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        <title>Christian Daily International | Family & Children</title>
        <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/family-children</link>
        <description><![CDATA[Explore Christian news and insights on family and children, including parenting, discipleship, education, and marriage. Learn how faith shapes family life and supports the spiritual growth of the next generation.]]></description>
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                <title><![CDATA[Filipino churches launch movement towards family discipleship amid rising concerns over changing social values]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/filipino-churches-launch-movement-towards-family-discipleship-amid-rising-concerns-over-changing-social-values</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/filipino-churches-launch-movement-towards-family-discipleship-amid-rising-concerns-over-changing-social-values</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ellen Gabisay]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Filipino churches launch movement towards family discipleship amid rising concerns over changing social values]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ News Light Facebook Post ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ CrossGen Family Summit at GCF South Metro in Las Piñas to strengthen intergenerational relationships and encourage Christian faith formation within Filipino families. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 07:56:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Now that September’s family observances have ended, the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) Family Commission is urging churches to make family discipleship a year-round priority, equipping parents to become their children’s first disciplers and creating more opportunities for families to grow in faith together.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Now that September’s family observances have ended, the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) Family Commission is urging churches to make family discipleship a year-round priority, equipping parents to become their children’s first disciplers and creating more opportunities for families to grow in faith together.
The initiative follows the CrossGen Family Summit, which brought together nearly 800 participants at GCF South Metro in Las Piñas to strengthen intergenerational relationships and encourage Christian faith formation within Filipino families. Organizers say lasting change will require churches to move beyond special gatherings and align their ministries around discipleship in everyday family life.
“After the CrossGen Family Summit, more doors have opened for the PCEC Family Commission to cast the vision for a family discipleship movement in the country,” the commission’s representative Maloi Salumbides said in comments to Christian Daily International..
The PCEC Family Commission plans to champion family discipleship, build partnerships, provide opportunities to equip parents and encourage churches to shift from being “events-oriented” to disciplemaking congregations.
An intentional focus on families
Salumbides said churches should intentionally incorporate family discipleship into their preaching and allocate more time and resources to help parents disciple their children. She also encouraged congregations to coordinate the schedules so families can spend more time together.
“How beautiful it will be if the different ministries in our churches (women, men, youth, children’s ministries) will have an alignment in their schedule of activities to give families the opportunity to spend more time with each other building authentic and loving relationships where discipleship can thrive,” she said.
An early example of the initiative’s influence has emerged in Batangas, where a church changed a planned women’s conference into a family discipleship gathering after the pastor’s wife and a church deaconess attended the CrossGen summit.
Salumbides said the organizing team decided to open the gathering to families and redirect its focus toward family discipleship.
The commission envisions holding larger CrossGen Family Summits every two years in different regions of the Philippines, with the possibility of expanding beyond the country as partnerships develop.
At the close of the summit, PCEC national director Bishop Noel Pantoja described CrossGen as “not just a moment but a movement,” reinforcing the organizers’ intention to sustain the initiative beyond a single event.
‘The Filipino family is not OK’
Salumbides said concerns about marriage and family formation among younger Filipinos underscore the need for intentional discipleship at home.
She recalled participating in a government radio program in 2025 ahead of National Family Week, during which all the young people interviewed in a man-on-the-street segment expressed support for living together outside marriage. She said the responses were consistent with findings from the Commission on Population and Development and the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Salumbides identified economic pressures and changing views on commitment and fidelity as factors influencing younger couples’ decisions to cohabit rather than marry. She argued that strong marriages provide security for spouses and children and expressed concern about the implications of changing family arrangements for the country.
The PCEC has also cited Philippine Statistics Authority figures in a pastoral directive urging churches to strengthen families. According to the statement, the total fertility rate has fallen to 1.7, more than 58% of children are born outside marriage, and more than 15 million solo parents face socioeconomic pressures.
“An honest acknowledgement that the Filipino Family is not ok - that it is experiencing surmounting pressures, threats and attacks in multiple fronts, will hopefully make all of us pause to re-evaluate our priorities and programs as churches and faith groups here in the Philippines,” Salumbides said.
She said the scale of the challenges requires churches and Christian organizations to work together rather than rely on individual congregations to address family needs independently.
“The work to strengthen and disciple families is massive and so it requires collaborative efforts and solutions from different churches and organizations,” she said.
A National Family Month observed across the country
The commission’s efforts to strengthen families also extend to public advocacy. The PCEC Family Commission and its partners in the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC) approached lawmakers to advocate for expanding the Philippines’ existing National Family Week observance into National Family Month.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Proposed Resolution No. 686, while Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. filed House Resolution No. 1455 on Sept. 17. Both measures seek to declare September National Family Month and encourage sustained programs to strengthen Filipino families.
As of Oct. 28, House Resolution No. 1455 remained pending with the House Committee on Population and Family Relations, according to the chamber’s legislative records.
The Philippines already observes National Family Week under Presidential Proclamation No. 60, issued in 1992. Presidential Proclamation No. 326, issued in 2012, designated the fourth Monday of September as “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” Day.
‘Faith is meant to travel’
The PCEC Family Commission has encouraged member churches and organizations to cultivate a culture of strengthening families throughout September through preaching, family-focused practices and programs.
At the summit, Christian leaders emphasized that the responsibility for passing on faith begins with parents and requires intentional practice across generations.
Pantoja said parents have the primary responsibility to transmit and model their faith so children can see how their parents love and serve God.
“The primary role of parents is to pass on the faith to their children. To model the faith. Our children will see that we really love God, love God, and serve God,” he said.
Pastor Rodel Lacson, one of the speakers, likewise stressed that faith does not automatically pass from one generation to another.
“Faith is meant to travel. Ang pananampalataya ay hindi lamang naka-standby sa iisang lugar. Faith is meant to travel from one generation to another... [But] faith is never automatically inherited. It should be passed on intentionally,” Lacson said.
He challenged parents and churches to consider not only how they disciple younger generations but also whether they are intentionally nurturing faith within their own households.
Pantoja also urged participants not to allow their generation’s experiences of God’s faithfulness to be lost, challenging them to preserve and share those stories with their children.
Space for intergenerational conversations
Held with the theme “Pamilyang Sama-Sama, Henerasyong Nagkakaisa,” (“A Family Together, A United Generation”), the CrossGen Family Summit also had a major focus on providing room for exchange between different generations.
The idea grew from a conversation between Maloi Salumbides, a Gen X mother, and her Gen Z daughter about bridging generational gaps. Her daughter envisioned a space where generations could discuss faith, mental health and gender.
Salumbides described it as “a God-ordained idea that grew into a vision that brought different people, churches, organizations and generations together to put together the first-ever CrossGen Family Summit.”
“Intentionally intergenerational. That’s CrossGen!” she said.
The event featured intergenerational panel discussions on discipleship, blended families, grief and the influence of grandparents on faith. The morning panel included a Gen X couple, a Boomer solo mother and a Gen Y pastor’s child, while the afternoon session featured Bishop Efraim Tendero and his grandson, Datu Tendero Pagdanganan.
Participant feedback highlighted the value of hearing different generations share their experiences. One attendee reflected, “We don't need to be perfect; we just need to be genuine.”
Discussions also addressed emotional safety and inclusion, emphasized the importance for  Christians to show genuine love and acceptance, and encouraged churches to provide safe spaces where people can express their emotions.
A transformed nation start with transformed families
Salumbides said family is central to Christian discipleship and the nation’s future.
“In the Bible, before man learned to govern, before there was a church, there was family,” she said, pointing to the 1987 Philippine Constitution’s recognition of the family as the foundation of the nation.
With more than 117 million Filipinos living in over 26 million households, she called for churches and Christian organizations to work together to equip parents and nurture faith across generations.
“May the Lord give us the willingness and ability to make the shift - from being events-oriented to disciplemaking churches,” she said, pointing to a vision of a “truly transformed and discipled nation, beginning with transformed and discipled families.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian animation film is giving children in Nigeria a new way to encounter and share the gospel]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-animation-film-is-giving-children-in-nigeria-a-new-way-to-encounter-and-share-the-gospel</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-animation-film-is-giving-children-in-nigeria-a-new-way-to-encounter-and-share-the-gospel</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Vincent Matinde]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Light of the World Animation]]></media:title>
                                                            <media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">
                                    <![CDATA[ The Salvation Poem Foundation ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The Salvation Poem Project, which created Light of the World, says the film and its resources are being made available to partners around the world, with the film now available in 32 languages. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 15:15:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[In a simple room in Nigeria, children sat on a dirt floor watching the story of Jesus unfold on a screen. The room had cinder-block walls and a metal roof. There was nothing elaborate about the setting. But as the children watched Light of the World, an animation retelling the life of Jesus, something happened that the ministry behind the film says it will not forget.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
In a simple room in Nigeria, children sat on a dirt floor watching the story of Jesus unfold on a screen. The room had cinder-block walls and a metal roof. There was nothing elaborate about the setting. But as the children watched Light of the World, an animation retelling the life of Jesus, something happened that the ministry behind the film says it will not forget.
In a scene, young John, the main character, knelt and led his father in a prayer to begin a relationship with Jesus. Then the children in the room began to kneel too. According to the ministry, 60 children responded to the invitation to follow Jesus during that screening.
The number comes from the ministry's account of the screening, but the scene itself captures what the creators of Light of the World hoped the film could accomplish when they set out to tell the story of Jesus through the eyes of a child.
It was one of four locations where Pastor Monday Edoziem showed Light of the World in Nigeria during the same weekend after receiving access to the film.
Edoziem is a pastor and Executive Director of the Nigeria Children’s Ministers Association, an organization focused on ministry to children across the country. For him, the film offered more than something for children to watch. It provided a way to present the story of Jesus in a format designed to capture a child's attention and imagination.
That is at the heart of Light of the World. The 2025 animated film tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of John, portrayed as a young person who encounters Jesus and becomes one of his followers. The filmmakers deliberately chose this perspective as a way of making the biblical story accessible to a younger audience. 
The film uses traditional 2D animation and follows Jesus from the beginning of his ministry through his crucifixion and resurrection.
The approach gives children a character through whom they can experience the story.
Rather than beginning with a distant historical account, the film places viewers alongside a young John as he encounters Jesus, his disciples and the events surrounding Jesus’ ministry.
That child-centered approach has also shaped the resources developed around the film.
The Salvation Poem Project, which created Light of the World, provides churches with a free seven-week children's ministry curriculum built around scenes from the movie. The material includes teaching plans, videos, Scripture memorization resources, activities and lessons designed to help parents continue conversations with their children at home.
A church can use a scene from the movie as the starting point for a lesson. Parents can continue the discussion at home. Teachers and ministry leaders can use the accompanying material to connect what children have seen on screen with the biblical account.
The ministry says the film and its resources are being made available to partners around the world, with the film now available in 32 languages.
Nigeria has one of the world's largest Christian populations, while children and young people make up a substantial part of its population. Churches and Christian ministries therefore have a large audience of children to serve. But the resources available to those ministries can vary greatly, particularly between large urban churches and smaller community settings.
The setting of Edoziem’s screening is a reminder of that difference.
The children were not sitting in a cinema. They were gathered in a modest room with basic surroundings. Yet the same story presented on a large cinema screen could also be shared in a place with little more than a screen, a projector and a group of children willing to watch.
That accessibility is central to the project's stated purpose.
The film’s official ministry resources include free materials specifically created for churches and children’s ministries, allowing leaders to use the movie alongside lessons and family activities.
And for ministry leaders such as Edoziem, having the resource available without a cost creates another opportunity to take that story into places where children are already gathering.
Light of the World was made with a simple purpose: to give people an opportunity to encounter the story of Jesus.
In Nigeria, one weekend showed what that purpose can look like when the film reaches children not in a theater, but in a simple room, where they watch, listen and, in the words of the ministry's account, get down on the floor and pray.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Mexican principal questions progressive and shamanic content in public school materials]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/mexican-principal-questions-progressive-and-shamanic-content-in-public-school-materials</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/mexican-principal-questions-progressive-and-shamanic-content-in-public-school-materials</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ommar Ayala]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Students take part in a class at a school in Mexico.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Illustrative photo: tucolegioideal.com ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Students take part in a class at a school in Mexico. The rollout of the New Mexican School education model and changes to curriculum content continue to spark debate among teachers, parents and others in Mexican society. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:47:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A Mexican school principal says lessons on the government's official education platform introduce children to shamanic practices that conflict with Christian beliefs.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A Mexican school principal says lessons on the government's official education platform introduce children to shamanic practices that conflict with Christian beliefs.
Rocío Martínez Ruiz, an evangelical Christian with 22 years of teaching experience, has publicly questioned the content of the free textbooks and teaching materials used by millions of students in Mexico's public schools.
Her criticism is part of a wider debate over the New Mexican School (Nueva Escuela Mexicana, NEM), the education model promoted by Mexico's Secretariat of Public Education (SEP). The model has drawn controversy across Mexican society for the changes it brings to teaching, assessment and curriculum.
Shamanic rituals in official materials
On the official New Mexican School Digital platform (Nueva Escuela Mexicana Digital), a lesson titled "Prácticas diversas para el tratamiento de malestares" (Various practices for treating ailments) includes fragments of shamanic chants attributed to María Sabina, an Indigenous healer (curandera) from the state of Oaxaca. It asks students to look up the definition of shaman and shamanism.
The lesson explains that the ceremonies included eating mushrooms considered sacred by some traditional communities. It defines a shaman as a person believed to have supernatural powers to heal, divine or invoke spirits.
Fourth-grade teaching material also includes an activity titled "Juguemos a hacer un performance" (Let's play at doing a performance). Students are invited to portray "a shaman or a magician" and perform a magic act using sounds and body movements.
The exercises have opened a debate among Christian families, because ideas such as invoking spirits, magic rituals and supernatural powers go beyond folklore and conflict directly with Christian doctrine.
Criticism and censorship online
In August 2025, Martínez Ruiz began posting analyses on social media of the education reforms promoted by Morena, Mexico's ruling leftist party. The posts sparked intense debate online.
She warns of the risks of a humanist philosophy in public education, saying that under this vision "man becomes filled with pride and pushes God aside."
Her public defense of Christian values and ethical principles has drawn wide attention online, from both supporters and critics.
"On social media they call me a religious fanatic and insult me for the analyses and comments I make in bringing these issues to light. TikTok has censored some of the videos. It is not easy to be allowed to express what is happening with education in Mexico," Martínez Ruiz told Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
Concerns over academic standards
One of her main criticisms centers on the influence of Paulo Freire, the Brazilian educator whose theories, grounded in Marxism and radical leftist currents, have shaped teacher training in Latin America for decades.
Martínez Ruiz also questions the NEM's focus compared with traditional academic content. She says the model gives more weight to social-emotional and community goals than to structured subjects such as mathematics, Spanish and science. In her view, those subjects require a rigorous and clearly defined progression of learning.
"Something that must be taken into account is that the NEM does not aim for children to be competent, but rather for them 'to be happy.' This model is based on feelings and not on reasoning or critical thinking," she said.
Her concerns echo alarm in the education sector over Mexico's results in the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The report showed a drop in performance, with Mexico falling to its lowest scores in two decades in both mathematics and reading.
Identity and sexuality in the classroom
Martínez Ruiz also warned that official materials take a questionable approach to identity, sexuality and diversity at early stages of child development.
"The SEP education authorities gave us some documents to follow a protocol with so-called 'trans' children, so we would know how to act when a boy perceives himself as a girl and vice versa. We see how laws are being prepared to implement that perverse ideology in Mexico," she said.
An open debate
The debate over Mexico's education reforms continues. Government authorities defend the New Mexican School's humanist and community-based approach. Some teachers and civil society organizations still question its teaching methods, academic rigor and assessment of learning.
Christians and parents elsewhere in Latin America are following similar debates in their own countries over the neutrality of public education.
Originally reported by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Pakistan's Punjab moves to raise Christian marriage age to 18; divorce reform remains contentious]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/pakistan-s-punjab-moves-to-raise-christian-marriage-age-to-18</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/pakistan-s-punjab-moves-to-raise-christian-marriage-age-to-18</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[A. S. John]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[File photo of the Punjab Assembly building in Lahore, where lawmakers are expected to table proposed legislation aimed at protecting minority communal properties.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ File photo of the Punjab Assembly building in Lahore, Pakistan. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 17:46:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A Punjab Assembly committee has unanimously approved legislation to replace Pakistan’s over 150-year-old Christian marriage law, raising the minimum marriage age to 18 for both men and women.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A Punjab Assembly committee has unanimously approved legislation to replace Pakistan’s over 150-year-old Christian marriage law, raising the minimum marriage age to 18 for both men and women and introducing mandatory registration of Christian marriages with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and local union councils.
The Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026 on Wednesday (Sept. 30), sending it to the Punjab Assembly for vote. The bill seeks to repeal and replace the colonial-era Christian Marriage Act of 1872 with a new framework governing the solemnization, documentation and registration of Christian marriages in the province.
The proposed legislation would standardize the minimum marriage age at 18, replacing provisions under the existing law that allow Christian boys to marry at 16 and girls at 13. Christian Member of the Punjab Assembly Falbous Christopher, who introduced the bill, said raising the age for both genders would strengthen protection against child marriage and ensure that marriages are entered into with genuine consent.
The legislation also seeks to address a longstanding documentation problem for Christian families by making registration with both the relevant union council and NADRA compulsory. Christian marriages currently do not have a comparable registration mechanism under the 1872 law.
Christopher told the committee that the legislation is intended to consolidate and modernize Christian personal law while protecting individual rights and consent. The bill was originally submitted to the committee in April.
Written notice, church announcements and two witnesses required
Under the proposed law, both parties entering a marriage under the Christian Marriage Act would have to be Christian. Authorized pastors and ministers of churches registered with the Punjab government, along with government-appointed marriage registrars, would be empowered to solemnize marriages according to Christian rites.
The bill establishes a formal process before a marriage can take place. Couples would be required to submit basic information and provide prior written notice of their intention to marry. Where a licensed Christian minister solemnizes the marriage, the intended union would also have to be publicly announced in the church for three consecutive weeks.
At least two witnesses would have to be present at the wedding and sign the official marriage record. Marriage certificates and records would then be submitted to the relevant government authorities for registration.
The proposed legislation would also remove restrictions contained in the old law concerning particular days or times on which Christian marriages could be solemnized.
Another provision would give an intending couple the right to approach a civil court if a government-appointed marriage registrar refuses to issue a marriage certificate.
The registration provisions are particularly significant for Christian families whose marriages have faced difficulties in obtaining official documentation.
Activists welcome age change but question absence of divorce reform
While human rights activists and Christian legal experts have welcomed the proposed increase in the marriage age, some have expressed concern that the legislation addresses marriage without comprehensively reforming the Christian divorce law.
Human rights activist Nabila Feroz Bhatti welcomed the proposed 18-year minimum age, saying it would bring the law more closely into line with protections against child marriage and principles of free consent.
She questioned, however, why divorce reform had again been left outside the proposed legislation. According to Bhatti, disagreement among Christian religious leaders over the grounds for divorce has contributed to the issue being excluded from the current reform effort.
“Christian women should be able to seek divorce without being required to make allegations of adultery that are untrue. Section 7 of the Christian Divorce Act, 1869, which historically provided a ground for divorce on ordinary grounds before the provision was removed through a 1981 ordinance during General Zia Ul Haq’s military rule. The provision was restored by the Lahore High Court in 2017,” Bhatti told Christian Daily International.
She said the continued reliance on allegations of adultery in some Christian divorce proceedings places women in a difficult position. “Church leaders and other stakeholders should address the issue as part of broader Christian personal law reform,” Bhatti added.
Attorney proposes wider grounds for ending a Christian marriage
Christian attorney Lazar Allah Rakha also welcomed the proposed changes to Christian marriage law but said that reform should not stop there.
“Necessary amendments are also required in the Christian Divorce Act, 1869, particularly Section 10, as it is a law dating back to the British colonial period and does not adequately address the issues and needs of Christian families in the present day,” Rakha told Christian Daily International.
Rakha said Section 10 should be amended to provide fair and practical grounds for ending a marriage in circumstances recognized by modern family law.
“The law should provide reasonable grounds on which a marriage may be dissolved through divorce, taking into account the realities faced by Christian families today,” he said.
He pointed to the legal restrictions currently faced by Christian husbands seeking divorce, and said a comprehensive reform should address a broader range of circumstances affecting married couples.
Among the grounds the senior attorney proposed were adultery, prolonged and unjustified separation, physical or emotional cruelty, domestic violence, failure to provide family maintenance, persistent neglect of marital responsibilities and other circumstances in which continuation of a marriage becomes untenable.
Similar bill in Sindh draws objections from major churches
The Punjab legislation also comes amid a wider debate over whether Christian family law should be reformed through separate provincial legislation or through a uniform national framework.
A similar controversy has emerged in Sindh province, where Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed introduced the Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 in the Sindh Assembly on Sept. 8, as previously reported by Christian Daily International.
The Sindh bill proposes to raise the minimum marriage age for Christian men and women to 18 and would replace the colonial-era Christian Marriage Act of 1872 and Christian Divorce Act of 1869 in the province. It also covers matters including marriage registration, divorce, judicial separation, maintenance, remarriage and custody of children.
However, the proposed Sindh legislation has faced objections from major Christian denominations over the extent of consultation and claims that church representatives had consented to the bill.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi said participation by Catholic representatives in consultations did not amount to approval or endorsement and said it had submitted substantive constitutional, legal and ecclesiastical objections. Bishop Frederick John of the Church of Pakistan likewise rejected suggestions that he had formally consented to the legislation.
The Punjab bill now awaits consideration by the provincial assembly. It would not become law unless passed by the assembly and enacted through the required legislative process.
Its passage would also bring the statutory minimum marriage age for Christian men and women into line with the 18-year threshold that has increasingly become a focus of child marriage reform in Pakistan.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Philippine lawmakers seek official recognition of September as National Family Month]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/philippine-lawmakers-seek-official-recognition-of-september-as-national-family-month</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/philippine-lawmakers-seek-official-recognition-of-september-as-national-family-month</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ellen Gabisay]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/53/5381.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Filipino Family]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Unsplash ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Philippine lawmakers have filed resolutions seeking to declare September as National Family Month. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 17:12:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Philippine lawmakers have filed resolutions seeking to declare September as National Family Month, as evangelical leaders urge churches and Christian communities to make the strengthening and restoration of Filipino families a greater ministry priority.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Philippine lawmakers have filed resolutions seeking to declare September as National Family Month, as evangelical leaders urge churches and Christian communities to make the strengthening and restoration of Filipino families a greater ministry priority.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Proposed Resolution No. 686, while Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. filed House Resolution No. 1455 on Sept. 17, both calling for a September observance and sustained programs to protect and strengthen Filipino families. The House measure remains pending with the Committee on Population and Family Relations.
The initiative has been welcomed by the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) Family Commission, which has encouraged Christians to continue advocating for the measure. “We pray for a strong nation. We start by strengthening our families,” the commission said in a Facebook post announcing Gatchalian’s resolution.
The PCEC Family Commission also welcomed Abante’s House resolution, describing the development as another opportunity to advance its advocacy for Filipino families. “We also thank God, who opens doors for our advocacy for the Filipino family,” the commission wrote in Tagalog. It urged Christians to continue writing to lawmakers and praying that legislators and the president would support the proposal.
The religious emphasis is also reflected in Abante’s resolution, which frames the family within Christian teaching and describes it as part of God’s design for society. The resolution cites biblical passages including Psalm 127:1 and Genesis 2:24 and calls for policies that would “restore the family as God intended” and strengthen the family as the foundation of a “strong, blessed and righteous Philippines.”
It also proposes integrating a Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual (BPSS) approach into government family interventions, combining practical, psychological, social and spiritual support. The resolution calls for stronger protection of children, assistance for solo parents and struggling households, family-supportive wages, protection against domestic and digital harm, and mental health and spiritual support.
The PCEC’s advocacy comes alongside a recent call for churches to make family restoration a ministry priority.  Evangelical leaders urged churches to strengthen marriages, support parents and protect children through worship, prayer, preaching, counseling and family-focused programs. They described family ministry as both a practical response to social challenges and a renewed commitment to Christian teaching on family life.
“Let us stand as a beacon of hope,” the leaders wrote, calling Christians to participate in “restoring, healing, and strengthening the Filipino family.”
Both congressional resolutions point to the existing constitutional recognition of the family as the foundation of the nation and to laws and executive issuances that already provide various forms of family protection and support. September is currently observed through Family Week, established by Proclamation No. 60 in 1992, while Proclamation No. 326 in 2012 designated the fourth Monday of September as “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” Day.
Gatchalian has said expanding the observance from a week to an entire month could provide more opportunities for government agencies and different sectors to coordinate family-focused programs and highlight the importance of the Filipino family. 
While the proposed National Family Month remains a resolution, not yet a law, Christian leaders see the legislative initiative as an opportunity for churches to engage not only in advocacy but also in the work they say begins at home: strengthening marriages, equipping parents, protecting children and pointing families toward faith.
“If we want a strong nation, let’s strengthen the Filipino Family,” the PCEC Family Commission said.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Evangelical leaders call churches to strengthen Filipino families]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelical-leaders-call-churches-to-strengthen-filipino-families</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelical-leaders-call-churches-to-strengthen-filipino-families</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ellen Gabisay]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Filipino family, Philippines]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ iStock ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Evangelical leaders in the Philippines have urged churches to make family restoration a ministry priority, calling Christian communities to strengthen marriages, support parents and help protect children. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:35:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Over the past month, evangelical leaders in the Philippines have urged churches to make family restoration a ministry priority, calling Christian communities to strengthen marriages, support parents and help protect children.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Over the past month, evangelical leaders in the Philippines have urged churches to make family restoration a ministry priority, calling Christian communities to strengthen marriages, support parents and help protect children.
In a pastoral directive, the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches called on local churches and faith communities to observe September as National Family Month through worship services, preaching, prayer gatherings and programs focused on marriage, responsible parenthood and family solidarity.
“Our nation stands at a critical juncture. Modern challenges are eroding the foundation of the Filipino family. Recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) figures reveal that our total fertility rate has dropped to 1.7%. Over 58% of children are now born out of wedlock, marriages have declined drastically over the last two decades, and over 15 million solo parents struggle under severe socio-economic pressure,” the PCEC statement says, adding that schools are also facing mental health crises and youth violence.
The directive highlights the family as central to Christian teaching, describing a stable marriage and family life as part of God’s design for human flourishing and the protection of children.
“Empirical research consistently demonstrates that children raised by both biological parents in a stable, low-conflict home fare significantly better spiritually, emotionally, educationally, and economically. When family structures fracture, children experience elevated risks of abuse, trauma, and neglect,” the statement said.
Churches were also encouraged to establish bio-psycho-social-spiritual (BPSS) initiatives that equip church volunteers, pastoral workers and youth leaders to provide spiritual guidance, marriage counseling, parenting education and mental health support within their communities.
The leaders also called on churches to engage schools and communities by providing trained faith volunteers and character-building materials, particularly in efforts to prevent school violence and promote moral formation.
They further urged Christians to participate in civic advocacy by engaging local government officials and legislators on policies concerning family preservation, living wages, solo-parent welfare and the protection of children.
The directive cited the 1987 Philippine Constitution and existing laws related to parent effectiveness and mental health, while emphasizing that government efforts alone cannot address the challenges facing Filipino families.
For the church, the leaders said the response should include both practical support and a renewed commitment to Christian teaching on family life.
“Let us stand as a beacon of hope,” the leaders wrote, calling churches to take part in “restoring, healing, and strengthening the Filipino family.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[European evangelical body raises concerns over abortion measures in Andorra and Liechtenstein]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/european-evangelical-body-raises-concerns-over-abortion-measures-in-andorra-and-liechtenstein</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/european-evangelical-body-raises-concerns-over-abortion-measures-in-andorra-and-liechtenstein</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[pregnant woman]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ freestocks | Unsplash ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 07:40:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) has expressed concern over recent moves to liberalize abortion laws in Andorra and Liechtenstein, saying the developments reflect what it views as a broader trend toward expanding abortion access across Europe.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) has expressed concern over recent moves to liberalize abortion laws in Andorra and Liechtenstein, saying the developments reflect what it views as a broader trend toward expanding abortion access across Europe.
In September 2026, both predominantly Catholic countries advanced legislative or policy proposals that could expand access to abortion.
In Andorra, Prime Minister Xavier Espot announced plans to introduce legislation before the end of his term to decriminalize abortion obtained by women outside the country.
“We are continuing this dialogue, with our sights set on this coming parliamentary session and, therefore, with the assurance that we can approve the decriminalisation of abortion. And that is what we are working on,” Espot reportedly told the Andorran news outlet La Veu Lliure in reference to discussions with the Vatican.
Andorra is a parliamentary co-principality with two heads of state: French President Emmanuel Macron and the Bishop of Urgell, Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat.
The proposal would not legalize abortion in Andorra but would seek to prevent women from being prosecuted for obtaining abortions abroad. The debate has also raised questions about the possible response of the Bishop of Urgell if the law changes.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported Sept. 3 that Liechtenstein’s parliament narrowly backed a citizen-led initiative to legalize abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy by a 13-12 vote. The initiative, led by a local women’s advocacy group, would also remove a nationwide ban on providing information about abortion and make the procedure eligible for health insurance.
However, Hereditary Prince Alois has indicated that he would use his constitutional powers to veto the measure. Abortion is currently highly restricted in the principality, including exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape and cases involving serious danger to the woman’s life or health.
Tatiana Kopaleishvili, EEA representative to the EU in Brussels, told Christian Daily International that the evangelical body is concerned about what it sees as a broader trend reflected in the two developments.
“Obviously, we do not support the decriminalisation or legalisation of abortion in Andorra or Liechtenstein, or anywhere else,” Kopaleishvili said. “We hold to the biblical view of the sanctity of human life from conception, and we are concerned by both developments.”
Kopaleishvili also expressed concern that the Catholic heritage of both countries was being given insufficient weight in the abortion debate.
“It is a pity to see how fervently these states are pushing this agenda forward, treating their Catholic heritage and the legislative safeguards built into their own constitutions as if they carried no real weight,” she said.
“It would be far better to see the same fervour directed elsewhere: towards eliminating the underlying causes that drive women to consider abortion in the first place, towards supporting women through crisis pregnancies so they don't feel abortion is their only option, and towards ensuring sufficient care for mothers and children after birth.
“If governments pursued those goals with the same determination they are showing in pursuing legalisation by all means, the outcome for women and children alike would be far better.”
Kopaleishvili said the developments in Andorra and Liechtenstein are part of a broader trend in Europe. She pointed to Monaco, another small country with a Catholic heritage, which decriminalized abortion for women in 2009 and subsequently eased further criminal restrictions in 2019.
The Centre for Reproductive Rights has identified 20 European countries that took steps to expand abortion access during the past decade, while noting that some European countries have moved in the opposite direction.
“Once decriminalisation takes hold in one jurisdiction, it tends to normalise the argument elsewhere, making it harder for neighbouring states to hold the line,” Kopaleishvili said.
“Beyond the loss of unborn life itself, this trajectory is troubling because it erodes the role of constitutional safeguards, such as the co-principality in Andorra or the sovereign's sanction in Liechtenstein, that were designed precisely to prevent narrow parliamentary majorities from overriding deeply held moral and religious convictions.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Räsänen receives award for courage]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/rasanen-receives-award-for-courage</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/rasanen-receives-award-for-courage</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Räsänen Päivi pictured receiving the award]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Räsänen Päivi ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Räsänen Päivi pictured receiving the award ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:29:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen has been awarded the prestigious Dominus Vitae Award by U.S.-based ministry Lutherans For Life, honoring her courage in standing up for biblical truth and human dignity despite facing severe public opposition and legal challenges in Europe.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen has been awarded the prestigious Dominus Vitae Award by U.S.-based ministry Lutherans For Life, honoring her courage in standing up for biblical truth and human dignity despite facing severe public opposition and legal challenges in Europe.
The award, whose title translates to the "Lord of Life Award," was presented Friday evening at the organization’s annual gala in Des Moines, Iowa. It is the ministry's highest distinction, given to leaders who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to advocating for the sanctity of human life.
Räsänen, a medical doctor, longtime Finnish lawmaker, and former Minister of the Interior, has been a prominent global voice for religious freedom and traditional Christian ethics. Her selection for the award reflects international recognition for her stance on biblical marriage.
Reflecting on the award given to her, Räsänen pointed to the contrast between the vibrant advocacy among American believers and the current state of the Church in her home nation.
"I accept this recognition with humility and gratitude," Räsänen said. "I am encouraged that American Lutherans affirm the value of every human life and openly defend the right to life of even the smallest and most vulnerable among us. There is much that Finnish Lutheranism could learn from this example."
Räsänen officially filed an appeal of a hate speech conviction with the European Court of Human Rights on July 24, as previously reported by Christian Daily International.
The move is the latest front in a seven-year battle with landmark implications for freedom of speech and religion. The Supreme Court of Finland convicted Räsänen, a member of parliament since 1995 and former interior minister, in a narrow 3-2 decision on March 26.
The conviction centered on statements expressing biblical views on marriage and human sexuality in a 2004 booklet titled “Male and Female He Created Them.” The court fined Räsänen 1,800 euros ($1,950) and ordered her to cover her legal costs, overturning two previous acquittals by lower courts.
Founded in 1978, Lutherans For Life works to equip Christians to address life issues from a gospel-centered, biblical perspective. The non-partisan organization addresses a broad spectrum of ethical concerns, including abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, disability rights, and end-of-life care.
Previous recipients of the Dominus Vitae Award include former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker, theologian and bioethicist Gilbert Meilaender, and pro-life speaker Melissa Ohden, an abortion survivor.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Argentine evangelical congress gathers 500 leaders to strengthen support for children and families]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/argentine-evangelical-congress-gathers-500-leaders-to-strengthen-support-for-children-and-families</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/argentine-evangelical-congress-gathers-500-leaders-to-strengthen-support-for-children-and-families</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lizzie Sotola]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Members of ACIERAs Federal Childrens Roundtable: the Rev. Ligia Wurfel, with the Revs. Franco Quiroga, Marcos Ozsurko, Carlos Mansilla and Walter Luna.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ ACIERA ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Members of ACIERA's Federal Children's Roundtable: the Rev. Ligia Wurfel, with the Revs. Franco Quiroga, Marcos Ozsurko, Carlos Mansilla and Walter Luna. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:30:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[About 500 pastors, leaders and ministry representatives met Sept. 12 at Ríos de Vida Church in Quilmes, Argentina, for the First Congress on Childhood, Adolescence, Family and Education, organized by the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Argentine Republic (ACIERA), according to a recent report on the gathering.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
About 500 pastors, leaders and ministry representatives met Sept. 12 at Ríos de Vida Church in Quilmes, Argentina, for the First Congress on Childhood, Adolescence, Family and Education, organized by the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Argentine Republic (ACIERA), according to a recent report on the gathering. The day combined biblical teaching and training to respond to the needs children, adolescents and families face in their communities.
The event was organized by ACIERA's Federal Children's Roundtable (Mesa Federal de Niñez). Its theme was drawn from Matthew 18:14: "It is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should perish."
Delegations came from the Buenos Aires metropolitan suburbs (conurbano bonaerense), the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and towns in the country's interior. The program included plenary sessions, a panel discussion on Argentina's social situation and two rounds of workshops. More than 30 speakers took part.
The Rev. Rubén Del Re, executive director of the Argentine Bible Society (Sociedad Bíblica Argentina), led the first plenary session. He urged participants to seize opportunities to share the Scriptures with adolescents and to pay attention to their needs, even when they seem distracted or distant.
"The Holy Spirit produces delight. That is why we teach and pray, so that the Scriptures will make them wise for salvation in Christ Jesus," he said.
Del Re also spoke about the influence of mothers and grandmothers in spiritual formation. He pointed to Eunice and Lois, Timothy's mother and grandmother, and the role that passing on the faith played in Timothy's life. Reflecting on Matthew 9:35-38, he linked Jesus' compassion with the responsibility to act in the face of people's needs.
The social situation of children was the focus of another part of the gathering. The Rev. Gabriel Coria addressed poverty and difficulties in accessing food, while the Rev. Paula Pradas spoke about educational challenges.
The poverty figures cited during the day are consistent with a UNICEF report published in June 2026, based on data from the second half of 2025. It found that 5.1 million children and adolescents were living in poor households in Argentina. About 1.1 million of them lived in households in extreme poverty. Monetary poverty affected 42.3% of the child and adolescent population.
The Rev. Amílcar Matosian spoke about youth suicide prevention and challenged myths that hinder addressing the issue. He urged those present to take an interest in the lives of adolescents and said churches should be "healthy communities, without judging."
Workshops offered training in child sexual abuse prevention, protocols for situations of violence, addictions, disability and neurodivergence. There were also sessions on Christian education in the home, pastoral care, children's rights and the use of social media and artificial intelligence.
Other workshops addressed sports and the arts as spaces of support, preparation for the workplace and organizing activities for children and adolescents. Participants were able to choose two workshops over the course of the day.
In the closing plenary session, the Rev. Christian Hooft, president of ACIERA, urged churches to stay attentive both to the threats children face and to the opportunities to walk alongside them.
"Let us talk to them about important things; let us sow a vision of greatness, the DNA of hope," he said. He spoke of adults' responsibility to pass on faith and hope to the next generations.
Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Record 2,400 Christian leaders gather in Atlanta for CAFO2026 child welfare summit]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/record-2-400-christian-leaders-gather-in-atlanta-for-cafo2026-child-welfare-summit</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/record-2-400-christian-leaders-gather-in-atlanta-for-cafo2026-child-welfare-summit</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Attendees listen during a plenary session at CAFO2026, the annual summit of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, at First Baptist Atlanta in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ YouTube/Christian Alliance for Orphans ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Attendees listen during a plenary session at CAFO2026, the annual summit of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, at First Baptist Atlanta in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The conference's theme, "Less: Fewer branches, better fruit," is displayed on the screen behind the stage. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:33:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[More than 2,400 Christian child welfare leaders from across the United States and at least 50 countries gathered in Atlanta on Wednesday for the opening of CAFO2026, marking the largest attendance in the annual conference's 22-year history.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
More than 2,400 Christian child welfare leaders from across the United States and at least 50 countries gathered in Atlanta on Wednesday for the opening of CAFO2026, marking the largest attendance in the annual conference's 22-year history.
Hosted by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), the three-day summit at First Baptist Atlanta runs through Sept. 25, bringing together faith-based advocates, adoptive families, and ministry heads to refine best practices for supporting vulnerable youth and families globally.
This year’s theme, "Less: Fewer branches, better fruit," challenges leaders to streamline their efforts rather than continuously expanding programs, focusing on depth and intentionality to maximize their long-term impact.
"Throughout history, Christians have been known for their special care for children the world overlooks," said Jedd Medefind, president of CAFO. "Today we see that ancient commitment rising afresh, from US foster care to ministry with vulnerable children and families worldwide. At CAFO2026, we’ll explore a truth that can feel counterintuitive in a culture that constantly tells us to do more. Sometimes the path to better fruit is fewer branches and less overgrown lives."
The event features more than 200 workshops and strategy sessions spanning foster care engagement, organizational leadership, church mobilization, and practical research. Featured speakers and artists on the mainstage include Lecrae, Dr. Curt Thompson, Katherine Wolf, Kelly Kapic, Shane & Shane, and Medefind.
CAFO serves as an umbrella network connecting more than 300 non-profit organizations alongside a global network of local churches. Participating organizations in the Atlanta area include FaithBridge Foster Care, WinShape Homes, Eagle Ranch, and Send Relief, among nearly two dozen local partners.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Peru's president unveils school reform to remove content her government considers ideological]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/peru-s-president-unveils-school-reform-to-remove-ideological-content</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/peru-s-president-unveils-school-reform-to-remove-ideological-content</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lizzie Sotola]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Keiko Fujimori (middle) during an event at the Ministry of Education. Her government announced a reform of the school curriculum to remove content it considers ideological.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Presidency of Peru ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Keiko Fujimori (middle) during an event at the Ministry of Education. Her government announced a reform of the school curriculum to remove content it considers ideological. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 04:28:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori unveiled an education reform Sept. 14 that would update the national school curriculum and remove content her government considers ideological.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori unveiled an education reform Sept. 14 that would update the national school curriculum and remove content her government considers ideological.
The review is not limited to so-called "gender ideology." Education Minister José Antonio Chang said it will also cover how schools teach the period of violence Peru experienced from 1980 to 2000. The reform follows a 2025 law that already ordered changes to sex education in schools.
Fujimori and Chang announced the plan during the presentation of the National Education Plan 2026-2031 at the José María Arguedas school in Santa Anita, a district of Lima.
Fujimori said teaching should prioritize data and verifiable information, the official gazette El Peruano reported.
Chang said: "We are going to remove every kind of ideology from the national curriculum."
The plan also aims to strengthen reading, writing, mathematics, science, civic education, English and financial education. The executive branch announced a daily reading hour and a guide to help families support their children's learning.
What content is under review
Official statements point to a broad review of the curriculum. Some outlets have reported the announcement as a specific order to eliminate "gender ideology," but the government's wording also covers the teaching of the country's recent history.
In an interview with Caretas, Chang said his ministry will review content and materials on the 1980-2000 period of violence.
He said the changes must be based on teaching criteria and scientific evidence. He also said he rejects what he considers manipulation or indoctrination in how terrorism is taught.
The government has not yet announced a timeline for the changes.
The 2025 law on gender and sex education
Law 32535, published Dec. 24, 2025, set a new framework for equal opportunities between women and men.
The law provided for replacing the National Gender Equality Policy. It also established that references to the gender approach are to be understood as references to the approach of equal opportunities between women and men.
In education, the law directed the Ministry of Education to issue sex education guidelines on a scientific, biological and ethical basis and to include them in the curriculum update. It removed references to comprehensive sexuality education. It also recognized the role of parents or guardians in their children's education.
The law is separate from this week's reform announcement. Further steps are still needed to bring the changes into classrooms.
Questions over the reform's scope
The proposal has raised questions about how the government will decide what counts as ideological content.
In an editorial, the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru expressed concern about the reform's possible effects on the teaching of the internal armed conflict, the gender approach and comprehensive sexuality education.
The executive branch has not yet defined which content will be removed or the criteria it will use to apply the changes.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian family law bill in Pakistan’s Sindh sparks controversy as churches deny consent]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-family-law-bill-in-pakistans-sindh-sparks-controversy-as-churches-deny-consent</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-family-law-bill-in-pakistans-sindh-sparks-controversy-as-churches-deny-consent</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[A. S. John]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[St. Patricks Cathedral stands in Karachi, Pakistan, in this undated photo.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ iStock / Danishkhan ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ St. Patrick's Cathedral stands in Karachi, Pakistan, in this undated photo. The Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi said a proposed Christian family law in Sindh province was neither endorsed nor approved by the Catholic Church. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:43:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Controversy has erupted over a proposed law to overhaul Christian family legislation in Pakistan’s Sindh province after the Catholic Church and the Church of Pakistan both denied giving their consent to the bill, despite claims that the two major denominations were consulted during its preparation.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Controversy has erupted over a proposed law to overhaul Christian family legislation in Pakistan’s Sindh province after the Catholic Church and the Church of Pakistan both denied giving their consent to the bill, despite claims that the two major denominations were consulted during its preparation.
Archbishop Benny Travas of the Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi said the proposed Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 was neither endorsed nor approved by the Catholic Church, while the Rt. Rev. Frederick John, bishop of the Karachi Diocese of the Church of Pakistan, also categorically rejected any suggestion that he had consented to the legislation.
Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, the province’s first Christian to hold the position, introduced the Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 as a private member’s bill on Sept. 8.
The proposed legislation would raise the minimum marriage age for Christian men and women to 18 and replace the colonial-era Christian Marriage Act of 1872 and Divorce Act of 1869 in Sindh.
The bill would require the free and voluntary consent of both parties for a valid marriage and establish procedures for the solemnization and registration of Christian marriages, dissolution of marriage, judicial separation, maintenance and alimony, remarriage, and the custody, maintenance and education of minor children.
It also sets out grounds for dissolution of marriage, including adultery, contracting another marriage, cruelty, rape or violence, and desertion for more than two years, among others. To prevent prolonged litigation, the bill proposes that family cases be decided within six months.
The proposed law says its purpose is to strengthen legal protection for Christian women, children and families while safeguarding the religious beliefs, traditions and practices of the Christian community.
The bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs, which was given two weeks to examine it and report back to the assembly.
According to Naveed, the legislation followed months of consultations by a subcommittee of the Sindh Minority Caucus comprising himself, Sindh Chief Minister’s Special Assistant Dr. Sham Sundar Advani and MPA Mahesh Kumar Hasija. He also claimed that the subcommittee consulted representatives of the Catholic Church, Church of Pakistan, Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church, Salvation Army and major Pentecostal churches.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, however, said participation by Catholic representatives in the consultations did not amount to approval or endorsement of the legislation.
“The Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (PCBC) categorically clarifies that the proposed Sindh Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 was neither endorsed nor approved by the Catholic Church,” the Archdiocese said in a statement issued on Sept. 10.
The Archdiocese said it had formally submitted detailed objections and recommendations to the relevant authorities, citing “substantive constitutional, legal and ecclesiastical concerns” and proposing significant amendments.
Two days later, on Sept. 12, Bishop John of the Church of Pakistan also issued a statement rejecting what he called misleading claims regarding his alleged consent to the bill.
John said he “categorically and unequivocally” distanced himself from claims by Naveed suggesting that he had been consulted, conducted a comprehensive review and formally consented to the proposed legislation.
The bishop said his name and ecclesiastical authority had been invoked without prior discussion, thorough review or formal communication with him.
John said he had been invited by a provincial office to view the draft during a preliminary consultation, but that the meeting covered only basic descriptions and definitions of Christian terminology. The information from that meeting, he said, was not accurately represented on the assembly floor.
He also said the draft’s definition of “Church” was inadequately framed and that several important Christian terms had been omitted.
A subsequent meeting was held without John’s personal participation, he said, but he sent a clergyman as his official representative. According to John, the representative reported that significant work remained to be done, and the meeting concluded with an understanding that additional sessions were needed to finalize the text.
“In short, the current document remains incomplete, immature, and entirely unready to be presented before the provincial assembly,” John said.
The bishop said he had formally submitted reservations, theological critiques and alternative proposals concerning the bill to the relevant authorities.
While saying he did not inherently oppose legislative amendments needed to address modern administrative realities, John said he firmly opposed any modernization of family laws that came at the expense of Christian sacraments or core Christian beliefs.
He emphasized that marriage is a sacred covenant rather than merely a civil or social contract and said legislation governing Christian marriage should adhere to biblical teaching, Christian theology and historical church tradition.
John also called for protection of the religious liberties and sacramental practices of Christian communities, saying no individual or church official should pledge support for or approve such legislation without a thorough, transparent and collaborative consultation process.
He recommended establishing a national working committee on Christian family laws rather than developing separate provincial frameworks.
“It is vital to maintain national uniformity on Christian family laws, particularly regarding the sacrament of Holy Matrimony,” he said, warning that separate provincial legislation could create conflicting legal frameworks for Christians across Pakistan and contribute to fragmentation within the Christian community.
Catholic objections
The Catholic Church said its representatives participated in an April 28 meeting of a sub-group of the Sindh Minority Parliamentary Caucus to review a draft of the proposed Christian family laws. It stressed, however, that participation in the consultation process did not constitute approval, consent or endorsement of the legislation.
The Archdiocese said it was concerned that the bill had been introduced without addressing substantive objections and recommendations submitted by the PCBC.
Among its objections, the Catholic Church said the proposed repeal of the Christian Marriage Act of 1872 and Christian Divorce Act of 1869 should be withdrawn because the laws are federal statutes.
It also opposed the creation of a province-specific Christian family law regime, calling instead for a uniform national framework applicable throughout Pakistan.
The Church said marriage and divorce laws should remain separate rather than being consolidated into a single statute. It also called for the legislation to recognize the Catholic understanding of marriage, particularly between baptized Christians, as the Sacrament of Matrimony and a sacred, lifelong covenant rather than merely a civil or legal contract.
The Archdiocese further called for safeguards against state interference with Catholic religious rites, sacramental life, ecclesiastical authority and internal governance. It said the definition of “Christian” should adequately recognize the distinct denominational and ecclesiastical identities of the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian denominations.
Citing Article 20 of Pakistan’s Constitution, the Church said freedom of religion and the autonomy of religious institutions must be fully protected.
While acknowledging that the state may regulate the civil consequences of marriage and family relationships, it said such regulation must not alter or interfere with religious doctrine, rites or the ecclesiastical governance of churches.
The Catholic Church called on the Sindh Assembly, chief minister, minority affairs minister and law secretary to place its written objections on the legislative record, defer further legislative action and undertake meaningful consultation with the PCBC and other Christian stakeholders.
Naveed did not respond to text messages and phone calls seeking his comments on the objections raised by the two church denominations.
The controversy in Sindh comes as other provinces also move to reform laws affecting Christian families.
In Punjab, Minority Affairs Committee Chairman Falbous Christopher introduced a private member’s Christian Marriage Act Bill 2026 in April.
The proposed legislation would raise the minimum marriage age for Christian men and women to 18, require registration of marriages with union councils and the National Database and Registration Authority, and authorize registered churches across the province to solemnize Christian marriages.
The bill also sought to remove colonial-era restrictions, including a prohibition on solemnizing Christian marriages after 6 p.m.
The Punjab government later formed a technical committee headed by Punjab Minorities Affairs Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora and comprising representatives of major Christian churches, lawmakers and civil society activists to build consensus on the bill’s provisions, particularly those concerning divorce, before it is presented for a vote.
Punjab has separately strengthened its broader child marriage law. The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026 came into force on May 11, raising the minimum marriage age for both girls and boys to 18 and making child marriage a cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable offense.
The legislative push for stronger safeguards comes amid continuing reports of abduction, forced conversion and marriage involving Christian and other minority girls.
A Jubilee Campaign study, “Stolen Girls,” documented 210 verified cases involving abduction, forced conversion, child marriage and sexual violence against Christian and other minority girls between 2019 and 2025. Of those cases, 186 occurred in Punjab and 22 in Sindh, while more than 83 percent of the victims were under 18.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Global study finds a third of young people have an AI companion as close friendships narrow]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/global-study-finds-a-third-of-young-people-have-an-ai-companion</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/global-study-finds-a-third-of-young-people-have-an-ai-companion</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A young woman using a smartphone. AI. technology. Mobile phone.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ A global study released Sept. 10, 2026, by the Christian youth ministry Young Life found that 35% of adolescents and young adults surveyed across 11 countries report having an artificial intelligence companion, and that 60% of those users say they are more comfortable confiding in it than in some friends or family members. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:26:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[More than a third of adolescents and young adults surveyed across 11 countries say they have an artificial intelligence companion, and most of that group say they find it easier to confide in the software than in some of their friends or relatives, according to research released Thursday by Young Life.]]></description>
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More than a third of adolescents and young adults surveyed across 11 countries say they have an artificial intelligence companion, and most of that group say they find it easier to confide in the software than in some of their friends or relatives, according to research released Thursday (Sept. 10) by Young Life.
The RELATE Project 2026, the second wave of a global study by the Christian youth ministry, surveyed 7,105 people ages 13 to 24 online between November 2025 and January 2026 and followed the survey with 22 focus groups involving 97 participants, most of them Young Life volunteers or staff. Young Life said the findings point in two directions at once: the number of close relationships young people report has fallen since 2023 and conversational AI has moved into part of that space, yet the same respondents say they increasingly prefer to meet in person.
Nearly all those surveyed — 89% — said they use AI in some form, most often for practical tasks, the report said. About one in three use it relationally. Within the full sample, 35% said they have an AI companion, a figure the study reported at 45% among 13- to 15-year-olds and 29% among 22- to 24-year-olds. Young men were somewhat more likely than young women to report one, 38% to 32%.
Of those with an AI companion, 60% agreed strongly or somewhat that they are more comfortable with it than with some friends or family members, according to the study. The report also said roughly one in 10 adolescents manage stress by talking with an AI companion.
Spiritual questions put to chatbots
The survey asked for the first time whether young people treat AI as a source of religious guidance. Across the sample, 41% agreed that AI is a reliable source for spiritual questions and 30% disagreed, the report said, with the youngest respondents the most willing to trust it in that area.
Identity questions showed a smaller but notable shift. Asked whom they trust most when working out who they are, two-thirds of respondents named friends or family. Teachers, coaches, pastors and other religious leaders ranked at the bottom of that list. Eight percent named AI.
Young Life cautioned in the report that AI companions are built to supply constant validation, simulated empathy and immediate availability, and that leaning on them in place of people may leave young users without practice in conflict, disappointment, apology and repair. The organization described the technology as functioning for the next generation as a low-risk substitute or supplement for human relationships.
That concern was echoed by young people themselves. In focus groups, older members of Generation Z said they worried about how readily their younger peers accept AI and wished they were more skeptical, according to the report.
"The RELATE Project tells us that while young people are constantly connected online, they are craving authentic, in-person community," said Newt Crenshaw, president and CEO of Young Life, in a statement accompanying the release. He said respondents were looking for "trusted, consistent adults" who would earn and keep their trust and listen.
What counts as listening
One of the study's more pointed findings concerns how young people define good listening. Asked what matters most, 42% chose giving full attention and putting devices away, and 33% chose responding without judgment. Asking follow-up questions came last, cited by 19% — a break from the active-listening model taught to earlier generations, the report said.
Those criteria closely match what chatbots are designed to do: express empathy, keep what is said private and withhold judgment. The report drew the comparison directly.
Fewer people to turn to
The average number of close relationships young people reported fell from 5.3 in 2023 to 4.4 in the latest wave, Young Life said. On average, respondents said they had two people they could talk to about things that really matter.
Four in 10 said they were not fully confident that any adult in their life is genuinely interested in listening to them. Satisfaction with friendships has held steady, with 58% rating their contentment at eight or higher on a 10-point scale, but focus group participants described relationships as central to their lives and, at the same time, unreliable.
Trust is conditional. In every country surveyed, confidentiality ranked as the first priority in building trust, with 73% calling it extremely or very important. Loyalty was the trait most respondents wanted to be known for, chosen by 53%. Focus groups defined both as not repeating someone's story without permission — a definition shaped, participants said, by growing up with parents and peers who post about them without asking.
"This starts with proving we are safe enough to listen — protecting their confidentiality and offering space for them without immediately trying to offer advice or judgment," said Kimberly Nollan, director of research and practice at Young Life.
Preference for face-to-face contact rose over the same period. Sixty-four percent named it as their preferred way to communicate with close friends, up from 54% in 2023. Yet 63% said they find it easier to express themselves online than in person, a pattern the report said was strongest among the youngest respondents.
Stress, sleep and mental health
More than a third of respondents, 35%, said they feel a lot or a great deal of stress regularly. Their most common worries were thinking about the future, cited by 57%, money at 49% and school at 42%. Mental health ranked as the top concern across the full sample and among the top three in nearly every country surveyed.
Sleep was short almost everywhere. Only 40% of 13- to 15-year-olds reported eight hours or more, falling to 25% among those ages 22 to 24. Music was the most common way respondents said they relieve stress, chosen by 57%, ahead of time with friends, exercise and time outdoors.
Faith described as lived rather than inherited
Across all countries, 71% said they follow their family's religious affiliation. More than four in 10 expressed a commitment to faith and a desire to grow in it, the most frequent response in every country surveyed, regardless of religious background.
Among respondents who identified as Christians, 71% said they believe they are important to God and the same share said their faith is important in their life. Fewer reported having a relationship with God, at 55%, or having made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, at 57%. Only 26% felt strongly that their beliefs help them understand the world and how to live in it.
The report found a link between feeling important to God and believing oneself worthy of being loved. Sixty-two percent of respondents rated their worthiness of being loved at eight or higher; among those with no religious affiliation, the figure was about half. Religious adolescents also reported a greater sense of being able to make a difference in others' lives than those who identified as atheist, agnostic or unaffiliated, 42% to 45% against 28%.
Focus group participants described faith less as a fixed system of belief than as something practical and tested, and said Generation Z has little appetite for a faith that is inherited or taught in the abstract. They judge the credibility of Christianity, according to the report, by whether adult leaders live out what they preach.
On forgiveness, 36% said they almost always forgive someone who makes a mistake and 39% said they often do. Some focus group participants questioned those numbers, suggesting their peers may prefer to think of themselves as forgiving while avoiding the work of repair. The report connected that pattern to the premium placed on staying calm and avoiding conflict.
The survey covered the United States, with 1,672 respondents, the United Kingdom, 880; India, 822; Mexico, 804; Hong Kong, 706; Ethiopia, 426; Nigeria, 400; Kenya, 356; Argentina, 353; Liberia, 345; and Zimbabwe, 341.
Young Life, founded 85 years ago, works through volunteers who build friendships with adolescents and introduce them to Christianity. The ministry said the RELATE findings are already shaping how it trains leaders and equips parents. The full report and regional breakdowns are available at relate.younglife.org.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Dominican evangelical body urges national response to falling PISA scores]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/dominican-evangelical-body-urges-national-response-to-falling-pisa-scores</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/dominican-evangelical-body-urges-national-response-to-falling-pisa-scores</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lizzie Sotola]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[High school students walk between classes.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ High school students walk between classes. Seven of 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries assessed in the latest PISA round posted average score declines, and the Dominican Evangelical Alliance has called for limits on cellphone use during school hours as part of a national response. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[More than 700,000 15-year-old students took part in the latest edition of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). According to CNN en Español, seven of the 13 countries assessed in the region posted average declines compared with previous measurements, confirming a picture of stalled learning affecting young people.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
More than 700,000 15-year-old students took part in the latest edition of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). According to CNN en Español, seven of the 13 countries assessed in the region posted average declines compared with previous measurements, confirming a picture of stalled learning affecting young people.
The international assessment covered science, math and reading in 91 countries. The organization warned that the overall level achieved in this round represents "one of the lowest levels of educational performance ever recorded for the PISA tests," pointing to structural challenges in classrooms across the continent.
In response, the Dominican Evangelical Alliance (AEDO) called for a national response to the country's low student learning levels. In a statement, the organization proposed strengthening basic skills, reviewing teacher training, and promoting greater involvement from families and society as a whole in education.
According to the PISA report on the Dominican Republic, only 9% of students assessed reached the minimum proficiency level in math, 23% in reading and 26% in science.
"This data isn't just a poor international score; it's a serious warning about the present and future of our nation," said Bishop Reynaldo Franco Aquino, AEDO's president.
The organization warned that difficulties in understanding texts, reasoning and interpreting evidence undermine teenagers' preparedness to function in society. In its view, the problem also requires addressing motivation, study habits, perseverance and family support.
The statement noted that between 2022 and 2025, the share of students who said they work harder when faced with difficult tasks fell by 10.8 percentage points, while curiosity dropped 10.2 points.
Another focus of the statement was the use of digital devices. AEDO said technology can expand access to knowledge, but warned of the risks of using it in ways that replace reading, reflection and independent work. It called for effectively regulating cellphone use during school hours and developing programs on digital responsibility and critical thinking.
Among its proposals is an emergency plan to strengthen reading, math and science, with public goals and regular assessments. It also called for reviewing teacher training, hiring and support, while ensuring decent working conditions.
The organization also called for greater transparency around education spending, so that accountability measures show how much students are actually learning. It further called for strengthening school attendance, punctuality and discipline.
AEDO said these responsibilities go beyond the Ministry of Education and involve schools, teachers, families, churches, media outlets and community organizations. In particular, it stressed that parents cannot fully hand off their children's upbringing to schools.
As part of its response, the alliance said it was ready to mobilize churches, schools, universities and community organizations to organize reading clubs, tutoring, family support programs and guidance on the responsible use of technology. It stressed that these initiatives need to be part of a sustained, measurable national strategy.
"PISA's results shouldn't leave us so ashamed that we're paralyzed — they should shake us into action," Franco Aquino said, urging that the findings be translated into decisions, sustained education policy and concrete results.
Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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