An Iraqi archbishop has expressed concern that the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan will embolden Islamist extremists in Iraq.

Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Erbil said, “Afghanistan and Iraq are very different places. But the takeover of the country by the Taliban certainly provides encouragement to those who support that type of regime.”

Speaking about ISIS in Iraq, the Chaldean archbishop said: “[T]hey have not fully left. They continue to exist in underground capacities and they still maintain a capability to cause harm in Iraq. More importantly, the mentality that created ISIS certainly still remains in the region. So this is a continuing concern… I think it is definitely true that the mentality of Daesh still exists in Iraq and Syria among certain parts of the population.”

The Catholic bishop was concerned about the announcement by US President Joe Biden this July that he intends to withdraw all US combat troops from Iraq by the end of 2021.

“What our history has taught us, especially our recent history, is that in any time of instability and conflict it is the minorities who suffer first. So, to the extent that any change in US involvement in Iraq leads to an increase in instability, certainly we are concerned that this would lead to further persecution of the religious minorities.,” he said.

Marie Stopes Australia will close their abortion clinic in Newcastle, New South Wales. The organisation – the largest provider of abortion services in the Hunter Region up until now – stated that “physical clinics in regional areas are no longer financially viable”. Another reason is difficulty in finding staff willing to work in abortion clinics.

Last month the organisation also announced the closure of four of its Queensland clinics. The clinics, located in Townsville, Rockhampton, Southport and Newcastle, employed over 40 staff and performed around 5,000 abortions annually.

Marie Stopes Australia’s Managing director Jamal Hakim described the closures as “a really difficult decision“.

He explained: “Costs, when it comes to sexual reproductive health care and particularly delivery of abortion care, continue to increase and COVID hasn’t helped”.

He went on: “The stigma as well means it’s difficult to continue to find a workforce”.

Mr Hakim explained that the organisation will now focus on expanding its ‘DIY’ medical abortion program.

Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that his recent meeting with Pope Francis encouraged him to keep defending the traditional family.

“The meeting gave me very strong encouragement,” Orban said of his encounter with Francis in Hungary.

Orban cited the Pope as telling him during their 40-minute meeting that there should be no debate or argument over the traditional family unit of mother, father and child.

“He expressed himself more strongly than I have ever managed to … (He said) the family consists of a father, a mother and children, full stop,” Orban said.

“Moreover, he said: go ahead, go for it. And go for it we will.”

Christians in Nigeria are rejoicing after a Catholic priest kidnapped earlier this month was freed.

Father Benson Bulus Luka was abducted from his residence on 13th September, becoming the latest victim of attacks against Christians in the Kaduna State.

The chancellor of Kafanchan diocese, in northern Nigeria, Fr Emmanuel Uchechukwu, told ACI Africa: “With hearts filled with joy, we raise our voices in a symphony of praises as we announce the return of our priest, Rev Fr Benson Bulus Luka.

“Barely 24 hours after his kidnap, our beloved brother priest was released by his abductors.”

Fr Uchechukwu continued by thanking all of those who joined in prayer for the release of Fr Benson.

“We want to thank all those that have offered prayers and entreaties for the quick release of our brother priest and others who are still in the dens of their kidnappers,” he said. “We pray to God to hasten the release of those who are still in the hands of their captors.”

Anyone age 12 or over attending a gathering at Catholic churches, rectories or community centres under the responsibility of the Archdiocese of Moncton in Canada must present proof that they are fully vaccinated, the archdiocese announced Friday. The move is regarded as unprecedented.

The new policy applies to all religious celebrations, Sunday and weekday Masses, baptisms, wedding and funerals, parish and pastoral meetings, catechesis, and social meetings.

The archdiocese’s announcement comes in the wake of new provincial government rules set to take effect today requiring proof of vaccination to access certain events, services, and businesses. Fewer than 50 people have died from COVID-19 in the province of New Brunswick since the pandemic began, according to government statistics. But provincial officials say they are concerned about a recent uptick in cases and hospitalizations.

People with Down’s syndrome, their families and other disabled supporters will gather for a demonstration outside London’s Royal Courts of Justice this Thursday.

They will be there in support of Heidi Crowter and Máire Lea-Wilson’s landmark case against the UK Government over the current discriminatory abortion law that allows abortion up to birth for Down’s syndrome.

Following the release of the judgement at 10:30am, Heidi Crowter and Máire Lea-Wilson will both make speeches and behind them a crowd of people with Down’s syndrome and their supporters will be standing with banners and posters with messaging such as ‘Don’t Screen Us Out’, ‘Love doesn’t count chromosomes’, and ‘My child is not a risk’.

Dublin parents who were advised to abort their daughter are instead working hard to give their “miracle girl” the best of opportunity of life.

At the 30 week scan, Claire McDaid and Jay Needham, were told that their baby was badly deformed and she would have no quality of life because her brain was badly swollen.

Doctors also said that they could not see a spine. The couple were told that the best option would be to go to England to get an abortion.

But Claire gave birth to their daughter T.J back in October 2020, she was named after both her grandmothers, Tina and Joan,

And then the doctors said that she would live only a few hours, so the couple started to plan the baby’s funeral.

Against all odds, T.J survived and the 11-month-old was diagnosed with spina bifida prompting doubts as to whether she could walk.

But the “miracle princess” has shown promising signs of improvement, and her parents want to give her the best opportunity to get as much power in her legs as possible.

The European Parliament has been criticised for its failure to acknowledge the particular danger faced by Afghan Christians in a resolution it adopted condemning the violence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and calling for support to be given to the most vulnerable groups. The resolution details the “unfolding humanitarian catastrophe”, highlighting the Taliban’s “persecution” of women and girls and “heavy discrimination” against ethnic and religious minorities, with a particular mention of Shia Hazaras.

Carlo Fidanza MEP, Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said: “This resolution demonstrates once again the guilty lack of attention by Europe, not only to Afghan Christians – who are completely ignored by the text – but to Christians in general. As I have already said on the rejection of the establishment of a European Day for Religious Freedom, it is worrying that it is now considered normal that a silence falls upon the tragedy faced by persecuted Christians”.

Fidanza also raised concerns that a failure to focus on faith in such situations can “lead politics to be timid towards regimes that violate religious freedom on a daily basis.”

An estimated group of 10,000 Christians are facing danger in Afghanistan because of their faith. The majority are converts from Islam which is considered a crime punishable by death under Sharia Law.

California lawmakers approved legislation on Friday that would remove some of the safeguards currently in place for people who wish to commit assisted suicide.

Currently, the law requires the terminally ill patient who wishes to die to make two verbal requests to a physician at least 15 days apart, and one formal written request that is signed and dated in the presence of two witnesses before taking the lethal drugs.

While these provisions are safeguards to ensure that only those of sound mind, and those acting freely, are allowed assisted suicide, State Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman says that they are too time-consuming.

The new legislation reduces the 15-day waiting period between the verbal requests to just 48 hours and eliminates the final, written request.

The measure was strongly opposed by several groups, including Disability Rights California, the California Family Council, and the California Catholic Conference. “SB 380 lacks sufficient consumer safeguards and has the potential to undermine the safety of people with disabilities,” said Sawait Seyoum of Disability Rights California, according to the LA Times.

Former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has urged fellow politicians to resist the temptation to demonise the Church and ignore the huge contribution of Catholic education to society.

Mr Flanagan said that citizens owed priests and religious a huge debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment, especially when the State lacked the will to be more hands-on in education or other areas of society.

“Too often nowadays it’s popular – or almost fashionable – to knock the Catholic Church, to dismiss the Catholic Church.

“Undoubtedly its [the Church’s] role in the education in our country has been substantial and still remains significant,” He said.