Faith groups and United Nations condemn massacre in Syria; Anglican Church of Canada considers what a “No” to the Anglican Covenant means; Pope denounces media over leaks; Brazil approves same sex civil unions; Religious leaders in three countries rally to eradicate polio
Faith groups and United Nations condemn massacre in Syria
ENI – The World Council of Churches joined the international community in condemning the massacre of at least 108 people, including 49 children, on 25 May in the villages of Taldou and Kall Laha in the El Houleh area of Syria.
”I express my deep pain over the massacre of innocent people and especially children,” said Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary, in a statement. “We, as churches, cannot but condemn this inhumane act and manifest our feelings of solidarity with the families of the victims, mourning their beloved ones.”
Tveit also called on the “international community to fully support the U.N.’s efforts to bring peace and to put an end to the cycle of violence.”
http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5694
Anglican Church of Canada considers what a “No” to the Anglican Covenant means
Anglican Journal – The Anglican Church of Canada needs more clarity around what the “relational consequences” would be for not adopting the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant.
This is one of the key messages that Council of General Synod (CoGS) members said the church must convey when the 15th Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meets in New Zealand Oct. 27-Nov. 7.
All member provinces of the Communion have been asked to report on progress made in response to the covenant, which has been recommended as a way of healing divisions triggered by debates over the issue of sexuality.
At their spring meeting May 24 to May 27, CoGS members were asked to weigh in on what the report should contain. Bishops were asked for input at their spring meeting, noted Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Emerging from small group discussions, some CoGs members said there’s a lot of uncertainty around what happens when a province decides to adopt or not adopt the covenant. Critics of the covenant have long warned that adopting it could result in a two-tier Communion.
Although a comprehensive study guide on the covenant was prepared and recommended for Canadian Anglicans, “there’s not much interest in discussing it,” reported members of one CoGS discussion group. “We’re not sure why,” they added.
The House of Bishops would like to include a message that the church wants to continue being engaged in the life of the Communion, regardless of whether or not there’s a covenant. There are a variety of ways to do this, noted Hiltz, including companion relationships with overseas dioceses and taking part in the continuing indaba (purposeful dialogue) process.
http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/other/news-items/c/sliders/article/what-would-happen-if-we-say-no-to-communion-covenant-10845//abp/141.html
Pope denounces media over leaks
BBC – Pope Benedict XVI breaks his silence on the Vatican leaks scandal, criticising “exaggerated” reporting of the Holy See.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18261921
Brazil approves same sex civil unions
Christian Today – Brazil has become the latest country to pave the way for samesex marriage after it approved a measure changing the legal definition of a civil union to simply be between two people without making it exclusive to a man and a woman
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/brazil.approves.samesex.civil.unions/29936.htm
Religious leaders in three countries rally to eradicate polio
ENI – Health ministers and officials from Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan said here on 24 May that support from Islamic leaders is helping efforts to eradicate polio.
http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5688