Diocese of Peshawar sets up relief camp
THE diocese of Peshawar is appealing for funds to run a new
relief camp for Christians displaced by the conflict between the
Pakistani Army and the Taliban. On 15 June, the government launched
a full-scale assault on Islamist insurgents in North Waziristan,
after a deadly attack on Karachi airport, claimed by the Taliban.
The diocese has set up a camp in Pannell High School, Bannu, for
Christians fleeing the violence.
New archbishop for ACNA
THE Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) has elected as its
next Archbishop the current Bishop of the diocese of the South, the
Rt Revd Foley Beach. He was selected in a secret vote by the
Church's House of Bishops on Sunday. He served as a priest in the
diocese of Atlanta in the Episcopal Church of the United States
before leaving the Episcopal Church after the consecration of the
Rt Revd Gene Robinson, who was in a non-celibate gay partnership,
as Bishop of New Hampshire.
Malaysian Christians ordered not to say
'Allah'
A COURT in Malaysia has ruled that Christians and other
non-Muslims cannot use the word "Allah", upholding a government ban
established five years ago. The Federal Court in Putrajaya rejected
an appeal by the Roman Catholic Church on Monday. The word "Allah"
is often used by Christians speaking Malaysian to refer to God. The
controversy began in 2007 when the government threatened to revoke
the publishing licence of the RC newspaper The Herald for
using 'Allah'. Hundreds of Malaysian Bibles were seized by the
authorities earlier this year because they used the word.
Trade union stands in solidarity with Burmese
monks
UNITE, Britain's largest trade union, is calling for the Burmese
authorities to drop "baseless" charges against a London-based
Buddhist monk, and his colleague. The Ven. U Uttara, the Buddhist
chaplain at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, and another monk, U
Panasara, were bailed in Rangoon last week, on charges of religious
defamation of the law and "malicious insulting religious belief".
If convicted, they face two years in prison. Mr Uttara was on a
career break in Burma at the request of Aung Sang Suu Kyi. He was
looking after a monastery that the Burmese government claims
belongs to government-backed monks.
Churches publish peace plan for Korean
countries
MORE visits between churches in North and South Korea are part
of a plan for peace on the Korean peninsula, published by church
leaders from 34 countries, including the two nations, on Thursday
last week. The International Consultation on Justice, Peace and
Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula was sponsored by the World
Council of Churches.