USA, Malawi, Netherlands, Sudan
The National Council of Churches in USA has joined the Coptic Orthodox Church in North America in a three-day period of prayer and fasting “to seek God’s presence” amid the upheaval in Egypt.
The European Union could not agree on a statement denouncing the persecution of religious minorities after Italy objected to the omission of references to protecting Christians
George W. Bush’s daughter came out in favour of gay marriage.
Marriage and church attendance among US high school graduates has dropped significantly since the 1970s, according to a report from the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project.
The Malawi Council of Churches is seeking to mediate a political dispute between President Bingu wa Mutharika and Vice President Joyce Banda, who in December was expelled from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – writes Frank Jomo.
“What is happening now is that we need to understand what the issues are since we are just talking from a distance. The process is long, but after that process, it is when we will try to talk to both parties. We want to find a way of bringing them together,” MCC chair Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe told the Nation newspaper.
The U.S. Senate condemned the deadly attack on a Coptic Christian church on New Year’s Day in Egypt.
Jewish groups in the Netherlands called for swifter punishment for Holocaust deniers as lawmakers debate how to combat rising anti-Semitism.
South Sudan must not be saddled with debt, says NGO. New figures show that up to 90 per cent of Sudanese debt owed to the UK is made up of interest. The Jubilee Debt Campaign (JDC) revealed the figures. (31 January). The news comes shortly after the results of southern Sudan’s referendum. Over 98 per cent of southern Sudanese voters declared support for independence from the north.