eni-summary list Ecumenical News International News Highlights 19 May 2003

Children suffer in Australian asylum centres, says report

Sydney (ENI). Mandatory detention of asylum seekers in Australia may amount to “institutional child abuse”, contends Sister Patty Fawkner, director of Uniya, the Jesuit Social Justice Centre in Sydney. “If it is true that the moral fibre and integrity of a country is reflected in how it treats the most vulnerable in its midst, then Australia has failed monumentally. Australia is morally culpable,” she said. [461 words, ENI-03-0226]

These shoes not made for selling, say Danish Christians

Stockholm (ENI). A Danish supermarket chain has withdrawn from sale sandals featuring images of Jesus and Mary, after an outcry from Danish Christian groups. The sandals went on sale on 12 May in the Kvickly chain which has branches throughout Denmark. But on 14 May, in the face of protests against the pictures on the sandals’ upper soles, the chain’s owners, Coop Denmark, stopped selling the footwear. [341 words, ENI-03-0224]

Christians lose ground in Canada, latest census indicates

Vancouver (ENI). Canada’s latest census report shows that the numbers of traditional Christians have dropped and that traditionally Eastern religions, especially Islam, have made substantial gains due to the country’s low birth rate and its immigration profile. [637 words, ENI-03-0225]

US Lutheran pastor suspended after interfaith worship, is reinstated

New York (ENI). A New York Lutheran pastor, suspended from his denominational leadership post because he participated in an interfaith event after the 11 September, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, says his reinstatement vindicates his position. A committee of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod that lifted the suspension of the Rev. David Benke said there was insufficient evidence that the pastor had violated any denominational rules for participating in the event at New York’s Yankee Stadium on 23 September 2003. [422 words, ENI-03-0227]

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