US evangelical speaker Philip Yancey retires after admitting eight year affair
US evangelical author and speaker Philip Yancey, has admitted to an eight year affair with a married woman, and is retiring from public ministry. Christianity Today, where Yancey had been a columnist and contributor for decades, reported the news of his retirement. Aged 76, and married for 55 years, he said: “My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage. It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families.” His books, including What’s So Amazing About Grace?, have sold more than 15 million copies. Diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2022, he often wrote about faith in the face of pain and suffering. In his letter to Christianity Today, he said he was in counselling to deal with the damage caused from the affair: “I need to spend my remaining years living up to the words I have already written. I pray for God’s grace and forgiveness — as well as yours — and for healing in the lives of those I’ve wounded”. RNS story here
One in five Britons regularly feel ‘deeply thankful’ to be alive
Research into public views on thankfulness, awe and wonder, has found that 27 per cent of Britons feel “suddenly and deeply thankful to be alive” on a weekly basis or more – while one in seven never feel this way. Younger people and those who belong to a religion are notably more likely to say they feel a profound sense of wonder at the universe at least weekly. The research, by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, published on Christmas Eve, suggests that while religious belief increases people’s likelihood of feeling thankful, a clear majority of non-religious people also have felt deeply thankful. 59 per cent of the public do not think belief in God or a Higher Power is essential for people to feel thankful for life or existence. Dr King-Ho Leung, Lecturer in Theology, Philosophy and the Arts at King’s College London, said it raises the question: “If there is no God or creator, to whom is one thankful?”. He concludes: “This study shows that thankfulness for life or what we may call ‘existential gratitude’ is a widespread human disposition and experience shared by the religious and non-religious alike. The findings call for further investigations into the nature of such existential gratitude and how this experience may relate to both religious and non-religious ways of understanding human life and meaning-making.” The survey was carried out by Opinium among 2,050 UK adults in October 2025. The survey is here. Press release here
Marco Rubio speaks to Vatican’s Cardinal Parolin about Venezuela
The US State Department has announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken to the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, about the situation in Venezuela. A statement says: “The two leaders discussed pressing challenges, including efforts to improve the humanitarian situation, particularly in Venezuela, as well as the promotion of peace and religious freedom globally. Secretary Rubio and Cardinal Parolin reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation between the United States and the Holy See in addressing shared priorities around the world.” The Catholic News Agency explains that Cardinal Parolin served as apostolic nuncio to Venezuela from 2009 to 2013. It’s estimated that more than 70 per cent of the Venezuela population is Catholic.
Cardinals urge Pope Leo to focus on mission and synodality
The world’s 170 cardinals, meeting in Rome for a consistory meeting at the request of the Pope, have chosen to discuss the issues of a missionary and synodal church, where all are engaged in decision making and spreading the faith. These topics were among four possible agenda items, but they decided not to discuss liturgy or Vatican reform. Their discussions are intended to guide the direction of the church and Pope Leo for the next few years, and he has said this is an opportunity to launch his pontificate. The cardinals’ meeting began after the Wednesday weekly general audience, when the Pope said he would devote his weekly teaching to a reading of key Vatican II documents, which proposed reforms to modernise the church, and he called for their full implementation. Crux Now report here
Rector of Glasgow University denies antisemitism charges
The Rector of the University of Glasgow, Dr Ghassan Abu-Sitta, is appearing before a fitness to practice panel at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal, facing accusations of antisemitism and supporting Hamas in two social media posts in 2023 and a newspaper article from 2018. Dr Abu-Sitta, a Palestinian and plastic surgeon who trained in Glasgow, denies the charges. The Daily Record reports that he said he had been racially profiled as “inherently violent” because he is a Palestinian and Arab and blamed a Jewish group for trying to “destroy” his life. A lawyer for the General Medical Council said Dr Abu-Sitta had “overstepped the boundary of legitimate political speech and into the realms of misconduct.” The hearing continues
Islamic state group admits killing 15 Christians in Nigeria
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has admitted killing 15 Christians in several attacks in Adamawa State, north-eastern Nigeria, at the end of December. In a statement on social media, it admitted killing 11 “hostile” Christians, who were shot dead in the village of Mondago, where a church was burned down and 100 properties were destroyed. It also admitted killing a further four Christians in the village of Timboa, where 50 houses were destroyed. Its statements were re-posted by security analyst Philip Brant. In a subsequent social media entry, reported by the Lagos based The Daily Post, ISWAP said that it would continue to target Christians, and that they could only “spare their blood” by converting to Islam or paying the jizya tax as dhimmi (subjugated people). The move against Christian villagers is seen as retaliation for recent joint airstrikes by the Nigerian and United States military against a terrorist enclave in Sokoto, Nigeria.
Sandford St Martin Award entries due in this month
The Sandford St Martin Awards for programmes exploring religion, belief, ethics or spirituality, are open now for entries. This year there are four categories: Journalism, Radio / Audio, Television / Video and Young Audience. The organisers say the awards celebrate broadcasting about belief and ethics: “We’re looking for powerful audio or video content which explores faith, identity and meaning and promotes a deeper understanding across communities, whether religious or not”. Entries must have been first publicly broadcast to a UK audience during 2025 and have been made by a UK or Republic of Ireland based broadcasting organisation. The deadline is 30 January 2026 and further details are here
Orthodox Christmas Day celebrated around the world
Orthodox Christians in Britain gathered to celebrate their Christmas day at the Serbian Lazarica Church in Bournville, Birmingham, built for political refugees from Yugoslavia after World War Two. A report by Ed Chatterton in the Express and Star explains that Serbs became associated with Bourneville after Dame Elizabeth Cadbury sponsored thirteen Serbian refugee children following World War One. The report says: “The Cadbury family offered the land to the late Fr Milenko Zebić and the church was constructed in 1968 with the help of the Bournville Village Trust. It is dedicated to the Holy Prince Lazar of Kosovo, whose relics are said to lie in the church foundations. The marble for floor and walls, the sandstone columns, the walnut furniture overlaid with beaten copper and the candelabra were all brought from Yugoslavia.” Article with pics is here. The BBC has a round up of Orthodox Christmas Day around the world here
