The Islamic extremists targeted the women of Gagalari, in Yagoua Diocese during the night, kidnapping them from their homes and cutting off their ears, according to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

ACN’s source said: “They arrived during the night, entered the houses one by one and kidnapped the women. Only the women.

“They took them to the outskirts and amputated one ear of each of the victims.

“Then they released them threatening them and telling them that they would return, that this is the first [such] intervention, but others will follow. It is terrifying.”

Armed forces then took the victims 160 miles away from the village, to receive medical care.

According to local news reports, Boko Haram fighters drove away members of the Vigilance Committee who tried to stop them.

The source said: “It was no use in this repulsive surprise attack. The women were dragged out of their homes before the eyes of their children.”

Two other villages in the area were reportedly attacked by Boko Haram in the days leading up to the Gagalari raid in which three members of a local Vigilance Committee were killed.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

The line (0800 80 20 20) will be run by the NSPCC and can be used to provide information or raise concerns about potential abuse, whether relating to children, adults or seeking to whistle blow about poor safeguarding practice.

Guidance has been published for the Church’s second Past Cases Review (PCR2), which looks into how previous claims have been handled.

A report into the original review into past cases of abuse (PCR) in 2007-2009 found that there had been short fallings in the process and final result, particularly in implementing the recommendations in 7 dioceses.

In 2015 concerns were expressed to the newly appointed National Safeguarding Adviser about how well the PCR had been conducted. Consequently, in consultation with the National Safeguarding Steering Group, he commissioned an independent assessment of the adequacy of the PCR.

This new review must be completed by 2020 and will include documents that were not found at the previous review.

The objectives state that: “Any file that could contain information regarding a concern, allegation or conviction in relation to abusive behaviour by a living member of the clergy or church officer, (whether still in that position or not) will have been identified, read and analysed by independent safeguarding professionals.”

Bishop Mark Sowerby, chair of the PCR2 Management Board said: “It is the aspiration of the…

The Metropolitan Police have been appealing for people across England and Wales to give in any unwanted guns, weaponry and ammunition during a two-week campaign, due to end on Sunday.

The initiative was set up to tackle rising gun crime and target illegal holiday souvenir stun guns and pepper sprays bought on the internet.

Reverend Christopher Parkes from Burntwood Methodist Church in Birmingham was inspired to participate in the initiative to ensure the guns “didn’t get into the hands of criminals.” 

The starting pistols had been stored in the church safe for at least 12 years and only used by the drama group.

In a video shared by the West Midlands Police, Mr Parkes said: “I heard that there was a surrender taking place in Birmingham for guns and replica guns. So we’ve taken the opportunity to bring these along so they don’t get into the hands of criminals or other people where they can be used for the wrong purposes. Taking them off the streets and out of circulation, we thought, was the best thing.”

#GUNSURRENDER | Reverend Christopher Parkes from Burntwood Methodist Church has just surrendered four starting pistols which had been in the Church’s safe for years. That’s another 4 life like guns out of circulation so unable to get into the hands of the wrong people. @NABIS_UK pic.twitter.com/i1y21tHC25

— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) August 1, 2019

Stay up…

It was an underdog victory for rapper Marcus Gray, a relatively obscure artist once known as Flame whose five-year-old lawsuit survived constant court challenges and a trial against top-flight lawyers for Perry and the five other music-industry heavyweights who wrote her song.

The amount was less than the nearly 20 million dollars (£16.5 million) sought by lawyers for Gray and his two co-writers on the 2009 song Joyful Noise, but they said they were pleased with the decision.

“These defendants have made millions and millions of dollars from their infringement of the plaintiff’s copyright,” Gray’s lawyer Michael A Kahn told the jury.

Perry herself was hit for just over 550,000 dollars (£457,000), with Capitol Records responsible for the vast majority of the money.

Defence lawyers had argued for an award of about 360,000 dollars (£297,000) after the jury decided earlier this week that Dark Horse copied Joyful Noise.

Perry’s lawyer Christine Lepera said they planned to vigorously fight the decision.

“The writers of Dark Horse consider this a travesty of justice,” she said.

Both sides agree that Perry herself made a profit of 2.4 million dollars (£2 million), while Gray’s lawyers argued that her song had grossed about 41 million dollars (£34 million). The pop star testified at the beginning of the trial but has not been in court since.

Because the rhythmic…