Pilgrims mark 80 years since destruction of Hiroshima
ROMAN CATHOLIC bishops have taken part in a five-day pilgrimage to Japan, organised by the Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons. Bishops from Japan, South Korea, and the United States spoke at a panel discussion at the World Peace Memorial Cathedral, in Hiroshima, on Tuesday, Atomic-bomb survivors, known as “hibakusha”, also joined in the discussions.
Tearfund appoints new chief executive
THE Christian international development charity Tearfund has appointed Silas Balraj as its chief executive, to succeeding Nigel Harris, who served for nearly ten years (News, 20 June), in September. Over the past two decades, Mr Balraj has held several senior positions at Compassion International, another Christian charity. The charity’s Chief Operating Officer, Tim Pilkington, will be interim chief executive in the mean time.
Intervention needed, says South Sudanese bishop
THE Bishop of Kajo-Keji, the Rt Revd James Lule, in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, has appealed for humanitarian intervention after people have been killed and displaced as a result of border clashes between South Sudanese and Ugandan soldiers. Surprise attacks took place at the border in the Nyaingamuda area on Monday of last week. The Bishop has urged a “peaceful resolution”.
Your case is strong, New Jersey church is advised
A LEGAL expert has suggested that an Episcopal church in New Jersey, Christ Church, Toms River, has a strong case for maintaining ownership of its 11-acre plot, the Episcopal News Service (ENS) reports. The town council hope to buy the church’s land (News 30 May), or appropriate it through “eminent domain” (in effect, a form of compulsory purchase), to transform it into a recreational centre and community park. A law professor at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, Ilya Somin told ENS that the town’s proposal is “clearly an abusive use of eminent domain,” but said that the courts would decide whether such a move would be deemed illegal. No lawsuits have been filed yet.