While Erdoğan seizes churches, Cameron fights for Turkey to join the EU
David Cameron has pledged to fight for Turkey to be admitted to the European Union. This, he avers, would place them at "the top table of European politics", where,…
Christian Persecution
Open Doors demands action on behalf of persecuted Christians in Nigeria
Have you ever been to an open-air church service? Not those of the balmy British summerness where the vicar sets up a pulpit on the village green and children frolic in the duck pond while the ladies arrange the…
ISIS is committing genocide, but Tory MPs are whipped into denial
The legal definition of genocide is not restricted to genus: it is defined as the intent "to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious…
Global persecution of Christians more extreme than ever
This week many in the church and a few in the media have their eyes on Justin Welby and the Primates meeting in Canterbury, waiting to see if the…
On the Feast of Stephen
The funeral of St Stephen, by Filippo Lippi (1460). St Stephen – 'a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost' (Acts 6:5) – was chosen to be a…
Kenyan Muslims say "I'm Spartacus" to protect Christians
Peace on earth won't magically descend from the clouds: it has to be aimed at and worked for. And it starts in the hearts of each and every one…
Nissar Hussain battered with a pickaxe in Bradford for converting from Islam to Christianity
Quite a few British Muslims are eager to abandon the path of Mohammed and the faith of their forefathers. Some are brave enough to convert to Christianity and make…
The Queen hosts President Xi Jinping, and the Catholic Herald sneers at her hypocrisy
"As the Catholic Herald has constantly stressed, China continues to persecute Christians, and there is evidence that this persecution is getting worse. How ironic, then, that the Supreme Governor…
Bradford ex-Muslim Christian converts "have given up on the Church of England"
"Muslim family are driven from their home... after they converted to Christianity." "Neighbours vandalise car and call them 'blasphemers'"; "windows are constantly smashed"; "family attacked in the street"; "Bradford…
ISIS destroys the the ancient Monastery of Mar Elian
"The Monastery of St. Elian was a Christian monastery near the town of Al-Qaryatayn in the Homs Governorate," says Wikipedia. "Was"? Yes, the tense is accurate. It had stood…
China abolishes the cross of Christ
China's stock-market has plunged: its GDP has crashed, the yuan has been devalued and economic confidence is in free fall. Another boom-and-bust bubble has burst: Mammon threatens another tidal…
It is time to arm Iraq's anti-ISIS Christian militia
While HM Government faffs around arguing over whether we should be calling the Islamic State 'ISIS', 'ISIL' or 'Daesh' because, according to David Cameron, the Islamic State is neither…
House of Lords pleads for the freedom of religion and belief
With a Conservative majority government in place for the next five years we won’t need to worry about any potential reforms to House of Lords for the time being.…
No, Baroness Anelay. Freedom of belief is a fundamental right
Religio-political blogging is a pretty much a thankless task. You air your opinions in public in the hope that others will take note, listen and learn. If just a…
Queen's Birthday Honours: Bishop Anba Angaelos honoured for services to religious freedom
Congratulations to His Grace Bishop Anba Angaelos on being appointed OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2015. As General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK, he…
ISIS one year on: Christianity brings hope in the midst of suffering
Exactly one year ago tomorrow, Islamic extremists calling themselves ISIS (/ISIL/Islamic State) seized control of Mosul and its surrounding provinces following the rapid capitulation of the Iraqi military. In the…
BBC 'Kill the Christians' – at last, thank God, but please don't leave it there
As regular readers of His Grace’s blog will be fully aware, the plight of Christians around the world is a subject that is discussed frequently on these pages. I…
Without Douglas Alexander, who in Labour will stand up for the persecuted church?
With yesterday's release of the Labour Party's Manifesto, the run-up to the General Election is truly underway. Finally the parties are laying out their stalls in the light of…
Nigeria unites in the war against Boko Haram
This is a guest post by Katie Harrison – Tearfund‘s Head of Communications. Katie tweets at @KatieHarrisonTF _______________________ Last year, I was working in Zambia, on a trip which involved long road…
Christians are united in the ecumenism of blood
'Follow Me' by Wael Mories. “In this moment of prayer for unity, I would also like to remember our martyrs, the martyrs of today,” said Pope Francis, as he…