Australia sees fall in number of Christians; Indian churches in Kerala explore “green” options; Landmark Christian-Muslim Peace Summit opens in Beirut; USPG and the Anglican Church tackle HIV stigma in Zimbabwe; Uganda continues to move against gay rights; Faith groups criticize outcome of climate summit
Australia sees fall in number of Christians
A national census has revealed that while most Australians profess Christianity as a belief the religion as a whole in the country has been on a steady decline while the number adherents of Eastern faiths like Buddhism and Hinduism has grown
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/australia.sees.fall.in.number.of.christians/30121.htm
Indian churches in Kerala explore “green” options
Christians in India’s southern Kerala state are exploring “green” plans and linking the need for environmental protection to the practice of their faith.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/6/21/Indian-churches-in-Kerala-explore-green-options
Landmark Christian-Muslim Peace Summit opens in Beirut
The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, a former Episcopal bishop of Washington and four Iranian Shi’ite Muslims, two holding the rank of ayatollah, are among the religious leaders who’ve traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, for the second Christian-Muslim peace summit organized by Washington National Cathedral.
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/6/20/ACNS5125
USPG and the Anglican Church tackle HIV stigma in Zimbabwe
A new initiative, aimed at challenging HIV-related stigma, has been launched in Harare.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/6/20/USPG-and-the-Anglican-Church-tackle-HIV-stigma-in-Zimbabwe
Uganda continues to move against gay rights
Reuters – Uganda said on Wednesday it was banning 38 non-governmental organizations it accuses of promoting homosexuality and recruiting children. Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda, along with more than 30 other countries in Africa, and activists say few Africans are openly gay, fearing imprisonment, violence and losing their jobs.
Ethics Minister Simon Lokodo told Reuters the organizations being targeted were receiving support from abroad for Uganda’s homosexuals and accused gays and lesbians of “recruiting” young children in the country into homosexuality.
“The NGOs are channels through which monies are channeled to (homosexuals) to recruit,” the minister, a former Catholic priest, said.
He did not name which organizations were on the list.
A bill calling for harsh penalties against homosexuals and outlawing the “promotion” of homosexuality, including providing financial support to gays and lesbians, is pending in the east African country’s parliament.
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/africa/uganda_continues_to_move_again_1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+episcopalcafe+%28Episcopal+Cafe%29