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Orthodox Church Leaders Look to Bring Coherence, Unity

Leaders of America's Orthodox Christian churches, meeting jointly for only the third time, agreed to form a pastoral practices commission on 'bringing coherence and unity to our expression of Orthod
Pope Invites Dialogue with Muslims

Pope Benedict XVI said Tuesday that Islamic holy war was against God's nature and invited Muslims to join in a peaceful cultural dialogue.
Muslim Leaders say Pope's Explanation 'Not Enough'

Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday that he is 'deeply sorry' his remarks on Islam and violence offended Muslims, but the unusual expression of papal regret drew a mixed reaction from Islamic leaders as t
Texas Episcopal Megachurch to Leave Denomination

Christ Church Episcopal has announced that it will leave the denomination because it can no longer abide by the national church's decisions.
China-Approved Priest with Underground Ties Dies at 103

The Rev. Joseph Meng Ziwen, a Roman Catholic clergyman in China since the 1930s who secretly served as a bishop to underground congregations while working as a priest in the Communist Party-sanctioned
China-Approved Priest with Underground Ties Dies at 103

The Rev. Joseph Meng Ziwen, a Roman Catholic clergyman in China since the 1930s who secretly served as a bishop to underground congregations while working as a priest in the Communist Party-sanctioned
Watchdog: China Detains 3 Church Leaders After House Raid

Police arrested three Christian church leaders in a raid on a gathering at a private home in northeastern China, a U.S.-based monitoring group reported Wednesday.
Chinese President Urges 2007 to Build Socialist Harmony

China's President Hu Jintao said it will be vital in 2007 for his government to spread the country's growing wealth among its have-nots.
Taiwan Telecom won't Build Add'l Backup

Taiwan's largest telecom company said Friday it will not invest more in backup lines to protect against disasters like the recent earthquake that snarled telephone and Internet service.
132 Million People Access Web in China

China's population of Internet users has risen by 30 percent over the past year to 132 million, a state news agency said Friday.
Taiwan Starts Earthquake Clean-Up

Maintenance crews began clearing the rubble from a southern Taiwanese town Wednesday, hours after a powerful earthquake struck the area, killing two and triggering a regional tsunami alert.
Taiwan Quake Disrupts Phone, Internet

Telephone lines and Internet service went dead across much of Asia on Wednesday after two powerful earthquakes damaged undersea cables.
Powerful Quake Strikes off Taiwan

A powerful earthquake struck off southwestern Taiwan on Tuesday, triggering a tsunami warning on the second anniversary of the waves that killed more than 200,000 in southern Asia.
China Highlights Dangers on World AIDS Day

Beijing -- China, which announced a big jump in AIDS and HIV cases last week, marked World Aids Day Friday by having schoolgirls decorate classrooms with red ribbons while taxi drivers distributed inf
Chinese Law to Further Curb Media

A Chinese law imposing fines on media that report emergencies such as riots and natural disasters without official approval could go into effect by October, the government said Tuesday, as a rights gr
Singapore Blogger Investigated for Christ Cartoons

Singapore police are investigating allegations that a man published offensive caricatures of Jesus Christ on his Web site, reports and police said Wednesday.
Chavez-Church Conflict Heats Up in Venezuela

Venezuelan Pres. Hugo Chavez calls Jesus a guiding light for his self-styled socialist revolution, but has not spared some Catholic leaders to be grouped with Pres. George W. Bush as his reviled oppon
Baptist Church Ordains Former First Lady

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was ordained a deacon last month by Maranatha Baptist Church, the independent Associated Baptist Press reported.
U.S. Embassy Probes Iraq Kidnap Report

The U.S. Embassy said it was investigating reports that an American civilian was kidnapped Friday in southern Iraq. A U.S. civilian and two Iraqis were abducted in the northern part of the city.
U.S. Toll in Iraq Lower than Past Wars

Americans may question this war for many reasons, but their doubts often find voice in the count of U.S. war deaths.
Family Maintains Mexican Christmas Tradition

Three-year-old Isabella Dominguez's favorite is the porcelain Baby Jesus dressed in a white and blue satin jumper, lying in a manger.
Thousands of Nigerians Mark ‘Jesus Day’

Thousands of Christians on Tuesday declared Dec. 26 'Jesus Day' in Lagos, Nigeria, reported the Nigerian newspaper Daily Champion.
Bombings Kill at Least 36 in Iraq

At least 36 Iraqis died Tuesday in bombings, officials said, including a coordinated strike that killed 25 in western Baghdad. Separately, the U.S. military announced the deaths of six American soldie
Over 35,000 Christians have Fled Iraq

More than 35,000 Iraqi Christians have fled to Syria to escape the violence in their country, the leader of an Iraqi Christian group said Thursday.
Report: Kidnappers of Beheaded Priest demanded Apology for Pope's

Relatives of a beheaded Iraqi priest say his captors had demanded a church apology for recent papal comments about Islam.