Pope attacks current of ‘aggressive secularism’ in Britain

Pope Benedict XVI has begun his four-day visit to Britain with a warning against “aggressive forms of secularism” that are failing to tolerate traditional values.

Addressing the Queen and other leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Deputy Prime Minister, the Pope spoke of the "Nazi tryanny that wished to eradicate God from society and denied our common humanity to many, especially the Jews".

He said: "As we reflect on the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the twentieth century, let us never forget, how the exclusion of God, religion and virtue from public life leads ultimately to a truncated vision of man and of society and thus to a 'reductive vision of the person and his destiny'.".

Pope Benedict XVI rides in the Popemobile down Edinburgh's Princes Street on the first day of his four day visit to the United Kingdom

Sarah Kelly sings of emotions, struggles and hopes in new album

Midnight Sun is the latest project from Christian music favourite Sarah Kelly.

The album became something of a collaboration among friends for the two-time Grammy nominee. Kelly enlisted several trusted friends to co-write several of the songs, including her worship leader husband Jonas Ekman, Jeremy Hunter (Taylor Swift, Jonny Lang), and Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay).

Justin Knox (Colbie Caillat), Hunter and Dane came in to share the production credits, and Steve Mason from Jars of Clay even signed on to play on four of the album’s more rock-based songs.

Bollywood producers announce new movie on Jesus Christ

The Indian film industry is to shoot a movie on the life of Jesus Christ for the first time.

Produced by Aditya Productions, the movie is believed to be India's highest budget movie at an estimated cost of $30 million.

Shooting will begin in the Holy Land in October under the direction of veteran Bollywood film-maker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao.

The film will depict the story of Jesus Christ from his birth until his death and resurrection and will be released in English and three Indian languages in 2011.

US tells Egypt to bring Christmas Eve killers to justice

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has called on Egypt’s government to resume the trial of three men charged with the murder of seven people in a small southern Egypt town on Christmas Eve.

Since February, court proceedings have been postponed numerous times, and USCIRF is pressing the government to ensure that Saturday’s scheduled trial go on as planned.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” remarked USCIRF chair Leonard Leo, whose agency makes policy recommendations to the US President, Secretary of State, and Congress with respect to matters involving international religious freedom.

“Is it possible for Coptic Orthodox Christians to get justice in the Egyptian court system?” he asked.

On January 6, as Coptic Christians prepared to observe Christmas Day, gunmen travelling in a car opened fire in a shopping district in the town of Nagaa Hammadi and later in front of the southern Egyptian town’s main church as worshippers emerged from midnight mass.

India's president under pressure to protect Christians

India’s president is being pressed to protect Christians in the country’s northern Kashmir region after a mob burned down the oldest school there and also attacked other Christian institutions nearby.

“I am pained to state that though the local authorities were informed about a possible attack … no protection was provided,” stated the Rt Rev Pradeep Kumar Samantaroy in a message to President Pratibha Patil.

“You are aware that the Christians in the State of Jammu and Kashmir are a tiny minority who always live and serve under stressful and sometimes threatening situations,” the Church of North India bishop added Wednesday. “The present situation has made the Christians in Jammu and Kashmir feel very insecure.”

Muslims shout slogans as they burn a placard bearing the name of US President Barack Obama in Jammu, India, on Tuesday in protest of the reported desecration of Korans in the US.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu appeals to world to give generously to Pakistan

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other leaders are calling on the world to give “more quickly and generously” to help millions of people affected by floods in Pakistan.

The Elders, a group of distinguished independent leaders, warned that the situation in Pakistan was deteriorating rapidly and that little aid was reaching many of those affected.

Some 3.5 million people are now at risk of water-borne illness such as hepatitis and diarrhoea. The Elders said the scale of the flooding was “disastrous” and that its long-term impact would be felt by around 20 million people.

 Archbishop Desmond Tutu

A Pakistani man carries relief goods in flood hit Muzaffargarh district, Punjab province, Pakistan, Thursday, August 19, 2010.

Christians seek Pakistan debt cancellation

group of South Asian Christians in Britain is pressing for the cancellation of Pakistan’s international debts as the recovery from this summer’s devastating floods looks set to run into years.

The South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance warns that life-saving relief efforts for some 20 million flood victims could be jeopardised if the Pakistani government is forced to send almost a third of its annual budget revenues to foreign creditors.

Pakistani families displaced by flood live in a camp setup for displaced people in Thatta, Pakistan on Thursday Sept. 16, 2010

Steven Curtis Chapman’s latest album soars up iTunes charts

Grammy Award-winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman' new project, 'Safe In The Arms'
was only released this week but has already garnered the No 2 spot on the iTunesChristian & Gospel Albums Chart.

Available only in digital formats, Safe In The Arms features a never before released song, "Close To Your Heart" featuring worship artist Matt Redman and a special new acoustic recording of "Beauty Will Rise", the title track off his last studio album that released last year.

In addition, Chapman opens up in a in-depth interview about Beauty Will Rise, his most personal album to date.

Christians launch anti-slavery initiative

A new Christian anti-slavery initiative has been launched by a handful of people who feel strongly about the suffering of those entrapped in slavery.

The Christian Anti-Slavery Today (CAST) has been launched to raise awareness of contemporary slavery and effectively combat it within a Christian context.

"Many people do not understand the shocking reality of slavery today," explained spokeswoman Bisi Omiteru.

"Therefore education remains a primary objective. CAST is providing free resources for different age groups to heighten awareness."

There are an estimated 12 million people enslaved worldwide, affecting every every continent. Many, including children, are forcibly trafficked and abused in Britain today.

Pope expresses ‘sorrow and shame’ over child abuse

The Pope apologised again for the Catholic Church’s handling of child abuse in a meeting with victims yesterday.

The Pope spent 40 minutes yesterday with five people who had been abused by Catholic priests as children.

The Pope spoke of his “sorrow and shame” suffered by victims and prayed with them.

A spokesperson for the Pope said: “He was moved by what they had to say and expressed his deep sorrow and shame over what victims and their families had suffered.

“As he has done on other occasions, he prayed that all the victims of abuse might experience healing and reconciliation, and be able to overcome their past and present distress with serenity and hope for the future.”

Christian human rights group urges Indonesia to protect religious freedom

Christian Solidarity Worldwide has called upon the Indonesian Government to safeguard religious freedom and pluralism in the wake of attacks on Christians and Ahmadiyya Muslims in the country.

The Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace says that at least 30 attacks on churches have been reported so far this year, with extremist Islamist groups targetting churches in West Java in particular.

In one attack earlier this month, an elder of the Batak Christian Protestant Church in Bekasi was seriously injured when he was stabbed in the heart and stomach while on his way to a service. In another incident, a pastor was beaten with a wooden block.

New figures reveal changing shape of Methodist Church

New figures from the Methodist Church have revealed the diverse nature of its congregations today.

This year’s Statistics Mission Report is the first to include data on language, ethnicity, Fresh Expressions and the number of churchgoers engaged in children and youth ministry.

According to the report, there are at least 89 Methodist congregations in Britain running worship or fellowships in a non-English language. Just some of the language groups are Hindi, Mandarin, Farsi, French and Zimbabwean.

Walworth Methodist Church in London is typical of the many multi-ethnic congregations that exist throughout Britain. It operates four fellowships and services for Christians from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, with parts of the services taking place in the mother tongue.

The Methodist Church said 89 of its congregations are holding fellowships or worship in languages other than English

Bishop Eddie Long to Address Sex Abuse Claims

Bishop Eddie Long, the prominent Atlanta pastor accused of sexually abusing three former members of his congregation, said he will wait until Sunday services to speak publicly about the charges against him.

The news comes one day after the 57-year-old pastor "categorically" denied claims that he coerced two men - 20-year-old Maurice Robinson and 21-year-old Anthony Flagg - into a sexual relationship when they were teenagers

"Bishop Eddie Long adamantly denies the allegations," Long's attorney Craig Gillenand said in a statement Wednesday. "It's unfortunate the two young men have chosen to take this course of action."

The two filed separate civil lawsuits Wednesday saying Long showered them with cars, clothes, jewelry, and electronics, took them on trips in private jets, and put them up in luxury hotels.

Holocaust Survivors Helped by Christian Charity

Sixty-five years after the end of World War II, Holocaust survivors have grown older and their numbers are dwindling.

For many, their last days are lonely. But now a Christian charity - sponsored project is helping some Holocaust survivors in Israel live their last days in dignity.

Bayit Hahm, which means "a warm home" in English, is unique because it's the only place in Israel where Holocaust survivors can live for free.

"They receive medical treatment, meals," said Shimon Sabag, director of charitable group Yad Ezer L'Haver. "There are also games and drama. They have a painting club, a crafts club -- really life from A to Z -- I think for them it's really a kingdom."

More than 200,000 Holocaust survivors reside in Israel and about one-third of them live in poverty.

United Methodists Start to See Uptick in Young Clergy

The United Methodist Church has begun to see an increase in the number of young clergy after decades of decline, a new report reveals.

There are now more young local pastors than at any time in recent history, according to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Up from 3.4 percent in 1985, local pastors under the age of 35 now make up 5.8 percent of all 7,341 UMC clergy, including part-time pastors.

At the same time, however, the median age of local pastors is still 55.

CrossRoads United Methodist Church in Phoenix is seen here in a Feb. 13, 2010 photo.