Church

A tragic shooting and bombing occurred at a church in Damascus during a crowded service, resulting in the loss of at least 25 lives, according to local authorities. This incident marks a significant escalation in violence within the Syrian capital, being the first of its kind since Islamist-led forces ousted the long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. Notably, it is also the first attack specifically targeting a church in Syria since the onset of the civil war in 2011, according to monitoring agencies. As the…

Refugee Policy and Faith Leaders' Responses Earlier this year, a significant policy emerged through an executive order that aims to prioritize Afrikaner descendants of Dutch settlers in South Africa for refugee status in the United States. This move has stirred various reactions across the globe, as it raises vital questions about the moral fabric of humanitarianism today. According to the U.S. State Department, the intent behind this initiative is to protect “communities at risk of race-based expropriation…

Sadly, the Vatican has confirmed the passing of Pope Francis, marking a poignant moment in history. As the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, he was 88 years old and had recently been recuperating from a severe case of double pneumonia. His death was unexpected, particularly following his vibrant appearance earlier this Easter Sunday, where he greeted enthusiastic crowds in St Peter's Square from the openness of his popemobile. Cardinal Kevin Farrell shared this heartbreaking news during a broadcast…

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, the Anglican Primate of Southern Africa, has issued a cautionary note suggesting that we may see an uptick in reports of misconduct involving church officials, especially following the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Welby's departure came on the heels of an investigation that unveiled his failure to report allegations of abuse perpetrated by John Smyth—a barrister, educator, and director of Christian camps—during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Smyth was a prominent figure…

A homemade bomb exploded early this morning in a church in Beni in northern Kivu, a province in the eastern DRC. Beni, a city regularly plagued by deadly raids attributed to the Ugandan rebels from the ADF. This attack left at least two injured and has not been claimed. An investigation has been initiated. At 6 o'clock this…

The Benin priests are worried about the many arrests and climate of fear that prevails in Benin. The Bishops' Conference in Benin is expressed at the end of an ordinary session held from 18 to 20 May 2021, but especially before the investment of Patrice Talon, re-elected on 15 April with almost 87% of the vote. as reported from…

About a hundred deputies, mostly from Joseph Kabila's political family, criticize the new government, which they consider representative. They would have liked to be better rewarded after participating in the dismissal of the former Office of the National Assembly and the confiscation of the former Prime Minister. They call their movement the Collective of Revolutionaries of the Sacred Union and hope…

After the Catholic bishops, the Protestants raise their voices against any postponement of the 2023 election. The Church of Christ of the Congo (ECC), the second largest religious denomination in the country, was unveiled on Saturday, March 27 in Kinshasa, its roadmap in the presence of elected officials and civil society activists . For Protestants, it is a real race against time that must begin now to hold elections in time. as reported from Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa Time passes and the tone of the Protestant…

While in June 2020 they insisted that election reforms preceded the election of the leaders of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) and not the other way around, religious denominations have changed. They began the process of appointing a replacement for Corneille Nangaa, president of Ceni. Candidates start submitting their files.…

In Côte d'Ivoire, the Bishops' Conference is outraged and condemns all violence "from all political camps". In Côte d'Ivoire, the Bishops' Conference calls on political leaders to continue the dialogue. The Catholic bishops, who condemn all violence "from all political camps", want "an independent commission of inquiry" because "the authors of these crimes must be sought so that they are accountable for their actions in the face of impartial justice". "We encourage the two main leaders in the current political life of…