Christian women face appalling levels of religiously motivated sexual assault and forced marriages in countries known to be hostile to the faith, Open Doors International reports in a new study on gender-specific religious persecution. Physical and psychological violence are next…
In defense of travel
If you’re still thinking about a quickie vacation trip to Europe this summer, don’t. The COVID pandemic seems to be over (we hope), so tourists catching up on pleasure travel have descended upon the usual spots in their millions. Coastal…
Your world is too small
Baptist leaders urge caution as U.S. considers military strike in Syria crisis
(ABP) — Baptist leaders in Europe and the United States urged caution amid rising support for military intervention in Syria over what the U.S., France and Great Britain say is clear evidence that President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have used banned…
Christians in Middle East say U.S. attack on Syria would be detrimental
NEW YORK (RNS) — As the Obama administration considers a strike in response to recent chemical attacks, the head of a global evangelical group said Sept. 4 that Christians in the Middle East oppose military intervention in Syria. “There is…
Egyptian Baptist pastor warns against entanglement of religion and politics
(ABP) — In a letter describing the Islamist persecution of Christians in Egypt, a Baptist minister in Cairo provides a disturbing warning against the entanglement of religion and politics. And portions of the letter, two U.S. church scholars say, are…
British government asks church to take over thousands of state schools
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) — Leading secularists are calling on nonreligious parents to fight a government effort that would allow the Church of England to run thousands of state schools. The schools, or academies, would be privately funded, quasi-independent and accountable…
Upton to represent BWA at papal inauguration, as Italian Baptist leader offers prayer for new pope
RICHMOND — Baptist World Alliance president John Upton will represent the global organization and its 42 million Baptists at the March 19 inauguration of Pope Francis, the BWA has announced. “The BWA celebrates with the Catholic Church the announcement of…
ANALYSIS: White smoke, black pope? The odds against an ‘Obama moment’
(RNS) — Will the conclave electing a new pope next month have an “Obama moment” and pick someone from Africa or Latin America or Asia for the first time in modern history? The public seems enamored of the idea of…