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LANDMARK STUDY: DEVOUT MUSLIMS HATE WEST

A groundbreaking study strongly linking Muslim religiosity to prejudice and hostility towards the West is “distressing,” a Kuwaiti researcher who spe-cializes in the psychology of religion has revealed. Dr Bashar Albaghli, who studied Muslims from 17 Arab countries between 18–70 years of age, says he expected to find a link between Islamic fundamentalism and West […]

Jews, Muslims Decry Court Decision Backing Belgian ban on Kosher, Halal Slaughter

Despite concern that a Belgian law bans Jewish and Muslim religious slaughter practices, a European Union court has said the law is justified by the need to promote animal welfare even if it does not accommodate religious freedom. “This decision goes even further than expected and flies in the face of recent statements from the […]

Kenyan Christians Travelling for Christmas Fear al-Shabaab Bus Attacks

Christians travelling on buses for Christmas holiday close to the border with Somalia have recently become targets of the Somalian militant group, al-Shabaab. According to Christians in the region, travelling has become a risky endeavour, as the militants have seized buses on remote roads. Locals in the mostly Muslim communities in the area have been […]

Pope Emeritus ‘deeply regrets’ his support for disgraced order 

The week after Pope Francis toughened up the rules on setting up new orders it became clear that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI distanced himself from an order that he helped establish and recognised in 1977 when, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising. Now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has expressed regret for […]

Crisis is healthy for Church, Pope tells Curia

In his Christmas address to the Roman Curia, Pope Francis said that crisis can be beneficial to the Church, but conflict is always destructive. The annual address to the Vatican leadership has become a key indicator of papal priorities, and in past years Pope Francis has surprised his listeners with blunt criticism of what he […]

One in 9 Russians curses frequently, over 60% do so from time to time – poll

Moscow, on December 15, Interfax – Eleven percent of Russians curse frequently; the share is the highest in the group aged from 31 to 45, the Public Opinion Foundation said in a statement seen by Interfax. The number of frequently cursing men is two times higher than the number of such women, 15% and 7%, respectively, […]

Iraqi parliament formally declares Christmas a national holiday

In a move some have said is already a direct result of Pope Francis’s highly anticipated visit to the country in March, Iraqi parliament earlier voted to establish Christmas as an annual national holiday. The vote, which took place on Dec. 16, was unanimous and goes into effect this year, meaning that for all of […]