Acceptance speech by Rev Dr Mitri Raheb at the Olof Palme Prize Stockholm, Swedish Parliament. January 29th, 2016 Dear Ms. Lisbeth Palme, thank you for your kind and powerful words. Your Excellencies; dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, It is truly an honor to be with you on this day receiving the Olof Palme Prize. […]
A Christian Friend of Islam reflects upon the Marrakesh Declaration
Mention of religion and the Middle East is without question a toxic combination in the minds of most people. This is largely to do with how the media have presented the region although, it has to be said, it holds a degree of accuracy for those bereaved, tortured and rendered stateless. Given this state of […]
WCC urges support for social media campaign to end Syria crisis
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is joining the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with which it works in promoting the interests of children, to support a social media campaign to help end the Syria crisis. The WCC and UNICEF are asking people to watch and share the short video (above) as part of speaking out […]
Churches respond to vote for military action in Syria
Churches in Britain have spoken out following the House of Commons vote to take military action in Syria. The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Church in Britain have made a call for peace following the vote: ‘We join with people of all faiths, as we pray for Syria following last night’s decision that the […]
Church statements on Syria before UK Parliament debate
Churches in Britain issued statements relating to extending military action to Syria prior to the UK Parliament voting for air strikes. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of the Catholic Church in England and Wales on 2 December 2015 released a statement on action to stop ISIS in Iraq and Syria. ‘Effective action is necessary to stop the […]
Churches condemn Paris and Beirut attacks
The terrorist attacks in Paris have brought strong condemnation from Church leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Cardinal Vincent Nichols of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Church leaders have also issued statements on the Beirut bombs of 12 November 2015 and other acts of violence around the world. Below are […]
Inter-religious action aims to build confidence among religious communities
Following an attack in June 2015 on a church on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel, the Elijah Interfaith Institute has launched a campaign to restore the friendship centre at the church where inter-religious meetings take place. The Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, at Tabgha, was set on fire […]
Christians in Israel and Middle East, our present and future
During January 2015, the Latin Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Mgr Michel Sabbah, presented a lecture Christians in Israel and Middle East, our present and future at a conference whose theme was ‘Identity of Christian Palestinian Arabs in Israel’. The conference at the Harry S. Truman Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, examined new trends of […]
Piano and organ recitals for ‘Iraqi Christians In Need’
A series of piano and organ recitals are being held to support the charity Iraqi Christians in Need (ICIN), which provides financial relief to displaced refugee families under the care of the churches in northern Iraq. The recitals are by Carl Bahoshy, a UK-born Roman Catholic pianist and organist of Iraqi Catholic parents. Entry to […]
