Churches in flames, thousands of Christians displaced as North-East India faces civil war – The Melbourne Anglican 

Tens of thousands of Christians have been displaced due to ongoing conflict in north east India as aid groups worry the region is on the brink of civil war. 

Open Doors Australia has confirmed at least 60 people have died and more than 300 churches have been burned down during community-wide rioting in Manipur state. 

Violent confrontations between the majority-Hindu Meitei people and the majority-Christian Kuki tribe have increased throughout May. 

Church accused of adding to trauma of survivor by trying to thwart case involving paedophile priest – The Guardian 

The Catholic church has been accused of causing added trauma to a survivor after it tried to thwart his case involving a notorious jailed paedophile priest by claiming he could not have been an altar boy because he was baptised in the Anglican church, a move that delayed the case for a year. 

The survivor alleged he was abused by Ryan at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cessnock in the early 1990s, when he worked as an altar server for Sunday mass. 

Calvary public hospital takeover by ACT government a ‘pre-dawn raid’, Catholic healthcare CEO says – The Guardian 

The ACT government’s takeover of Calvary public hospital has been described as a “pre-dawn raid” by the Catholic healthcare’s chief executive. 

The territory government is expected to pass legislation Wednesday giving it power to compulsorily acquire Calvary public hospital, including its land and hospital assets, after announcing the plans for the takeover earlier this month. 

Calvary Health Care announced Tuesday it would be taking legal action as the “only response left available” if the government did not adjourn the bill’s debate. 

What does the newest church in Sydney have in common with the oldest? Sydney Anglicans 

New ships are launched with champagne over the bow. New church buildings begin with turning the first sod of earth… and prayer. 

“May this be a place where sinners find their Saviour and the prodigal is welcomed by you, a generous and compassionate Father,” prayed Christine Zheng, the student minister at Life Anglican Church, Marsden Park. 

Chinese police clash with protesters over plans to demolish mosque – Washington Post 

Residents of a majority-Muslim town in southwestern China clashed with police over the weekend as they tried to stop the demolition of a domed roof from a centuries-old mosque, part of the Chinese Communist Party’s expanding effort to control religion. 

Dozens of officers in riot gear beat back a crowd as they pushed toward the gate of the Najiaying Mosque, an important seat of worship and religious teaching for ethnically Hui Muslims in Yunnan province, on Saturday morning, according to videos sent to overseas activists and posted to Twitter.

Church of Uganda ‘grateful’ as harsh new anti-homosexuality law is approved – Church Times 

The Archbishop of Uganda has expressed his Church’s gratitude for a hardline anti-homosexuality law in the country, approved this week.

International organisations and political figures describe themselves as “appalled” by the new law. 

Homosexuality was already illegal in Uganda, but the new law introduces new offences, such as the “promotion” of homosexuality, and harsher punishments, including the death penalty for “aggravated” offences. 

Lambeth Conference of bishops opens Phase 3 to all Anglicans, with initial focus on discipleship – Episcopal News Service 

Anglicans around the world have been invited to engage with some of the same issues that more than 650 bishops contemplated and discussed with each other at last year’s Lambeth Conference. 

This will begin with the theme of discipleship, as Phase 3 materials are released this week in the Lambeth Calls process. 

Phase 3 will span three years through 2025, with a new theme introduced about every three months. With each new release, all Anglicans are encouraged “to add their voice to the call.” 

A $38 million copy of the Bible: Why is the Codex Sassoon so valuable? – ABC 

Last week a copy of the Hebrew Bible sold at the Sotheby’s auction house in New York for US$38 million. The Codex Sassoon was purchased by former US ambassador to Romania, Alfred H. Moses, and donated to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, Israel, where it will be on public display.   

This is one of the highest prices ever paid for any book. What is it about this document that means people are willing to pay such a hefty sum? 

Martin Scorsese to make another movie about Jesus, he announces after meeting Pope – The Guardian 

Martin Scorsese may follow his acclaimed crime epic about the killing of Native Americans in the US in the 1920s with another film about Jesus Christ, reports suggest. 

Scorsese, fresh from a rapturous reception for his Killers of the Flower Moon at the Cannes film festival, is currently in Italy attending a series of religious and cinematic events. 

Speaking at a conference at the Vatican on Saturday, Scorsese, 80, said: “I have responded to the Pope’s appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus.” 

The Leader: Australian Anglican Bishop Mark Calder – Sight Magazine 

Anglican Bishop Mark Calder has long enjoyed driving. Whether it’s travelling to a conference or visiting a parish, he’d much rather make it a road trip than arrive via airplane. So when he was invited to lead the Diocese of Bathurst, the amount of travel it would require didn’t bother him. He started his role three and half years ago with a new car and has since clocked 135,000 kilometres 

Just since January of this year, he’s done 15,000 kilometres for church-related trips, each one giving him more of vision for leadership and for the issues the people across the rural diocese face.