Bethlehem's Nativity Church Gets 'World Heritage' Status

The Christian Post reports that the ancient Church of the Nativity in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem has been placed on the list of World Heritage sites by the United Nations' cultural arm. The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to grant the world heritage status to the church, traditionally seen as the birthplace of Jesus, and pilgrimage route at the meeting of the World Heritage 21-nation committee in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday. The Associated Press quoted Sue Williams, UNESCO spokeswoman, as saying the committee voted 13-6 to put the Christian site, which needed urgent repairs, on the list. The United States and Israel opposed it, and two nations abstained. Read more on ChristianPost.com.