Showing posts with label Persecution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Persecution. Show all posts

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Communists in Laos Arrest Christians at Christmas Celebration


(Vientiane) On the 16th of December 8 leading personalities of the Christian community were imprisoned. They are accused of having "organized" religious services in which more than 200 Christians participated. Human rights organizations are noting the uncertain fate of eight Christians, who must bring in Christmas in Laotian prisons.

High ranking police officials have convened in the municipality of Boukham in the Province of Savannakhet, in order to await the decision of local authorities as to how they will proceed. The human rights organization, Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF)report that the imprisoned Christians had received permission from the mayor to continue with the Christmas celebration. During the service the police stormed the building and arrested those responsible. For of them were blind folded at arrest and led away in hand cuffs. Since then they found themselves in jail. An arrest warrant with the precise information what the charges are is not available. A speaker for the HRWLRF explained that it is "from the the connection in any case, obvious", that they were arrested, "because they had gathered at a religious celebration."

On December 18th some representatives of the Evangelical Church in Laos succeeded in reaching the jail where some of the prisoners were held. Kingsamorsorn was released with bail of 1 Million Kip. In order to compare, the average wage of the of a worker in Laos is 300,000 Kips (or 40 Dollars).

The result of the meeting between police officials and local authorities is currently unknown. As the prisoners were led away, they were put in handcuffs.

Laos is ruled by a Communist regime. Two thirds of the population is Buddhist, around 0.7 percent of the six million inhabitants are Catholics. The Christians of the country are increasingly persecuted and have their religious freedoms curtailed. In February 2011 65 farmers had their sustenance revoked. They were being persuaded through hunger to reject Christianity.

Link to related story, here

Translated from katholisches, original here.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Please Don't Use Our Church as a Discotheque: Vietnamese Communists

Edit: the French Revolutionaries put a prostitute on the altar of Notre Dame. They haven't changed.


Vietnamese Catholics are protesting against the state dispossessing them of their church, 40 persons were violently arrested during the peaceful demonstration.

Hanoi (kath.net/igfm)Five priests of the Redemptorist order and over 30 Catholics of a parish community from Hanoi in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were arrested on Friday morning. They took part in a peaceful demonstration against the the State dispossessing them of their church. This was reported by the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM).

The Catholics of the Hanoi Parish Thai Ha have been leveled criticisms that the government has attempted to engage in illegal construction activity on their property for years. They fear that the intention behind this is to create a basis to deny the community their property rights.

The present object of contention is the former church of the Redemptorist order which will be used as a hospital and discotheque. In 2008 the government has allowed the property to be transformed into a public park after a nine month disagreement.

All of the written protests of the parish community Thai Ha were unsuccessful, so they are now trying to make their cause noticeable by a public protest. On Friday morning about 100 Catholics submitted a complaint against the illegal building activity on the property of their church to the People's Committee.

During the conclusion of the demonstration on the return march from the People's Committee, they were actually attacked by several persons who wore red armbands and were accompanied by the police. The faithful were corralled on a bus and brought to "Detainment Center Loc Ha", which is actually a home for arrested prostitutes.

Up until the point of the violent resolution, the demonstration was peaceful. On some of the signs could be read: "Please don't make our church into a discotheque!" "Hands off the Property of Religious Communities!", "Stolen Church Buildings Should be Returned!", "Against the Distortion of Reality in Thai Ha of the [State owned] New Hanoi News!", "Article 70 of the Constitution Protects the Property of Religious Communities!". One of the signs showed scenes of Militia Officials who entered the church of Thai Ha and insulted and threatened the pastor.

Among those arrested is the Pastor Giuse Nguyen Van Phunog, the priest Guise Luong Van Long and Vinh Son Vu Van Tuan as well as about 35 seminarians and community members. The IGFM has called upon the Vietnamese government to let those arrested go unconditionally and bring those responsible to justice.

Story taken from the IGFM site, here, in German.

From kath.net...

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

New Chinese Official Promises Increased Persecutions of Catholics in Hebei

Edit: Did someone say that Communism is dead?

(The portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong hangs behind red flags, raised during the sitting of parliament, and the Chinese national flag (R) in Beijing's Tiananmen Square March 3, 2008/David Gray)

The hardline Chinese official removed last week as Communist Party chief of restive Tibet has been made head of the province in the centre of contention over China’s Catholics, giving him an influential role in another sensitive religious issue. Zhang Qingli, who gained a reputation as an unyielding Communist Party secretary of heavily Buddhist Tibet, has been appointed party secretary of Hebei, the province surrounding Beijing, the Xinhua news agency reported late on Sunday.

Hebei, with a population of 70 million, is home to roughly a quarter of China’s 8-12 million Roman Catholics.

Zhang, 60, was known for his tough stance against Tibet’s exiled Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama, a man reviled by China as a separatist. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning monk denies advocating either violence or Tibetan independence. Zhang was in charge of Tibet in 2008 when protests in the regional capital Lhasa gave way to deadly riots that rippled across other ethnic Tibetan areas. After the protests, he rained insults on the Dalai Lama, calling him a “jackal in Buddhist monk’s robes.”

Read further...

Thursday, August 18, 2011

In Orissa, India, Catholics Still Live in Fear

Edit: while small but highly influential groups of decadent, aging dissidents fight to destroy the remnants of the Catholic Patrimony in the West, Catholics in the East are being slaughtered by Hindu Militants.

St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.


Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews) - Three years ago in the district of Kandhamal, Orissa, Christians were victims of unprecedented violence by Hindu radicals. The situation is far from being normal, as explained by Msgr. Raphael Cheenath, then archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar. And as you can see as much from the episode in a villiage in Betticola, from which Christians were forced to flee. The Betticola parish and the Catholic church were destroyed. The Christians, after being moved to five refugee camps received permission from the radical Hindu Sangh Parivar to return to Betticola, but as Hindus, that is converted. And the state administration, which should have rebuilt the church and parish, claims to have given the refugees everything they asked for.

"Religious freedom is still lacking in Kandhamal, the reign of terror, although limited, continues", says the Archbishop Emeritus of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, Orissa Rapahel Cheenath, three years after the bloody pogroms against Christians unjustly accused of the murder of a radical Hindu leader. On August 23, 2008 about 30 armed men entered the Ashram Jalespta, in Kandhamal, and shot dead swami Laxamanananda Saraswati and four of his followers. The funeral procession of Swami Laksamandanda took place in two days, over 250 miles, stopping at churches and Christian homes. The Hindu violence led to the destruction of 300 churches, the burning of more than 5600 homes and the flight of over 56 thousand Christians. A nun and two other women were raped and many molested. This despite the fact that the perpetrators of the crime were not Christians, but the Maoists. "(11/05/2011 24:51 Orissa pogroms: police clear Christians from the death of Hindu religious leader).

Raphael Cheenath is no longer the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, but the situation in his eyes is still very serious. "Religious freedom is still lacking in Kandhamal, the reign of terror continues, even if limited, refunds are greatly inadequate, or negligible, and our people do not have justice. There are numerous attempts to criminalize the victims and unfortunately there are fears of a return to violence. Our people have experienced the inability of the Administration to protect those under threat of destruction. Fear and intimidation continue, and justice is still a distant reality. "


Link to Asianews...

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Patriarch Kiril: 10 million Christian Websites Destroyed by FTC

Editor:   Islamism has long shared a certain affinity to Socialism, resembling it in its early stages and finally, becoming a tool by which it can continue to serve toward the destruction of the West.

“The Obama administration is set to begin formal contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood, a group dedicated in its own words to “eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within, and sabotaging its miserable house.”

A shocking report authored by the office of Russia’s top religious leader Patriarch Kirill I states that this past week the United States ordered over 10 million Christian websites destroyed that they claimed were a “threat” to their National Security and that the American Internet giant Google quickly responded by making them all disappear.
According to this report, Google first came under assault from the US government in June when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that they had launched an investigation into the company, a move defended against by top Google executive Amit Singhal who aside from claiming the attacks against them were baseless said, “At Google, we’ve always focused on putting the user first.”

After weeks of unrelenting pressure upon them, however, this past week Google, which had refused to answer the baseless charges against them, caved to the US government and announced that their Chairman, Eric Schmidt, who had previously said the charges against them were nonsense, agreed to testify before a US Senate Committee under threat of subpoena.

Read further, here...

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Vatican Excommunicates Patriotic Chinese Bishops



(Vatikan/Peking) At the request of numerous Chinese Faithful, and above all the Catholic underground Church, the Holy See has published a clarification that the unauthorized newly consecrated, regime-friendly Bishops of the People's Republic of China, as well as the Bishops who consecrated them, are excommunicated with all of the consequences that follow from that.

The explanation comes from the Papal Adviser for Legislative Texts.
The Holy See is pleading with the stricken Bishops:

-to make a public gesture of penitence

-that they do not celebrate Holy Mass or receive Holy Communion

-that they neither receive nor distribute the Sacraments

-that they give up the direction of their Dicoese.

These requirements are the "necessary medicine for healing", to make possible the resettling of the Catholic Church. After the receiving many uncustomary outcries, the Holy See has taken steps with this warning to clarify the confusing situation in the People's Republic of China. The Papal Adviser for Legislative Texts explained the reason for the proceedings as the illegal consecration by the Communist regime's Bishops without a Papal Mandate. Even though the punishment is affecting the relevant parties, there is still the possibility for the ecclesiastical punishments to be withdrawn and return to reconciliation with the Church.

The unauthorized consecrations occurred on 20. November 2010 in Chengde. The explanation was also urgent because of an announcement by the Communist Regime's willingness to conduct more unauthorized Episcopal Consecrations. The complete wording of the explanation was published in Osservatore Romano on the 11th of June 2011 some days before, after which the Chinese Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Msgr Xaver Hon had taken an adverse position to the Holy See and Peking intermixing authority in the Episcopal Consecrations. He encouraged Chinese Bishops to have no fear, that the government proposals will receive a firm rebuttal.

The Papal Adviser clearly explained that the unauthorized Consecration of Bishops, that is to say without the approval of the Pope, represents a profound violation of the Church's Law. It is a "punishable act against Catholic teaching". The Adviser cited as well the Second Vatican Council as well as other Documents, in which he recalled that also concern the question of the Eastern Churches.

The Declaration is in any case very clear that the punishable act will be directed against the consecrated Bishops as well as those who offered the consecration. All those named are fall under the condemnation latae sententiae. This doesn't impose an expressed condemnation at the end of a canonical procedure. The excommunication itself will have happened automatically according to itself.

It is expressly mentioned in the declaration that Church Law (Canon 1324, Paragraph 3) "ameliorates" the circumstances if known (excepting for compulsion, ignorance …). Should such be given, the excommunication will not be automatic. This part of the declaration falls above all upon the Bishops standing in unity with Rome, who have participated in the unauthorized consecrations. Accordingly there were reports surrounding the event, that at least some of them were ordered by the State Police or abducted to force their participation. For that reason the Holy See is allowing some room to allow those participating to make the "necessary penance" and take steps, to deport this outrage from the world.

Each, who falls under Excommunication, "must" refrain from the following things:

1) celebrating Holy Mass or concelebrating or participating in any other liturgical event;

2) giving or receiving the Sacraments and Sacramentals;

3) participating in various functions and tasks of Church direction.

In other words: the bishop who received the unauthorized consecration and the Bishops, who participated in the unauthorized consecration or were present, may neither celebrate Holy Mass, nor dispense Sacraments or receive the same. Additionally the Bishops concerned may not participate in the direction or administration Episcopal office in any way.

Should they do any of the following things, they commit a Sacrilege.

The declaration does not hesitate to make clear that the strictures and punishments are "medicine", part of a healing process of sorrow, penance and return and with that to encourage healing and reconciliation.

Translation from Katholisches...

Link to Asia News...

Monday, June 13, 2011

Pope Erects Eparchy for Catholics in Exile From Iraq

Editor: this community is growing because the one in Iraq is being brutally destroyed.

Pope erects Chaldean eparchy in Toronto; Archbishop Zora to lead it

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has erected a new Chaldean Catholic eparchy in Toronto and named Archbishop Hanna Zora, who has worked with Catholics in Toronto for nearly 20 years, as its head. The new eparchy, or diocese, will be known as the Eparchy of Mar Addai. In making the announcement, the Vatican said there are 38,000 Chaldean Catholics in Canada. Archbishop Zora, 74, and four priests have been involved in the pastoral care of Toronto-area Catholics, the largest community. On May 28, Chaldean Catholic officials consecrated Good Shepherd Chaldean Church in Toronto. Led by Archbishop Zora, the growing Toronto Chaldean community rented out churches and parish halls to celebrate Mass before the construction of the church in 2001. Masses were held in the parish hall, however, until 2009, when the church was partially consecrated, meaning that Mass could be celebrated in the parish but that an official consecration was still required. Archbishop Zora was born in Batnaia, Iraq, March 15, 1939. He was ordained in 1962 and worked in various Iraqi parishes before being transferred to Iran in 1969.

Link to CNS.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Orissa: another Christian killed in Kandhamal

by Santosh Digal
Angad Digal, a Catholic man from Mondasoro, was killed on 10 March. He had gone to a neighbouring village with two Hindu acquaintances. Police arrest one of the two suspects, but have not yet found Digal’s body. A priest slams the atmosphere of impunity created by law enforcement inertia.

Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) – In Orissa, Christians continue to suffer from persecution. On 10 March, Angad Digal, a Catholic man from Mondasoro (Kandhamal), went missing. Local sources say he was killed in Tilakapanga, where he travelled in the company of a couple of Hindu acquaintances. For days, family, volunteers, and human rights activists in Cuttack diocese have been searching for his body, without success.

One of the men suspected in Digal’s murder has been arrested, Fr Laxmikant Pradhan, a local priest, said. “The authorities’ inertia is making matters worse for the family and Christians in Kandhamal,” he added.

People are in shock and afraid. “We must find Digal’s body and stop this culture of impunity,” the priest noted.

Related Articles:

For Christians, the Terror Returns.


Hindu Convert to Christianity Slain

The Elephants of Orissa


Video of Christians Being Beaten in Orissa

Combat in Ivory Coast: Christians Are Being Annihilated

The outgoing, officially Christian, president doesn't want to give up his office, his supporters are engaged in battle against the supporters of the new Muslim president -- what looks like a civil war situation: 40,000 people seek protection in churches.

Abidjan (kath.net/idea) In the appearances of civil unrest in the West African country of Ivory Coast, Christians are being annihilated. They have been attacked by Islamic extremists; a number of churches have been burned down, according to the President of the US-branch of the relief organization Open Doors, Carl Moeller (Santa Ana/State of California) to the information service of Mission Network News.

According to reports from Church workers in the Ivory Coast there have also been Christians murdered. About 40,000 people are seeking asylum in churches to escape the unrest in the city of Abidjan.

The harbour city is a center of the fighting between supporters of the President-elect Laurent Gbagbo and of the internationally supported Alassane Outtara, who had been declared the winner.

Ggagbo refuses to recognize his electoral defeat and is holding tightly to his office. He identifies himself as a Christian, while Ouattara is a Muslim.

In the fighting between the supporters of both camps, more than 400 people have been killed. UN estimates the number of refugees within the country have climbed to 300,000. Around 100,000 are on the other side of the boarder having fled Liberia. The Federal Government has increased its foreign aid by 500,000.

About 20 million inhabitants are Muslims with about 38 percent as the strongest group. 27.5 percent are Christians, of which 22 percent are Catholics and 5.5 percent are protestants. The remaining citizens are mostly members of various native religions.

From kath.net...



Related news, here.

Gun Battles Erupt in Ivory Coast [Reuters]

Ivory Coast, Getting out Alive.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Orissa: For Christians, the Terror Returns

New wave of anti-Christian violence in India -- no trace of police reaction in the most recent incidents.


Bhubaneshwar, India (kath.net/Fidesdienst) A new wave of violence sparked a renewal of fear and terror in Christian Communities in India: as on the scenes observers of Fidesdienst report since last December in the last year in the district of Malkangiri in the State of Orissa, renewed attacks have been made against Christians by the local tribal people of the region. In the last month the attacks have become more serious: there have been a total of 10 assaults reported, at which a number of faithful were wounded, including even women and children. As the Pastor Vijay Purusu of the Evangelical "Betel Church" reports, Christians were attacked in nightly assaults: at least four Christian families have fled their homes in fear.



The East Indian State Orissa and in particular the district of Khandamal were already in the years of 2007-2008 showplace for a long series of attacks and aggression against Christians, where at least 6.600 homes of Christians were destroyed and over 56.000 people lost their homes. According to reports by local observers from these communities there are feared to be new episodes coming, it is believed that the Hindu formed Militias of the "Rashtiriya Swayamsevak Sangh" (RSS) are concealed behind these attacks. This will mean the spread of renewed fear and terror that will lead many Christians will leave the region, should the local authorities not take action.

The Christians reported the episodes in the recent weeks to the police, but have received in any case no official response. In the mean time, the faithful of have formed "peace committees", which will attempt to defuse the situation. The cause of these recent tensions are the conversions of some of the tribal people inhabiting the villages to Christianity, which the Hindus do not approve of. "The attacks also come because some Hindus do not value to know Christianity in the area of Social and Public Health," said an observer from Fidesdienst.

in the mean time Orissa is further in the middle of the public interest of India: the "All India Christian Council" AICC have delivered a memorandum to persuade the Indian Interior Minister P. Chidambaram and the Premier Minister of the State of Orrisa, Naveen Patnaik, to allow the Christian formation of a "National Investigation Agency", whose intent is to demonstrate the responsibility of the radical Hindu network "Sang Parivar" in connection with the anti-christian violence in Orissa in 2008. John Dayal directing member of the AICC, explains: "There is no doubt that the members of Sang Parivar participated in the violence."

A further more heavy episode of violence has been reported from the State of Rajasthan in Northewestern India: in Jaipur a Christian pastor from the people of Adivasi was forced to run naked through the main street of the city, while Hindu youth followed him on motorized bicycles and ridiculed him. Concerning the incident, about which the local media have not reported, occurred on the 1st of February and for over a month since it was reported to the police, who have still failed to apprehend those responsible.

Link to kath.net...

Related:

Hindu Convert to Christianity Slain.

Elephants of Orissa.

Video of the Brutal Beating of Christians by Hindus in Orissa.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Cardinal Brings Iraqi Catholic Family into Archepiscopal Palace

Edit: Charity begins at home.

The family belonged to some 31 Iraqi Christians who were taken in by the Austrian government.



 Vienna (kath.net/PEW) "A warm welcome in this house, a warm welcome to our Land, Austria":  Cardinal Christoph Schönborn greeted an Iraqi refugee family to the Archbishop's Palace.

The family belongs to some 31 Iraqi Christians, who have been taken in by the Austrian government. They have received a positive asylum determination and have received recognized refugee status.

The Chaldean-Catholic family from Kirkuk, which will reside in the Archepiscopal Palace had been acutely threatened in Iraq, explained the Viennese Archbishop in "Kathpress".  He condemned in any avent the attack against the Church in Baghdad a few months ago in which more than 60 Mass goers lost their lives. It was therefore just and necessary that the government's decision was made to take in the Iraqi refugees.

Schönborn said:  "For years the government has essayed to be active in this direction.  Till then I have kept my ears to the ground and listened intentively.  Now things have finally come to pass and for that I'm very thankful."

The Church has always insisted upon assisting the refugees with their plight.  The Cardinal stressed that the families were encouraged in this to live in Austria and even learn German, so that they at least soon land on their own feet.

Read further.. http://www.kath.net/detail.php?id=30303

Sunday, February 20, 2011

18 Bishops in a Hunger Strike -- 56 Churches Destroyed, And Government Exonerates Perpetrators

(New Delhi) Thousands of Christians from Karnataka are protesting with demonstrations and hunger strikes against a government report.  Instead of reaffirming justice for the Christians, it vindicated both anti-Christian Hindu organizations who were behind the unrest in 2008.  At that time, 56 churches were burned or destroyed.  The president of the Global Council of Indian Christians greeted the report as "a bundle of lies that will  misinform and confuse people."  A counter-report was sent today to the Governor and the Prime Minister of Karnataka.

 18 Bishops [13 Catholic] participated in a silent hunger strike on the property of St. Mark-University of Bangalore, among them the Archbishop of Bangalore, Msgr Bernard Moras.  At the protest and the hunger strike the Bishops present, the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) and the Christians of Karnatakas have forged a counter-report with the title: "1000 Day Government, 236 Attacks, 1000 traumatized people".

The official report of the Somsekhar-Investigative Commission exonerated the radical Hindu organizations Bajrang Dal and Sangh Parivar.  The Bishops called a press conference to make note of this, that this exoneration is "politically motivated".  At the end of the report, where both Hindu organizations were exonerated, was a listing of the 56 churches destroyed by the perpetrators.  In 12 cases Bajrang Dal was named, in one case Sangh Parivar.  For that reason it was inconceivable, say the Christians, how the report came to its final ruling.

Te President of the GCIC, Sajan K. George, reiterated the complaint which the Christians have been making for two years:  "28 attacks, which took place between August and September 2008, were accomplished by Hindu extremists, in the first line of Bajrang Dal.  The Somakeshar-report made the exact opposite report after a year of published investigations, which named the leaders of the Hindu National Party and National Hindu Organizasions as responsible for the anti-Christian excesses of the police.  At that point the contacts between the radical organizations and the Hindu government party of Karnatakas were proven.

Sajan K. George portrayed the Somasekhar-report during the press conference, as the "exoneration of unjust violence of the police against women and children in the churches of Kulschekara and Vamanjoor."

(Asianews/Giuseppe Nardi, Bild: Asianews)

As the Guardian reports, they are also protesting that charges against 150 Christians who were injured in the attacks be dropped.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Turkish President Gul Criticizes the Discrimination of Christians

"Every Turkish Citizen should have the same chances for employment and advancement regardless of their religion" -- The reporter's question:  Why has Turkey hindered the hiring of a Turk of Armenian descent?

Strassburg (kath.net/KAP) The Turkish President Abdullah Gul publicly denounced the discrimination of Christians by government authorities. That is a "shame", said Gul for visiting journalists during his visit in Strassburg, reported the paper "Milliyet" on Thursday.  Gul reacted following a suggestion by Reporters that the Turkish administrative courts had prevented the hiring of an Armenian of Turkish descent  from working for the authorities at the EU-Mission to Turkey.

Already upon the visit of Bundespresident Christian Wulff last October Gul has made it publicly known that he is also the president of non-Muslim Turks.  Now it's been reported that he's told journalists that, soon every Turkish citizen independently of his religious background will have the same chances for employment and advancement.  He didn't mention any particulars, however.

Members of non-Muslim minorities have long complained that the employment in government are closed to them.  In Turkey there are no high-ranking politicians, military or in the judiciary who don't belong to Muslim groups.  First on Wednesday minorities were encouraged to apply for posts at the Turkish foreign ministry .

Read further...original at kath.net...

Of course, some will remember the blistering attack leveled by the Austrian, Ewald Stadler in December last year:

Monday, January 3, 2011

Indonesia Fears an Increasing Number of Religious Conflicts in 2011

National Police Chief foresees need to take stringent measures and precautions.

Jakarta (www.kath.net/ KAP) Indonesia's Police fear that the new year will bring an increase in religious tensions.   For that reason the handling of such conclicts will have the "highest priority", said the national Police Chief Timur Pradopo to the daily "Jakarta Post" (Thursday edition).   The General stressed that the police that the police will focus on prevention and proceed against crimes in connection with religious conflicts.  "The people must pray.  If there isn't a place where they can do that then the authorities should find them a place where they can conduct their services in peace," said Pradopo.

In Indonesia the number of attacks by radical Muslims against Christians as well as "heretics" belonging to the Islamic sect "Ahmadiyah" have increased.  The police coming under increasing criticism; they are thought to be inactive in so far as their sympathy for radical Muslims is concerned.

Critics fear that the new line of the police will come to late: it will be hard for them to alter their customary practices, said the rector of the Islamic University in Jakarta, Komaruddin Hidayat, for the "Jakarta Post".  "The Police represent the State and Law. For them  there should be no minority or majority", said the Rektor.  in any even they have long awakened the impression, to stand on the side of the majority.  -- More than 80 percent of the more than 240 million Indonesians are Muslims.

In the meantime five trials have begun this week against 13 militant Muslims.  The men are accused of a terror act A committed on a pastor and a community member of a protestant Church.  Among the accused is also the director of the Bekasi- Area Group of the Islamic Defense Front FPI.  The powerful FPI enjoys according to Indonesia Human Rights organizations, political backing in parts of the army, police and politicians.

Link to original, kath.net...

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Islamists Kill 21 in Alexandrian Church Bombing

Cairo
[Christian Science Monitor] An Egypt church bombing today has raised fears that global terrorist organizations are exploiting the country's rising sectarian tension as justification for attacking Christians.


The powerful explosion took place outside a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria during a New Year's Eve mass early Saturday, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 80. It came just as some of the worshipers, which numbered about 1,000, had begun to leave. Wrecked cars and debris were left scattered in the street.

Security authorities initially said the blast had come from a car bomb, but later said it appeared to have come from a suicide bomber, and not a car. A statement released by the Interior Ministry said the bomb was filled with nuts and bearings to kill as many as possible.

Read further...

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Communists Ban Christmas Mass in Vietnam

Editor: too bad our Bishops don't make our Communists this angry and fearful.

Vietnam...[kreuz/AsiaNews] Bishop Michel Hoang Ðúc Oahn (72) from Kontum in the central highlands of Vietnam may not celebrate Christmas Mass.  This was reported by the Old Liberal news agency 'AsiaNews'.  The ban came from the district's Communist authority.  That mountain people from the Diocese wanted to participate at that Mass, alerted the comrades to the celebration. Initially, there was no opposition: the ban came first on Christmas day when 'AsiaNews" mentioned that  Msgr Hoang Ðúc Oanh is famous for many conversions.  In 2008 and 2009 alone, he was responsible for the baptism of 50.000 of his Dioceses' people.

Original German at kreuz.net, here...

Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Holy Family -- The Model For Every Family

After violent attacks against Christians in Nigeria and the Philippines the Pope called for peace and forgiveness.

Rome [kath.net/as]  This year the Feast of the Holy Family fell on the first Sunday after Christmas on today's feast of St. Stephen.  In his address before the traditional prayer of the Angelus, Pope Benedict expressed the unity of the Holy Family, which must be a model for every family.

After the Angelus the Pope discussed the episodes of violence which occured in the Phillipines and in Nigeria against Christians,  which in the Philippines claimed 32and in Nigeria a dozen lives.  Benedict XVI renewed an urgent call for peace and reconciliation and explained his sorrow for the victims of this "absurd act of violence".

"I renew again my outcry to leave the way of hate, for peaceful solutions for these conflicts, and to create security and peace for these dear people," said Benedict XVI.  "On this day, when we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, who survived the dramatic experience of beimg pursued by Herod's murderous anger into Egypt, remind us also of everyone and especially families who are forced to leave their homes because of war.  To flee violence and intolerance.  I invite you, therefore, to join me in prayer, to ask the Lord that He could touch the hearts of men and instill hope, reconciliation and peace.

On the feast of the Holy Family the Pope asks the faithful, to consider this "Ikon", in which the small Jesus in the midst of affection and concern of His parents.  Every child has something of this mystery within.   People don't only experience the procreation of children solely as a pure act of reproduction.  They "take its richness for real and understand that every person, who comes into the world, comes as a sign for the prominence of the creator and the Father in Heaven."  For this reason it is important that every child that comes into the world should be received in to the warmth of a family.

Extraordinary luxuries are not important, said Benedict XVI rather just the love of the father and the mother.   This gives the child security and places him in their care, to discover the reason for life.

The Holy Father greeted the pilgrims from Germany with the following words:

A Christmas Greeting for the pilgrims and visitors in the German language.   Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family.  The word of God has become man and has grown in a family, which had protected him from the storms of the time.  Jesus Christ also blessed our families and left the gift of his divine love shining in them.  For you and your loves I wish you a Grace filled Christmas time.

Read original, kath.net. ...

Monday, October 11, 2010

Persecuted Chaldean Iraqis Find home in East Tennessee

Chaldean Catholics, native to Iraq, are fleeing their home country to avoid persecution. WBIR News reports that many Chaldeans are tortured and murdered for their beliefs.

An estimated 100,000 Chaldeans are in the United States, and about 100 are in East Tennessee. More are on their way.

Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim of the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Chaldean Diocese and the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville are hopeful about establishing a mission for the Chaldean immigrants.


Tennessee Diocesan Paper, here


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Algeria: Christian Fastbreakers are Threatened with Years of Incarceration

Two Algerian Christians were observed in the fast month of Ramadan as they drank water and are now going to stand before the court. They are threatened with 36 Months of confinement.

[kath.net] Two Christians from Algerian must answer to the court, because they were observed drinking water during the Islamic month of fast, according to "Spiegel".

On August 13th of this year the two, one 34 and the other 44 years old were apprehended at the construction site where they were working. During the Ramadan fast, they were observed drinking water. The Courts have introduced a charge of neglecting the State Religion, and the state prosecutor seeks 36 months of incarceration for both Christians.

The men are confident about what their trial will hold for them. "I don't regret anything, I am a Christian and I stand on that." With these words, both were cited in the "Spiegel". Countless local inhabitants and human rights advocates have protested against the charges of the courts. Mustapha Krim, Superior of the Protestant Church in Algeria, has taken the sides to protect the defendants against what he calls a "laughable" case. The Judgment is expected by "Spiegel" on October 5th.

Link to original at kath.net...

Saturday, September 11, 2010

A Mother of Four Must Go to Jail For Non-Participation at School Event

The comments beneath this article point out that the treatment of non-Christians, such as Muslims, is unequal when it comes to similar objections from parents. Muslims who object to their daughters participating in school events like swimming and sex education are not held to the same rule of law as Christians.

Salzkotten [kath.net/idea] A Russian-German Christian must go to to jail, because she kept one of her children from a School event and had not paid the outstanding fee for it.

The mother of four children was brought from Salzkotten by Paderborn to the Bielfield Correctional Facility. They will remain five days in incarceration. One of her children did not participate in a theater even of the Catholic Liborius Grade School.This was, in any case, compulsory.

The parents founded their negative attitude toward the performance because of their beliefs. [The play apparently deals with sexual "enlightenment" or education] The participation is not compatible with her religious convictions. Already in a previous performance the parents had written the District Attorney's Office to explain their stance: The payment of a fee expected by you would challenge our personal convictions.

"For this reason our incarceration will not move us to pay a fee, of which we are, in so far as it applies to German law, not guilty." Most recently the cases where parents from the region have for reasons of avoiding school and non-payment of fees have been incarcerated have increased.

The effected children all go to the same school. First at the beginning of August a Father of twelve children was arrested for a total of forty days.



Original kath.net, here...