Kenyan girls are hiding in schools this Christmas to escape parents who want them to undergo FGM.
CHR Comment: The article describes the role of Saint Catherine girls school in educating people against traditional “circumcision” practices. Protestant churches have similarly sought to change this aspect of culture.
Source: Kenyan girls hide in schools to escape FGM – BBC News
From the prosperous-appearing church of 1979 to the disappearing church of 2016, the Irish experience elicits responses on countless grounds.
CHR Comment: Martin Marty describes the decline of Irish Catholicism, how older Irish priests suffer from isolation and feelings of irrelevance in their changing nation.
Trump’s warm words for Graham are an acknowledgment of the role the founder of Samaritan’s Purse and son of Billy Graham played in delivering his election victory.
CHR Comment: According to the article, Graham did not campaign directly for Trump but called attention to issues that brought Trump and Evangelical voters together. The role of Evangelical Christians in the Trump win is one of the significant stories in American Christianity this year. Both the Trump and Clinton campaigns courted Christian voters.
Source: Franklin Graham ‘So Instrumental’ In My Victory, Says Trump | Christian News on Christian Today
She hasn’t felt quite as “merry” this season as she did last year.
CHR Comment: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were indeed refugees in Egypt and aiding modern refugees is certainly a good work. How to best help them is often a more difficult issue. Lord, grant wisdom.
As ISIS flees, some of the first frontline Christians already know how to follow Jesus in a war zone.
CHR Comment: Having experienced persecution in Burma, Burmese Christians are now bringing aid to people being persecuted by ISIS in Iraq. A former U.S. Army Ranger leads them.
Source: Who’s Ministering in Mosul? Persecuted Christians from Burma | Christianity Today
Ecuador sent soldiers and police on Thursday to an isolated jungle area after a policeman was killed and several security officials injured in a violent protest against a Chinese copper exploration project amid conflicts between mining companies and indigenous communities.
CHR Comment: The article does not explain what church is involved (presumably Roman Catholic) or how it is serving in the mediation. It is ironic that the communist state, which has actively suppressed some churches in China, would turn to a church for aid in economic and trade disputes.
Pope Francis celebrated an active if low-key 80th birthday on Saturday, sharing breakfast with eight homeless people before celebrating Mass with cardinals as greetings flowed in from around the world.
The state governor has ordered the arrest of the chief engineer.
CHR Comment: The building collapsed while the bishop was being installed. Allegations of corruption are the basis of the investigation.
Source: Official: Nigerian church that collapsed, killing 160, had many faults
Bishop Javier Echevarría, who served as a personal secretary to Opus Dei’s founder for more than 20 years, was the last link to the first generation of Opus Dei’s leadership. He died Monday at age 84.
Source: Powerful Roman Catholic Group Opus Dei Faces Transition After Leader’s Death : The Two-Way : NPR
ARCHAEOLOGY’s editors reveal the year’s most compelling finds
CHR Comment: Two the top ten discoveries relate to Christian history. On Mona Island, Puerto Rico, archaeologists investigated rock art from Spanish Christians, which was etched alongside rock art from the indigenous people. In Salem, MA, researchers located the site where the “witches” were executed following the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
church history review 