Church leaders recall 1925 Stockholm Conference
THE centenary of the inter-denominational Universal Christian Conference on Life and Work, convened by Archbishop Nathan Söderblom in Stockholm, an early landmark in the ecumenical movement, was commemorated in the primatial cathedral in Uppsala, Sweden, last weekend. Church leaders present at the service, on the theme “Time for God’s Peace”, included the Archbishop of York and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who led the recitation of the Nicene Creed in Greek. The present Archbishop of Uppsala, Dr Martin Modéus, presided.
Sistine Chapel to assess ‘overtourism’ impact
AS MILLIONS of pilgrims visit Rome in this Jubilee Year for papal events and the holy sites, the Vatican has announced that it will examine Michelangelo’s 1541 Last Judgement fresco in the Sistine Chapel for signs of damage from human breath, dust, and humidity. The three-month “check-up” will take place from next January and conclude before Holy Week.
Texan judge steps in over Ten Commandments
A FEDERAL judge in Texas has stalled a new law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom in state schools. He described the legislation, planned to take effect from September and contested by 11 schools, as “exclusionary of other faiths” and in violation of the First Amendment.
Former Archbishop of Kootenay dies
THE Anglican Church of Canada has announced the death, on 17 August, of the Most Revd David Crawley, former Metropolitan Archbishop of Kootenay (1990-2004) and Metropolitan of British Columbia and Yukon (1994-2004). He was 88. As the Rector of St Paul’s, Vancouver, during the 1980s, he was described as having been instrumental in providing good pastoral care for AIDS patients there.
New York food fund for Gaza progresses
THE “One Day’s Food for Gaza” campaign launched by the diocese of New York has raised $50,000 since the end of July, the Episcopal News Service reports. World Central Kitchen, its designated humanitarian partner, says that the amount is enough to provide 100,000 meals. Of the funds, $28,000 came in during the first 24 hours of the campaign, the Bishop of New York, the Rt Revd Matthew Heyd, said.
Nigerian orphans gradually released
HALF the group of children seized from the Du Merci orphanages in Kano and Kaduna, Nigeria, in 2019 remain in government custody. Eight have been released back to the Tarfa family, which has adopted them. In total, 27 children, understood to be Christians, were taken by police over trafficking concerns (News, 15 August). During their time in other orphanages, it was reported, some of the children’s names had been changed, and that they were made to study Arabic, read the Qur’an, and attend the mosque. The Kano State High Court ordered the formal return of all of the children to the Tarfas by March this year.
Bolivian election candidates urged to address HIV
PRESIDENTIAL candidates in Bolivia are under pressure to offer robust proposals to address rising HIV infections. The World Council of Churches has released a statement with partner organisations which asks why Bolivia spends only 6.3 per cent of its GDP on health, “one of the lowest in South America”. The appeal comes as the country struggles to balance its budget and formulate a strategy on infectious diseases in time for 2027, when the government must take on full responsibility for spending previously covered by international aid. In the first round of elections on Sunday, the anti-austerity centrist Rodrigo Paz attracted a large share of the vote, but not enough to be elected. He will now face the former President and runner-up, Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, in the next round in October.