New Ethiopian Patriarch enthroned

PATRIARCH Abune Mathias, of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, was enthroned in Addis Ababa on Sunday. Translated from Jerusalem, he succeeds Patriarch Abune Paulos, who died last year (News, 26 August). The Patriarch, who is 71, has lived outside Ethiopia for more than 30 years. He first went into exile after a coup led by Colonel Mengistu in 1974.
 

Episcopal leaders call for tighter gun controls

LEADERS in the Episcopal Church in the United States have "committed themselves to challenging gun violence" in response to the shooting of 20 children and eight adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut, in December (News, 21/28 December). The President of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies, the Revd Gay Jennings, and the Vice-President, Byron Rushing, published a letter last week which said: "Since the day when 28 people died in Newtown, more than 2300 people in the United States have been killed by guns. . . We have not been galvanised as we should have been by the cries of their anguished families and friends. As we work to end gun violence now, we must repent of not having done it sooner." The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church passed a resolution last month which reaffirmed the General Convention's support for restrictions on gun ownership. The Bishop of Connecticut, Dr Ian Douglas, has invited clergy and laypeople in Connecticut to take part in a "Walk of Witness" on the Monday of Holy Week, in Washington, DC.
 

Brazilian bishop speaks about nightclub tragedy

THE Bishop of South-Western Brazil, the Rt Revd Francisco Silva, spoke at an ecumenical service at the Lutheran University of Brazil last week in Santa Maria, a month after 239 people died in a fire at a nightclub in the city. In a statement issued by the Anglican Communion Office on Sunday, Bishop Silva said: "The grief must turn into battle - a battle to ensure that public policy takes into account people's safety and care. The work directed towards overcoming this trauma must continue, so events like the [Santa Maria fire] never happen again." Bishop Silva said that his diocese was supporting a group which was helping the relatives of victims.