Dialogue of Civilizations Forum to discuss problems of Europe in Prague monastery
29. April 2009 - 12:18The International Conference Dialogue in Prague: Europe in the 21st Century is to be held on May 13-15 in the Břevnov cloister, Prague. The participants in the conference will focus on such subjects as the world economic crisis and potential influence of the state on contemporary development, international cooperation and interreligious dialogue in the changing model of social development in Europe, the World Public Forum Dialogue of Civilizations, which convenes the conference, told Interfax.
UN conference in Geneva recognized the problem of Christianophobia
30. April 2009 - 12:15Participants in the Geneva UN conference against racism and xenophobia condemned discrimination of Christians. The Forum's final document voiced concerns with "incidents of racial or religious intolerance and violence, including Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and anti-Arabism," the Moscow Patriarchate official web site has reported. The Russian Church has recently urged the participants in the conference to introduce an idea of Christianophobia into international laws.
Pan-orthodox calendar first of its kind
28. April 2009 - 8:49A work-in-progress Bay Area Pan-Orthodox events calendar is now available online. The calendar intends to provide announcements of all publicized events across all parishes and jurisdictions in the greater Bay Area (Active membership in SCOBA is the criteria for inclusion). Roll-out is intended to take place in three phases. Phase one is now complete. All diocesan and metropolitan events for 2009 have been posted, including conferences and retreats. Antiochian, Greek, ROCOR, and OCA calendars are currently collected in this central location.
More than 160,000 People Hear the Gospel During Historic Festival in Honduras
1. May 2009 - 8:47A 6 day, region-wide evangelistic campaign that included more than 300 participating churches, and involved food and clothing distribution, spiritual leadership training, business conferences, and much more. It came to a joyous end as more than 110,000 people came together on the grounds of Esadio Olipico for Fiesta Catracha with Mike Silva. The two-day attendance for the festival was more than 160,000.
Restriction of religious teaching in public schools in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
1. May 2009 - 8:26An independent United Nations human rights expert expressed disbelief today at the backlash targeted against a recent court decision to restrict religious teaching in public schools in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Wrapping up a five-day visit to the country, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir, issued a statement noting that the Constitution "provides that religious communities and groups are separate from the State and equal before the law.
