Author: Staff Writer

Source: San Diego Tribune

Wire Service: AP

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20071211-1702-indonesia-militants.html

An Indonesian court sentenced four Islamic militants Tuesday to sentences of up to 19 years in prison for terrorist acts including the beheadings of three Christian schoolgirls and a deadly market bombing.

The men – Muhammad Basri,...

Author: LEILA FADEL AND ALI AL-BASRI

Source: Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/341050.html

The Christian archbishop of Basra on Tuesday canceled the celebration of Christmas in that southern city to protest the deaths of a brother and sister, both Christians, as bombings and mayhem struck at cities throughout Iraq.

Archbishop Imad al-Banna said Christians in Basra should still pray to mark Christmas, but...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7136166.stm

All primary schools should hold a nativity play regardless of the religion of their pupils, according to the equality chief Trevor Phillips.

Last week, a Sunday Telegraph poll indicated that only one in five primary schools was planning a nativity play.

Mr Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Equalities and Human Rights, told BBC Radio 4's Today...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7135087.stm

The Archbishop of York has cut up his dog collar and said he will not replace it until Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is out of office.

Dr John Sentamu made the symbolic protest gesture live on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show.

He said Mr Mugabe had "taken people's identity" and "cut it to pieces", prompting him to do the same.

Prime Minister...

Author: ALAYNA DEMARTINI

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/12/06/Nativity_Scene.ART_ART_12-06-07_B1_158MJMO.html?sid=101

The Nativity scene in front of Whitehall's City Hall has sparked some not-so-merry sentiments.

A man drove down Yearling Road and was offended by the display. He called the...

Author: NEELA BANERJEE

Source: The New York Times

Author: Philip Pullella

Source: The Star Online

Wire Service: Reuters

Author: Tom Heneghan

Source: Reuters

http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN540920.html

The Vatican plans to respond positively and very soon to an appeal by Muslim scholars for an unprecedented dialogue between Christianity and Islam, Roman Catholic cardinals and Islam experts say.

The Catholic Church, representing more than half the world's two billion Christians, has not yet officially answered the call made last month and hailed by...

Author: David Gibson

Source: Newsweek

http://www.newsweek.com/id/71986

For nearly a quarter century before his election as pontiff, Joseph Ratzinger served as the Vatican's guardian of Roman Catholic orthodoxy, earning a tough reputation for his campaign to quash the Marxist-tinged movement known as liberation theology. Cardinal Ratzinger's success in that crusade won him few plaudits in Latin America, the cradle of liberation theology and home to nearly half the world'...

Author: Michael Zera

Source: Religious Intelligence

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1207

A leading journalist and member of the National Integration Council reports that four cases of Christian persecution occur each week across India.

Dr John Dayal reports the number of atrocities against Christians a year has surpassed what was the entire year’s record in 2006 and 2005. By November 16 this year, 190...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7108607.stm

The trial has started in eastern Turkey of five men accused of killing three Christians earlier this year.

The Christians, who included a pastor and a German missionary, were stabbed repeatedly and had their throats cut.

The suspects, aged 19 and 20, were detained at the scene of the crime, a Protestant publishing house in Malatya.

The trial...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: ABC Radio Australia

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2088879.htm

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict has praised Indonesia's efforts to promote relations between different religions.

He made the statement at a ceremony to welcome Indonesia's new ambassador to the Holy See.

The Pope says Indonesia is playing an important and positive role in promoting...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Bahrain Tribune

Wire Service: Reuters

Author: Anita Chang

Source: The New York Times

Wire Service: AP

Author: Jim Davenport

Source: The Journal Gazette