CDI Staff

Articles by CDI Staff

11 Mar, 2024 00:03 EDT

Africa Society & Culture Church & Missions

Malawi’s Catholic bishops write rare scathing letter to the President

By CDI Staff

On February 25, 2024, the Catholic Church in Malawi released a letter on Facebook criticizing President Lazarus Chakwera’s government for corruption, nepotism and “glaring failure of leadership.” The the 14-page pastoral letter from the Catholic Bishops of the Episcopal Conference was titled “The sad story of Malawi.” It was addressed to Malawians but directed at President Chakwera’s administration.
8 Mar, 2024 10:14 EST

Africa Church & Missions

YWAM’s tragedy reinforces the urgency of addressing road safety in Africa

By CDI Staff

Eleven YWAM leaders lost their lives in a bus accident on February 24, 2024 in the east African country of Tanzania. According to the latest updates from YWAM, five injured individuals are still hospitalized and two more are in critical condition.
7 Mar, 2024 06:03 EST

Europe Society & Culture

Abortion is enshrined in France's Constitution: What impact will it have?

By CDI Staff

On March 4, 2024, a joint session of France’s parliament voted 780-72 to revise France’s constitution to include a “guaranteed freedom” for abortion. This happened after a majority of the French senate voted last Wednesday to accept the wording of the amendment of article 34 of the constitution. Now France has become the first country to enshrine abortion in their constitution.
5 Mar, 2024 05:03 EST

Africa Society & Culture Religious Freedom

Muslim cleric threatens Nigeria’s First Lady for serving as a pastor

By CDI Staff

A Muslim cleric has come under heavy criticism after he called for the killing of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady. A video emerged of the cleric describing Senator Oluremi as an “infidel” who should be killed for being a pastor.
5 Mar, 2024 04:03 EST

Europe Society & Culture

Death of Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries Van Agt brings up debate on euthanasia practices and trends

By CDI Staff

On February 5, 2024, Catholic former Dutch prime minister Dries van Agt passed away “hand in hand” with his wife Eugenie van Agt-Krekelberg when they both undertook “duo euthanasia.” Van Agt and his wife both had “delicate health conditions.” They had been married for 70 years and were 93 years old. According to the Guardian, their deaths are part of a growing duo euthanasia trend in the Netherlands.
27 Feb, 2024 22:02 EST

Asia Society & Culture

Christian makes history in Pakistan after election as Deputy Speaker of Sindh Assembly

By CDI Staff

A Christian politician, Anthony Naveed has achieved a major political milestone after he was elected as the first Christian Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Provincial Assembly on Sunday.
27 Feb, 2024 12:02 EST

Europe Society & Culture Church & Missions

French evangelicals launch website offering listening service and educational resources for victims and witnesses of sexual violence

By CDI Staff

In the summer of 2022, members of the National Council of French Evangelicals (CNEF) launched a website (Stop-Abus.fr) where victims and witnesses of sexual abuse can report abuse and find more information on sexual abuse with links and sources curated by CNEF. The site also provides resources on how to manage sexual abuse and misconduct within Evangelical churches and organizations.
26 Feb, 2024 08:02 EST

Europe Society & Culture Church & Missions

Church leaders accused of deliberately supporting conversion testimonies for asylum seekers wanting to take advantage of asylum status

By CDI Staff

On January 31 in London, a young woman and her child were attacked with acid by an asylum seeker from Afghanistan. He was granted asylum status after a local priest supported his testimony of conversion to the Christian faith. Some British politicians have responded by accusing churches of helping migrants avoid deportation by deliberately fast-tracking conversions.
18 Feb, 2024 13:12 EST

Africa Society & Culture

Africa Cup of Nations win heralds a new dawn for Côte d'Ivoire, African evangelical leader says

By CDI Staff

The recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a month-long football tournament hosted in Côte d'Ivoire, proved to be far more than just a sporting event. Dr. Master Matlhaope, the General Secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA), visited Abidjan during the tournament and described it as "a display of unity, meticulous planning, and a global meeting point."
14 Feb, 2024 20:02 EST

Latin America Religious Freedom

Christian leaders express concerns about rising religious persecution in parts of Latin America

By CDI Staff

The past year has seen a marked rise in persecution incidents in parts of Latin America, most notably Nicaragua, which some Christian leaders in the region have been following with growing concern. Under the authoritarian leadership of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, an increasing number of Catholic clergy has been subject to various forms of discrimination and persecution, including being exiled from the country.
13 Feb, 2024 09:02 EST

Oceania Church & Missions

[Interview] Shifting paradigms: the Great Commission as a promise God will fulfill, not a task we need to achieve

By CDI Staff

But when reading Matthew 28, where Jesus said in the gospel of this kingdom will be preached in all nations, to all the earth, I see that as a promise that God will fulfill, not a task that we need to achieve. But many times, we have focused on it as if it were merely a task. The difference there is if we focus on it as a task - this is that whole “industrialized” perspective of missions - then we are required to use our own agency to fulfill it. And as a result, if anything gets in the way or i
8 Feb, 2024 08:02 EST

Asia Society & Culture Church & Missions

As Pakistan ranks 5th on global climate-vulnerability index, churches pledge action

By CDI Staff

The Church of Pakistan has announced its commitment to take action on climate change in line with the Lambeth Declaration, reiterating that the climate emergency was not just a physical crisis, but also a spiritual one.

CDI Staff

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