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.

The Government offered no advice to President Michael D Higgins on whether or not he should attend a centenary church commemoration of partition and the establishment of Northern Ireland.

A Government source told the Irish Times the President may consult with the Taoiseach if he or she believes that an invitation from outside the State could be contentious. The Department of Foreign Affairs, which handles Northern Ireland, may also be consulted, but was not in this case.

In a letter to the President the Independent Group of Senators said they were uncertain as to why he was not in a position to attend the event, but “we are deeply concerned it may be misinterpreted”.

They added: “We earnestly suggest, if possible that you should reconsider the matter with a view to attending the event as we believe your attendance has significant potential to advance the cause of reconciliation between the different traditions in Northern Ireland and on this island.”

Queensland has passed a law enabling assisted suicide, making it the fifth state in Australia to do so. It will force Catholic institutions to allow assisted suicide on their premises if a patient wishing for it can’t be moved elsewhere.

Members of the local parliament voted 61-30 for a ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill’ that will enable people suffering a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive and terminal to access voluntary-assisted suicide. In most countries where the measure has been introduced, numbers availing of it rise and the grounds expand.

The person must be expected to die within a year, they must have decision-making capacity, and proceed without coercion.

A lack of palliative care services available to people living in remote, far-flung Queensland was one of the reasons many MPs gave as they spoke in opposition to the laws.

Catholic Health Australia ran a concerted campaign to protect Catholic hospitals and aged care facilities that provide about 20 per cent of hospital and aged care beds in Queensland.

Pope Francis has repeated the strong opposition of the Catholic Church to abortion during his visit to Slovakia this week and on the plane back to Rome afterwards. He also reiterated that marriage is between a man and a woman.

During the homily of the closing Mass in Slovakia he celebrated for 60,000 people, Francis said that Christians are called to be “protectors and guardians of life where the culture of death reigns.”

Later, on the plane home to Rome, he said abortion is more than a problem, “abortion is homicide”.

“Abortion…without being ambiguous: whoever has an abortion kills. Take any book on embryology for medical students in medical school. The third week after conception, from the third week, often before the mamma is aware of it, all the organs are already there, even the DNA… Isn’t that a person? It is a human life, period. And this human life must be respected. This principle is so clear, and to those who cannot understand, I would ask two questions: is it right to kill a human life to solve a problem? Scientifically, it is a human life. The second question: is it right to hire a hitman to solve a problem?”

On the topic of marriage, he commented: “Marriage [between a man and a woman] is a sacrament, the Church has no power to change the sacraments as the Lord has instituted them.”