The Italian government’s anti-immigration law may make thousands of people homeless.

The “Salvini decree” removes protection for people not eligible for refugee status. Those individuals unable to return home, have been left without a legal residence.

This decree was applied by several Italian cities soon after its approval by parliament earlier this month.

The Catholic Church has responded by saying it will help those who risk expulsion.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said last week that the Vatican’s position is very clear: “You don’t leave migrants in the street…you cannot put people in this position.”

He added: “You must always focus on people and their rights.”

The Bishop of Caltagirone, Monsignor Calogero Peri, has offered space for up to 40 people in beds across church fun facilities in his diocese. These would be used for people who risk expulsion.

Calogero Peri is quoted in the Guardian saying: “And if there are not enough beds? I have already spoken with other bishops: we will open the church doors of every single parish under our control.

“It’s not a question of politics. It’s a matter of protecting individuals. Imagine this: in Italy now it is a crime to abandon dogs, but it is not a crime to abandon people. Even worse, abandoning men, women and children is now the law.”

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our…

That’s according to a study by the Christian run Toy Shop “The Entertainer” which found that the top festive joy for children over Christmas, is putting up the Christmas tree.

Having time off school and giving presents made the top ten festive joys – but the list was lacking in an activity that reflected the real meaning of Christmas.

Father Christmas made it to the sixth spot on the list of children’s festive joys for Christmas, and making Christmas decorations was in tenth place on the list.

Absent from the list were activities such as carol singing, taking part in a nativity or making a Christingle.

James Cooper who runs the website “Why Christmas.com” told Premier he wasn’t surprised by the list.

“A lot of people are just not aware that there is a Christian or a real good story behind Christmas,” he said. “They just see it as a winter festival where we put up decorations and eat too much”

“The real meaning of Christmas for me is Jesus!”

Cooper runs a website which explains some of the history behind the Christmas story and some Christmas traditions. He says if you feel guilty about children not experiencing the…

A special prayer released by the 24-7 Prayer movement encouraged them the ask God to bestow his “wisdom and vision” upon the Prime Minister and the UK’s political party leaders.

Author, Carla Harding told Premier shared prayers can be helpful – explaining : “I’m often not alone in feeling overwhelmed in praying for large issues like our nation.

“I know that I appreciate it when people share the prayers that they’re praying so that I can add my ‘amen’ or use their prayers as a starting point for my own prayers.”

The prayer, which describes the present as a “time of turmoil”, also encourages prayers for “truth” among the media and “humility” for politicians.

The full prayer says: “In this time of turmoil… We pray for the Prime Minister and Party Leaders as they negotiate the political future of our nation: Father, give them your wisdom and vision.

“We pray for all in Parliament as they represent their communities: Jesus, give them your humility and strength.

“We pray for the media as they interpret events for the nation: Holy Spirit, give them your truth and compassion.

“We pray for ourselves, your Church, as we show your love to our neighbours: Would we speak hope, embody courage and model unity in diversity.

“Almighty God, we place our trust in you: For yours is the kingdom the power and the glory, now and forever,…

Experts have now removed 1,500 devices since work got underway in the spring of this year to make land in the Qasr al-Yahud area safe enough that members of the public can visit from January 2020.

The operation is being financed through $2.6 million of funding from UK-based anti-mining charity the HALO Trust and $2 million from the Israeli government.

Chief executive, James Cowan was quoted by Reuters as saying: “This Christmas/holiday season, the Halo Trust has reached a pivotal point in our work to clear the Baptism Site of landmines and other remnants of war… which will ultimately benefit all humanity.”

A team of 22 landmine clearers from the country of Georgia have now cleared three or the seven church compounds in Qasr al-Yahud – which is located 10km east of Jericho.

A Greek Orthodox monastery, a Franciscan chapel and the Ethiopian Monastery of the Trinity have so far been cleared.

The Syrian Orthodox monastery, Russian chapel, Coptic monastery, and Roman monastery are yet to be cleared. Seven denominations have been involved in the operation.

The ongoing clearance, which took years to negotiate, was also delayed for two years by funding issues.

Qasr al-Yahud was popular among pilgrims until 1968 when Israel blocked off it and the area became part of an off-limits…

Wang Yi, who is the leader of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, was arrested Sunday evening as a service was set to take place.

Church announcements sent to members and passed to press outlets before the detentions stated: “Lord, help us to have the Christian’s conscience and courage to resist this ‘Orwellian nonsense’ with more positive Gospel action and higher praise.

“Without love, there is no courage.”

While some of members of the church were released on Monday, others have been placed on house arrest, including the assistant deacon Zhang Guoqing.

Christians in the country have routinely been faced with government crackdowns on their faith.

Officially, the People’s Republic of China is an atheist country but the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life estimated there are more than 67 million Christians in China.

The state only recognises the Protestant ‘Three-Self Patriotic Movement’ – a government-aligned church based on the principles of “self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation.”

Over the past few years, the government has intensified its regulation of religion in China.

In 2016, it introduced new regulation that placed all places of worship under the control of the government, with foreign ties banned.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like…

Sister Susan Francois, 46, of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace religious order, sent her first prayer to Donald Trump’s official @POTUS account just a few days after he was inaugurated in 2017.

“When I sent the first tweet, it was purely for myself,” she told the New York Times.

“I didn’t expect it to make a big splash. But that fact that it was public and that I committed to it every day means I have to do it, even if I don’t want to.

“It’s been the hardest spiritual practice I’ve ever committed to.”

My first #dailytweet @POTUS A) Praying for you and country B) Please release your tax returns as you pledged on campaign #TrumpTaxReturns

— Sister Susan Francois, CSJP (@susanfrancois) January 23, 2017

Francois’s tweets usually encourage Mr Trump to be mindful of Christian values but also sometimes highlight policy suggestions.

Her 657th tweet stated: “Dear @POTUS, as you represent nation on global stage at #G20, praying that you keep in mind and heart the common good of all future and present generations over ego, personal agenda, or special interests.”

She has also been critical of Mr Trump’s decisions.

Dear @POTUS, 658 days later praying you learn from wisdom of #Bush41 on guiding values: unity, diversity and generosity.#dailytweet pic.twitter.com/uHTyEOLPB4

— Sister Susan Francois, CSJP (@susanfrancois) December 1, 2018

In her 654th tweet she said she was…

The arrests, which took place in various cities across the county, follow approximately 150 detentions last month.

Zoe Smith, head of advocacy at Open Doors UK – a charity which speaks out on persecution against Christians – described the news as “highly concerning”.

She said: “It follows an established trend of the Iranian government – as the number of converts to Christianity increase, so the authorities place greater restrictions on churches”.

“The restrictions are worse for churches seen to be attended by Christians who have converted from Islam.

Please pray for a safe and peaceful #Christmas for believers in #Iran like Nava*, who must celebrate the birth of Jesus in secret for fear of being imprisoned – or even sentenced to death. #PrayWithThem

*Name has been changed for security reasons

— Open Doors UK ن (@OpenDoorsUK) December 6, 2018

“Not only that, but the government is asking unreasonably high bail amounts and seeing longer prison terms for Christians.”

Most of the detainees were freed within hours or a few days but not before their mobile phones were confiscated.

They were questioned on their involvement in Christian activities and told to expect a call from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.

Open Doors fears officials are clamping down on the Church in Iran as it continued to grow.

#Iran – Large number of…