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Pray| Showing page 11 of 15 1... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 | Last update: Wednesday 25th March |
| European human right judges have condemned Turkey for requiring citizens to specify their religious status in national identity cards, in a ruling which could have implications for the country’s Catholics and other Christian minorities. “This is in breach of the state’s duty of neutrality and impartiality, since its leads the state to make an assessment of the applicant’s faith’” the European Court of Human Rights said. “Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs has a negative aspect – namely, an individual’s right not to be obliged to disclose his or her religion, or to act in a manner that might enable conclusions to be drawn as to whether he or she holds such beliefs.” | |
| Religious Persecution | The Universe – February 21st 2010 |
| The Vatican said it experienced “surprise and sorrow” when a European court ruled that the crucifixes hanging in Italian public schools violated religious freedom. The European Court of Human Rights ruled on November 3 that the crucifixes hanging in every public classroom in Italy were “a violation of the freedom of parents to educate their children according to their own convictions and of the religious freedom of the students.” Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi reacted to the decision by saying: “The crucifix has always been a sign of God’s offer of love and a sign of union and welcome for all humanity. “It is sad that it is being considered a sign of division, exclusion or limitation of freedom. That is not what it is and that is not the common feeling of our people.” | |
| Religious Persecution | The Universe – 15th November 2009 |
| Catholic priests in Northern Ireland’s largest diocese have been told to drop the sign of peace at Mass because of the risk of swine ‘flu. | |
| Religious Persecution | The Universe – October 25th 2009 |
| Christians “aren’t going to disappear quietly from the marketplace” warned the Bishop of Litchfield last week in a letter published in his diocesan magazine. In reaction to the nurse, Shirley Chaplin, who was threatened with the sack if she didn’t hide her cross whilst on duty at the Royal Devon and Exeter Trust Hospital, the Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill said: “Ethnic minorities are far more anxious about the rampant secularism and commercialism that erodes all Christian standards than they are about their host country properly celebrating its Christian foundations. “No one goes to a Muslim country and expects local councils to silence the mosques out of sensitivity to Christians” | |
| Religious Persecution | The Church of England Newspaper – October 30th 2009 |
| Scepticism against faith communities has been foisted upon society by the political elite, said the shadow community cohesion minister, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, lambasting the trend as “both wrong and dangerous”. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Lady Warsi said: “Under Labour, the State has become increasingly sceptical of an individual’s religious belief. “We’ve all seen the stories, how appalling that in Labour’s Britain a community nurse can be suspended for offering to pray for a patient’s recovery. Or a school receptionist could face disciplinary action for sending an email to friends asking them to pray for her daughter. “At the heart of these cases lies a growing intolerance and illiberal attitude towards those who believe in God”. | |
| Religious Persecution | The Church of England - 9 October 2009 |
| A new directive proposed by the European Union could further restrict the freedom of Christians to express their faith. The proposed EU Equal Treatment Directive purports to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion and sexual orientation from the provision of goods (such as books) and services (such as a hotel room). Under the proposed terms of the Directive, if someone does or says anything when providing the goods or services that someone finds offensive, they can be sued for an unlimited amount of compensation for harassment. The definition in the directive of what constitutes harassment is so vague that it allows an individual to accuse someone of discrimination even if none is meant. For example, once someone decides to perceive an offer of prayers or words of comfort by a hospital chaplain as offensive, that person can bring a legal action against the chaplain and the hospital. Under the directive, the burden of proof will lie with the chaplain to disprove the allegation. The Directive also contains a number of proposals that will limit the freedom of expression of broadcasters, the press, teachers and religious organisations like student CUs. | |
| Religious Persecution | Evangelicals Now - October 2009 |
| A Christian receptionist is suing her school, its headmaster and the local council for victimising her because of her faith, it was reported in August. Jennie Cain was suspended for nearly four months from Landscore Primary School in Credition, Devon, after an email she sent to church friends was forwarded to the headmaster. In the email she had asked for prayer for her five-year-old daughter Jasmine, who had been reprimanded for talking to another pupil about Christianity. A panel found Mrs. Cain guilty of serious misconduct, but she was allowed to return to work. However, she says she then suffered harassment over her beliefs. | |
| Religious Persecution | Evangelicals Now - October 2009 |
| More than four in five Christians believe religious freedoms are at risk in the UK, according to a survey published in January. One in twenty said they had been reprimanded or cautioned for sharing their faith at work, and a similar proportion said they had lost out on a promotion because of their beliefs. | |
| Religious Persecution | Institute Update - Summer 2009 |
| The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is worried about workplace discrimination against Christians. In February he said: “Asking someone to leave their belief in God at the door is akin to asking them to remove their skin colour before coming into the office. Faith in God is not an add-on or an optional extra. “For me, my trust in God is part of my DNA; it is central to who I am and defines my place in the world. It informs my whole life, not just a weekly service on a Sunday.” He said Christians are facing problems at work because bosses fail to grasp this. | |
| Religious Persecution | Institute Update - Summer 2009 |
| A disabled man who lives in a care home in Fergana, eastern Uzbekistan, has been banned from attending his local church. The director of the home confiscated Gafur Yusupov’s Christian books and audio tapes and has forbidden him from contact with Christians. The director confirmed that Gafur is prohibited from attending church because "he was distributing religious literature here (in the home)". | |
| Religious Persecution | Evangelicals Now- August 2009 |
| The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has accused the government of Northern Nigeria’s Borno State of complicity in the murders of 12 Christians by members of the ‘Nigerian Taliban’ Boko Haram last week. Twenty churches, including Immanuel Anglican Church, Gamboru-Ngala in the Diocese of Maiduguri were destroyed in the uprising by members of the militant Muslim sect. | |
| Religious Persecution | Church of England- August 2009 |
| Christians are being strongly urged to pray for the Methodist Church in Fiji, after the Fijian military Government arrested seven senior Methodist leaders in an apparent attempt to suppress the church’s voice. The Fijian military regime banned the country’s Methodist Conference from taking place, believing that the meeting would focus on political, rather than spiritual issues. The detainees were treated well and have now been released on conditional bail, although they have been told to surrender their travel documents. | |
| Religious Persecution | Salvationist- August 2009 |
| At least ten Protestant pastors from the northern Córdoba region of Columbia have been threatened by re-armed paramilitary groups over the past six months, it was reported in June. In some cases, attacks and threats have led to forced displacement of the church leaders and their families. In each case, men claiming to represent the Black Eagles, a paramilitary organisation with a heavy presence in the area, have contacted church leaders to vainly demand the collaboration of the pastors and their churches. | |
| Religious Persecution | Evangelicals Now- July 2009 |
| Christians in India are heaving a sigh of relief after the rout of a Hindu Nationalist Party in national and state assembly elections in Orissa state, a scene of anti-Christian carnage and arson last year. The ruling centrist party won a second term when results of the five-part election were declared on may 16. Concerns over persecution of minorities remain. “The election result is a statement against the persecution of non-Hindus,” said Vijay Simha, a journalist and political analyst. “There were a string of incidents against non-Hindus, which were principally enacted by right-wing outfits. Since the vote went against right-wing parties, the result is a strong rejection of extremist religious programs”. | |
| Religious Persecution | Charisma And Christian Life- July 2009 |
| A petition signed by 20,000 Christians concerned about the possible gagging of free speech was handed to the Queen on Tuesday. The petitioners are worried that Clause 61 of the Coroners and Justice Bill is an attempt by the government to make it illegal for people to teach a literalist version of the Bible’s teaching on sexuality. Those signing are also concerned about plans by a small group of peers who are trying to legalise assisted suicide by tabling amendments to the same bill. Andrea Minchiello Williams, barrister and founder of CCFON and CLC, delivered a copy to Buckingham Palace at 12.30pm and an hour later delivered it to Downing Street. | |
| Religious Persecution | Church of England- July 2009 |
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