Dear ~to_name~,  In the week that - as we report on our news pages - the European Union agreed to fund embryonic stem cell research, John Cornwell argues in a major feature article that the Church must keep abreast of the bio-science, if its voice in defence of all human life is to be heard.
As the conflict in the Middle East continues unabated members of two families – one Lebanese and one Israeli – write about how they are trying to maintain a kind of normality; while Fr John Landy of Stella Maris Carmelite monastery in Haifa writes about the effects of the Hezbollah rockets falling around Mount Carmel itself. Anthony O'Mahony explains why, if we are to understand what is happening in the Holy Land, we need to understand the factors that have led to a resurgence of Shia Islam. Theo Hobson examines the dilemmas of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and suggests that, in Dr Williams's apparent recent judgement that church unity counts for more than some of the ethical convictions he had previously expressed, there is a lesson as to why the Catholic Church is structured in the way it is. In 'Books', Noonie Minogue, biographer of Nero, reviews Adrian Goldsworthy's new work on Julius Caesar, while Brendan McCarthy leads 'Arts' with a piece on the opportunity dance enthusiasts have this summer to compare the Mariinsky Theatre of St Petersburg, at the London Coliseum, with Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, performing at the Royal Opera House.
Our columnists - Nicholas Pyke, Michael McCarthy and Margaret Hebblethwaite – are all on top form. And don't miss the Paul Thomas cartoon in 'Notebook'! James Roberts
Assistant Editor Here are the news headlines and featured articles on The Tablet website this week:
29 July 2006 World Church News Pope ‘helped broker’ Mid East crisis meeting
Pope Benedict and Catholic bishops around the world have expressed deep concern that fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah militias could expand into a wider regional conflict. And they have called for an immediate ceasefire and the beginning of peace talks...
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/8338/ BRAZIL
Pope backs moves to save rainforest
POPE BENEDICT has given unconditional support to recent efforts by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, to save the Amazon rainforest, writes Robert Mickens. ...
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/8341/ CHINA
China to halt illicit ordinations
The Chinese Government is to stop the illegitimate ordination of Catholic bishops, in the interests of encouraging further dialogue with the Vatican, according to an auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong...
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/8340/ UNITED STATES
Vox Clara reviews American Mass translation plans
THE COMMITTEE of bishops appointed by the Vatican to oversee the continuing translation of the Mass into English has been considering US amendments and adaptations for the main prayers of the Mass...
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/8344/ Featured Articles The way to a green theology
EDITORIAL
The citizens of Britain, like those of other Western countries, think it normal to fly abroad on holiday, sometimes several times a year. They think it normal for families to own several cars...
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/8321/  Soul searching
John Cornwell
Europe’s bishops have called for more debate following this week’s EU decision to fund embryonic stem-cell research. But if that debate is to be meaningful, it must include new consideration of the ‘ensoulment’ of human life.
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/8325/
 The rise of Shia
Anthony O'Mahony
Military power in Lebanon, clerical power in Iraq and political influence in Syria: the resurgence of the side of Islam subjugated for centuries throughout the Middle East now appears unstoppable.
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/8322/
Book Review Caesar: the life of a colossus
Adrian Goldsworthy
Reviewed by Noonie Minogue
"Dignity, always dignity,” purrs Gene Kelly at the beginning of Singing in the Rain as he explains his greatness to fawning reporters ...
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/reviews/298  The Tablet in WHSmith
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