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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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                <title><![CDATA[Family crisis in the church traced to a 'theological failure,' ACCM panel warns]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/family-crisis-in-the-church-traced-to-a-theological-failure-accm-panel-warns</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/family-crisis-in-the-church-traced-to-a-theological-failure-accm-panel-warns</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[From left to right: Dr. P.C. Mathew, Emmaloisa Malibiran-Salumbides, Ps. Grace Hee and moderator Mark McClendon during the family and childrens discipleship panel at ACCM 2026 in Alabang, Metro Manila, Philippines, June 11, 2026.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ From left to right: Dr. P.C. Mathew, Emmaloisa Malibiran-Salumbides, Ps. Grace Hee and moderator Mark McClendon during the family and children's discipleship panel at ACCM 2026 in Alabang, Metro Manila, Philippines, June 11, 2026. ]]>
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                                                                                                <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/47/4767.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Mathew warned that a church where leaders can abuse their families while holding positions of authority has created a damaging divide between the two institutions God ordained to work together: the family and the church.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Mathew warned that a church where leaders can abuse their families while holding positions of authority has created a damaging divide between the two institutions God ordained to work together: the family and the church. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Drawing on her churchs experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hee said the lockdowns exposed what congregations had long overlooked: that fathers are the missing link in family discipleship, uniquely positioned to impart security, identity and a sense ]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Drawing on her church's experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hee said the lockdowns exposed what congregations had long overlooked: that fathers are the missing link in family discipleship, uniquely positioned to impart security, identity and a sense of purpose to their children. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Malibiran-Salumbides called on churches to measure childrens ministry not by attendance but by whether parents are growing as disciple makers in their own homes.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Malibiran-Salumbides called on churches to measure children's ministry not by attendance but by whether parents are growing as disciple makers in their own homes. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 06:48:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Closing out the Asia Conference on Church & Mission on Thursday, a panel of evangelical leaders warned that one of the most serious failures in the global church is hiding in plain sight: the systematic displacement of parents as the primary disciplers of their own children.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Closing out the Asia Conference on Church & Mission on Thursday, June 11, a panel of evangelical leaders warned that one of the most serious failures in the global Church is hiding in plain sight: the systematic displacement of parents as the primary disciplers of their own children.
The panel was the final session of ACCM 2026, a gathering of 210 delegates from 25 nations held June 9–12 at GCF South Metro in Alabang, Metro Manila. Organized by the Asia Evangelical Alliance in partnership with the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, the conference carried the theme "Disciple or Die 3.0" — the third in a series of regional gatherings focused on building a measurable movement of disciple-making churches across Asia by 2033.
Three panelists — Dr. P.C. Mathew, Ps. Grace Hee and Emmaloisa Malibiran-Salumbides — each addressed the same underlying concern from different angles: that churches have, largely without intending to, relieved parents of their responsibility to form their children in the faith, and that the consequences are visible across denominations and cultures.
'The family crisis is first of all a theological crisis'

Mathew, who serves as global director of the World Evangelical Alliance's Family Challenge initiative and founder of UIM Family Research and Training Institute in South Asia, framed the problem in stark terms. Citing research from his home state of Kerala, India — where Christians make up 20 percent of the population but account for 50 percent of divorce filings in family courts — he said the data pointed to something deeper than a social problem.
"The church must face the truth that the family crisis is first of all a theological crisis," Mathew said, quoting theologian Albert Mohler. He argued that discipleship has long been measured by public performance — preaching, prayer, platform presence — while the home has been treated as a private matter beyond the church's concern. "He can abuse his wife but be an elder in the church," Mathew said. "He can be a very wrong parent, but he can talk about sharing the love of Jesus Christ."
Mathew outlined four reasons he believes family discipleship is essential to the church's mission. Family, he argued, was God's original mechanism for expanding the kingdom — citing Genesis 18, where God's covenant with Abraham is explicitly linked to Abraham teaching his household to walk in his ways. In the New Testament, he noted, Paul's criteria for church leadership were not theological credentials or gifts, but a man's faithfulness within his own home. "He was not assigning to any youth pastors and leaders," Mathew said. "The discipling of the next generation was entrusted first and foremost to parents."
He also connected family discipleship to both the Great Commission and the return of Christ, pointing to the closing verses of Malachi, where the forerunner's task is described as turning the hearts of parents to their children and children to their parents. "When Christ returns in glory, he's not merely looking for isolated individuals," Mathew said. "He desires to see households walking together in faith."
He closed with an image of an eagle: "One wing of this eagle is the church and the other wing is the home. If your one wing is flapping well, but your other wing is not flapping, the eagle will not fly high."
'Church is not about attendance. Church is about living life.'

Ps. Grace Hee, executive director of the Asia Evangelical Alliance Women Commission, offered a ground-level account of how one Malaysian congregation began rethinking its approach to families — and how slowly that change came.
The process started during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, when lockdowns forced families back together and made plain that church life had been built around programs rather than people. "I believe there was a major reset to the kingdom of God," Hee said. "It was there that we realized that church is not about attendance. Church is about living life."
Her church identified three convictions that reoriented its ministry. The first was that family units function like organs in the body of Christ — when they are unhealthy, the whole church suffers. The second was the particular importance of fathers. "For the longest time, physical development of our children, emotional development, education, spiritual formation — all standard to land on mother," Hee said, noting that fathers have been the missing link in many households. Research, she said, shows that fathers uniquely impart security, identity, morality and a sense of potential to their children. The third conviction was that the church and the home must function as one team, not competitors. "From a child's perspective, church has stolen my father, church has stolen my mother, and I've been left alone in my own home," she said. "It's not supposed to be that way."
The congregation's response involved four practical steps: building accountability within its pastoral leadership team, intensifying corporate prayer, making Sunday gatherings a place where scripture on family life was taught systematically, and developing what Hee called a "family lifecycle" map — a chart tracking major life transitions from birth to old age, with the church deliberately preparing families for each one.
That last element, she said, was designed to address a pattern the church had seen repeatedly: people drifting from faith not because of rejection but because no one had prepared them for the crossing. "When young working adults go into the working world without preparation, they fall into a hole," Hee said. "When our children's church age hits puberty, they are asked to go into youth. It's a big cliff. There's no one to help them transition."
'Our task is to build stronger little churches'

Emmaloisa Malibiran-Salumbides, who leads the Family Commission of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, addressed the practical implications for church leaders and cited a Barna Research finding that 42 percent of pastors wish they had spent more time with their own children while they were growing up. The statistic, she said, was not a condemnation of pastoral ministry but a warning. "If shepherds can become so consumed with caring for God's household that they neglect their own households, then the church must revisit the theology of ministry and leadership."
Drawing on 1 Timothy 3:4–5, she argued that Paul's linking of household management to church leadership was not incidental — it was the preparation. "Paul does not separate household leadership from church leadership," she said. "He sees the former as preparation for the latter."
She proposed four shifts in how churches view the home. The first was recognizing the family as the primary discipleship community rather than a recipient of ministry. The second was reorienting church resources toward equipping parents — pointing to a survey of gathered delegates that showed family discipleship scored just 2.7 out of five as a church priority, with correspondingly low budget allocations. "The measure of successful children's ministry is not attendance," she said. "The measure is whether parents are becoming more effective disciple makers to their own children."
The third shift was integrity between public ministry and private life, and the fourth was building a multigenerational vision, drawing on Psalm 78's image of one generation declaring God's works to the next.
Malibiran-Salumbides also addressed the question of broken homes, which had been raised during an earlier conference workshop. "It is difficult, it is far from ideal, but it is possible," she said, as long as at least one member of a family remains committed to moving it toward its God-given design. She illustrated the point with the story of a Filipino single mother who, after coming to faith and being discipled within a local church, raised children who became a pastor, a sports coach and a public servant — one of them an advocate for anti-corruption reform.
"If Jonathan Edwards was correct that every Christian family should be a little church," Malibiran-Salumbides concluded, "then our task as church leaders is not simply to build bigger churches. Our task is to build stronger little churches."
ACCM 2026 was the third gathering in a series convened by the Asia Evangelical Alliance under the "Disciple or Die" banner, following assemblies in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2024 and near Seoul, South Korea in 2025.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Study finds parental faith practices linked to adult church attendance]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/study-finds-parental-faith-practices-linked-to-adult-church-attendance</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/study-finds-parental-faith-practices-linked-to-adult-church-attendance</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/47/4724.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[family]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo by Luemen Rutkowski / unsplash ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:36:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Children raised in homes where religion is regularly discussed are more than twice as likely to attend church and to say faith is very important in adulthood, according to a new study of more than 60,000 Americans.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Children raised in homes where religion is regularly discussed are more than twice as likely to attend church and to say faith is very important in adulthood, according to a new study of more than 60,000 Americans.
The report, released this week by Communio and the Institute for Family Studies, found that parental religious practice and family relationships strongly predict whether faith is retained into adulthood.
Among key findings, 41% of children whose parents both attended church weekly went on to attend weekly as adults. That compared with 29% of children with only one parent attending church regularly.
The study also found that children reporting strong relationships with both parents were 97% more likely to believe in God as adults than those with weaker parental relationships.
The report, titled Passing the Torch: How Faith Moves Across Generations, draws on four national datasets, including the Global Flourishing Study and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Researchers said it is among the most comprehensive analyses to date of how faith is transmitted across generations.
“Faith isn’t something kids are going to get from the culture,” said Jesse Smith, a co-author of the report and assistant professor at The Ohio State University. “Our study shows that parents are the most important figures for their children's spiritual formation. They're the key role models, teachers, and tone-setters.”
Researchers found that regular faith conversations at home, active parental involvement, strong marriages and close parent-child relationships were among the strongest predictors of continued religious practice.
The report also highlighted the particular influence of fathers. Children who experienced faith discussions involving their fathers were more likely to continue those conversations with their own children in adulthood.
Parents who reported high marital satisfaction also reported more frequent faith-related discussions with their children compared with those who reported lower satisfaction.
J.P. De Gance, founder and CEO of Communio, said the findings underscore the importance of the family environment in shaping religious belief. “The married home is the most impactful small group,” he said.
The report includes 10 recommendations for parents and church leaders, including encouraging parental role modeling, strengthening marriages, and making faith a regular topic of family life. It also urges churches to expand youth ministry efforts, involve parents more directly in religious education and engage fathers more intentionally.
Communio is a nonprofit ministry that equips churches to strengthen relationships, marriages and family life. The Institute for Family Studies is a nonprofit organization focused on research and public education related to marriage and family.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Nearly 20% of millennial, Gen Z parents spank their kids; ministry urges caution]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/nearly-20-of-millennial-gen-z-parents-spank-their-kids-ministry-urges-caution</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/nearly-20-of-millennial-gen-z-parents-spank-their-kids-ministry-urges-caution</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Christian Post]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Nearly 20% of millennial, Gen Z parents spank their kids; ministry urges caution]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ iStock/aldomurillo ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Nearly 20% of millennial, Gen Z parents spank their kids; ministry urges caution ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Despite a decline in support for using spanking as a punishment in Canada, around 20% of millennial and Gen Z parents report that they spank their children, according to a study that explored beliefs about whether spanking a child is ever necessary.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Despite a decline in support for using spanking as a punishment in Canada, around 20% of millennial and Gen Z parents report that they spank their children, according to a study that explored beliefs about whether spanking a child is ever necessary.
The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health in April, found that 18.7% of Gen Z parents and 22.1% of millennial parents admitted to spanking their children. Gen X parents were more likely to report spanking their children than the other two generations, at 45%.
Researchers also asked over 3,700 adults about their beliefs on spanking. Fifteen percent of respondents said they believed “it is necessary to use spanking to properly raise a child.” By contrast, 72.6% did not support that belief, while 10.6% said they did not know and 1.8% said they preferred not to answer.
Millennials and Gen X respondents were more likely to have experienced spanking during childhood than Gen Z respondents, the study found. Researchers also noted that “having a history of being spanked as a child was associated with increasing odds of spanking one’s own child.”
The study also reported that “the prevalence of spanking history among Canadian adults is high,” with 55.6% of Canadian adults reporting that they had been spanked three or more times as children.'
“40.2% indicated no (never, one or two times only) to spanking, 3.6% reported not knowing about spanking history, and 0.6% preferred not to answer,” the study reported. “Those who spanked were mostly mothers (74.5%) and fathers (73.4%) followed by grandmothers (12.0%).”
"A small proportion of the sample indicated estimating the onset of spanking at between 0 and 1 years (0.7%) with 14.0% indicating age of last occurrence between 13 and 17 years," the report continued.
Among those who were spanked, 22.6% “reported it leaving a mark or a bruise or causing lasting physical pain.”
“Ongoing policies and prevention strategies are needed in Canada to further reduce both the attitudinal belief that spanking is necessary to properly raise a child and the use of spanking in a disciplinary context,” the researchers concluded. “An important step in advancing child protection in Canada is to repeal the law permitting spanking and to enhance prevention efforts with a focus on gender and sexual identity.”
Weighing in on the debate over appropriate punishments for children, Dr. Danny Huerta, vice president of parenting and youth at the Evangelical parachurch ministry Focus on the Family, told The Christian Post that spanking “should be used as a last resort in the parenting toolbox.”
“If a parent is disciplining out of anger and pure emotion, spanking is never the right option,” Huerta said.
He also stressed that parents should only use spanking on children younger than 7, adding that it must be done with a “clear purpose, followed up with repair and reconnection.”
The psychologist emphasized that parents who spank their children should only deliver “a firm swat on a child’s back end — not one that causes bruising.”
“A parent must be in a place of clarity and self-control to provide discipline well. Discipline is about clear and loving guidance,” Huerta added. “Spanking needs to offer a distinct reminder of correction.”
For example, Huerta said that if a child blatantly disobeys by running into the street, a spanking can provide “a clear boundary and attention-getting reminder for that child,” which he said “could save that child’s life.”
He added that there are many other options in the “parenting toolbox,” including verbal reminders, timeouts, redirection and firm correction.
“Spanking needs to be extremely infrequent, self-controlled, and followed up with love and warmth,” Huerta said, pointing to his book, 7 Traits of Effective Parenting.
“7 Traits of Effective Parenting begins with adaptability and respect because situational parenting needs to adjust to who the child is, what the child needs, what the situation requires, and what is happening inside the parent,” the author and psychologist said.
Originally published by The Christian Post.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Peru committee approves bill aimed at speeding up adoptions for children in state care]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/peru-committee-approves-bill-aimed-at-speeding-up-adoptions-for-children-in-state-care</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/peru-committee-approves-bill-aimed-at-speeding-up-adoptions-for-children-in-state-care</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lizzie Sotola]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Milagros Jáuregui de Aguayo]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo: X/@MilagrosAguayo. ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The Justice Commission unanimously approved the draft bill for Bill No. 14539, introduced by Milagros Jáuregui de Aguayo, aimed at speeding up adoption and child protection proceedings. “Children cannot continue to be held back by bureaucratic delays,” she said. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 03:36:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A congressional committee in Peru unanimously approved a bill that would create an administrative process to speed up adoptions for vulnerable children, lawmaker Milagros Jáuregui de Aguayo said.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A congressional committee in Peru unanimously approved a bill that would create an administrative process to speed up adoptions for vulnerable children, lawmaker Milagros Jáuregui de Aguayo said.
In a post on social media, Jáuregui said that “children cannot continue to be held back by bureaucratic delays,” referring to the lengthy legal proceedings faced by many children living in state care.
The proposal, Bill 14539/2025-CR, would amend Peru's Code of Children and Adolescents and Legislative Decree 1297. Under the measure, state authorities could determine whether children lack adequate family protection and are eligible for adoption through an administrative process rather than a lengthy court proceeding. The process would be overseen by the appropriate authority within Peru's Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP).
According to Peru's Congress, the bill is intended to speed up adoption proceedings and provide a faster path to permanent family placement for children who remain under state protection.
Backers of the bill say it would reduce delays that currently leave thousands of children in residential care facilities while their legal status is being determined. They argue that existing procedures can take years to complete, delaying opportunities for children to be placed with adoptive families.
The proposal received initial legislative support in May when it was approved by Congress' Women and Family Commission. Lawmakers said the reform would shorten adoption timelines through administrative procedures while preserving existing legal safeguards and judicial review.
Representatives from several child welfare organizations participated in discussions on the bill, including the Ombudsman's Office of Peru, officials from the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, and organizations involved in foster care and adoption services. According to congressional records, many of those groups agreed that adoption procedures should be streamlined to reduce the time children spend in residential care facilities.
The bill will now advance through the legislative process in Peru's Congress. If approved, the measure would allow eligible children to be placed with adoptive families more quickly.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Mexico's Supreme Court upholds prison penalties for parents over conversion therapy]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/mexico-s-supreme-court-upholds-prison-penalties-for-parents-over-conversion-therapy</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/mexico-s-supreme-court-upholds-prison-penalties-for-parents-over-conversion-therapy</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ommar Ayala]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Mexicos Supreme Court of Justice.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo courtesy of SCJN ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Mexico's Supreme Court of Justice. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:33:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Mexico's Supreme Court unanimously struck down provisions of Guanajuato state's penal code that reduced penalties for parents or guardians who subject people in their care to conversion therapy. The ruling means parents and guardians can face prison sentences under the same standards applied to others convicted of the practice.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Mexico's Supreme Court unanimously struck down provisions of Guanajuato state's penal code that reduced penalties for parents or guardians who subject people in their care to conversion therapy. The ruling means parents and guardians can face prison sentences under the same standards applied to others convicted of the practice.
The court held that being a close family member of the affected person does not lessen the seriousness of the offense. On the contrary, the justices said such practices can constitute cruel treatment and ruled that a family relationship "makes the conduct more serious" because it violates the person's gender identity.
While presenting the case before the full court, Justice María Estela Ríos González stressed that parental rights and family relationships do not override legal protections. "The protection of the family cannot justify inadequate penalties for conduct that seriously harms legally protected interests," she said.
Debate over parental rights and religious freedom
Under current Mexican law, coercive efforts to change a person's sexual orientation are considered human rights violations.
At the same time, some conservative groups argue that biblical counseling is a voluntary faith-based practice protected by religious freedom.
The evangelical Christian organization Iniciativa Ciudadana criticized the ruling, arguing that the criminal penalties imposed on parents undermine parental rights. Representatives of the group said the court's decision amounts to "a direct attack on families and children."
Guanajuato's legislature had previously defended the law, arguing that states have the authority to determine criminal penalties and protect social institutions. State officials said the exceptions were intended to preserve family unity by imposing only fines and mandatory psychotherapy on parents convicted under the law.
Opposition from religious groups intensified after the Supreme Court also struck down a provision that exempted the practice from criminal liability when a participant had given "informed consent." Under current federal law, those convicted can face prison sentences ranging from two to six years, with penalties doubled when minors are involved.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church leaders in Zambia call for stronger media regulation to protect children]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/church-leaders-in-zambia-call-for-stronger-media-regulation-to-protect-children</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/church-leaders-in-zambia-call-for-stronger-media-regulation-to-protect-children</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Vincent Matinde]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Children in Zambia Media protection]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ UNICEF Zambia/Sarah Talon Sampieri ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ In 2025, Zambia launched the National Child Online Protection Strategy 2025-2029 through collaboration involving ZICTA, government agencies and UNICEF. The initiative focuses on strengthening digital literacy, addressing harmful online content and improving protections for children in digital spaces. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:11:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia has urged media regulators to strengthen enforcement of broadcasting standards amid growing concern over explicit entertainment content and its impact on children and family values.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia has urged media regulators to strengthen enforcement of broadcasting standards amid growing concern over explicit entertainment content and its impact on children and family values.
In a statement issued May 13, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, known as EFZ, expressed concern over what it described as the increasing spread of “immoral, explicit, and indecent material” across media platforms in Zambia, particularly within the music and entertainment industry.
“Of alarming concern is the sharp increase in content that promotes lifestyles and behaviors inconsistent with Zambia’s cultural and Christian values, which erode family values and remain widely accessible to minors,” said the statement, which was signed by Rev. Allan Kasungami, executive director of EFZ.
The organization said it had formally engaged the Independent Broadcasting Authority, or IBA, and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority, known as ZICTA, over concerns about harmful media content and the protection of minors.
EFZ said the discussions focused on strengthening content standards, improving classification and monitoring systems, and ensuring children are protected before harmful material is broadcast or distributed online.
The concerns raised by the church body come amid growing public debate in Zambia over sexually suggestive music videos and online entertainment content circulating on television and social media platforms.
One recent controversy involved criticism surrounding Zambian musician Yo Maps and his “Budget” music video, which sparked online debate over whether local entertainment content is becoming increasingly explicit and unsuitable for younger audiences.
Earlier this month, the IBA issued guidance reminding broadcasters to exercise editorial responsibility when airing musical content. The regulator urged broadcasters to ensure that content complies with existing broadcasting standards and reflects public interest considerations.
EFZ Board Vice Chairperson Bishop Joshua Banda later reiterated the organization’s concerns during a meeting with the IBA held under the theme “Strengthening Broadcast Standards for the Protection of Minors and the Family Unit.”
Speaking during the meeting, Banda said Zambia needed stronger enforcement of existing standards rather than relying only on reactive measures after harmful content had already been circulated.
“There is a gap that needs to be addressed, we need to be proactive and not reactive and there should be positive surveillance to ensure content creators and producers are guided on the kind of content they put out,” Banda said.
Regulating moral values 
Banda, who also serves as presiding bishop for Northmead Assemblies of God, said the church supports freedom of expression and creativity among young content creators, but stressed the importance of preserving moral values that strengthen families and communities.
He also called on the IBA to ensure broadcasters provide clear disclaimers and content classifications relating to violence, sexual content, language and other sensitive material so that parents and guardians can make informed viewing decisions.
“The Church is recommending advertising restrictions on products that are harmful for minors during general viewing times,” Banda said.
EFZ further proposed the introduction of standardized decency guidelines instead of allowing individual media houses to classify their own content independently.
According to the church body, the current system creates inconsistencies and loopholes in interpretation.
The organization grounded its appeal in Zambia’s constitutional framework, citing Article 8 of the Constitution, which identifies morality and ethics among national values, and Article 11, which provides for the protection of young persons from exploitation.
“We are encouraged by the recent address by H.E. President Hakainde Hichilema, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting families in raising a God-fearing and productive society,” EFZ said in its statement.
The organization said children remain highly impressionable and warned that prolonged exposure to age-inappropriate content could negatively affect their mental development and overall well-being.
The debate over media standards in Zambia also comes amid broader national efforts to address online child safety.
Zambia launched the National Child Online Protection Strategy 2025-2029 through collaboration involving ZICTA, government agencies and UNICEF. The initiative focuses on strengthening digital literacy, addressing harmful online content and improving protections for children in digital spaces.
EFZ said corporations, advertisers and brand sponsors also have a role to play by avoiding sponsorship of content considered harmful to minors and instead supporting programming that promotes social cohesion and positive development.
“Zambia’s values emphasize decency and the protection of the vulnerable,” the organization said.
The fellowship said it remains committed to working constructively with authorities and media stakeholders to promote responsible broadcasting practices while awaiting formal feedback from regulators on the concerns it has raised.
The developments reflect an increasing conversation in Zambia over the balance between creative freedom, public morality and the protection of children in an expanding digital media environment where entertainment content spreads rapidly across both traditional broadcasting and social media platforms.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Young Christians want guidance, not just freedom, Dutch churches hear at landmark youth ministry summit]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/young-christians-want-guidance-not-just-freedom-dutch-churches-hear-at-landmark-youth-ministry-summit</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/young-christians-want-guidance-not-just-freedom-dutch-churches-hear-at-landmark-youth-ministry-summit</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Dutch youth report smartphones hinder personal faith growth, even as many say online content gave them their first connection to Christianity, according to the Youth Trends 2026 report.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Unsplash / Julie Ricard ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Dutch youth report smartphones hinder personal faith growth, even as many say online content gave them their first connection to Christianity, according to the Youth Trends 2026 report. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:56:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Dutch youth say smartphones are hurting their faith — but also credit social media with their first encounter with Christianity, according to a new report presented Friday at the inaugural "Young Generations Day" in the Netherlands.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Dutch youth say smartphones are hurting their faith — but also credit social media with their first encounter with Christianity, according to a new report presented at the inaugural "Young Generations Day" in the Netherlands.
The Youth Trends 2026 report, based on research with more than 700 young Christians aged 12 to 30, identified five currents reshaping how young believers engage with faith: a desire for clear spiritual direction over personal freedom; growing curiosity about the supernatural; a hunger for authentic community; unease about smartphones as a barrier to spiritual growth; and a view of the digital world as a legitimate mission field. The findings prompted more than 80 youth ministry professionals from over 15 church traditions to gather in Veenendaal to discuss how local congregations can respond.
MissieNederland (the Dutch Evangelical Alliance) organized the May 29 event at De Verbinding Baptist Church in Veenendaal, where participants from local churches, youth ministry organizations and research institutions discussed what those trends mean in practice — and what churches should do about them.
Martine Versteeg-ter Veen, director of MissieNederland, told Christian Daily International that the day examined how churches and youth ministries can better serve young people following Christ.
“Following a research report presentation about the five trends, the event’s participants—including local churches, youth ministry organizations, and researchers—discussed what the outcomes meant and explored solutions within different contexts,” Versteeg-ter Veen said.
A follow-up research report detailing the data “behind the trends” is anticipated in the coming week, and organizers are planning a practical toolkit to help churches engage with the findings.
Regarding the trends, Versteeg-ter Veen noted that a prior emphasis on giving young people space to discover what faith means has been superseded. “Now we see that, much more than before, this generation longs for direction and guidance. And that's what they are looking for in Christianity and in following Christ,” she explained.
She also remarked that the trend concerning digital life is particularly striking, given that young people themselves expressed concern over the negative effects of mobile phone use on their spiritual lives.
“What I found interesting in the research was that a high percentage of young people say mobile phones are not helpful in growing their faith,” Versteeg-ter Veen said. “Yet, on the other hand, we do see that it is very much a digital mission field, because many searching young people have their first connection with Christ through online contact and content.”
Versteeg-ter Veen added that the data led participants to discuss how children’s and youth ministries can directly address these concerns.
The Young Generations Day 2026 is the first iteration of an ongoing initiative, with the next event tentatively planned for Fall 2027.
The May event builds upon the February launch of a two-part resource titled “Samen Jong in de Praktijk” (“Young Together in Practice”), as previously reported by Christian Daily International. The workbook was created to help Dutch churches cultivate intergenerational communities.
The resource was officially introduced by Sabine van der Heijden, a researcher at the Christelijke Hogeschool Ede (CHE); Saskia de Graaf-Bakker of MissieNederland; and Rozamaryn Orsel, 24, who was recently named the “Young Theologian of the Netherlands” for 2025–2026.
A launch event for the book drew 200 participants on Feb. 13 at the CHE campus in Ede, Netherlands. The symposium was organized through a collaboration between MissieNederland, the Christelijke Hogeschool Ede (serving as venue and academic partner), Kerkpunt, and the Theologische Universiteit Utrecht.
At the time, Versteeg-ter Veen told Christian Daily International that the Samen Jong book was published because Dutch churches frequently struggle to build communities where all generations truly belong, resulting in many young people leaving the faith.
“The book is based on the Growing Young research from the United States but contextualized for the Dutch church,” she said. “It is unique because it focuses not on youth ministry in the traditional sense... but on church community development. The core question is: How can we become a church where all generations flourish and grow as followers of Christ?”
According to Versteeg-ter Veen, this approach establishes intergenerational ministry as a distinct discipline within practical theology rather than a mere expansion of youth ministry.
“Since its launch, hundreds of churches have taken up the challenge of cultivating the core values that help churches welcome younger generations and enable all generations to flourish.”
Versteeg-ter Veen listed these core values as: taking Jesus and his gospel seriously; prioritizing younger generations and their families; loving young people; being a warm community; giving meaningful responsibility within the church; and being a church that is good news for the world.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[OneHope president responds to papal AI encyclical, calls on churches to engage next generation]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/onehope-president-responds-to-papal-ai-encyclical-calls-on-churches-to-engage-next-generation</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/onehope-president-responds-to-papal-ai-encyclical-calls-on-churches-to-engage-next-generation</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Imaginary Friend]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Pheniti/Adobe Stock ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Children's use of AI tools is reshaping how they learn, form their identity and understand what it means to be human, according to OneHope president Rob Hoskins. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:52:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The head of a global children's ministry is urging Christian leaders worldwide to take an active role in shaping how artificial intelligence influences the formation of young people, responding to a major Vatican document on the topic.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The head of a global children's ministry is urging Christian leaders worldwide to take an active role in shaping how artificial intelligence influences the formation of young people, responding to a major Vatican document on the topic.
Rob Hoskins, president of OneHope — a ministry that says it has reached more than 2 billion children with the Gospel since 1987 — released a statement this week welcoming Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which addresses the theological and ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence. Hoskins said the document names what he described as a crisis that is "not technological, but anthropological and spiritual."
"The deepest questions emerging from the AI age are not ultimately technical questions, but theological questions," Hoskins wrote. "They are questions of dignity, purpose, truth, formation, and the story we believe our lives are part of."
Hoskins said he was invited by AI company Anthropic to attend a meeting with researchers, ethicists and technology developers, where he said he was struck less by the sophistication of the technology than by its moral implications.
In his statement, Hoskins argued that artificial intelligence will inevitably reflect the values of those who build and deploy it, and that the church has a responsibility to contribute to that conversation. He described the encyclical's warning against technology that seeks to transcend or redefine human identity as something he affirms.
"Human beings are not problems to be optimized away," he wrote. "We are image bearers of God, created for relationship with Him and with one another through Jesus Christ."
A formation crisis already underway
The core of Hoskins' concern is that AI systems are already shaping children — with or without the church's involvement. He warned that the values being embedded in those systems today will determine how billions of young people learn, think and understand their own humanity for generations to come.
Hoskins called on church leaders not to wait until they feel fully equipped to respond. Formation, he wrote, "is happening right now" in the absence of pastoral and parental voices, and it will not pause for the church's readiness.
He argued that what children need is not primarily guidance on screen time limits, but a theological framework — a "robust, Scripture-rooted understanding" of their identity as image-bearers of God, their purpose as people called to love and serve, and the resilience to hold onto truth when competing voices multiply.
To pastors and ministry leaders
Hoskins called on pastors and youth ministers to treat the question of AI and human identity as a discipleship issue, not a technology issue. He urged them to address it from pulpits, incorporate it into classroom teaching and weave it into existing discipleship structures.
His concern is that children are being formed by AI systems in ways that go beyond screen exposure — systems that, he argued, carry embedded assumptions about identity, truth and what it means to be human. Without a corresponding theological grounding, he wrote, young people lack the tools to evaluate those assumptions critically.
Hoskins framed digital discernment as inseparable from deeper theological formation. Teaching children to navigate AI, in his view, is not a supplementary topic but "a foundational part of discipleship" in the current era — one that requires helping young people understand concepts such as embodiment, community and human dignity through a scriptural lens.
To parents
Hoskins emphasized that parents are more influential in a child's formation than any platform, model or algorithm. No technology company, he wrote, however sophisticated, can replicate what God has entrusted to a parent.
He urged parents to be present and to ask substantive questions about what their children are encountering — not only in social media but in AI tools and digital environments that are actively shaping how children see themselves. He called for space within family life for conversations about faith, identity, truth and human flourishing that only a parent can initiate.
"The greatest gift you can give your child in the age of AI is a parent who is fully, unhurriedly, irreplaceably there," he wrote.
To technology developers
Hoskins also directed specific recommendations to the technology industry. He called on developers to design AI systems for human flourishing rather than dependency, to be transparent about the values embedded in their products, and to actively invite faith communities into dialogue — not as a courtesy, but as a substantive contribution to how AI is built.
He acknowledged that many in the technology sector already recognize the ethical weight of what they are building, and said he had been encouraged by technology leaders who have expressed genuine openness to engaging faith perspectives. But he said the standard must be grounded in human dignity rather than metrics or market share, and that children in particular must be protected by design.
Church's role
Finally, Hoskins argued that the global Church is uniquely positioned to contribute to the AI conversation, carrying two thousand years of accumulated wisdom on questions of virtue, formation, community and the meaning of human life — questions he said are now at the center of public debate about artificial intelligence.
The current moment is an opportunity for the Church to serve, he said, adding that he is personally committed to helping bridge the conversation between faith communities and the technology sector.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Scotland records highest-ever abortion total as advocate calls for open dialogue]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/scotland-records-highest-ever-abortion-total-as-advocate-calls-for-open-dialogue</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/scotland-records-highest-ever-abortion-total-as-advocate-calls-for-open-dialogue</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/46/4690.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Demonstrators gather outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Sept. 24, 2024, to protest a law banning demonstrations within 200 meters of abortion clinics. New Public Health Scotland data shows the country recorded its highest-ever number of abort]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Demonstrators gather outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Sept. 24, 2024, to protest a law banning demonstrations within 200 meters of abortion clinics. New Public Health Scotland data shows the country recorded its highest-ever number of abortions in 2024. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 01:24:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Scotland recorded its highest-ever number of abortions in 2024, with nearly 18,800 terminations logged in the latest government figures — a development that has drawn a response from a prominent evangelical advocate who says honest, compassionate conversations are increasingly urgent.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Scotland recorded its highest-ever number of abortions in 2024, with nearly 18,800 terminations logged in the latest government figures — a development that has drawn a response from a prominent evangelical advocate who says honest, compassionate conversations are increasingly urgent.
Public Health Scotland released the data May 26, showing 18,783 abortions performed last year — a 55% rise in demand since 2016. The termination rate stood at 17.6 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. In NHS Lanarkshire alone, the number of terminations was 86% higher than a decade ago.
The report also documented a sharp disparity based on economic status. Women living in Scotland's most deprived areas terminated pregnancies at a rate of 23.7 per 1,000 — roughly double the rate recorded in the least deprived areas, according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Among other findings: 60.8% of all abortions involved medication taken at home, 277 terminations were recorded as disability-selective, and 209 occurred after 18 weeks of pregnancy. Four in 10 women who had an abortion in the reporting period had undergone at least one previous termination.
Dawn McAvoy, who leads Both Lives, a United Kingdom-wide initiative calling for the protection of both mother and unborn child, said current healthcare systems across the U.K. present abortion as the primary option for pregnant women.
"Across Holyrood, Stormont and Westminster governments are failing to support women to choose life for them and their unborn babies," said McAvoy, who also works with the Evangelical Alliance UK.
She addressed so-called buffer zones — areas around abortion facilities where conversations with patients are legally restricted — arguing that such restrictions remove a critical, last-minute opportunity for women to access support and reconsider their decision.
"The opportunity to speak with a woman outside an abortion clinic — to offer support, compassion, and practical help — may be the last chance for her to choose life," she said. "That matters because we know that, even at that stage, some women have been supported to continue their pregnancies."
But McAvoy also told Christian Daily International that the need for open dialogue extends well beyond clinic doorsteps. "There has always been a need to think beyond those specific locations and to foster compassionate, thoughtful, and honest conversations long before a woman faces a pregnancy crisis or begins considering abortion," she said.
With the majority of U.K. abortions now carried out through self-administered medication at home, McAvoy said that earlier, community-based support has become more critical than ever. "Those earlier conversations and sources of support matter more than ever for many women," she said.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian hospital performs free fistula surgeries for more than 2,000 Nigerian women annually]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-hospital-performs-free-fistula-surgeries-for-more-than-2-000-nigerian-women-annually</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-hospital-performs-free-fistula-surgeries-for-more-than-2-000-nigerian-women-annually</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obed Minchakpu]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos posted a video series on its Facebook page to mark the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula on May 23, 2026, highlighting the causes, impact and treatment of the condition.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Facebook screenshot ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos posted a video series on its Facebook page to mark the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula on May 23, 2026, highlighting the causes, impact and treatment of the condition. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 01:35:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[More than 2,000 Nigerian women have received free fistula surgery at a Christian hospital in Jos that treats patients of all faiths, as the country's first lady calls for an end to child marriage, a leading cause of the condition.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
More than 2,000 Nigerian women have received free fistula surgery at a Christian hospital in Jos that treats patients of all faiths, as the country's first lady calls for an end to child marriage, a leading cause of the condition.
Bingham University Teaching Hospital, the medical ministry of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), made the disclosure May 23 during the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula and published a video series on its Facebook page featuring stories and testimonies. The hospital operates the Evangel VVF Center, which focuses on vesicovaginal fistula — an abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina that results from prolonged, obstructed labor without adequate medical care.
Nigeria has one of the world's highest rates of obstetric fistula, accounting for about 40% of global cases. The country records an estimated 13,000 new cases each year, and between 400,000 and 800,000 Nigerian women are currently living with unrepaired obstetric fistula awaiting surgery, according to UNICEF.
Child marriage is a direct driver of obstetric fistula. Girls who become pregnant before their bodies are fully developed face a heightened risk of the prolonged obstructed labor that causes the condition. According to UNFPA, girls who become pregnant before age 15 in low- and middle-income countries have double the risk of obstetric fistula compared with older women. 
Gwong Ayuba, a staff member at the Evangel VVF Center, said the hospital seeks to reach women across the country.
"The Evangel VVF Centre, Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos, which partners with Christian Blind Mission (CBM), a global Christian ministry, has successfully carried out surgeries and repairs of over two thousand women and girls suffering from abnormal or damaged connections from the bladder and vagina, medically known as Vesicovaginal Fistula, in all parts of Nigeria," Ayuba said.
This year's global observance carried the theme "Her Health Is A Right: Invest In Ending Fistula And Childbirth Injuries." Hundreds of women received treatment at the hospital and through outreach events across the country.
The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is observed annually on May 23 to raise awareness about a childbirth injury that affects millions of women and girls worldwide.
Nigeria's first lady, Remi Tinubu, issued a statement for the occasion calling for an end to child marriage and obstetric fistula. She said no woman or girl should suffer from the condition, noting it is both preventable and treatable.
"Let us work together to build a future where every birth is safe and no woman loses her life in childbirth," Tinubu said.
Bingham University Teaching Hospital was founded in 1959 by missionaries with Sudan Interior Mission, now known as SIM, which is headquartered in the United States. At Nigeria's independence in 1960, SIM transferred its ministry activities to ECWA, its Nigerian partner. The hospital's stated mission is to "Preach the Gospel, Heal the Sick."]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[BMA backs down: Cass Review right that evidence for youth puberty blockers was weak]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/bma-backs-down-cass-review-right-that-evidence-for-youth-puberty-blockers-was-weak</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/bma-backs-down-cass-review-right-that-evidence-for-youth-puberty-blockers-was-weak</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A general view of the NHSs Tavistock Centre in London, England, on June 23, 2023]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Dan Kitwood/Getty Images ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ A general view of the NHS's Tavistock Centre in London, England, on June 23, 2023. The Tavistock's Gender Identity Development Service was the only NHS-funded service in the UK working on gender issues in young people. Following an independent review led by retired pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass and commissioned by NHS England, the clinic closed after its centralized service model was deemed unsustainable and lacking a safe, evidence-based foundation. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 02:43:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The British Medical Association has largely reversed its position on the Cass Review into puberty blockers for children — a landmark report the doctors' union had heavily criticized in 2024.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The British Medical Association has largely reversed its position on the Cass Review into puberty blockers for children — a landmark report the doctors' union had heavily criticized in 2024.
The BMA published its findings after a two-year internal evaluation in a paper titled "Cass Review: Evidence, Interpretation, and Implementation." Report co-author Professor David Strain told The Times the review's author "has been vindicated in the way she approached the data." When asked to name a single one of Hilary Cass's 32 recommendations that the BMA currently opposed, Strain said, "I can't," adding, "she approached an area of significant uncertainty with that prime rule of medicine, of 'first, do no harm.'"
The BMA's shift is significant because its council had, in July 2024, blasted Cass's recommendations as "unsubstantiated," called for a public critique and demanded the lifting of the puberty blocker ban — a move that triggered intense backlash from the BMA's own grassroots medical members. The council subsequently adopted a position of neutrality and launched the internal evaluation group that produced the new paper.
Writing for the Christian Medical Fellowship, Trevor Stammers — a former general practitioner, clinical teacher and past CMF chair — said the BMA's paper amounts to a concession that the evidence base in favor of puberty suppression and gender-affirming hormones for young people is "limited and uncertain."
"Whenever ideology prevails over evidence, people must eventually face up to reality," Stammers wrote. "It's very sad that now the BMA's efforts to discredit Cass' findings have turned out to broadly vindicate them, they still seek to criticise the necessary actions subsequently taken."
That ongoing criticism centers on the BMA's refusal to back a total ban on the treatments. The review group stopped short of endorsing the UK government's absolute statutory ban on the medication, calling it a political "overreach" that threatens the clinical autonomy of prescribing doctors — even as it acknowledged the "known and plausible harms" of puberty blockers.
The Cass Review was an independent analysis of the Gender Identity Development Service run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London. It was led by retired pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass and commissioned by NHS England. Its findings ultimately led to the closure of the Tavistock clinic, whose centralized service model was deemed unsustainable and lacking a safe, evidence-based foundation.
The review found that clinical staff internationally reported that adolescents "seem to have more complex presentations" and present "with greater mental health and psychosocial needs, as well as additional diagnoses of ASD and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)." Data in the report showed that rates of depression, anxiety and eating disorders were significantly higher among those referred to the gender clinic than in the general population.
Baroness Cass also noted in the report that "it is widely accepted that exposure to sexuality is happening at a younger age," adding that the impact on young people's understanding of their sexuality or gender identity "is an area that warrants better exploration and understanding."
Stammers noted that the Cass Review had faced attacks from activists and some academics, including a non-peer-reviewed paper by McNamara et al. that claimed the review contained "serious methodological flaws." He cited the biblical proverb: "Do not testify against your neighbour without cause."
Official figures cited during the clinic's operational history show that 382 children aged up to 6 were referred to the service between 2010 and its clinical wind-down. About 70 were 3 or 4 years old.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Survey puts family at top of Jamaican values; clergy point to church influence]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/survey-puts-family-at-top-of-jamaican-values-clergy-point-to-church-influence</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/survey-puts-family-at-top-of-jamaican-values-clergy-point-to-church-influence</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Church volunteer ministers to children in Jamaicas Blue Mountains, reflecting the Christian communitys enduring role in shaping family and education values across the island.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ IMB ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Church volunteer ministers to children in Jamaica's Blue Mountains, reflecting the Christian community's enduring role in shaping family and education values across the island. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 02:03:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Family ranked as the most important value among Jamaicans in a new nationwide survey, and two prominent clergymen say the Christian church deserves much of the credit for that result — even though religion and spirituality came in fourth on the same list.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Family ranked as the most important value among Jamaicans in a new nationwide survey, and two prominent clergymen say the Christian church deserves much of the credit for that result — even though religion and spirituality came in fourth on the same list.
The findings come from Market Research Services Ltd.'s Heart of Jamaicans Survey, reported by the Jamaica Gleaner. The survey sampled 1,100 Jamaicans aged 18 and older between Nov. 17 and Dec. 10, 2024. Respondents ranked family, children's education, personal independence, religion and spirituality, and personal education as their five most important values. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
The Rev. Devon Dick, pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Andrew, told the Gleaner he was initially surprised that religion ranked fourth rather than higher. But he argued the placement of family at the top reflects church influence more than secular priorities.
"In Jamaica, part of the reason why family is so important is because of the Church and the rites of the Church, starting from dedication of infants to baptising persons, to marriage, to death," Dick said. "All of these things happen within the Church."
He also linked the survey's strong showing for education to the church's historical role. Before and after emancipation, he said, it was the church — not the state — that pushed to educate the general population, and that legacy continues to shape what Jamaicans prioritize.
Bishop Alvin Bailey, president of the Jamaica Evangelical Alliance, echoed that view in comments to the Gleaner. Despite what he described as inadequacies in Jamaica's public education system, he noted that some of the country's best-performing schools are church-owned.
"Education is high, the Church is playing a significant role in that; family is high, the Church is playing a significant role in that," Bailey said. "The home and the Church are still one of the most positive institutions of socialisation in this country."
The survey revealed generational differences in how Jamaicans rank their values. Younger respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 were less likely to name religion, spirituality or children's education among their top concerns — a pattern the survey attributed in part to their stage of life, as most have not yet taken on parental responsibilities or made deep spiritual commitments.
Older Jamaicans, those 65 and above, showed less interest in personal education but placed greater weight on respect, kindness and spiritual life. The survey also found that men, particularly the youngest and oldest age groups, were less inclined toward religion and traditional social norms than women.
Among higher-income respondents, children's education and adherence to rules ranked lower, while kindness and respect were more frequently cited as priorities.
At the other end of the scale, the Gleaner reported that community status, access to local information and a day-by-day approach to life were the three things Jamaicans valued least.
Bailey said the overall results confirm that Jamaica's social values remain deeply connected to its Christian heritage.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Costa Rican lawmaker proposes National Family Day to strengthen society]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/costa-rican-lawmaker-proposes-national-family-day-to-strengthen-society</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/costa-rican-lawmaker-proposes-national-family-day-to-strengthen-society</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Javier Bolaños]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Costa Rican congressman Gerald Bogantes]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Office of Congressman Gerald Bogantes. ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Costa Rican congressman Gerald Bogantes introduced Legislative Bill 25,597, titled the 'Law for the Creation and Celebration of National Family Day.' ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 15:56:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Amid a global landscape in which the traditional understanding of society faces constant secular challenges, Costa Rican legislator Gerald Bogantes, a representative of the ruling Pueblo Soberano Party, has taken a firm step by officially introducing an initiative called the “Law for the Creation and Celebration of National Family Day.”]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Amid a global landscape in which the traditional understanding of society faces constant secular challenges, Costa Rican legislator Gerald Bogantes, a representative of the ruling Pueblo Soberano Party, has taken a firm step by officially introducing an initiative called the “Law for the Creation and Celebration of National Family Day.” The proposal seeks to establish May 15 each year as an official day to honor and protect the family unit in the Central American country.
From both a theological and social perspective, the family is viewed as the foundational institution established by God, designed to serve as the primary place of provision, moral instruction and love. The bill brings this biblical principle into civil legislation by recognizing the family as the natural and essential foundation of society, in accordance with Article 51 of Costa Rica’s Constitution.
The main goal of the proposal is to strengthen family values, promote peaceful coexistence based on respect and ensure comprehensive protection for families. To accomplish this, the bill calls for the active participation of public institutions, local governments and schools in organizing cultural, community and recreational activities that reinforce family bonds.
In a video message addressed to the public, Bogantes highlighted the educational impact of the proposal.
“This project promotes family values and encourages celebration at both the state level and within public education, where we can promote the family values that are so important,” he said.
Evangelical leadership in Costa Rica’s Congress
The advancement of this type of legislation takes on even greater significance in light of Costa Rica’s recent political developments. Bogantes, who has been outspoken in defending conservative principles, was recently elected to the legislative board of Congress, giving him a strategic role in shaping the country’s political direction.
His rise reflects the growing presence of evangelical leadership in high-level decision-making spaces, where leaders seek to influence public policy related to protecting the family structure.
Bogantes’ message resonates with a segment of the population calling for a strong commitment to ethics and social well-being. He summarized the heart of his initiative by saying, “We need to put the family back at the center of the national conversation. Strong families build a better Costa Rica.”
The effort to restore the family’s place in government agendas is not limited to one country, but is part of a broader regional movement. Across Latin America, the Latin Evangelical Alliance has consistently promoted campaigns and initiatives surrounding the International Day of Families, seeking to raise awareness among Hispanic governments about the importance of creating legislation that protects families.
An international celebration with national impact
The official presentation of the initiative in Costa Rica reflected this spirit of unity. The event received active support from representatives of the Costa Rican Evangelical Alliance Federation, leaders of the Catholic Church, nonprofit organizations and various sectors of civil society. Participants agreed on the need to encourage actions that strengthen and restore the social fabric.
The collaboration among these groups demonstrates that defending the family transcends institutional boundaries. Advocates argue that public policy requires pastoral and community support in order to create lasting transformation, and that protecting the family directly safeguards the spiritual and social future of the next generation.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[D6 Asia Family Conference session explores 'sexual wholeness']]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/d6-asia-conference-session-explores-sexual-wholeness</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/d6-asia-conference-session-explores-sexual-wholeness</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rebecca Goropevsek]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Rev. Edmund Smith]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo by Changed Movement ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Rev. Edmund Smith with his wife, daughter and son ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 04:23:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[At the D6 Asia Online Family Conference 2026 on May 16, Reverend Edmund Smith delivered a detailed session titled “Sexual Wholeness,” in which he described his personal journey from transgender identity to what he called “redemption in Christ,” alongside teachings on sexual identity, recovery and faith-based counseling.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
At the D6 Asia Online Family Conference 2026 on May 16, Reverend Edmund Smith delivered a detailed session titled “Sexual Wholeness,” in which he described his personal journey from transgender identity to what he called “redemption in Christ,” alongside teachings on sexual identity, recovery and faith-based counseling.
Rev. Smith, a Christian minister from Malaysia and instructor with She Is My Brother (SIMB) and Real Love Ministry (RLM), said he began experiencing gender dysphoria in early childhood and later lived through what he described as transgender and gay identities before becoming a Christian at age 25. He said his ministry now focuses on helping individuals he refers to as “sexually broken” pursue what he calls recovery through spiritual transformation.
Smith outlined what he described as a distinction between people who are “sexually different” and those who are “sexually broken,” defining the latter as individuals seeking change and the former as those content with their sexual identity. He said his organization primarily works with those seeking change through faith-based support.
During the session, Smith presented a framework he called “trigger issues,” which he described as underlying emotional and developmental experiences that he believes can contribute to later struggles with sexual identity or behavior. He said these issues are not inherently sexual in nature, but instead reflect broader psychological and relational wounds.
He identified three main categories. The first, which he called a “self issue,” refers to what he described as rejection or dissatisfaction with one’s own identity or body. He said this can include negative self-image or discomfort with one’s assigned gender, which he argued may stem from early experiences of criticism, comparison, or emotional neglect. In his framework, he distinguished between dissatisfaction with appearance and deeper rejection of one’s gender identity, which he said can shape long-term emotional distress.
The second category, which he termed a “vacuum issue,” refers to emotional emptiness caused by unmet needs for parental love or attachment. Smith said he believes children require both maternal and paternal forms of affection, and that the absence of either can create what he called an “emotional void.” He argued that individuals may later seek validation, intimacy, or belonging in ways that become unhealthy or unstable when those needs are not met in childhood.
The third category, which he called a “barrier issue,” refers to psychological defenses formed in response to trauma, abuse, or exposure to harmful environments. He described this as a “wall” a person builds to protect themselves from perceived harm. According to his framework, such barriers may result in fear, distrust, or avoidance of certain groups or relationships, which he said can later influence romantic or sexual preferences. He linked this particularly to experiences of abuse or witnessing violence within the family.
Smith said these three “trigger issues” often overlap and, in his view, can shape what he described as sexual brokenness later in life. He argued that addressing them requires both spiritual practice and what he called relational healing through community support and mentorship.
He said recovery involves what he called a “journey of recovery” combining prayer, education, counseling-style relationships, and community support. “Through Christ, all of these issues can go,” he said, emphasizing spiritual transformation as central to change.
Smith also referenced his marriage of nearly 30 years and said both he and his wife had overcome personal struggles related to sexuality and identity. He said their ministry includes training programs for individuals seeking to support others facing similar issues.
His remarks included a reading from the Bible’s Book of Romans and a discussion of Christian teachings on sexuality. He said his interpretation of scripture leads him to conclude that LGBTQ identities are not compatible with Christian teaching, a view he said motivates his ministry work.
The D6 Asia conference is supported and run by the AEA Family & Children Commission. The D6 Family is a movement based on principles drawn from Deuteronomy 6, and it aims to unite, envision and equip both church and home for transformation in family discipleship.]]></content:encoded>
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