closed doors while her primary advocate was away - especially when the facility had no trouble contacting Brigitte daily for minor, routine care decisions.”The family's statement concluded with a call “for greater clinical transparency, mandatory family inclusion for cognitively vulnerable patients, and strict legal accountability for facilities that operate outside the law”.
The clinic has been contacted for comment.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[World’s tallest statue of Jesus planned in Armenia]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/worlds-tallest-statue-of-jesus-planned-in-armenia</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/worlds-tallest-statue-of-jesus-planned-in-armenia</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Gyumri city, Armenia]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Gyumri city, Armenia ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:21:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A business tycoon with political ambitions is planning to build the world’s tallest statue of Jesus Christ in his home country of Armenia.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A business tycoon with political ambitions is planning to build the world’s tallest statue of Jesus Christ in his home country of Armenia.
Gagik Tsarukyan told the Guardian newspaper in the UK that “Christianity will become Armenia’s new brand” and that the statue would become known as “Armenia’s calling card”.
Standing 101 metres (331ft) tall, the monument will be erected on the summit of Mount Hatis, which rises 2,500 metres (8,200ft) above sea level. The mountain is about 25km east of Yerevan, and the statue is expected to be visible from much of the Armenian capital.
Tsarukyan received less than 4% of the vote in the country’s recent parliamentary election. A controversial figure, the former athlete built a business empire spanning gambling, alcohol and mining in the decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union, according to the Guardian.
Tsarukyan believes the statue, which has been under construction on and off since 2022 and has yet to be transported up the mountain, will dwarf Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, which stands 38 metres (125ft) tall, including its pedestal.
“We are the oldest Christian nation in the world,” Tsarukyan told the Guardian. “It only makes sense we should have the biggest Jesus statue in the world.”
Tsarukyan is also constructing a gigantic Noah’s Ark and has described both projects as “sacred”.
“These projects are sacred,” he told the newspaper. “This is how I will inscribe my name in history, for the world to see during my lifetime and long after.”
© Christian Daily International]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Bethel pausing sale of The Passion Translation amid backlash]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/bethel-pausing-sale-of-the-passion-translation-amid-backlash</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/bethel-pausing-sale-of-the-passion-translation-amid-backlash</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anugrah Kumar]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[The Passion Translation]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: BroadStreet Publishing Group) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The Passion Translation ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Bethel Church is pausing the sale of The Passion Translation, a Bible paraphrase also known as TPT, the Redding, California, congregation said in a statement, as numerous Christians continue to point to significant concerns about the paraphrase.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Bethel Church is pausing the sale of The Passion Translation, a Bible paraphrase also known as TPT, the Redding, California, congregation said in a statement, as numerous Christians continue to point to significant concerns about the paraphrase.
Bethel’s leadership team said it had been talking through concerns raised about TPT and that reviews were underway by specialized groups, the church said in an update shared on its website, adding that the work would take time.
The pause will stay in place until Bethel reaches additional clarity, the church said.
Bethel also said it has been in contact with people connected to the congregation, including current and former students, staff members and advisers from outside the church and that it is putting in place accountability measures meant to protect integrity and safety within the organization and beyond it.
Bethel had sold a special edition of the TPT New Testament carrying a foreword by Senior Pastor Bill Johnson. A webpage advertising that edition stayed online, but its purchase link stopped working recently. A video endorsement from Johnson still appeared on TPT’s official website at the time.
Other churches and Bible platforms have also pulled back from TPT in recent weeks, as was previously reported by The Christian Post.
Life Bible, an app used by an estimated 1.5 million people to read Scripture, dropped the translation from its service.
Damon Thompson, a prominent charismatic teacher, also withdrew his endorsement of TPT. Thomson leads The Homestead, a congregation in Mobile, Alabama, and founded the ministry that carries his name, Damon Thompson Ministries.
In a video and a statement posted on his ministry’s website, Thompson said he had learned “the scholarly foundation upon which the Passion Translation was built is not what it was represented to be.” He wrote that credentials tied to the work had been misrepresented and that source material had been used without attribution.
Thompson said he had relied on TPT for years and had steered relatives, students preparing for ministry and members of his congregation toward it. He said he had leaned on TPT’s rendering of Aramaic verses because of his own limited grasp of the language, and no longer trusted the translation. “I no longer have that confidence,” he wrote.
Thompson apologized to followers for passing along details drawn from TPT that he has since concluded were wrong. He said he had assumed the text was accurate and took responsibility for the error.
The departures follow an investigation posted by the YouTube channel “Minor Prophets,” with input from Bible teacher Mike Winger, alleging that TPT’s lead translator, Brian Simmons, misstated his academic background and his credentials as a translator, and that parts of TPT had been copied from other sources without credit.
Winger, who teaches the Bible and is based in California, has challenged TPT and Simmons for years, arguing the paraphrase adds material and interpretations the original biblical languages do not support.
In a 2023 post on the social platform X, Winger wrote that scholars from a range of Christian traditions agreed the paraphrase could not be trusted as an accurate Bible translation.
TPT has drawn a wide following in charismatic and Pentecostal churches since it first appeared in 2017. Its website says the paraphrase “uses Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts to express God’s fiery heart of love to this generation.”
Critics have long called the work a devotional paraphrase rather than a formal translation, and scholars have questioned Simmons’ account of an angel he said inspired the project.
Bible Gateway took TPT off its site in 2022 after consulting translation scholars.
A petition urging YouVersion, the most downloaded Bible app in the world, to drop TPT has drawn more than 17,000 signatures amid the renewed scrutiny.
In June, Winger said he deleted the YouVersion app from his phone over its continued inclusion of TPT, posting “Bye bye YouVersion” on X along with a screenshot of the app being removed from his iPhone home screen.
He wrote that people expect an app to carry only safe Bible translations and urged caution for anyone still using YouVersion.
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Religion, immigration and abortion could shape key US Senate races, new polling suggests]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/religion-immigration-and-abortion-could-shape-key-us-senate-races-new-polling-suggests</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/religion-immigration-and-abortion-could-shape-key-us-senate-races-new-polling-suggests</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[America, USA, United States of America, Washington DC, Capitol]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:45:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Religious demographics vary considerably across the five battleground states and could influence voter behaviour.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
New polling suggests religion, immigration and abortion could shape key US Senate races in battleground states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. 
Research by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI)  highlights significant differences in public opinion across Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio and Michigan.
The findings come from PRRI’s newly unveiled ‘Data and the 2026 Midterms’ project, which draws on its American Values Atlas to examine demographic and political trends in states expected to play a pivotal role in determining control of Congress.
According to PRRI, religious demographics vary considerably across the five battleground states and could influence voter behaviour.
Georgia and North Carolina have larger-than-average populations of white evangelical Protestants, a key Republican voting bloc, as well as moderately higher levels of Christian nationalist identification than the national average. 
Both states have Black Protestant populations that are double the national average, a demographic viewed as important to Democratic turnout.
Unlike Georgia and North Carolina, Michigan and Ohio are home to larger shares of white Catholics and white mainline Protestants. 
PRRI noted that these groups shifted towards Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election but said more recent polling indicates support for the president has significantly weakened.
Texas differs from the other battlegrounds because of its sizable Hispanic Christian population - 11% of Texans identify as Hispanic Protestants, while 18% identify as Hispanic Catholics, both figures being substantially above national averages.
The polling suggests Hispanic Christian communities could prove influential in the closely fought Texas Senate race. 
While Donald Trump made significant gains among Hispanic Christians during the 2024 election, PRRI said support has since declined among both Hispanic Protestants (from 64% to 37%) and Hispanic Catholics (from 43% to 23%). 
PRRI associated the fall in approval to concerns over the administration’s immigration policies, a shift that could present difficulties for Republican Senate candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has been one of the strongest advocates of Trump's immigration agenda.
Abortion remains another issue likely to influence the midterm elections, according to PRRI.
Nationally, 61% of respondents supported legal abortion in all or most cases.
Support remained above a majority in each of the five battleground states, ranging from 55% in Texas to 64% in North Carolina.
The report noted that abortion laws currently differ significantly between the states, with Michigan offering extensive legal protections while Georgia and Texas have some of the country’s tightest restrictions.
Beyond electoral issues, the survey highlighted broader cultural divisions.
White evangelical Protestants were the only major religious group in which a majority (60%) agreed that “society has become too soft and feminine”.
The survey further found that white evangelical Protestants were the most likely to say American culture has deteriorated since the 1950s (67%), followed by Hispanic Protestants (58%), white Catholics and Hispanic Catholics (57% each), and white mainline Protestants (56%).]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV appeals for peace in Sudan and Ukraine amid growing humanitarian crises]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-appeals-for-peace-in-sudan-and-ukraine-amid-growing-humanitarian-crises</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-appeals-for-peace-in-sudan-and-ukraine-amid-growing-humanitarian-crises</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Duncan Williams]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Sudan]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV has renewed his call for peace in both Sudan and Ukraine, urging political and military leaders to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Pope Leo XIV has renewed his call for peace in both Sudan and Ukraine, urging political and military leaders to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.
Speaking during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, the pope expressed particular concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, where more than 500,000 people are reportedly without access to essential supplies following a prolonged military siege.
“I continue to follow with concern the tragic situation in Sudan, especially in the city of el-Obeid,” Leo said. “In expressing my spiritual closeness to all the people of the nation, I renew my appeal to those in authority to guarantee humanitarian corridors for the civilian population.”
Sudan remains embroiled in a devastating conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Reports from the region have highlighted the impact of ongoing fighting, including widespread displacement, food shortages and attacks affecting civilians.
The leader of the Catholic Church also addressed the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine, lamenting the growing loss of civilian life.
“These incidents are occurring one after another; indeed, they are multiplying, resulting in ever-increasing numbers of civilian victims, including children,” he said.
Renewing his appeal for compliance with international humanitarian law, the pontiff called on both sides to avoid targeting civilian populations.
“In the face of so much anguish, I renew my heartfelt appeal for humanitarian law to be respected and for both sides to cease attacks on civilian targets,” Leo said.
“War only begets more war and causes immense suffering.”
Alongside his comments on global conflicts, Pope Leo reflected on the Gospel account of Jesus walking on water and encouraged Christians to place their trust in Christ during times of uncertainty and fear.
He said the disciples were transformed by Christ’s presence and suggested that the miracle serves as a reminder that believers should not lose hope when faced with life's difficulties.
“Whatever the circumstances, Jesus does not abandon us, and if we humbly welcome him into the boat of our lives - through prayer, the sacraments and listening to his Word - in him, we will find peace, light and strength for our journey,” he said.
The pope encouraged people of faith to welcome God into their lives through prayer, participation in the sacraments and attentive listening to Scripture, saying these practices help Christians find strength and direction amid the challenges of the modern world.
His remarks formed part of a wider appeal for peace, compassion and hope as conflicts continue to affect millions of people across the globe.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Nigeria risks losing major US aid package over Christian persecution concerns]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/nigeria-risks-losing-major-us-aid-package-over-christian-persecution-concerns</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/nigeria-risks-losing-major-us-aid-package-over-christian-persecution-concerns</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Duncan Williams]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Lagos, Nigeria]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Lagos, Nigeria ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:07:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Nigeria could lose access to a significant share of a new United States health and humanitarian assistance package unless it demonstrates progress in tackling violence against Christians, according to a bilateral agreement between Washington and Abuja.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Nigeria could lose access to a significant share of a new United States health and humanitarian assistance package unless it demonstrates progress in tackling violence against Christians, according to a bilateral agreement between Washington and Abuja.
The warning follows the announcement of a new $1.4 billion US global health initiative, part of a wider funding strategy that places increased emphasis on faith-based healthcare providers.
At the centre of the issue is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 20 December 2025 between the US Department of State and the Nigerian government under the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS).
The agreement commits the United States to providing almost $2.1 billion over five years to support programmes addressing HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio. Nigeria is also expected to increase its own domestic health spending by nearly $3 billion during the same period.
A substantial proportion of the funding is intended to support Nigeria's network of faith-based hospitals and clinics, which currently serve more than 30 per cent of the population.
However, the agreement includes conditions linked to the protection of Christian communities.
According to the MoU, the agreement was “negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence” and includes “significant dedicated funding” for Christian health facilities.
The document further states: “As with all foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate any programme which do not align with the national interest, and the Trump administration expects Nigeria to continue to make progress ensuring that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations.”
The conditions have also received support in the US Congress. The US House of Representatives recently voted to link aid to measurable progress in addressing the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Legislation approved by the House last month calls on the Nigerian government to take concrete steps to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes and improve protection for Christians in the country's Middle Belt region.
The latest US funding announcement includes $1.4 billion for integrated health services delivered through faith-based and community healthcare organisations in more than 20 countries.
Of that total, $850 million will be distributed through a Faith and Community Initiative Award to World Vision and local faith-based partners. The programme aims to strengthen more than 2,500 faith-based hospitals and clinics across 17 countries and support the training, equipping and payment of over 30,000 community health workers.
A further $570 million will be channelled directly to faith-based and community hospitals through bilateral agreements with participating governments, including Nigeria.
In addition, the US State Department announced $538 million in humanitarian assistance through organisations including Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision and Compassion International. The funding is intended to support seven million people across 16 humanitarian crises worldwide. More than $100 million has also been allocated for immediate disaster response in 23 countries vulnerable to natural disasters.
The State Department described the combined $1.4 billion health initiative as the largest investment in faith-based organisations for more than two decades, with at least 80 per cent of funding required to reach frontline services directly.
For Nigeria, the agreement places particular emphasis on Christian healthcare providers, describing them as “uniquely positioned” to complement public health services.
The development comes as the United States increasingly directs resources towards faith-based healthcare delivery in countries where such providers account for a significant proportion of health infrastructure.
As a result, Nigeria's ability to access future funding under the programme is expected to depend, in part, on whether the government can demonstrate progress in addressing concerns raised in Washington over violence against Christian communities.
The State Department said organisations such as Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision and Compassion International were selected because of their ability to deploy rapidly in conflict zones and disaster areas while delivering assistance directly to affected populations.  ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Religion question on Australian census becomes online battleground]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/religion-question-on-australian-census-becomes-online-battleground</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/religion-question-on-australian-census-becomes-online-battleground</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[australia]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ St Peter's Cathedral in north Adelaide. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:46:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Online campaigns to influence census religion data go back decades.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
In 2001 an early internet campaign led to the British census of that year recording the presence of 400,000 followers of the “Jedi” religion in the country. A handful of “Sith” were also found to be plotting in the shadows via the same census.
Now Australia is having a census of its own and concerns have been raised that online activity could distort the census figures relating to religion.
At the heart of the issue is the distinction between religious affiliation and practice.
Ahead of the census two competing strands of thought have been active online. The first encourages people who consider themselves non-religious to choose “No Religion” on the census.
The second encourages people to answer the census question according to their religious practice rather than affiliation. According to this view, a person who, for example, views themselves as culturally Catholic, but doesn’t attend mass or even believe in God, should also put themselves down as “No Religion”.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has apparently come out against both of these strains of thought, urging people to answer the religion question according to their affiliation rather than religious practices.
In a statement the ABS, said it was “aware of campaigns aimed at influencing individuals’ responses to the 2026 Census question on religion”.
It added, “The question on religion measures a person’s religious affiliation, which may be different from their practice of, or participation in, religious activities. Religious affiliation refers to the religion a person nominates an association with. This may be different from their religious practices or their participation in religious activities.”
This approach has been defended by churches and religious groups in Australia.
An article by Christian broadcaster Hope 103.2 stated, “A person who identifies as Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, Orthodox or another Christian tradition may not attend weekly services. Equally, they may still view that faith tradition as a significant part of their identity, values, family story or community connections.
“Understanding that distinction helps explain why the Census uses the language of affiliation rather than participation.”
The article went on to argue that religious affiliation, even without spiritual practice, often still informs the values and priorities of the individual concerned.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Vatican urges international community to make homelessness a priority]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/vatican-urges-international-community-to-make-homelessness-a-priority</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/vatican-urges-international-community-to-make-homelessness-a-priority</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[homeless]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:06:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Holy See has urged governments around the world to place homelessness at the heart of housing and urban policy, warning that access to a safe home is fundamental to human dignity rather than simply an economic issue.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Holy See has urged governments around the world to place homelessness at the heart of housing and urban policy, warning that access to a safe home is fundamental to human dignity rather than simply an economic issue.
The appeal comes as homelessness remains a pressing issue in the UK. 
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to tackle long-term rough sleeping, announcing a £340m programme to create 1,200 homes and deliver comprehensive assistance to at least 3,000 people in England over the next five years. 
The commitment followed official government estimates that put the number of people found sleeping on England’s streets during a single-night survey in autumn 2025 at around 4,793 - the highest figure recorded to date. 
According to the Guardian, housing organisations have attributed the rise to a shortage of affordable housing, rising rents and increasing reliance on temporary accommodation.
The Vatican’s intervention was delivered during the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting marking the 10th anniversary of the New Urban Agenda, an international framework promoting sustainable urban development.
The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See said: “The persistence of homelessness should trouble the conscience of the international community.” 
It called on countries to ensure that their cities are designed to promote the common good rather than economic growth alone.
“Everybody deserves a place to call home, where they can build relationships, nurture family life, and participate fully in their community,” the Vatican said. “Housing should therefore be viewed not just as a commodity or financial asset, but as a cornerstone of society at the service of the common good.”
The Holy See argued that well-planned cities should foster “solidarity, inclusion and care” for society’s most vulnerable members, becoming “places of encounter, fraternity and hope.”
Quoting Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ the delegation added that genuine development is achieved only when “people are at the centre,” saying this approach should shape how the New Urban Agenda is put into practice over the coming decade.
The statement described homelessness as “an affront to human dignity” that involves “more than lacking shelter”.
“It means being deprived of security, stability, privacy, and a sense of belonging,” the delegation said, adding that homelessness often makes it harder for individuals and families to enjoy their fundamental rights while reinforcing patterns of poverty and social isolation. 
The Holy See called on governments to increase investment in affordable housing alongside integrated social services, while addressing underlying causes like poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, mental health issues, family breakdown, displacement and conflict.
Policymakers were called upon to involve faith-based organisations, local communities, civil society groups and people with lived experience of homelessness when developing solutions.
Housing policy should be considered alongside education, employment and healthcare, the Holy See said, as it called for a more “integrated approach” to “help prevent exclusion and segregation”.
The Vatican’s intervention comes as campaigners in Britain continue to warn that homelessness could worsen without more ambitious action. 
A recent report by IPPR North and the charity Crisis projected that the number of people needing statutory homelessness support from English councils could increase by about a quarter by 2030, with over 230,000 people potentially affected unless governments significantly expand affordable housing and adopt stronger “Housing First” policies.
Based on data from the Local Government Association, last year, councils in England spent more than £1.3bn on temporary accommodation, highlighting the growing financial pressure created by rising homelessness.
Concluding its address, the Holy See said the success of a city should ultimately be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable residents.
“Urban development cannot be measured solely by the height of its buildings or the strength of its economy, but above all by its ability to enable every person to flourish by participating fully in society and contributing to the common good,” the statement said.
It added that every person possesses God-given dignity and that “the true measure of a sustainable city lies in how it treats all its members, and, consequently, in its capacity to address multiple forms of poverty, persistent inequalities and environmental degradation”.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian couple murdered in Pakistan receive no justice]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-couple-murdered-in-pakistan-receive-no-justice</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-couple-murdered-in-pakistan-receive-no-justice</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Pakistani Christian couple burnt alive]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (British Pakistani Christian Association) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian couple Shahzad Masih (right) and Shama Bibi (left) were killed by a Muslim mob for allegedly desecrating the Quran in Pakistan in November 2014. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:44:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The courts are not able to determine who exactly did what in a 100-plus mob.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The murder of a Christian couple in Pakistan, along with their unborn child, is likely to go unpunished, following a Supreme Court decision to release three men who had been sentenced to death.
Shahzad Masih and Shama Bibi were murdered in November 2014. The couple were accused of desecrating pages of the Quran, prompting a mob to beat them before throwing them into a hot brick kiln.
Following the incident hundreds of villagers were arrested, however the vast majority were set free.
However, in 2016 an Anti-Terrorism Court sentenced five men to death for their alleged role in the murders, while nine others were given short jail terms. An appeal lead to the Lahore High Court overturning the convictions against two of those sentenced to death and now the Supreme Court has effectively done the same for the remaining three.
The Supreme Court also rejected a request from the Punjab government to retry over 100 suspects who had previously been released.
The core issue is the inability of the courts to successfully determine which specific actions were taken during the attack by which specific individuals. 
According to International Christian Concern (ICC), the chaos and confusion caused by a mob is not the only reason no one will be held to account for the murders. The anti-persecution group has reported on direct threats of violence within the community against potential witnesses, many of whom later gave inconsistent testimonies.
ICC said, “With this decision, along with the dismissal of a state appeal against the acquittal of 102 other suspects, no one remains convicted or in prison for the attack.”
The group added, “Leaders from the churches stated that the verdict highlights deep flaws in how mob violence cases are investigated and prosecuted. Rights advocates continue to urge the government to improve witness protection, reform police procedures, and create laws that hold violent mobs accountable.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Iran clamps down on Christian broadcasters]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iran-clamps-down-on-christian-broadcasters</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iran-clamps-down-on-christian-broadcasters</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Iran]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:43:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Increased persecution has not stopped the church from growing.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has declared a number of Persian-language Christian satellite broadcasters to be “hostile” actors, implying severe sanctions for any who watch them.
An anonymous Iranian Christian, writing for Open Doors, said a clampdown on Christian broadcasters was a blow to “one of the few remaining lifelines” for Christians in Iran.
The Iranian government has warned that “cooperation” with these “hostile” agents could lead to prosecution under espionage laws.
Open Doors currently ranks Iran as the 10th worst persecutor of Christians in the world. Conversion from Islam to Christianity is illegal and there are severe restrictions on Christian preaching in Persian.
Only Iran’s historic Armenian and Assyrian Christian communities are permitted to hold Christian worship services in Persian, although even these historic groups have faced repression, with the government recently seizing control of a 150-year-old church.
Churches are often raided and believers arrested. The situation has declined since the breakout of hostilities with Israel and the US, with Christians suspected of sympathising with the enemy.
Another Christian in the country spoke of the importance of Christian broadcasts, “There are so many people in Iran hearing the gospel for the very first time through these satellite TV programmes. When there is no church to visit, no Christian community you know, no Bible and no Christian materials available, these TV programmes become the only place where people can hear God’s Word.”
He added that the sense of isolation that comes with being a Christian in Iran is itself a part of the persecution.
“When you think you are the only Christian in your town or city, these programmes help you pray, hear God’s Word and realise you have not been forgotten; you are connected to a much bigger body of believers," he said. 
“Many young people already don’t dare follow Christian pages on Instagram, or like or comment on Christian videos on YouTube. Even visiting those pages means using secure VPNs and carefully deleting search history afterwards. We are not even allowed to access Christian resources freely.”
According to Open Doors, despite the best efforts of the Islamic regime to suppress Christianity, the Church is still growing. Indeed, the group argues, if it were not growing, the regime would not feel the need to increase its repressive measures.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Kurdish pastor released from Syria after two weeks in detention]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/kurdish-pastor-released-from-syria-after-two-weeks-in-detention</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/kurdish-pastor-released-from-syria-after-two-weeks-in-detention</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Pastor Nihad Hassan]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: CSW) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Pastor Nihad Hassan ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Pastor Hassan was advised to go back to Lebanon for his own safety.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has welcomed the release of a Baptist pastor who was held by Syrian authorities for two weeks.
Pastor Nihad Hassan is a Kurd from an Islamic background. While visiting family members in Afrin, Syria, he was arrested reportedly for Facebook posts that insulted Islam and Mohammad.
Pastor Hassan leads a Kurdish-speaking congregation in neighbouring Lebanon.
He was held without charge from 20 July to 3 August. Upon his release Syrian authorities urged him to return to Lebanon for his own safety, which he subsequently did.
Pastor Hassan has also become known for raising the plight of Kurds in Syria.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in late 2024, Syria has experienced an extremely uneasy peace with Christians remaining fearful of the Islamist group that spearheaded his removal. 
Over a decade of civil war and a plethora of armed groups representing different ethnic and religious interests mean the country remains volatile and the new government has struggled to bring order.
In March last year hundreds of Alawites were massacred by an armed group. A few months later in July fighting broke out between the Druze and Bedouins in Suwayda and towards the end of the year fighting broke out between government forces and Kurds in Aleppo, following the first parliamentary elections since the takeover of power.
In one of the latest developments, Christians in the town of Saydnaya were  told to restrict their religious activities to the inside of their churches. Some local church leaders accused security forces of targeting Christians for long stops at security checkpoints, while other local sources claim the security services are looking for Christians connected to Assad-era atrocities.
Mervyn Thomas, founder president of CSW, said, “While news that Pastor Hassan has been released and reunited with his family is welcome, we are concerned that he was detained for two weeks without charge and call on the transitional government of Syria to work towards ending the use of arbitrary arrest and detention in areas under its control.
“We encourage the leaders of every faith community to unite against sectarianism, and to counter it through the proactive promotion of peace, justice and reconciliation. We also call on the Syrian government to address issues related to intercommunity relationships with full transparency and in accordance with law.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Iraqi bishops consider PM's invitation for Christians to return]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iraqi-bishops-consider-pm-s-invitation-for-christians-to-return</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iraqi-bishops-consider-pm-s-invitation-for-christians-to-return</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[iraq]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Aid to the Church in Need) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Iraqi Christians at an Easter service. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:19:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Some Christians suspect the motives of the Iraqi PM.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Catholic bishops in Iraq are due to meet next month to consider a government proposal aimed at encouraging the country’s Christian population to return.
Prior to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Christian population stood at around 1.5 million people. However, the decades of conflict and instability that followed, whether from Saddam Hussein loyalists or extreme persecution by the so-called Islamic State led to a mass exodus. Today the Christian population of Iraq is believed to be less than a quarter of a million.
Last month Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi appealed to Iraq’s Christians to come home, promising investment in health and education, and land allocation projects.
Many reacted with scepticism, arguing that Christian grievances around discrimination, lack of political representation, and illegally confiscated land had not been addressed. At a more fundamental level some expressed concerns that the Iraqi government remained unable to provide security against militant groups.
More cynically, some noted that such offers have been made before and that the latest one may simply be an attempt to impress US President Donald Trump, who has made the protection of Christians abroad a priority for his government.
Such concerns will no doubt be on the minds of Iraq’s Catholic bishops, who will be meeting in Ankawa, in addition to fears that Iraq’s Christian community could continue declining if nothing is done.
Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Paul III Nona and Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil recently met with the Iraqi Prime Minister. During the meeting the Prime Minister reportedly said he wished Iraqi Christians would return and invest in the country, particularly in health and education.
Archbishop Warda told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the Prime Minister’s appeal “was welcomed by the Church”.
“The Prime Minister has lived among Christians, so he knows them very well," he said.
"He said he would love to see Christians working in health and education because he trusts them, and knows the quality of the education and the healthcare they provide.
"He told us to count on him for whatever we need, and that is very encouraging.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Pastor pays tribute to 'precious' church member found dead in Athens suitcase]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/pastor-pays-tribute-to-precious-church-member-found-dead-in-athens-suitcase</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/pastor-pays-tribute-to-precious-church-member-found-dead-in-athens-suitcase</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Elisabeth-Jane Ross]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Facebook) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[An Edinburgh church has paid tribute to a “precious” member of its congregation after she was found dead in a suitcase in Athens. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
An Edinburgh church has paid tribute to a “precious” member of its congregation after she was found dead in a suitcase in Athens. 
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, known as Lisa, had been a member of City on a Hill church in the Scottish capital for 20 years and was remembered as a caring and committed Christian whose life was “all about mission”.
The 38-year-old’s body was discovered inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital on 18 July.
Peter Anderson, lead pastor of City on a Hill, told the congregation that it had been a “really tough week” for the church.
“We have lost a precious church member, Lisa,” he said, according to STV. 
“She was a member of our church for 20 years, and a very, very precious girl, and it’s a real tragic loss.”
Anderson said Ross had devoted much of her life to Christian mission and serving others, and that she would be missed.
“Lisa’s life was actually all about mission,” he said.
“She had a big passion for missions. She had been to many places on mission, she served people, she cared for people all over the world.”
Ross, a charity worker, arrived in Athens from the UK on 26 June and was initially staying with Greek friends before moving to a flat in the city centre earlier in July.
The cause of Ross’s death has not yet been established, and further toxicology tests are being carried out.
Greek police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with Ross’s death. He denies killing her.
First Minister John Swinney has called it an "absolutely appalling case".
A Scottish government spokesperson said: "This is an extremely distressing time for the family of Elisabeth-Jane Ross and it is important that their privacy is respected while enquiries continue.
"Scottish government officials are in communication with the family and with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure they receive appropriate support.
"As this remains an operational matter for Police Scotland, it would not be appropriate to comment further."]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Iraqi Christian wins legal challenge against official Muslim status]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iraqi-christian-wins-legal-challenge-against-official-muslim-status</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/iraqi-christian-wins-legal-challenge-against-official-muslim-status</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Baghdad, Iraq]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Baghdad, Iraq ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:57:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[In many Islamic countries a person's religion is registered by the state, sometimes incorrectly.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has welcomed a ruling by the Iraqi Court of Cassation in the case of a Christian woman who was officially registered as a Muslim.
In Iraq, as in a number of other Muslim-majority states, a person's religion is officially recorded by the authorities. This designation can have real-world consequences, particularly in matters such as marriage and family law.
For non-Muslims who find themselves officially registered as Muslim, the consequences can be particularly serious. Their official status can subject them to rules governing Muslims under Iraq's religiously based personal-status system, while their designation may also be passed on to their children.
In some cases, Christian families who are officially registered as Muslim have reportedly faced a choice between registering their children as Muslim or leaving them without official documentation. The latter can prevent children from accessing services such as public education and government benefits.
ADF has been supporting the case of one young Christian woman, with the pseudonym “Maryam” who has successfully changed her designation. ADF described the ruling as “a strong step forward for religious freedom”.
Maryam was born into a Christian family, but she and her sisters were legally redesignated as Muslims after their parents separated and their mother subsequently married a Muslim.
Upon turning 18, Maryam filed a legal claim in January 2025 to correct her official designation to Christian. In May of this year a lower court ruled in favour of Maryam’s request, a decision that has now been affirmed by Iraq’s highest court.
Maryam’s sisters have not yet turned 18 and are still officially recognised as Muslims; however similar action will be undertaken for them once they reach their legal majority.
Kelsey Zorzi, Senior Counsel and Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at Alliance Defending Freedom, said, “We commend Iraq’s Court of Cassation for affirming this ruling and granting Maryam the freedom to have her Christian faith accurately reflected in her state-issued documents. 
"Christians and other religious minorities across Iraq and the broader Middle East suffer real harm when governments assign them a religion that is not their own.
"In a region where marriage, inheritance, burial, and education are governed differently according to one’s religion, it is essential that individuals - not states - retain the right to choose their own faith.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Father Jacques Hamel remembered amid warning over forgotten terror victims]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/father-jacques-hamel-remembered-amid-warning-over-forgotten-terror-victims</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/father-jacques-hamel-remembered-amid-warning-over-forgotten-terror-victims</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Father Jacques Hamel]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Twitter / @inesanma ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Father Jacques Hamel, 84, had served at the parish church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray for decades. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Victims of Islamist terrorism must not be allowed to fade from public memory, says the president of the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Foundation.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Western societies should do more to remember the victims of terrorism, the president of the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Foundation has argued in a piece commemorating a decade since the murder of Catholic priest, Father Jacques Hamel.
Fr Hamel was attacked and killed during mass in a Normandy church 10 years ago by two Muslim men pledging allegiance to ISIS. 
Trey Dimsdale said, in a piece for Restoring the West, that Islamist terrorist attacks “are increasingly treated as isolated crimes rather than attacks on the moral confidence of Western civilization".
"The victims are briefly mourned before fading before public memory. That collective amnesia weakens our ability to recognize the ideological nature of the threat and respond with the seriousness it demands," he said. 
Remembering those killed is not only about honouring the dead, Dimsdale argued, but serves to protect and strengthen society: “A civilization that cannot remember those murdered because they embodied its values, or simply lived within its cultural inheritance, gradually loses the confidence to defend either.”
Dimsdale lamented the fact that secular society and institutions have few mechanisms by which they can remember those killed by terrorist violence. He contrasted this with the Catholic Church, whose late Pope Francis declared Father Hamel to be a martyr and permitted the beatification process to begin.
Father Hamel is currently recognised by the Catholic Church as a “Servant of God”, the first step on the path to sainthood.
Dimsdale pointed out that while the Catholic Church remembers Father Hamel, even a decade after his murder, much of society struggles to name even one victim of terror attacks, even when the attack was recent.
He used the example of Joan of Arc, who despite being burned at the stake for heresy, was eventually recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church. In France at least, Joan is not just a religious figure, but a symbol of civic and national identity.
In a recent post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the martyred priest, saying, “We do not forget Father Jacques Hamel. Ten years ago today, he was cowardly murdered by two Islamist terrorists, targeted because he embodied the refusal of hatred, fraternity, and hope.
“To his loved ones, to his parishioners and all the residents of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, to the Catholics of France, I extend the Nation’s fraternal and steadfast salute.
"His memory compels us. It compels us to relentlessly defend the freedom of conscience that the Republic guarantees and protects. In the face of Islamist terrorism, France remains united. Faithful to what defines her. Resolute in yielding nothing to those who seek to divide us.”]]></content:encoded>
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