Ukraine archbishop warns against ‘blindly following Russian propoganda‘
Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who is the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, was in the USA this week to join in services of prayer for Ukraine, as it commemorates the third anniversary of war. He was on hand to respond to the sudden turn of events as Trump held unilateral talks with Putin on the future of Ukraine, said Ukraine started the war, castigated President Zelensky and European allies, and threatened the Western Alliance. In his address at the Cathedral in Philadelphia, the Archbishop said the people of Ukraine seek justice and peace. During his visit, he offered support to Zelensky, warning: “If someone believes that NATO expansion is the cause of the war, they are blindly following Russian narratives and propaganda”. In the Church Times, Jonathan Luxmoore reports that Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, said peace must be “based on truth, not on an unconditional surrender to evil and compromise with injustice”. And the director of Kyiv’s Institute for Religious Freedom, Dr Maksym Vasin, said: “For Evangelicals in Ukraine, it isn’t important to achieve peace for themselves only: they also want peace and freedom for brothers and sisters in regions under Russian control”.
Pope is showing ‘slight improvement’
The latest bulletin from the Vatican on the Pope’s health, said his clinical condition is showing slight improvement: “He has no fever, and his hemodynamic parameters remain stable. This morning, he received the Eucharist and then dedicated himself to work activities”. He has been in hospital for a week, treated for double pneumonia. Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office said last night that the Pope has “focal pneumonia” indicating limited areas of infection in the lungs and not widespread pneumonia. He added that he breathes autonomously and that his heart remains stable. Other details are that he rests well at night, continues his therapy, and gets out of bed to have breakfast in the morning.
Cardinal assures Pope Francis of ‘fervent and heartfelt’ prayers
Cardinal Vincent Nichols has written to Pope Francis to “assure him of the prayerful support of Catholics in England and Wales. He said they have “a particular devotion to the person of the Holy Father, arising out of the historic loyalty of the faithful in these countries to him. Very many people hold you in high esteem and appreciate deeply the guidance and leadership you give”. He said Catholics were praying that the Pope “may be given strength and perseverance in these days and continue to bring to the world the joy and compassion which has been so steadfastly at the heart of your ministry.”
70 people found beheaded in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Open Doors, the charity campaigning against persecution of Christians worldwide, reports that 70 people have been found beheaded in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The charity says local sources told them that militants from the Allied Democratic Forces, affiliated to Islamic State, told people to move out of their homes, capturing 50 who were massacred at a Protestant church in Kasanga. Further reports suggest many Christians have left the area in fear for their safety.
US Catholic bishops sue Trump administration over refugees
US Catholic bishops are suing the Trump administration over its sudden halt to the funding of refugee resettlement programmes, which meant the Migration and Refugee Services had to make 50 people redundancy, more than half its staff. The legal action says this is unlawful and harmful to refugees, 7,000 of whom are supported by the service in the States. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said: “The Catholic Church always works to uphold the common good of all and promote the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable among us. That includes the unborn, the poor, the stranger, the elderly and infirm, and migrants.” The funding suspension prevents the church from doing so, he said.
WCC expresses support for World Health Organization
The World Council of Churches general secretary, Rev Prof Jerry Pillay, says he stands in solidarity with the World Health Organisation, as it faces a loss of financial support from the Trump administration. In an open letter, Dr Pillay says WHO’s leadership and coordination remain indispensable to safeguarding public health. He commits to mobilising churches and wider faith communities to urge their respective governments to “recognise the critical role of WHO in shaping global health security and to ensure that funding remains stable and sufficient for the organisation to fulfil its mandate effectively.”
US Episcopalian church announces job cuts and reorganisation
The US Episcopalian church has announced staff cuts of almost 25 per cent, saving $2.13 million a year. Employee numbers will go down from 143 to 110, alongside structural re-organisation. Sixteen people over 65 will retire, 14 are being made redundant, 13 vacant positions will not be filled, 17 will be retrained. The Episcopal News Service reports that “the development, formation, pastoral development, transition ministry and church planting departments are being phased out. The restructured operations will continue to serve those ministry areas in other ways”. Article is here
Church calls to ‘defend democracy’ in German elections
As Germany prepares for its election this weekend, church leaders have issued a warning that democracy is under threat with the rise of the far right and polarised debate over immigration. In a joint appeal “Defend Our Democracy”, leaders of the German Bishops’ Conference, Protestant Church in Germany and Association of Christian Churches in Germany say “extremism, and especially ethnic nationalism, are incompatible with Christianity” and “current political debates are calling this resilient democracy into question”. The party leading the polls is the CDU, Christian Democrats, but at 30 per cent, they will need to go into coalition with another party. They have ruled out working with the far right AfD, Alternative for Germany, which is expected to double its vote, and is lying second in the polls.
Hillsong churches decline from 16 to 5 in America
The number of Hillsong Church campuses in America has now fallen from 16 to just five, with the announcement that Hillsong San Francisco is going independent and adopting a new name. Pastors Brenden and Jacqui Brown will stay. US Hillsong churches have been splitting away due to a series of scandals involving the leadership, including the firing of Carl Lentz in New York over infidelity; the resignation of founder Brian Houston over allegations of inappropriate behaviour with two women; and a court case clearing Brian Houston of failing to report his father Frank Houston’s abuse of a boy in the 1970s. Hillsong is an Australian based evangelical mega church network across 23 countries, known for charismatic worship and songs.
