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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>Christian Daily International | Family & Children</title>
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        <copyright>Christian Daily International © 2026</copyright>
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        <lastBuildDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:11:55 -0400</lastBuildDate>
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                                                        <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Motherhood study evaluates depth of life transformation for new moms]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/motherhood-study-evaluates-depth-of-life-transformation-for-new-moms</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/motherhood-study-evaluates-depth-of-life-transformation-for-new-moms</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Family, parenting, mom, motherhood, pregnancy, children]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Unsplash) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:05:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A report jointly published by British Christian think tank Theos and the Bible Society in the United Kingdom has revealed that becoming a mother has a wide-ranging effect on every aspect of her life. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A report jointly published by British Christian think tank Theos and the Bible Society in the United Kingdom has revealed that becoming a mother has a wide-ranging effect on every aspect of her life. 
Theos and the Bible Society collaborated on the “Motherhood, Inside Out” study starting in late 2024, with the initial volume published on July 19. The study examined what really happens when a woman becomes a mother, aiming “to make the invisibility of new motherhood more visible.” An accompanying volume will be published in the future with fuller details on the experiences of mothers around the world.
Interviews with 91 moms and 14 professionals comprised the findings of this first volume. In particular, it explores how new moms navigate the “physical, social, political, and spiritual aspects of matrescence [ the process of becoming a mother].”
“It considers these mothers’ reflections on topics including personal identity, faith and spirituality, embodiment and body image, the media, family and friends, place in their local community, work, politics and current affairs, and mortality,” said Theos.
“The research found that participants were affected differently in all these categories; there is no definitive, universal way of becoming a mother. Nonetheless, with regards to every category, we encountered women whose views and perspectives – indeed, whose whole lives – had been changed at the deepest level when they had children.”
Most of those surveyed (57%) identified with the Christian faith in some form, with 31% not ascribing to any religious belief and 12% from another religion. Although researchers sought more input from mothers of other faiths, securing that feedback proved difficult. 
Findings from the report showed that 62% of parents who had a child in the past 12 months reported suffering from loneliness that impacted their mental health and well-being. That statistic comes from recent research cited in the report by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Financial pressures proved to be another major issue, with 76% of moms relying on debt or savings because of low statutory maternity pay, according to cited data from the charity "Pregnant Then Screwed."
“Returning to paid employment after having children is a financial necessity for many mothers, whether they want to or not,” said Theos. “Statutory maternity pay is only paid for 39 weeks, although many women take longer off work to care for their new children, and company top-up policies vary widely in the level of their provision.”
Furthermore, data from 2024 showed 73% of women worry about money when pregnant or on maternity leave, while a quarter (23%) struggle to buy necessities and over half (54%) struggle “sometimes.” An increasing percentage of women said money worries had affected their health or well-being while pregnant or on maternity leave - 65% in 2024, up from 56% in 2022.
The experience of motherhood made 73% of respondents think more about other moms living in poverty and the challenges involved. Additionally, 72% thought more about education, and 62% considered nature and the environment more deeply. 
“These statistics perhaps suggest a subtle but powerful political disruption that comes with motherhood, in the broadest sense, as priorities shift and change,” said the report. “Having a child, it seems, fundamentally recalibrates how women relate to the world around them.” 
One unnamed respondent quoted in the report said: “I started thinking a bit more about mothers around the world, and thinking about mothers in Gaza, mothers in Ukraine, mothers in, you know, Israel and thinking, you know, I’ve definitely struggled with things, but I’m not in a war. I’m not in a bunker. I’m not, like, on the road being a refugee.”
Feedback from respondents showed mixed views regarding the impact of motherhood on spirituality: “Among the women in our qualitative interviews and focus groups, the impact of new motherhood on spiritual practice ranged widely: some reported a deepening of spirituality, others a refocusing of their practices, some faced significant barriers to spiritual engagement, and for a few, there was no change at all.”
Having a baby rarely turns non-religious people into believers, according to the report. Instead, it deepens existing, mild faith - encouraging people who were already somewhat spiritual to practice more often or join a church community.
Women with an existing faith found becoming mothers affected their spiritual practice in ways that could be both positive and negative. In response, moms often “reformulated” their practice of faith to complement their changing lives.
“These adaptations were almost entirely self-directed, highlighting a notable gap within Christian communities especially to meet and negotiate the spiritual needs of mothers,” noted the report.
Attendance at community worship, such as church services, also saw a varied response. Some moms attended church more regularly, but for others, attending became more difficult.
“Across these accounts, the primary attendance motivation was not often personal spiritual support, but the perceived value of community and the importance of shaping a child’s spiritual development,” noted the report. “This same motivation could also lead people to start attending church where they didn’t attend previously.”
Practical barriers meant that even getting out of the house could be challenging, “with young babies no more predictable on a Sunday morning than any other day.”
The report noted even greater difficulty once moms arrived at church services. Despite congregations offering general support, a “lack of proactive inclusion” led to some moms feeling “spiritually reduced.” For example, they felt pulled in two directions - juggling a child’s demands while trying to listen to the service or sermon. 
“These accounts should not be read as suggesting churches are fundamentally unsupportive; our participants stressed this was far from the case,” added the report. “Nonetheless, there is an absence of proactive structures that protect mothers’ spiritual participation.”
The report listed several practices designed for inclusion, such as baby rooms with live-streamed services and community-wide support for childcare, as opposed to relying on a small rota of parents.
“Without such measures, the spiritual cost of early motherhood remains largely socially invisible,” warned the report. “Mothers continue to attend, but often at the expense of their own spiritual nourishment.”
At home, moms struggled to find the space needed for quiet reflection, prayer, and contemplation. Some simply did not have time to pray due to the intense demands of caring for young children. Bible reading proved challenging for similar reasons, with no easy solutions apparent.
“Nonetheless, many women we spoke to adjusted their practice to reflect their new lives amongst the challenges. Prayer became refocused on prayer for children; liturgical prayer took on new depth with the experience of parenting. Some also described a deepening appreciation for prayer as they navigated the anxieties and challenges of daily life.”
Moms frequently found community with other mothers, providing mutual support and a new spiritual outlet. The sheer awe and wonder of giving birth was also highlighted as a profound experience for both spiritual and non-spiritual moms alike.
“Finally, among the practicing Christian mothers we spoke to, becoming a parent often provoked a changed perspective on God and the stories of Scripture,” said the report. “This was a powerful and recurrent theme across the interviews, with women describing how becoming a parent made them see the idea of God’s character in a new way. Most frequently, the concept of God as a parent particularly resonated, with the love they felt for their own child giving a new frame for helping them understand God’s love and delight in them.”
Biblical figures and stories prompted varied reactions from the participants. Mary, the mother of Jesus, resonated with many moms, “shifting the story from nativity staple to one read with visceral empathy and embodied relation.”
Not only were classic stories of Scripture read with new depth, but the absence of female-centered experiences took on new weight. Some respondents noted that their experiences of motherhood challenged their reading of the Bible, pointing to a perceived absence of maternal stories or struggling with passages like the suffering of the firstborn children in Egypt.
“Yet, these challenges were not killer blows to faith and sit alongside other parts of Christian life and Scripture taking on new and enriching depth,” said the report.
“There is not only one pathway to motherhood. Matrescence can make women feel more authentic, raw, expanded, and deeply present – but it can also leave them radically challenged, as their sense of self is reshaped by love, responsibility, and vulnerability,” said the report.
“For some mothers, it is a process of feeling more 'fully alive'; for others it confronts them profoundly with their own mortality; for some, it may do both. It reorganises a woman’s identity, priorities, politics and inner world: a new life is born not only in her arms, but within her. As a result, motherhood opens quests for deeper meaning, with reflections on wonder, connection, the fragility of life, love, and gratitude all present among our participants.”
The report called for a greater understanding that matrescence is a life-changing event - not merely a medical one. Although maternal healthcare is safer than ever, there remains a prevailing need for relational, practical care to help moms process these profound changes and build confidence, especially if personal support networks are lacking.
The report said: “While digital platforms can connect, they cannot replace face-to-face relationships. Strong local networks – within pram-pushing proximity – remain vital. For many women, churches and faith communities can function as intergenerational 'villages', offering tangible help such as meal rotas, clothing swaps and parent and child groups, modelling the extended community many mothers seek in an increasingly dispersed world.
“Becoming a mother often involves profound yet largely unseen spiritual work, as women navigate shifts in identity, meaning, and connection with limited recognition or support. While rituals have historically helped hold and mark this transition, their relative absence today leaves many mothers quietly seeking or creating their own.”
The report called on practicing Christians to support new moms by asking open questions about potential spiritual shifts and challenges, paying particular attention to the impact on regular practices like prayer and Bible reading. 
Supporting new mothers is an ongoing, society-wide responsibility, the report concluded.
“Ultimately, our findings point to a broader challenge: that society as a whole must do more to recognise and support the profound personal and relational changes that accompany the transition to motherhood. This recognition is needed in workplaces, communities, the media, personal relationships, and families.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Evangelicals march in Chiapas to call for repeal of gender identity law]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelicals-march-in-chiapas-to-call-for-repeal-of-gender-identity-law</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelicals-march-in-chiapas-to-call-for-repeal-of-gender-identity-law</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lizzie Sotola]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/50/5009.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Chiapas March]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Social media ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Hundreds of Evangelical Christians participated in the Grand Citizens' March for Values and the Family on July 25 in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, to express their opposition to the recent Civil Code reform on gender identity. ]]>
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                                                                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:42:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Hundreds of Evangelical Christians took part Saturday, July 25, in the Grand Citizens' March for Values in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The march wound through the streets of the state capital in opposition to amendments to the state's Civil Code approved by the Chiapas Congress on June 30 that allow adults to change the gender marker on their official documents through an administrative process]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Hundreds of Evangelical Christians took part Saturday, July 25, in the Grand Citizens' March for Values in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The march wound through the streets of the state capital in opposition to amendments to the state's Civil Code approved by the Chiapas Congress on June 30 that allow adults to change the gender marker on their official documents through an administrative process.
The demonstration was organized by Avivando a México A.C. and supported by various Christian organizations, according to local newspaper El Sol de Chiapas.
The march began at Parque 5 de Mayo and ended at Parque Central in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, where organizers presented a public statement and called on Gov. Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar to open a dialogue. State Rep. María Isabel Rodríguez Jiménez of the Morena party, who voted against the reform, also joined the demonstration.
During a news conference before the march, Marco Tulio Carrascosa, president of Avivando a México A.C., said the event was not intended to confront any group in society.
"We are the defenders who are accused of being aggressors. We are not seeking confrontation," he said.
Carrascosa added, "We respect everyone, but when something is imposed, that's when we have to raise our voices."
He emphasized that the invitation was open to all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation, as long as they shared the goal of defending families and protecting children.
Before the march, Rodríguez Jiménez said she would participate "as a mother and as a representative of the people" to support the participating families, according to local media.
In a message shared by REC Media, she also said, "This is not about political parties, nor is it about religion. This is a citizens' march in defense of our values, our families and, above all, the best interests of children."
National media also covered the event. El Universal reported that organizers called for the repeal of the reform and proposed establishing both a Day of the Family and the Protection of Children and a State Day of Prayer for Peace.
Meanwhile, La Jornada reported that demonstrators marched through the main streets of Tuxtla Gutiérrez carrying banners and chanting slogans in defense of the family. The newspaper also reported that organizers plan to continue dialogue with state authorities.
What the reform does
On June 30, the Congress of the State of Chiapas approved amendments to the Civil Code creating an administrative process that allows adults to change their legal name and gender marker on official documents without requiring a medical diagnosis, hormone therapy or surgical procedures.
In its official statement, the Congress said the reform is intended to guarantee the rights to identity, equality, human dignity, privacy, nondiscrimination and the free development of one's personality. It also said the changes bring state law into alignment with constitutional principles and human rights standards.
The march was one of the first major public responses from the Evangelical community following approval of the reform. Organizers said they plan to continue engaging with the state government while promoting initiatives to strengthen families and protect children, as political and public debate over the reform continues across Chiapas.

Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Focus on the Family launches search for next president as Jim Daly prepares to step down]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/focus-on-the-family-launches-search-for-next-president-as-jim-daly-prepares-to-step-down</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/focus-on-the-family-launches-search-for-next-president-as-jim-daly-prepares-to-step-down</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Christian Post]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Focus on the Family launches search for next president as Jim Daly prepares to step down]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Courtesy Focus on the Family ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:28:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Nearly two decades after taking the helm of Focus on the Family following the departure of its founder, Jim Daly is preparing to hand the ministry to a new generation. The president of one of America's most influential Evangelical organizations announced this week that Focus has officially launched a nationwide search for its next leader, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a year- to 18-month succession process ahead of the ministry's 50th anniversary in 2027.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Nearly two decades after taking the helm of Focus on the Family following the departure of its founder, Jim Daly is preparing to hand the ministry to a new generation.
The president of one of America's most influential Evangelical organizations announced this week that Focus has officially launched a nationwide search for its next leader, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a year- to 18-month succession process ahead of the ministry's 50th anniversary in 2027.
Unlike many recent leadership transitions in prominent Christian organizations, Daly told The Christian Post this one is not being driven by scandal or internal upheaval; rather, the ministry is intentionally choosing to transition while it is healthy.
"My core belief was it's good to get new faces, new energy, younger leadership in to kind of speak to the 30-, 40-somethings now about what they're facing with marriage and parenting," Daly said. "I'm going to be turning 65 here. It's time to start looking for the next-gen leadership. That's really the goal, and to do it well is the other goal."
The search, being conducted with executive search firm FaithSearch Partners, will culminate in a vote by Focus' board of directors. Candidates are expected to begin applying immediately.
Founded in 1977 by psychologist and author Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family grew from a fledgling radio ministry into one of the most recognizable voices in American evangelicalism. Through its daily radio broadcasts, magazines, books, counseling services and public policy advocacy, the Colorado Springs-based nonprofit became a defining force in conversations surrounding marriage, parenting, religious liberty and the sanctity of life.
Today, the ministry says it reaches millions through radio, podcasts and digital media while operating 13 international offices, employing roughly 750 people and overseeing an annual budget of about $150 million.
Daly's own journey to the presidency began in 2005, when he succeeded Dobson after serving in executive leadership roles within the organization. The founder's departure proved challenging, according to Daly, who acknowledged that experience has shaped how he's approaching his own transition.
"So many transitions don't go well," he said. "We had some difficulty in the founder transition, even at Focus with Dr. Dobson, and I took a lot of notes and thought, 'When it's my turn ... I want to make sure I do it as best as I can.' Christians should be leading the way on how to do this well."
Beginning the search while the ministry is thriving, he said, gives his successor the strongest possible foundation.
"There is no crisis, which is wonderful," he said. "We're not under any kind of situation of moral collapse or any other thing. Finances are good at Focus. … If I were coming in as the next leader, it's the kind of situation I'd want to walk into, where things are going well.”
During Daly's tenure, Focus has broadened its mission beyond the media ministry that defined much of the Dobson era. While the organization's flagship radio program continues reaching approximately 6 million listeners, Daly, who grew up in a foster home, said one of his priorities has been moving Focus from simply teaching biblical principles to helping churches and families live them out.
"I've focused ... more on the orthopraxy of our faith," he said.
Among the initiatives he cited are expanded foster care and adoption ministries, respite care for foster families, a nationwide ultrasound program supporting pregnancy resource centers, and Highly Capable Kids, a curriculum designed to strengthen parental involvement in public schools.
"I was a foster child, so that was born out of that pain and that experience that I had," he said.
The ministry has also continued expanding its pro-life work by helping pregnancy resource centers offer ultrasound technology and broader services for women facing unexpected pregnancies.
Looking ahead, Daly said Christian families are navigating challenges that scarcely existed when Focus was founded nearly five decades ago. The ministry tracks counseling requests from families across the country, providing a window into changing cultural pressures.
Where previous generations primarily sought guidance on behavioral issues such as “thumb-sucking, bedwetting and childhood discipline,” today's parents increasingly ask about social media, screen time and gender identity.
"LGBTQ issues particularly would have ranked down in 16, 17, 18 in years past," Daly said. "Now they've ranked No. 4, 5, 6 of the phone call types that we're getting for help."
Many of those conversations, he said, involve parents and grandparents struggling to respond when children identify as transgender, a task his successor will need biblical wisdom to tackle. 
"We're looking for someone who is true to those biblical principles that Focus started on almost 50 years ago," he said. "Even if the culture is blowing hard at what we believe, staying true to that — calm, kind, loving."
The ministry continues to affirm marriage as between one man and one woman and contends that, citing both Scripture and social science, children thrive best with both a mother and father actively involved in their lives.
At the same time, Daly believes that how Christians communicate those beliefs matters as much as the convictions themselves. Comparing his leadership style with Dobson's, Daly described the founder as "more of a prophet" while calling himself "more of an evangelist."
"I just see the potential in people," he said. "I feel like that's close to God's heart. That's what Christ communicated to us. … Not that we waver on principle or truth, but be interested in the lives of other people that don't know the Lord.”
As the board searches for a successor, Daly said he expects to remain involved without overshadowing the incoming president. One of the lessons he learned from 2005 is that the departing leader largely determines whether a transition becomes healthy or dysfunctional.
"The outgoing person really sets the tone," he said. "To make it healthy, I think deference is critical. … I'd really encourage the next person not to [try to] be me. You've got to be who you are."
The board has asked Daly to consider remaining involved after the transition, potentially serving in donor relations and fundraising during the new president's first year, but for now, he said his most important contribution will be supporting his successor. Daly stressed his greatest concern is ensuring the transition strengthens the ministry rather than his own legacy.
"It's actually quite troubling to me that we can talk a good game as Christians and talk about very important things," he said. "But if we fundamentally can't do these kinds of things, like transition better than secular businesses transition, then it kind of diminishes our witness."
"I'm very determined to want to demonstrate this in a way that people go, 'Wow, that was really well done.'"
Originally published by The Christian Post.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA['An AI neither understands nor feels': Christian leader tests chatbot's limits for worried parents]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/an-ai-neither-understands-nor-feels-christian-leader-tests-chatbot-s-limits-for-worried-parents</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/an-ai-neither-understands-nor-feels-christian-leader-tests-chatbot-s-limits-for-worried-parents</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Javier Bolaños]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/49/4977.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Sixto Porras, regional director of Focus on the Family, discusses artificial intelligence and its risks for Christian families during a session broadcast on the ministrys YouTube channel.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ YouTube/Enfoque a la Familia ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Sixto Porras, regional director of Focus on the Family, discusses artificial intelligence and its risks for Christian families during a session broadcast on the ministry's YouTube channel. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:29:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Sixto Porras, regional director of Focus on the Family, sat down with ChatGPT to test what artificial intelligence can and cannot do — and to warn evangelical families not to let algorithms replace spiritual discernment, empathy, or genuine human connection.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Sixto Porras, regional director of Focus on the Family, sat down with ChatGPT to test what artificial intelligence can and cannot do — and to warn evangelical families not to let algorithms replace spiritual discernment, empathy, or genuine human connection.
The dialogue, broadcast on the ministry's official YouTube channel, covered AI's technical functioning, its lack of moral judgment, and the risks it poses for vulnerable teenagers.
The nature of artificial intelligence and the lack of moral discernment
Porras began by asking the chatbot how it constructs its responses. The bot acknowledged its own limitations:
"I construct responses based on patterns from data I was trained on; I have no consciousness or intention [...]. I have no authority or moral judgment of my own; I only provide information that may be perceived as useful or not depending on the situation."
For Porras, the admission goes to the heart of the danger: families and young people who mistake statistical outputs for truth.
"An AI neither understands nor feels; it only produces responses from data [...]. Let us be careful that no technological advance substitutes our relationship with God," he said.
The risk of automated responses for vulnerable adolescents
Porras pressed the AI further: could a vulnerable teenager take its responses as authoritative guidance?
"The danger lies in the fact that a vulnerable person might not question what I say; they could take a response generated by patterns as personal or moral guidance when it is not," the chatbot replied. "This could reinforce incorrect ideas not adapted to their situation."
Young people in stages of intellectual and emotional development are especially susceptible, Porras said, making intentional parental guidance essential for filtering the flood of digital information.
Studies warn of a growing trend of users — particularly young people — seeking refuge in virtual characters rather than human community. When it comes to depression or self-harm, an algorithm cannot provide what family and community can.
The chatbot agreed: "Artificial intelligence cannot substitute human social interaction; it lacks genuine empathy, emotional closeness, or real affection [...]. Authentic human relationships are irreplaceable."
Porras drew his own conclusion. "When you find yourself in the midst of a crisis, you and I must seek help from a human being who has empathy, who has closeness, who can identify with our emotions," he said.
He also turned the challenge back on parents themselves.
"If my son speaks to me, I must turn off the phone and look him in the eyes, pay attention. Let my son feel that he is more important than technological or virtual contact," Porras said.
Practical principles for responsible technology use in the home
Focus on the Family proposed several guidelines for families. First, establish clear disconnection limits by defining schedules and screen-free spaces, especially during meals or family time. Parents should also foster critical thinking, teaching teenagers to question information found online and not to accept automated responses as absolute truths.
Cultivating the relationship with God — through Bible reading, prayer, and church — should take priority over digital searches and consultations. Finally, families facing complex crises should seek professional and pastoral help from trained counselors rather than entrusting emotional well-being to a virtual environment.
Return to the real world and prioritize faith
Porras closed with the testimony of a family that removed their children's mobile devices to begin a digital detox. The children rediscovered wonder in creation and daily life.
"The child said: 'Mom, I like the real world better; I'm listening to the birds singing... the sky is truly blue.' In that moment the whole family was moved because they realized that, without noticing, we can begin to live in a virtual world," Porras recounted.
He urged churches and evangelical homes not to let technology become an idol or a substitute for communion with God and neighbor.
"It is interesting, but nothing substitutes my relationship with God, and this is crucial: spiritual discernment comes from God. Teach your children to have spiritual discernment; teach your children to seek in the Bible," Porras said.
Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Guatemala's top court unanimously rejects same-sex marriage challenge]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/guatemala-s-top-court-unanimously-rejects-same-sex-marriage-challenge</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/guatemala-s-top-court-unanimously-rejects-same-sex-marriage-challenge</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Diario Cristiano]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Guatemalas Constitutional Court building in Guatemala City, where the Lambda Association filed a challenge to the Civil Codes definition of marriage.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Prensa Latina ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Guatemala's Constitutional Court building in Guatemala City, where the Lambda Association filed a challenge to the Civil Code's definition of marriage. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:40:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Guatemala's Constitutional Court unanimously rejected a provisional challenge to the country's legal definition of marriage, blocking an effort by LGBTIQ+ rights group Lambda Association to open same-sex unions to legal recognition.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Guatemala's Constitutional Court unanimously rejected a provisional challenge to the country's legal definition of marriage, blocking an effort by LGBTIQ+ rights group Lambda Association to open same-sex unions to legal recognition.
The court declined to grant a provisional injunction against Article 78 of the Civil Code, which defines marriage as a social institution in which "a man and a woman agree to unite with the purpose of living together, procreating, feeding and educating their children, and assisting each other."
Lambda argued the provision violates constitutional principles of equality, liberty and human dignity. The court's unanimous rejection of the provisional measure signals the likely direction of its final ruling.
Under current law, same-sex couples in Guatemala cannot receive joint medical coverage through the Guatemalan Social Security Institute, access widowhood pensions, or claim legal protections over shared property and inheritance.
Lambda representatives said the decision perpetuates "structural discrimination" that prevents thousands of Guatemalans from formalizing their relationships before the law.
Conservative and traditional-family advocates welcomed the ruling as an affirmation of the Constitution's historical interpretation of marriage as a heterosexual institution.
The decision places Guatemala at odds with a broader Latin American trend toward same-sex marriage legalization or civil union recognition with full rights.
Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Dutch Christians push back on plan to expand late-term abortions for 'social reasons']]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/dutch-christians-push-back-on-plan-to-expand-late-term-abortions-for-social-reasons</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/dutch-christians-push-back-on-plan-to-expand-late-term-abortions-for-social-reasons</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[ultrasound, pregnant woman]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Unsplash / Volodymyr Hryshchenko ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:13:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A "radical expansion" of late-term abortions in the Netherlands is under consideration, with plans to terminate unborn children between 22 and 24 weeks for "social reasons" rather than medical ones — drawing sharp concern from Christian leaders.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A "radical expansion" of late-term abortions in the Netherlands is under consideration, with plans to terminate unborn children between 22 and 24 weeks for "social reasons" rather than medical ones — drawing sharp concern from Christian leaders.
OLVG (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis/Our Dear Lady Hospital), a major hospital in Amsterdam, is considering the approach.
Martine Versteeg-ter Veen, director of MissieNederland (the Dutch evangelical alliance), voiced her concern on social media.
"Increasingly, hospitals are able to keep premature children alive, sometimes even around 22-23 weeks," said Versteeg-ter Veen. "It is astonishing to read that with this trial, children who are the same age can now be aborted without a medical reason."
She said that when there is no medical necessity but social pressure or complex circumstances leading to an abortion, what is needed is social care — not a medical intervention that ends the life of a healthy child.
MissieNederland is now campaigning with civil society organizations and parties in the Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, the lower House of Representatives in The Hague, who have major objections to the plan.
"Let's continue to build together a (care) culture in which parents are not let alone, vulnerable lives are protected and human dignity is central," pleaded Versteeg-ter Veen, adding that "a serious line is being crossed here."
The SGP (Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij), known in English as the Reformed Political Party, is one of the political groups opposing the plans.
An SGP press release said that mainly healthcare workers felt disgust at the prospect of aborting late-term babies for social reasons. Although the trial is starting at the OLVG, the SGP said a working group of gynecologists at the NVOG is working to expand late-term abortion access for social reasons to all hospitals in the Netherlands — a "radical expansion" that would mean hospitals "soon have to cooperate in the abortion of healthy babies at 22 and 23 weeks." Late-term abortions currently only happen for medical reasons, the SGP said, and not if a baby is healthy.
"This currently hardly ever happens and is highly controversial because these babies sometimes only die hours after an artificially induced birth," said the SGP. "The mere announcement of it is already leading to tension in maternity wards."
The SGP said conversations with healthcare providers at various hospitals revealed that abortions at 22 to 23 weeks for social reasons had already occurred several times in recent months.
"This has a huge impact on the work floor. Many staff members have moral objections to cooperating with this," said SGP Member of Parliament Diederik van Dijk. "Where healthcare providers normally pull out all the stops to keep babies alive, they are now being asked to let a newborn baby die."
"We also detect fear to make this open for discussion within teams. I have an immense amount of understanding for every healthcare provider who says: 'I will not cooperate with this.' Abortion is always very confronting, at whatever stage: it kills a child. With these very late-term abortions, that is visible in a very intense and sad way. A fully formed baby, brought into the world alive and then deliberately left to die in the maternity ward of a hospital... Chilling and crying out to heaven!"
Van Dijk questioned whether the late-term abortion plans even met the legal guidelines of gynecologists and hospitals.
"With this radical expansion of abortion, the boundaries of criminal law are literally being tested. Meanwhile, a serious political or social debate about the moral, legal, and practical questions has never been held. This unethical development must therefore be stopped immediately!"
Van Dijk is submitting a series of parliamentary questions to Health Minister Sophie Hermans about which hospitals plan to perform these abortions, how often, how the baby dies, which guidelines apply, and what is known about pain perception in babies at 22 and 23 weeks.
OLVG issued its own press release strongly rebutting the media coverage.
The hospital said abortion is legally permitted up to 24 weeks. Abortions up to 22 weeks usually take place at an abortion clinic, with care between 22 and 24 weeks taking place in hospitals — but "it appears that in practice, this care is not always easily accessible."
The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) and the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (NVOG) therefore want this care better distributed among hospitals in the Netherlands, according to OLVG.
"In the case of pregnancy termination between 22 and 24 weeks, it concerns a small group of women who are often in a difficult and vulnerable situation," read the OLVG statement. "The goal is to be able to receive appropriate care in a timely manner, close to home if possible.
"Various media outlets are reporting that a pilot has started at OLVG; that is incorrect. We are still in an exploratory phase, during which we keep both our patients and our employees in mind. We consult carefully with the involved teams at OLVG beforehand and map out what is needed to potentially organize this care properly and safely."
The NVOG said it has spent recent years identifying bottlenecks and developing "practical tools together with involved professionals" for late-term abortions from 22 weeks onward, including a toolkit and training materials for care teams.
"The NVOG is committed to ensuring that women who qualify for this care within the current legal framework can count on timely, safe, and carefully organized care," the group said. "This requires good cooperation between hospitals and abortion clinics, support for healthcare professionals, and an appropriate regional distribution of this care."
For Versteeg-ter Veen and her allies in MissieNederland, the professional rationale offered by the hospital and medical bodies does not resolve the underlying moral question. Their campaign in the Tweede Kamer continues, aimed at building what they describe as a culture that supports parents, protects the vulnerable, and upholds human dignity.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Botswana's Evangelical Fellowship applies to join landmark same-sex marriage case]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/botswana-s-evangelical-fellowship-applies-to-join-landmark-same-sex-marriage-case</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/botswana-s-evangelical-fellowship-applies-to-join-landmark-same-sex-marriage-case</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[High Court of Botswana]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ If admitted to the case, Botswana's Evangelical Fellowship will argue their position alongside other parties when the substance of the case is heard Oct. 22 and 23 before a full bench of the High Court. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:52:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana (EFB) has applied to join Botswana's High Court proceedings in a constitutional challenge that could make the country only the second in Africa, after South Africa, to legally recognise same-sex marriage.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana (EFB) has applied to join Botswana's High Court proceedings in a constitutional challenge that could make the country only the second in Africa, after South Africa, to legally recognise same-sex marriage.
The EFB, an umbrella body representing member churches across Botswana, filed its application through its legal team and presented arguments at High Court hearings in Gaborone on July 14 and 15. If admitted, the organisation will become a formal party to the case and will be entitled to argue its position when the main hearing takes place Oct. 22 and 23. A ruling on whether the church will be admitted to the case is expected Sept. 4.
"In response to the ongoing legal challenge seeking to redefine marriage to include same-sex unions, the Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana has applied to join the proceedings. This ensures that the Church has a direct voice in defending both Christian, traditional marriage, and societal moral values," EFB President Pastor David Seithamo said in a statement to church leaders across National Evangelical Alliances in Africa following the hearings.
"We deeply appreciate your continued prayers, fasting, and support towards these efforts by EFB and other organisations who are also fighting the same battle with us. The battle is the Lord's," Seithamo said.
The underlying case
In April 2025, Bonolo Selelo and Tsholofelo Kumile attempted to register their intent to marry at the Department of Civil and National Registration in Gaborone. Officials turned them away, citing Botswana law's exclusion of same-sex couples, and reportedly advised them to marry in South Africa instead, according to court papers cited by AFP.
The two challenged Section 10(2) of the Marriage Act, arguing it violates several provisions of Botswana's Constitution, including guarantees of fundamental rights and freedoms, protection from inhuman treatment, freedom of expression and association, and protection from discrimination. "We seek to enjoy the same rights, dignity and recognition as heterosexual couples in Botswana, in relation to solemnising our marriage," Selelo said in her submission to the court.
A lawyer representing the EFB told AFP that the organisation believes same-sex marriage goes against the beliefs of its Christian members, and said church ministers have a further vested interest in the outcome because they are licensed to solemnise marriages under Botswana law.
The EFB filed its application jointly with two other organisations, the Dingwetsi Association of Botswana and the Botswana House of Prayer and Transformation. Dingwetsi, a non-profit that promotes traditional marriage and opposes divorce, has argued the case carries cultural as well as religious weight, saying Botswana's customary law currently recognises marriage only between a man and a woman.
Responding to the joinder bid, Selelo called it "awkward" that the church and Dingwetsi had chosen to oppose the couple's marriage, noting that Batswana have a history of "fighting for love." She pointed to the marriage of Botswana's founding president, Sir Seretse Khama, to Ruth Khama in 1948, an interracial union that faced significant resistance at the time. 
The EFB and its allies are not the only outside parties seeking a role in the case. Dr. Onthatile Moeti, a law academic at the University of Botswana, has filed her own application to participate as amicus curiae, or "friend of the court," offering comparative legal research rather than taking a side, according to Mmegi. Botswana's LGBTQ rights organisation, LEGABIBO, has filed its own application to be joined to the case in support of the couple, arguing in court papers that the outcome bears directly on the rights and legal status of same-sex couples across Botswana.
Legal backdrop
The marriage case follows a decade of shifting legal ground in Botswana. In 2019, the High Court ruled in Letsweletse Motshidiemang v. Attorney General that colonial-era sodomy provisions in the Penal Code were unconstitutional, a decision the Court of Appeal upheld in 2021.
In March 2026, the government formally deleted the colonial-era "unnatural offences" provisions from the Penal Code through a statutory instrument, aligning the written law with the 2019 and 2021 court rulings.
Marriage remains a separate legal question. Speaking in Parliament, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Pius Mokgware said government policy on same-sex marriage remains undefined and that his ministry is reviewing the Marriage Act, with consultations to involve various stakeholders, according to the Botswana Gazette. 
The High Court's ruling on whether the EFB and its co-applicants will be formally joined to the case is due Sept. 4. If admitted, they will argue their position alongside the other parties when the substance of the case is heard Oct. 22 and 23 before a full bench of the High Court.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian professionals urge countries to adopt the African Family Values Charter to shield states from financing conditions]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-professionals-urge-countries-to-adopt-the-african-family-values-charter-to-shield-states-from-donor-conditiona</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-professionals-urge-countries-to-adopt-the-african-family-values-charter-to-shield-states-from-donor-conditiona</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Vincent Matinde]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[President William Ruto]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ William Ruto Facebook ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Kenya's President William Ruto said said African countries are increasingly being asked to adopt policies that do not reflect their national priorities as a condition for financial support. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:34:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) has advised African leaders to adopt the African Family Values Charter to safeguard the sovereignty of countries and maintain a level playing field as they negotiate with development partners.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) has advised African leaders to adopt the African Family Values Charter to safeguard the sovereignty of countries and maintain a level playing field as they negotiate with development partners. 
This comes days after Kenya’s President William Ruto recently warned that some foreign financiers attach political conditions to development funding. Speaking during a public address, Ruto said African countries are increasingly being asked to adopt policies that do not reflect their national priorities as a condition for financial support.
Ruto said African countries have been told to“pass sexuality laws first if you want us to lend you the money,” Ruto was quoted by Citizen TV. He added that Africa should reduce its dependence on external financing and strengthen domestic resource mobilization. 
In a statement, KCPF urged the Kenyan government to endorse the Draft African Charter on the Protection of the Family, Sovereignty and Religious and Cultural Values, saying the document would provide a continental framework for protecting the family while safeguarding the independence of African states.
“Kenyans should not be forced to choose between development assistance and fidelity to our Constitution,” the organization said in its statement.
The proposed charter has become one of the most debated policy documents in Africa. Supporters describe it as a declaration of African self-determination. Critics argue it could weaken existing human rights commitments and roll back protections for women and sexual minorities.
The draft charter traces its origins to a gathering of African lawmakers in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2025 before receiving further consideration during the Fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty held in Accra, Ghana, in June. Delegates from more than a dozen African countries participated in the conference, where lawmakers called for stronger legal protection of what they described as the natural family and national sovereignty.
The charter states that the family founded on the union of a man and a woman is “the natural and fundamental group unit of society.” It also calls on African governments to preserve religious freedom, protect parental rights, defend national sovereignty and ensure that domestic laws reflect African cultural values.
Supporters argue the proposal is a response an increasing ideological pressure from foreign governments and international organizations.
Reuters reported that participants at the Accra conference said the charter seeks to counter foreign influence over African social policy and legislation. Several lawmakers said African countries should have the freedom to determine their own laws without external pressure.
For KCPF, Ruto's remarks reinforce that message. The organization said the president's comments highlight concerns that many African governments have raised about the relationship between development assistance and national policy choices. It argued that endorsing the charter would strengthen Kenya's constitutional commitment to protecting the family while affirming the country's sovereignty.
The proposal has also attracted significant criticism from legal scholars and human rights organizations.
Rights groups argue that several provisions of the charter conflict with existing African Union human rights instruments, particularly the Maputo Protocol, which promotes women's rights and gender equality across the continent.
According to The Guardian, the draft charter encourages governments to withdraw from agreements that do not align with its principles and rejects concepts such as comprehensive sexuality education and broader definitions of gender.
The debate comes as several African countries continue to review legislation related to family policy and same-sex relationships. While many African governments have resisted international calls to liberalize such laws, there is no publicly available evidence showing that major international lenders formally require countries to enact LGBTQ legislation before receiving loans. Ruto's comments reflect his position on the broader relationship between foreign financing and domestic policymaking.
Kenya has not announced whether it will formally endorse the draft charter.
If adopted by African governments, supporters believe the charter could shape future debates on family law, education, parental rights and national sovereignty across the continent. Opponents, however, say it risks creating legal conflicts with existing regional human rights agreements and could deepen divisions over how Africa balances cultural values with international human rights obligations.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Less than 1% of trafficking victims are ever identified, but church can help, anti-trafficking leader tells UN forum]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/less-than-1-of-trafficking-victims-are-ever-identified-but-church-can-help-anti-trafficking-leader-tells-un-forum</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/less-than-1-of-trafficking-victims-are-ever-identified-but-church-can-help-anti-trafficking-leader-tells-un-forum</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Sarah Scott Webb, representing the World Freedom Network, tells UN forum delegates that fewer than one percent of trafficking victims are ever officially identified.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Sarah Scott Webb, representing the World Freedom Network, tells UN forum delegates that fewer than one percent of trafficking victims are ever officially identified. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:30:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Fewer than one in a hundred victims of human trafficking is ever formally identified, a global anti-trafficking advocate told a United Nations side event Monday, calling the gap a fundamental failure of protection systems worldwide — and a challenge the church is uniquely placed to help address.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Fewer than one in a hundred victims of human trafficking is ever formally identified, a global anti-trafficking advocate told a United Nations side event Monday, calling the gap a fundamental failure of protection systems worldwide — and a challenge the church is uniquely placed to help address.
Sarah Scott Webb, founder and director of the Oceania Freedom Network and a leader within the World Freedom Network, addressed the High-Level Political Forum side event "From Commitment to Action: Urban Solutions to Human Trafficking in Liberia and Sierra Leone," held July 13 at the Salvation Army's International Social Justice Commission in New York.
"Less than one percent of trafficking victims are ever officially identified," Webb told the gathering. "That means for every one victim who reaches protection and assistance, more than ninety-nine remain invisible — invisible to governments, invisible to services, invisible to justice, invisible to us."
Webb argued that victim identification is the single most critical bottleneck in the global anti-trafficking response. "Victim identification is the gateway to every other part of the anti-trafficking response," she said. "Without identification, victims aren't protected, traffickers aren't held accountable, communities remain vulnerable, and the true nature of trafficking stays hidden."
The side event was planned by the World Evangelical Alliance's UN New York team as part of its ongoing advocacy on human trafficking policy, and co-organized by the World Freedom Network, Rain Collective, and World Hope International. It brought together UN member states, UN agencies, researchers, civil society, and faith-based organizations to examine evidence-based approaches to combating trafficking, with a particular focus on Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Speakers discussed research findings from both West African countries, where grassroots programming by trusted local networks is working to strengthen community resilience against emerging forms of exploitation. The session was framed around Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
At the heart of Webb's address was a challenge to how victim identification is understood. She said the standard definition — the moment an official authority formally certifies someone as a trafficking victim — is correct but incomplete, because it captures only the end of a much longer process.
She drew on her home country as an illustration. In New Zealand, she said, victim identification is considered to have occurred at the moment Immigration New Zealand formally certifies that the legal threshold for trafficking or exploitation has been met. That determination unlocks legal protections for the person involved. "That's how victim identification is commonly understood — and it's not wrong," Webb said. "But it's incomplete. Because it's only the very end of the identification process, not the whole thing."
"Victim identification begins long before that moment of formal determination," she said. "It is more accurately defined as a process — a series of interactions where different people, at different points of contact, notice indicators of trafficking, build trust, ask the right questions, share information, and make decisions that shape what happens next in a victim's journey to safety."
Webb illustrated the point with an account of a young migrant woman who passed through a health clinic, a factory labor audit, a place of worship, and an immigration encounter — each interaction a missed opportunity. "At every point she was visible. She interacted with multiple systems designed to protect people. And yet identification never happened. Not because no one cared, but because each point of contact saw only one piece of her story."
She contrasted this with a different version of the same encounters, in which a health worker asks whether the woman is free to leave her job, a labor auditor notices her passport is not in her possession, a faith leader recognizes fear rather than stress and knows who to call, and an immigration officer pauses to ask questions before issuing a penalty. "Nothing about the victim changed," Webb said. "Everything changed about the ecosystem."
Webb emphasized that victim identification requires awareness, trust, screening, referral, and partnership across multiple sectors. Governments, law enforcement, health professionals, businesses, researchers, churches, and civil society all have a place within it, she said, but none can do the work alone.
The role of churches and faith communities drew particular emphasis. Webb noted that faith communities often hold the trust and local access that formal systems lack, giving them the ability to reach people who would never approach a government office or law enforcement agency.
"Civil society and faith communities bring trust, local knowledge and access to vulnerable communities," Webb said. "Together, we create the conditions in which victims can be recognized, protected and supported."
That argument has a long international pedigree, she noted. The Palermo Protocol — the United Nations agreement that has formed the legal backbone of the global anti-trafficking response for more than two decades — has recognized partnership as one of the foundations of an effective response since its adoption. SDG 17 reinforces the same principle, she said, affirming that complex global challenges can only be solved through strong, multi-stakeholder collaboration.
She noted that the importance of partnership was affirmed at the same day's ministerial session of the UN General Assembly. "Partnership is essential," she said, "emphasized by the president of the General Assembly at this morning's ministerial session at the UN."
Webb also highlighted the need for evidence over assumption. Research into why victims remain hidden — what barriers exist, where systems break down, which partnerships make the greatest difference — is what makes better policy and practice possible, she said.
"If we can't understand why victims remain hidden, we cannot build the ecosystems that help them be found," she said.
The stakes are high: an estimated 50 million people live in modern slavery globally, with 27.6 million trafficked into situations of forced labor. The response to those numbers, she said, depends on persuading every sector of society — including the church — to see victim identification as a shared responsibility rather than a task delegated to authorities.
"We need to stop seeing victim identification as an event," she said, "and start seeing it as a shared responsibility. Our responsibility."]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Evangelical Alliance in the Netherlands calls for compassion and high-quality palliative care after child's life is terminated]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelical-alliance-in-the-netherlands-calls-for-compassion-and-high-quality-palliative-care-after-child-s-life-is-term</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelical-alliance-in-the-netherlands-calls-for-compassion-and-high-quality-palliative-care-after-child-s-life-is-term</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[hospital bed]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Unsplash / Zoshua Colah ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:11:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The evangelical alliance in the Netherlands has called for compassion and stronger palliative care after a child's life was terminated under newly expanded regulations for minors — the first reported case of its kind in the country.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The evangelical alliance in the Netherlands has called for compassion and stronger palliative care after a child's life was terminated under newly expanded regulations for minors — the first reported case of its kind in the country.
MissieNederland, the body representing evangelical Christians in the Netherlands, said its response was "first and foremost one of compassion."
"We call for prayer for the child's parents and loved ones, as well as for all parents and physicians who are confronted with such heartbreaking decisions," said Saskia de Graaf-Bakker, Public Affairs officer at MissieNederland. "It is difficult to imagine the depth of suffering that could lead a family to such a choice."
De Graaf-Bakker said the alliance does not support euthanasia frameworks for children but strongly backs alternatives.
"Although MissieNederland holds a pro-life position, we do strongly support high-quality, advanced palliative care that seeks to relieve suffering as much as possible," she said. "We believe that excellent palliative care is essential so that parents are supported in accompanying their seriously ill child with dignity and compassion, without feeling compelled to choose a termination of life."
On the specific case, de Graaf-Bakker said few details are publicly available. "What we do know is that the legal criteria are very strict and that, under those guidelines, the child must have been experiencing profound and unbearable suffering."
She said MissieNederland would continue supporting organizations and initiatives advocating for palliative care and alternatives.
"As Christians, we believe that situations like these call for compassion and prayer for the families who find themselves in such tragic circumstances," de Graaf-Bakker added.
The case was confirmed in a government document submitted to the Dutch House of Representatives on June 22 by Minister of Health Sophie Hermans. The briefing notes state that the review committee received "a first notification of termination of life in a child between the ages of 1 and 12" at the end of 2025, and has since completed its assessment.
Active termination of life became legal for children between the ages of 1 and 12 in the Netherlands on February 1, 2024. The law requires that suffering be hopeless and unbearable, that no reasonable alternatives exist, and that parents consent. Children must also be involved in the decision as much as possible.
Like the Christian political parties in the Netherlands and the Dutch Christian Patients' Association NPV, MissieNederland does not support termination of life through these frameworks, de Graaf-Bakker said.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Madrid becomes first Spanish region to legally recognize unborn child as family member]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/madrid-becomes-first-spanish-region-to-legally-recognize-unborn-child-as-family-member</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/madrid-becomes-first-spanish-region-to-legally-recognize-unborn-child-as-family-member</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[family, children]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Unsplash / Jeniffer Araújo ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Madrid's new law recognizes unborn children as family members for administrative purposes, extending government benefits to expectant families from the start of pregnancy. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:25:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Madrid's regional parliament has passed a law recognizing unborn children as family members for administrative purposes, making the Spanish capital the first region in the country to extend government benefits to families from the start of pregnancy, according to reporting by Evangelical Focus and Protestante Digital.]]></description>
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Madrid's regional parliament has passed a law recognizing unborn children as family members for administrative purposes, making the Spanish capital the first region in the country to extend government benefits to families from the start of pregnancy, according to reporting by Evangelical Focus and Protestante Digital.
The legislation, known as the "Law on the Unborn Conceived," allows families to access benefits tied to household size — including grants for private nurseries and school meal subsidies — by submitting medical confirmation of pregnancy. Families with two children will be classified as "large families" once the mother reaches the 14th week of a third pregnancy, unlocking immediate discounts on public transport and other associated benefits.
The conservative Popular Party regional government, which pushed the measure through, framed it as a pro-family policy aimed at lifting Spain's declining birth rate. Officials said the law was "in favour of" families rather than against any group, and that it expands financial assistance and rental support for young people.
The vote sparked a sharp exchange in the regional assembly. The opposition Social Democrats (PSOE) called the law a "culture war" measure disconnected from families' real needs and announced plans to challenge it before higher courts. The far-right Vox party backed the law but pressed the PP to declare explicitly whether the unborn child is a "human reality" entitled to full rights — and argued that migrants should not receive the same priority as Spanish nationals in accessing benefits.
Left-wing coalition Más Madrid accused the PP and Vox of defending life only up to birth. The party's spokeswoman, Manuela Bergerot, told reporters that "to start a family, you need to be able to afford a home, not the certainty that you'll receive a cheque for the first five months of your baby's life." She added that the law "questions women's right to make decisions about our own bodies."
The question came from Pedro Tarquis of Protestante Digital, who asked Bergerot whether her party's criticism of the PP and Vox for inconsistency in defending both the born and unborn could apply equally to Más Madrid in reverse — a line of questioning she rejected.
Days after the Madrid vote, PP national leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo announced he would pursue a similar law at the national level if his party wins the general election expected in 2027. His national spokesman, Borja Sémper, said the proposal is part of a broader family policy to "support motherhood, promote work-life balance" and ensure that "having children in Spain is no longer a heroic feat," Evangelical Focus reported.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Guatemala's evangelical leaders reject attempt to redefine marriage]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/guatemala-s-evangelical-leaders-reject-attempt-to-redefine-marriage</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/guatemala-s-evangelical-leaders-reject-attempt-to-redefine-marriage</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Javier Bolaños]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[The Constitutional Court building in Guatemala City]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo: Prensa Latina ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The Constitutional Court building in Guatemala City, where civil society organizations filed a legal challenge seeking to overturn the country's legal definition of marriage. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:40:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Members of Guatemala's LGBTQ+ community have filed a petition with the country's Constitutional Court seeking to strike down a provision of the Civil Code that defines marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman, opening a new chapter in the country's debate over same-sex marriage.]]></description>
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Members of Guatemala's LGBTQ+ community have filed a petition with the country's Constitutional Court seeking to strike down a provision of the Civil Code that defines marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman, opening a new chapter in the country's debate over same-sex marriage.
Backed by several advocacy organizations, the legal challenge seeks to invalidate Article 78 of the Civil Code, which defines marriage as a legal union exclusively between one man and one woman.
The petitioners argue that limiting marriage to heterosexual couples is discriminatory.
The Lambda Association, one of the organizations supporting the challenge, argued before the Constitutional Court that the current law discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation by denying same-sex couples access to marriage. According to the Associated Press, the group contends that the provision is unconstitutional because it excludes same-sex couples from marrying.
The challenge follows similar legal efforts elsewhere in Latin America seeking recognition of same-sex marriage through the courts.
In 2022, the administration of then-President Alejandro Giammattei declared Guatemala City the "Pro-Life Capital of Ibero-America." During the same period, the ruling party, which then held a majority in Congress, approved legislation increasing penalties for abortion and reaffirming the country's ban on same-sex marriage.
Guatemalan Evangelical Organizations Respond
In response to the legal challenge, the Evangelical Commission of Guatemala (COEGUA) and the Evangelical Forum of Guatemala (FE502) published an open letter outlining their theological and pastoral position.
The evangelical organizations said they reject all forms of hatred and discrimination because every person is created in the image of God, but argued that this commitment does not require abandoning biblical principles. The letter states, "We believe that love for people should never lead us to renounce the truth revealed in the Holy Scriptures."
The document further argues that the state did not create marriage but simply recognizes and protects it. Citing the Book of Genesis and the teachings of Jesus Christ, the letter says, "Marriage was not established by human decision; it is an institution ordained by God for the well-being of the family and society."
Defending the Constitutional Order
The statement also refers to Guatemala's legal framework. COEGUA and FE502 argue that Article 78 of the Civil Code implements Article 47 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, which directs the state to promote the organization of the family on the legal foundation of marriage.
According to the letter, "To defend this provision is to defend respect for the Constitution, legal certainty, and the rule of law." The evangelical organizations argue that redefining marriage through a constitutional ruling rather than legislative action would undermine the country's legal and institutional framework.
The Constitutional Court has not announced when it will consider the petition.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Secular charity challenges UK Government’s evidence for LGBT conversion therapy ban]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/secular-charity-challenges-uk-governments-evidence-for-lgbt-conversion-therapy-ban</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/secular-charity-challenges-uk-governments-evidence-for-lgbt-conversion-therapy-ban</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 4: A parade-goer applies rainbow face paint ahead of the Pride In London 2026 parade on July 4, 2026 in London, England.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 4: A parade-goer applies rainbow face paint ahead of the Pride In London 2026 parade on July 4, 2026 in London, England. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:33:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A secular sexual rights group challenged the reliability of evidence supporting UK Government plans for a ban on LGBT conversion practices, claiming the underlying data fails to justify the creation of a new criminal law.]]></description>
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A secular sexual rights group challenged the reliability of evidence supporting UK Government plans for a ban on LGBT conversion practices, claiming the underlying data fails to justify the creation of a new criminal law.
Parents and church pastors in the United Kingdom could face court trials, hefty fines, and prison time under the proposed ban on practices aimed at changing sexual orientation or identity, as previously reported by Christian Daily International. 
The Labour government published the Conversion Practices Draft Bill on June 25, aiming to criminalize abusive practices intended to  change or suppress sexual orientation or transgender identity. The legislation, which follows similar proposals introduced by the previous Conservative government, aims to introduce civil protection orders alongside criminal penalties to protect vulnerable individuals. 
Under the draft text, the law would apply to any conduct directed at people with the explicit intention of changing or suppressing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Sex Matters, a U.K.-based human rights charity that campaigns for clarity on sex in law, policy, and language, challenged the evidence used by the government for the planned law.
"I am satisfied that, given the available evidence, it represents a reasonable view of the likely costs, benefits and impact of the leading options," Minister for Equalities Olivia Bailey said after signing the impact assessment.
Bailey also told the House of Commons that her decision relied on evidence regarding the prevalence and types of conversion practice abuse in the UK. She highlighted a new report titled "Still not Illegal: Evidence of modern-day conversion practices" by LGBT anti-violence charity Galop, which she said revealed hundreds of case studies alleging appalling abuse happening right now across the country.
However, Sex Matters pointed out that the report only contained a few dozen brief accounts.
"Most describe experiences that should not concern criminal law at all, such as family disagreements and 'misgendering,'" Sex Matters said in an online statement challenging the methodology of the research. "A handful concern assault and rape, which are already crimes. Overall it contains analysis of fewer than 200 cases, which are described in minimal detail."
The charity noted that both Bailey and Galop failed to mention that the evidence appeared to include the entirety of calls received by the government’s national conversion-therapy helpline. Galop received £360,000 ($479,966 USD) over three years to run the service, describing it at the time as a vital lifeline for the community. The funding followed a competitive bidding process managed by the Cabinet Office.
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) initially anticipated around 10,000 calls each year, based on a 2018 National LGBT Survey where 2% of respondents said they had undergone conversion therapy and 5% said they had been offered it.
"But the Galop report’s findings seem to suggest that only a handful of people – in single figures each year – called to report 'conversion therapy,'" Sex Matters said.
Sex Matters also stated that the Cabinet Office’s impact assessment made no mention of the three-year helpline data. When the charity requested performance and outcomes data from the GEO in 2023, the government office refused to disclose the details, claiming it would prejudice Galop’s commercial interests. 
According to Sex Matters, the figures in the Galop report indirectly reveal that only a handful of people ever called the helpline to report actual conversion practices. Instead of reflecting on the evidence from an almost silent helpline, the government doubled down on the idea that tens of thousands of people experience conversion therapy annually.
The group also challenged a survey commissioned by the LGBT rights charity Stonewall and conducted by Opinium Research in early 2024. The survey involved interviewing 2,000 adults online who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
"It came up with a ludicrous figure of 10% for the proportion of LGBTQ+ people in the UK who have undergone an exorcism, and 2% for the proportion who had undergone an exorcism in the previous year alone," Sex Matters stated, questioning the demographic weighting of the study.
The charity referenced calculations by mathematician Dr. John Armstrong, who pointed out that this percentage would imply that clergymen in the UK perform approximately 24,600 gay exorcisms a year. For comparison, the total number of religious weddings in England and Wales in 2022 was 41,915, making the statistical claim highly improbable.
Furthermore, Sex Matters questioned the government’s interpretation of data from the Stonewall survey regarding allegations of conversion practice abuse.
"The government plucks from the Stonewall survey the number who said they had been told to ingest 'purifying' substances (11% ever and 2% in the past year) or who said they had been given 'pseudo-scientific counselling' to try to change their sexual orientation or gender identity (12% ever and 2% in the past year)," Sex Matters said. 
"It adds these figures and multiplies the sum by the number of LGB or T people found in the most recent census to conclude that 'approximately 75,000 to 93,000 people each year in England and Wales experience conversion practices based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.'"
Using those figures alongside an American study on depression risks, the government’s impact assessment calculated that a ban would prevent 28,486 to 35,268 cases of depression annually, saving the country around £700 million over 10 years. The government estimated the ban would cost £45 million ($60 million USD) to implement, including providing 45 minutes of education about the new law for public sector workers, including police officers, doctors, nurses, and social workers.
"These figures are fantastical," Sex Matters said.
The charity noted that Galop released its research report claiming to show the stark reality of modern-day conversion practices on the exact same day that the government published its draft bill. The Galop report, funded by UK Research and Innovation through Leeds University, examined records of 13,500 Galop clients between November 2022 and November 2025. This period coincided with the operation of the federally funded helpline, which also received a contribution of £30,000 per year from the Welsh government.
The principal investigator for the study, Professor Ilias Trispiotis, sits on the steering group of the Ban Conversion Practices coalition. 
Researchers found 371 potential cases among the client base, but judged only 195 to have sufficient depth and detail to use as evidence. Only 29 of those cases came through any of Galop's helplines, with most originating from official referrals for domestic abuse, housing, or hate crimes.
According to Sex Matters, 76% of the identified cases occurred within families, mostly involving actions by parents toward their often adult children. The charity noted that no examples of historical aversion therapy involving electric shocks or physical mistreatment appeared in the study.
"Cases such as 'intentional refusal to use a chosen name or pronouns' or suggesting that healing trauma could lead to a client no longer being transgender are not abuse at all, but are rather accounts of parents or therapists not accepting the idea of 'gender identity,'" Sex Matters said. 
"The Stonewall survey and the Galop cases are the best evidence the government has of conversion practices in the UK which merit a new criminal law. Even added together, they are remarkably weak."]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian charity urges UK government to take 'meaningful action' after forced adoption apology]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-charity-urges-uk-government-to-take-meaningful-action-after-forced-adoption-apology</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-charity-urges-uk-government-to-take-meaningful-action-after-forced-adoption-apology</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 2: Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a meeting with campaigners to discuss historical forced adoption at Downing Street on July 02, 2026 in London, England.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Isabel Infantes - WPA Pool/Getty Images ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 2: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a meeting with campaigners to discuss historical forced adoption at Downing Street on July 02, 2026 in London, England. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:50:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A Christian charity has called for "meaningful action" from the British government after Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologised for historic forced adoption practices in England.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A Christian charity has called for "meaningful action" from the British government after Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologised for historic forced adoption practices in England.
On Thursday (July 2), Starmer issued a formal state apology in the House of Commons in London for the government's role in the historic forced adoption of children born to unmarried mothers. The apology covered 1946 to 1979 and beyond, when the state took away about 185,000 babies from unmarried mothers because of the social stigma at the time.
In his statement to Parliament, watched from the public gallery by some of the affected mothers and adult adoptees, the prime minister called the adoptions a "stain on our history" and added, "It should never have happened."
"They are the most remarkable women, and I know the whole House will want to join me in paying tribute to the extraordinary courage with which they have shared their harrowing testimonies and fought for the truth, time and again," said Starmer.
Mothers — many young, vulnerable and without support — were coerced, bullied or misled into feeling they had no choice but to have their children taken from them, said Starmer. He said these were not isolated or accidental acts.
"They were practices embedded within systems across local authorities, across voluntary and faith-based institutions, and in health and social care services, including parts of what is now the NHS [National Health Service]," said Starmer.
"All institutions… operated with power over people's lives, yet they did so without compassion, without consent, and without dignity or proper safeguards."
Starmer recalled how some women, including those placed in Mother and Baby Homes and other institutional settings, were cut off from their families, relationships, education and employment and subjected to harsh and isolated conditions.
"Some experienced treatment that amounted to exploitation and abuse," he said, adding that many bore the burden of feeling ashamed.
"Children grew up believing they were unwanted," said Starmer. "Young mothers were told they were immoral — and that their babies were better off without them."
The prime minister acknowledged that his apology would not lift the suffering completely but hoped "it will help a little."
"But I say this," he said to the survivors. "The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours. And I say that on behalf of the whole country, I say it to every single person impacted, we are deeply and profoundly sorry."
Starmer addressed his apology to the mothers, to adoptees who were taken from their families and denied their identities, to fathers given no voice and to those who suffered racism, as well as wider families affected.
"To those who grew up believing they were unwanted, some of whom were even told directly that they were second class," the prime minister continued.
"To those who have experienced lifelong uncertainty, loss, or questions around identity and belonging, or whose mental and physical health, relationships, and sense of self across their lives has been affected.
"To each and every one of those affected, we say a deep and heartfelt sorry," Starmer said. He also acknowledged a "systemic failure" by previous governments.
The prime minister promised to fund a national online resource to help those affected find and keep their birth records for 100 years. Virtual, peer-led support groups will also offer trauma-informed help, and a testimonials project will share the stories of those affected publicly.
"Through all of this and more, we will continue to meet regularly with those with lived experience, guided by them to get this support right, to learn from our past — and ensure that nothing like this can ever happen in this country again," said Starmer, adding that similar measures are being taken in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Meanwhile, Home for Good and Safe Families issued a statement on Friday (July 3) calling for further action.
"For too long, mothers, fathers, and children affected by these practices have carried the weight of lifelong trauma," said the charity. "This apology is long overdue and serves as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in our nation's history, in which institutions, including churches and other trusted bodies, were complicit. They were wrong, and acknowledging this truth matters deeply to those who continue to live with its consequences."
Forced adoption practices caused profound and enduring trauma for both parents and children, the charity said.
"The legacy of separation, secrecy, and stigma has shaped identities, relationships, and wellbeing across generations. Today's apology must be accompanied by a commitment to listening to those with lived experience and ensuring that such injustices can never be repeated."
Home for Good and Safe Families worked with Adoption UK to provide the joint secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adoption and Permanence.
Earlier this year, the group published its Adoptee Voices inquiry report. More than 300 adoptees ages 13 to 25 contributed their experiences across three themes: education, health and wellbeing, and identity.
"Led and shaped by the adoptees themselves, the report highlighted that while adoption is lifelong, understanding and support too often fall away as young people grow older," said the charity.
"Many adoptees described significant struggles with identity, belonging, and access to appropriate mental health support. Their voices underline the need for a system that listens, adapts, and provides sustained support into adulthood."
Attitudes to adoption today are "very different" from the era of forced adoptions, but challenges remain, including a continuing need for adoptive parents. The charity said between 9% and 10% of children who leave care do so through adoption. Open adoption arrangements have also risen, with many children maintaining safe and meaningful contact with members of their birth family.
"However, while there remains a need for adoptive parents, there is also an urgent need to recruit more foster carers and develop high-quality options for teenagers and young adults," said the charity.
Latest data shows 38% of children in care are ages 10 to 15, and 27% are 16 or older. Some 67% of children in care live with foster families, yet the number of approved carers continues to fall, dropping 12% since 2021.
"These figures demonstrate a system under immense pressure," said the charity. "With more older children entering care and fewer foster carers available, too many young people face instability, unsuitable placements, or being moved far from their communities."
The charity called on the state to provide high-quality, age-appropriate help for teenagers preparing for adulthood, with a particular aim of expanding supported lodgings — a safe and stable home for young people not yet ready to live independently.
The charity described the government's apology as both significant and necessary but pressed for further action.
"It must fully recognise the pain and harm caused, including the lifelong impact of forced adoption on those affected. Any apology must also be followed by meaningful action and appropriate support for survivors.
"It must also act as a catalyst for a renewed and sustained commitment to children and young people currently in the care system. Home for Good and Safe Families stand ready to work alongside government, local authorities, churches and communities to ensure that every child, whether through fostering, adoption or supported lodgings, can grow up in a stable and loving home where they are able to flourish."]]></content:encoded>
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