Newsfeed
How long must Christians wait before church bells ring in Saudi Arabia?
Author: Rami Dabbas
Publication Date: 6/6/2021
Source: Christian Today
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is distinguished by the fact that it is considered the destination of all Muslims globally, and a leader of the Islamic world.
It is not surprising, therefore, that church bells do not ring in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and that Christians - even foreign ones - cannot practise their religious rituals openly.
Pope invites Lebanese Christians to Vatican for peace prayer
Author: Nicole Winfield
Publication Date: 30/5/2021
Source: AP
Pope Francis has invited representatives of Lebanon’s Christian community to the Vatican on July 1 for a day of prayer and reflection “about the worrisome situation in the country.”
Iraqi Christians serve community with dialogue
Author: Gerald Butt
Publication Date: 4/6/2021
Source: Church Times
For those looking on at the carnage in Iraq over the past two decades, it is a wonder that the country has survived. Invasion and war led to high numbers of civilian deaths and injuries, mass population displacements, poverty, security collapse, and political chaos. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic. For the minority Christian community in Iraq, add to this list persecution in the wake of the 2014 Islamic State (IS) surge — and issues arising from proselytising by some church groups from abroad.
Christian couple in Iran win short reprieve from jail
Author: Sebastian Milbank
Publication Date: 18/6/2021
Source: The Tablet
A Christian couple in Iran have been given a 30-day reprieve from a jail sentence after being found guilty of leading an illegal house church.
Homayoun Zhaveh, who is 62 and suffers from Parkinson’s, and his wife Sara Ahmadi, 42 were sentenced in November 2020 to two and 11 years in imprisonment respectively.
A Moment of Fraternity: Recalling Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq
Author: Christopher Wells
Publication Date: 3/6/2021
Source: Vatican News
The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity hosted the webinar on “A Moment of Human Fraternity: The impact of Pope Francis’ historic Iraq visit” on Thursday.
The event brought together religious and civic leaders from throughout the Middle East to share their insights on the significance of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey to Iraq, and offer their thoughts on the next steps in rebuilding Iraq, and how the country can promote stabilization, reconciliation, and hope for a better future.
The new face of the Catholics of Morocco
Author: Remy Pigaglio
Publication Date: 15/6/2021
Source: Paudal
The Saint-Pierre cathedral in Rabat is still almost empty. In front, only a few benches are occupied by the twenty members of the choir. As every week, they meet shortly before Sunday mass, to rehearse. African melodies and rhythms rise. Like the Catholic Church of Morocco, the young choristers come from all over the continent.
Vatican summit a ‘source of hope’ for Lebanese Christians
Author: Inés San Martín
Publication Date: 3/6/2021
Source: CRUX
Catholic charities in Lebanon are applauding Pope Francis decision to invite the country’s Christian leaders to the Vatican on July 1 to pray for peace and stability in the country.
The Disappearing Plight of Syrian Christians
Author: Hollie McKay
Publication Date: 7/6/2021
Source: The National Interest
By illuminating the threat of the multitude of extremist, hardline terrorist outfits operating on Syrian soil, Bashar al-Assad portrays himself as something of the protector to the Christian community.
For more than a decade, Syria has been ripped apart by bullets and barrel bombs, division and destruction. While the endangerment of Christians from neighboring Iraq has garnered much international attention, little is said about its slow erasure in the neighboring Syrian cradle of civilization.
Francis invites Lebanon’s Christian leaders to Vatican to discuss country’s crisis
Author: Inés San Martín
Publication Date: 31/5/2021
Source: CRUX
On July 1st, Pope Francis will welcome the main Christian leaders of Lebanon to address what he described as the “worrying” crisis the country is going through.
Arab Christians in the Holy Land
Author: Nicholas Frankovich
Publication Date: 13/6/2021
Source: Commonweal Magazine
A conversation with David Neuhaus, SJ
