“Archbishop is 'intolerant and out of touch' on same-sex marriage”

Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu is being heavily criticised for opposing government plans to legalise same-sex civil marriage.

The stigma of rape in Congo

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, many victims of rape are still treated as the criminals

NYC Cathedral builds new tower for revenue

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City is preparing to lease a part of its property to a developer.

CIYD Youth Leader weekend

The Church of Ireland Youth department runs ‘Connect,’ a programme which aims to support and train those in youth and children’s work.

Smartphones exposing children to pornography and violence

One-in-five admit to viewing inappropriate material

Anglican Women at the UN

There's no excuse not to know about the Anglican women's delegation at this year's UN Commission on the Status of Women at which the MU is represented.

Choral Evensong on BBC3 today from St Paul’s

Live from St Paul's Cathedral on the Eve of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple  - BBC Radio3 at  4 pm  

Living Worship 2012: Jonathan Rea

Living Worship looks at aspects of church music in a wider context than simply playing the organ or singing in a choir.

Publication: Moving Forward Together: Homosexuality and the Church of Ireland

This book published by Changing Attitude Ireland is now available at the following booksellers

Reparative therapy – “Exclude me out”

I cannot travel with Lord Carey, Bishops Michael Nasser Ali, and Wallace Benn who feel that gay people can change their sexual orientation through a form of therapy which the British professional body for counselling rejects.

Bishop Wallace Benn – the confusion continues

The saga of Bishop Wallace Benn and the pro-rape booklet by Stephen Green  goes on and on. Having first withdrawn his endorsement of the booklet, then apologised, he has now offered what appears to be an attempt at an explanation.

Archbishop of Wales requests help for Iranian dissidents in Iraq

Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan, has made a direct appeal to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to prevent the killing of thousands of Iranian dissidents in Iraq.

WCC asks Nigerian president to support Christian/Muslim peace

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit expressed deep sadness over the current wave of violence in Nigeria, calling on the churches to pray for the victims, and asking Nigerian president to support solidarity efforts for peace by both Christians and Muslims in the country.

New Zealand Quake memorial on Feb 22

A civic memorial service will be held to mark the one-year anniversary of the February earthquake, it has been announced.

Profile: Colm Carey

Irish-born concert organist who studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at the Conservatoire de Musique de Geneve. He has won a number of prestigious awards and has gained an international reputation.

The Loft Sessions

Intimate worship from Bethel Music

Christians split over 'therapy' to 'heal' gay and bisexual people

Christians, humanists and others have criticised attempts by a number of Christian groups to promote "therapy" aimed at "healing" people of an attraction to members of their own sex.

Lord Carey backs Christian psychotherapist in 'gay conversion' row

Three C o E bishops including the former Archbishop of Canterbury have sparked controversy by championing a psychotherapist who believes gay men can be 'cured' of their homosexuality.

Life in Europe: ‘Euthanasia must always be prohibited’

On January 25, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a non-binding resolution stating: “Euthanasia, in the sense of the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit, must always be prohibited.”

French Protestants put spotlight on chaplaincy, amid tensions

In a bid to reduce tensions with other religious groups and to highlight challenges, the Protestant Federation of France has turned the spotlight on chaplaincy this year.

Ecumenical group cites increased attacks against Palestinian villages

The homes at the edge of this Palestinian village are located a few hundred meters from houses in the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar. But the relationship is anything but neighborly.

The Bible as a place of sacramental encounter

The use of the Bible in support of a particular point of view is a challenge to scholarship and integrity.

Anniversary of activist's death, Mbeki speaks out

This week marked the one-year anniversary of the day David Kato, a gay activist in Uganda, was beaten to death in his neighbourhood with a hammer after his photo appeared in a local paper under the headline "Hang Them."

UN agency honours Tutu as champion against hunger

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Jan. 26 is honoring Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, for his efforts in the battle against hunger and his advocacy on behalf of the world’s most vulnerable people.

NZ Mission Worker Dies on Fiji Project

A Wellington man has died in Fiji while working on a mission project.

WCC asks Nigerian president to support Christian/Muslim peace

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit expressed deep sadness over the current wave of violence in Nigeria, calling on the churches to pray for the victims, and asking Nigerian president to support solidarity efforts for peace by both Christians and Muslims in the country.

Services this week

Eco-congregation broadcast, St Brigid’s  Day commemorations, Candlemas

School Choir’s poignant tribute to music teacher

ThE festive season saw the choirs of Carrickfergus Grammar School busy with performances for the community in North Street Presbyterian Church, in Saint Anne’s Cathedral for Action Cancer (raising £600) and the annual school carol service in Carrickfergus Congregational Church.

More important things for C of I to do

A lesbian couple in the US have told the Church of Ireland that there are more important issues it should be concerned about than same-sex relationships.

USA: Anglican hospitality for Irish-American RC gays

The legalization of gay marriage in New York last June reignited the age-old struggle between faith and sexuality in the Catholic community.