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Archive for January 26th, 2009

Oldest Christian monastery in the world under threat

January 26th, 2009 | 1 Comment

Saint Gabriel Syriac-Orthodox Monastery, located in Tur Abdin, south-east Turkey, is the oldest functioning Christian monastery in the world. It was founded in 397, but its survival is now imperilled by a series of lawsuits launched by Muslim neighbours who are seeking to have the monastery closed or deprived of its land. [T]he future of [...]

Court orders human rights commission to butt out

January 26th, 2009 | 2 Comments

The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia has ordered the province’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) to reverse its decision to appoint a board of inquiry to adjudicate allegations that French public schools were unfairly deprived of funding. The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission does not have the jurisdiction to look into the complaint of an Acadian [...]

China in secret talks with banned churches

January 26th, 2009 | Comments Off

A report in today’s The Times of London indicates that the Chinese government wants to find a way to live with the officially illegal house church movement. A secret meeting between Chinese officials and leaders of the banned underground Protestant Church has marked the first significant step towards reconciliation in decades. The discussions, which were [...]

Residential school payouts linked to social problems

January 26th, 2009 | 2 Comments

The National Post reports today that it has seen evidence that payouts to residential school survivors have contributed to social pathologies, including suicide, depression, and alcohol and drug abuse.  The “Common Experience Payment” (CEP), which began in the fall of 2007, was intended to compensate aboriginals who were taken away from their communities to attend [...]

Saint Polycarp of Smyrna

January 26th, 2009 | Comments Off

The collect for today, the Feast Day of St Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr (source): Almighty God, who gavest to thy servant Polycarp boldness to confess the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world and courage to suffer death for his faith: grant that we too may be ready to [...]