Harvest Family Church in Cypress, Hi Way Tabernacle in Cleveland and Rockport First Assembly of God all sustained heavy damage from flooding after Hurricane Harvey but were told they are not eligible for FEMA aid.

As a result, FEMA is facing a federal lawsuit by the three Texas churches and President Donald Trump has indicated in a tweet that he backs the religious institution’s call for a policy change.

Churches in Texas should be entitled to reimbursement from FEMA Relief Funds for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey (just like others).

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2017

Other politicians have also weighed in on the debate, which began following 2012’s Hurricane Sandy citing the fact that religious institutions are often front and centre when it comes to providing support to victims of disasters.

Bruce Frazier, pastor of Rockport First Assembly of God Church, which is part of the lawsuit, told the AP why he thinks FEMA should pay for repairs at places of worship.

He explained: “It seems like the only reason churches are excluded is because they’re churches, and it just seems discriminatory to me.”

At present, religious organisations can already receive some government help in disasters, including reimbursement by local governments for sheltering evacuees.

Religiously affiliated schools, health care providers and nursing homes can also receive FEMA grants.

AP analysis of data made…

The charity said since late August, 605,000 people have crossed the border from Myanmar into Bangladesh because of violence. As many as 60 per cent of these are children, and many have been separated from their parents.

Tanzina Akter, national coordinator, child protection at World Vision Bangladesh said: “Child protection issues are at the centre of the refugee crisis which include child marriage and child exploitation, and human trafficking.

“As different child trafficking groups are active in the region, children and adolescents, especially girls are vulnerable to trafficking.”

World Vision has worked with a woman named Razia who fled Myanmar with her husband and children.

Her and her four-year-old daughter, Fiza, have had their names changed for security reasons.

Razia said Fiza was almost taken by a stranger in the middle of the night.

She told World Vision: “There are no permanent walls on the sides of the tent.

“From one side it’s completely open. The shelter walls are so thin anyone can rip it open.

“We were all asleep. I keep the little one in the middle and the older children sleep on the sides. A man entered our tent from the side of the tent and picked up my 4-year-old.

“Luckily her elder daughter, seeing a silhouette of…

Rt Rev Rachel Treweek said it’s important as Christians not to judge the several Conservative and Labour MPs being investigated over claims of sexual misconduct.

She told Premier how we could pray for those with question marks over them.

She said: “We need to be praying for individuals and we need to be praying for the culture within Westminster – about how we cannot use any abuse of power.

“My starting point in my prayers is that we are all broken people. It’s important to remember that as Christians, we are following Christ who died for us out of our brokenness and from there a place of resurrection and hope came.

“Those who feel they are powerful and important need to recognise… that they are no more important than anyone else who works here from someone who cleans the building through to people who work in offices – we are all equal made in the image of God and we need to live those relationships well and that is my prayer.”

Theresa May has promised to “create a new culture of respect” in public life following the allegations of sexual abuse in Westminster.

The Prime Minister’s told top business leaders she wants a climate in which victims know their complaints will be properly investigated.

She’s meeting with other party leaders on Monday afternoon about how to tackle the issue.

Rt Rev Treweek said that it is however important that those guilty of harassment acknowledge their wrongdoing.

She said: “So for…

Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell admitted to looking at the images during his mid-teenage years, adding it was not something he was “particularly proud” of.

Addressing other peers in the House of Lords, the senior Anglican said on Tuesday: “When I was about 15, I had a Saturday job in a wood yard. 

“The men who worked there often left their sleazy and – by today’s standards, I suppose – fairly mild magazines lying around.

“When I was alone in the canteen and if I thought nobody could see me, I looked at those magazines.”

Bishop Stephen also said the availability afforded to youngsters of extreme images through technology poses a “huge moral concern”.

He warned “extremely warped and degrading attitudes” can result from the “persistent and pervasive” exposure to pornography.

Bishop Stephen spoke during a debate on a report by the House of Lord’s communication select committee which called for further action on keeping children safe online.

While admitting the digital age does have benefits, he argued a change in the law is required “to lift it from the mire and misery” it was also creating.

Addressing the chamber, he said: “Although we are indeed growing up in the digital age, we lack maturity in the way we are governing and regulating and responding to this development.

“The digital age can be an age of cultural and intellectual and even moral prosperity but enlightened legislation based on sound and child-centred…