An Arab-Christian’s murder in Oklahoma has exposed an underside of deadly American tensions targeting US citizens of Arabic descent. His alleged assailant was a man who repeatedly harassed his family with anti-Muslim, anti-Arab language. Khalid Jabara’s killing has caused concern about attitudes in the U.S. “Here, in the United States, Mr. Jabara and his family Read more
French prosecutors filed preliminary charges of terrorism against a third man detained on suspicion of collaborating in last month’s murder of Fr Jaques Hamel, a French priest, suggesting the slaying was the work of a broader group of Islamic State followers. The 21-year-old was detained Monday in the area of Toulouse, a city 500 miles Read more
A shooting just above a crowded Kalihi church courtyard injured a man who had just been baptised. Taleni Asuega said he had just arrived at the church when he heard a loud bang and saw that his uncle had been shot near a second-floor classroom at the Samoa Tokelau Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Banyan Street Read more
Fiji’s police commissioner has called for religious gatherings to be held only in daytime as a community safety measure. Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said it is about time this happened. The commissioner also said parents should accompany their children to church services and other gatherings. He said police are working on strategies to ensure children Read more
Four more priests have been charged with the murder of a seminary rector in India in 2013. Ten people, including six priests, have now been accused of being involved in the death of Fr K.J. Thomas. His body was found inside St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore. Police have filed charges in a Bangalore court. Read more
A member of the Anglican Melanesian Brotherhood (Solomon Islands) in Popondetta, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, has been murdered. Br. Tolbon Diwaero was killed late last Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning (Sept. 15-16) by unidentified persons on his way back to Domara Household, the church reported via Facebook. Br. Kelliot Betu, regional secretary of Read more
A churchgoing man in England has been euthanased against his will, because his killer reasoned that a dog would not have been allowed to suffer like he did. Heather Davidson, 54, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after she smothered cancer victim David Paterson, 82, with a pillow, only hours away from his natural death. Read more
The family of Blessie Gotingco began the novena on May 15, timing it so that the final day of prayer would fall last Sunday, the one-year anniversary of Blessie’s death. A man, who has name suppression, was convicted of Gotingco’s rape and murder at the High Court in Auckland on Friday. Gotingco went missing on Read more
Two separate, highly embarrassing Church scandals have generated lurid coverage in the Italian press. A north Italian priest has been removed from office after allegations he looked for gay lovers on the Internet and had been involved in gay orgies. The priest admitted online to sexual relationships with other religious figures – as well as Read more
The Catholic Church in Melbourne has apologised for comments by a priest about a woman who was raped and killed. The priest made the comments in an end-of-term service for a Catholic primary school. He reportedly said that if Irish woman Jill Meagher had been more “faith-filled” she would have been at home instead of Read more