6 June 2008
 Religion and the premier leaguePeter HennessySpirituality is usually relegated to the sidelines in British politics. But with Tony Blair faith is back in the game – where, on closer examination, it has been for more than a few post-war British Prime Ministers Church in the WorldPope tells world leaders hunger is ‘unacceptable’ in time of plenty |
AlgeriaArchbishop seeks clemency in trial of convert | AustraliaBenedict XVI to meet faith leaders |
GermanyPremarital sex ban ‘alienates young’ | PolandCardinal eases out older clergy |
RomeWomen ‘priests’ face ultimate penalty | RussiaKasper goes on charm offensive in Orthodox Russia |
United StatesAnti-Clinton cleric suspended | ZimbabweAttacks may distort election run-off result |
Fiddling while Earth burnsFiddling while Earth burns
Last week it was the G8 environment ministers; this week it’s a UN summit in Rome on the food crisis; next week it’s finance ministers ahead of the G8 summit proper in Japan next month: all producing little more than hot air to add to the greenhouse gases threatening our planet...
Hymns ancient but modernHymns ancient but modern
Poet, ecologist, feminist: a theologian described like this sounds as if he or she would be a product of the twenty-first century. But St Ephrem, born in the third century, was all these things. Today’s Church is beginning to appreciate the wisdom of his words...
The Cross and the wheelThe Cross and the wheel
Whether contemplating Christ’s sacrifice or the spinning of a mantra, compassion is at the core of prayer for Christian and Buddhist alike, to the manifest delight of those who met the Dalai Lama at Blackfriars in Oxford last week...
In which we serve
The Prayer Over the Gifts for this Sunday, which is inspired by Solomon’s offering of a prayer at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, interprets the Christian liturgy in terms of service that leads to love. Daniel McCarthy examines the subtleties of the translation...
Bless this house
The days when priests were regular visitors to the homes of parishioners are long gone, but the offer of house blessings is likely to be eagerly accepted. They can offer many opportunities for enriching the faith of householders...
