(ENI) – A Roman Catholic writer close to both the current and the previous popes argues that the rehabilitation of Judas Iscariot would "resolve the problem of an apparent lack of mercy by Jesus towards one of his closest collaborators."

Africa's greatest challenge is not the widespread poverty keeping the continent from moving forward, the HIV/AIDS pandemic that is decimating its population, or the civil wars that funnel resources away from real solutions. It is, says Bishop Mvume Dandala, general secretary of the All Africa Council of Churches, inspiring Africa's churches and their Western partners to work together to eradicate these problems.

A thief stole, altered and cashed a cheque for nearly $200,000 from Evangel Hall that should have gone to the Presbyterian Church, according to a story in the Globe and Mail.

(ENI) — Prominent religious leaders in Indonesia are urging Muslims not to join extremist forces believed responsible for a series of well-publicized suicide bombings in the country.

(ENI) — Jews remained by far the greatest target of religious-based hate crimes in the United States in 2004, according to a recently-released report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(ENI) — Since the Lutheran-led reformation in 1537, Norway's dominant church — the (Lutheran) Church of Norway — has had the reigning king as its formal head.

In a unique fundraiser, started by a group of farmers in Southern Manitoba, the sale of ground beef made from donated cows will have a double benefit. Youth groups, church groups, and community clubs will sell ground beef instead of chocolates this year. From each $20-box they will recieve five dollars for their own fundraising campaign. The remainder, after processing costs will be donated to Canadian Foodgrains Bank, an organization which collects donations of cash, grain and other agricultural commodities for distribution to the world's hungry.

The Presbyterian Church continues to help rebuild the many areas devastated in 2005. The following are updates on four supported by Presbyterian World Service and Development:

The Record told the story of Sheila Conkey last April. In the aftermath of her mother's death Sheila still lives in the family home, though under very different circumstances. Her father, Frank, moved into a retirement home, donating the family house to Community Living. Sheila shares her home with Joan and Mario, helps with meals and is out daily, shopping, bowling, swimming or working. She attends St. Timothy's, Ajax, Ont., where she continues to share her faith. – L. June Stevenson

Rev. Stewart Folster, of the Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry, has the keys to the latest member of his ministry family: a slightly used, 15-passenger Dodge Ram van. Folster, with help from his wife Terry, has led the mission since 1992. In 2000, a relationship was formalized with St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal. The outreach interest group supporting the twinning within the Montreal church has named itself A&P Neechewagon, a Cree word meaning friends. A&P Neechewagon raised $15,000 (which included an important contribution from the Presbytery of Montreal), and was matched by a grant from the Cooke's Fund of the Presbytery of East Toronto, to purchase the van that will enable Folster to multiply his outreach. – Keith Randall, Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal

On Nov. 26, four members of Christian Peacemaker Teams were abducted in Iraq and held hostage by a group calling themselves Swords of Righteousness Brigade. The group claimed the hostages—Canadians Jim Loney of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Harmeet Singh Sooden, formerly of Montreal, American Tom Fox and Briton Norman Kember—were spies and set a Dec. 11 deadline for them to be executed unless the U.S. and British governments released Iraqi prisoners. The deadline passed without news. As of press time, the hostages' fate was unknown.

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered what they believe could be the oldest church ever found in the Holy Land — a discovery experts say may shed new light on early Christianity. However, some scholars are calling it a publicity stunt.

The Church of Scotland has urged Christians to fight Israel's internationally-condemned West Bank barrier by flooding into Bethlehem to strengthen the local Palestinian population.