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Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Clerics accuse West Bank settlers of attacking Christian sites
TAYBEH, West Bank, July 14 (Reuters) - Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory. The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week. "These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh. Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said. "We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added. Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands. During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears. B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023. Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank. Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a U.S. citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night. Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said. "Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future." Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born. Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.
Associated Press
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Faith leaders and families sue to block Texas' new Ten Commandments in schools law
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A group of Dallas-area families and faith leaders have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a new Texas law that requires copies of the Ten Commandments be posted in every public school classroom. The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims the measure is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of church and state Texas is the latest and largest state to attempt a mandate that has run into legal challenges elsewhere. A federal appeals court on Friday blocked a similar law in Louisiana. Some families have sued over Arkansas' law. The plaintiffs in the Texas lawsuit are a group of Christian and Nation of Islam faith leaders and families. It names the Texas Education Agency, state education Commissioner Mike Morath and three Dallas-area school districts as defendants. 'The government should govern; the Church should minister,' the lawsuit said. 'Anything else is a threat to the soul of both our democracy and our faith.' Ten Commandments laws are among efforts, mainly in conservative-led states, to insert religion into public schools. Supporters say the Ten Commandments are part of the foundation of the United States' judicial and educational systems and should be displayed. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Ten Commandments measure into law on June 21. He also has enacted a measure requiring school districts to provide students and staff a daily voluntary period of prayer or time to read a religious text during school hours. Opponents say the Ten Commandments and prayer measures infringe on others' religious freedom and more lawsuits are expected. The American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have said they will file lawsuits opposing the Ten Commandments measure. Under the new law, public schools must post in classrooms a 16-by-20-inch (41-by-51-centimeter) or larger poster or framed copy of a specific English version of the commandments, even though translations and interpretations vary across denominations, faiths and languages and may differ in homes and houses of worship. The lawsuit notes that Texas has nearly 6 million students in about 9,100 public schools, including thousands of students of faiths that have little or no connection to the Ten Commandments, or may have no faith at all. The Texas Education Agency did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The law takes effect Sept. 1, but most public school districts start the upcoming school year in August.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Orthodox Church leader says faith is humanity's safeguard against the 'impending robotocracy'
The spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians has said that religious faith should serve as humanity's safeguard amid rapidly advancing technology and what he described as the 'impending robotocracy.' Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, 85, said that Orthodox tradition preserves 'valuable human-centric wisdom' essential for navigating a world of accelerating technological change and automation. His comments during an event at Athens University reflect growing concerns across major branches of Christianity — and ongoing dialogue between them — about artificial intelligence's potential impact on human dignity and social structures, as well as the dangers posed by autonomous weapons systems. 'In a world of rapid change, an upheaval of values, and dizzying technological advances — from artificial intelligence to the impending robotocracy — our Church proclaims that 'there is nothing more sacred than the human being, with whom God Himself shared His nature,'' Bartholomew said. The patriarch, who is based in Istanbul, Turkey, made the remarks late Wednesday in a speech published on Thursday. Religious tradition, the patriarch said, 'upholds the absolute priority of the person over systems … and the need for an education that cultivates and supports the spiritual nature of humanity.' While not opposing technological advancement, Bartholomew emphasized the need for innovation to remain human-centered. The comments echo similar concerns raised by other Christian leaders, who increasingly frame their responses to AI and robotics through theological perspectives on human uniqueness, free will, and spiritual nature. In guidance issued by the Vatican in January, the Catholic Church said applications of AI 'must all be evaluated to ensure they respect human dignity and promote the common good.' The head of the Anglican Church traveled to Rome last year to sign the Call for AI Ethics — an initiative backed by the Italian government and supported by tech giants IBM and Microsoft. Bartholomew, who is on a weeklong visit to Greece, met Thursday with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis days after they both attended the funeral of Pope Francis.
