A new book situates Pilate in the political and cultural milieu of the Roman Empire in the Middle East.
Middle East
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Turkey’s opposition party and international observers question election results
International observers who monitored the voting found irregularities, saying the conduct of Sunday’s referendum “fell short” of international standards.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
The next few months will decide Christians’ fate in a scarred Iraq
“ISIS had written really vile things about Jesus and the church. The convent was burned and gutted. Everything was stolen. Anything holy in their mind was burned.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Who are Egypt’s Coptic Christians, and why do extremists target them?
Egypt’s Coptic Christians have become the preferred target of the Islamic State group, an apocalyptic cult seeking religious war.
Posted inFaith, News
Deadly Egypt attacks won’t deter Cairo visit by Pope Francis
Despite recent and repeated terrorist attacks against Egypt’s minority Christian communities, Pope Francis will not cancel his visit to Egypt.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Egyptian Christians left to bury their dead after church bombings
Women wailed as caskets marked with the word “martyr” were brought into the St. Mina monastery in Alexandria.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Pope Francis on Palm Sunday decries attack on Coptic church in Egypt
Pope Francis asked God “to convert the hearts of those who spread terror, violence and death, and also the hearts of those who make, and traffic in, weapons.”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Syrian Catholic leaders criticize U.S. missile strikes, experts question larger strategy
“We need to have a national debate on these things; it’s not a decision for the president to make in the dead of night.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
US blasts Syria base with cruise missiles
The strikes hit the government-controlled Shayrat air base in central Syria, where U.S. officials say the Syrian military planes that dropped the chemicals had taken off.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Erdoğan referendum threatens democracy in Turkey
If the referendum is approved, Turkey’s parliamentary system would be scrapped in favor of an executive presidency.