FCO reports more rights violations in Iran

CHRISTIANS and other religious minorities continued to face restrictions on their faith, and violations of human rights were still common in Iran last year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual report on human rights, published last week, says. Eleven Christians, including two pastors, were sentenced, during last month alone, to ten years or more in prison. Lord Alton said this week that the cases illustrated how the legal system in Iran was “manipulated to stifle religious and political beliefs that contradict those of the ruling elite”.

Suspension order drafted for Bishop Bruno

THE ecclesiastical disciplinary panel of the Episcopal Church in the United States has drafted an order, not officially released, recommending that the Bishop of Los Angeles, the Rt Revd J. Jon Bruno, be suspended from minis­try for three years for “unbecoming” conduct. It concluded that he had attempted to sell St James the Great, Newport Beach, without the diocesan standing committee’s consent. The draft order also recommends that the congregation be restored to the church. Comments from the Presiding Bishop and the complainants were requested by Wednesday. On release of the final order, the Church’s Disciplinary Board for Bishops has 20 days to give sentence. The complaint against the Bishop followed an unsuccessful attempt $15-million sale to a developer in 2015 (News, 7 April).