The Persecution of Christians, around the world.

[Soldier4Christ]

Homeschoolers take case to Human Rights Court
German Supreme Court turns down appeal by Christian parents


German homeschooling parents who face fines or jail sentences are prepared to take their cause to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe recently turned down an appeal by Christian parents. According to the justices, the parents are required to send their children to state registered schools.

Homeschooling is illegal in Germany, even if parents object to institutional education for religious reasons. Many Christians, however, are defying legal requirements. Some have been fined or incarcerated after refusing to pay the fines. It is estimated at least 1,000 children in Germany are taught by their parents.

Germany takes a tougher line against homeschooling than other European democracies. France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland and Austria also require children to receive school education but leave the form of education up to the parents.

The constitutional appeal was launched by Sigrid and Michael Bauer, members of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Giessen, 50 miles north of Frankfurt. The Bauers teach five of their eight children at home.

The parents argue they want to rear their children according to the Bible and shield them against negative influences. According to the Bauers, sex education and the teaching of evolution undermine the Christian upbringing of their children.

The Bauers were fined $650 and $800 respectively by lower courts. The Constitutional Court refused to accept their appeal on the grounds compulsory school education "serves the legitimate cause of enforcing the state's educational mandate." The German constitution did not include the right to exempt children from religious expressions other than their own.

The parents, however, believe their human rights are being violated, as Sigrid Bauer explained to the evangelical news agency IDEA. According to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, state authorities must uphold the parental right to religious instruction of their children.

The German homeschooling association SchuzH argues sex education in schools is indoctrinating and does not respect the parents' right to educate their children. German courts of law had never considered how much the curricula interfere with parental religious education.

German homeschoolers cannot expect support from the Christian Democratic Party in the federal Parliament. The party's spokesman for internal affairs, Hans-Peter Uhl, and deputy Ralf Goebel, welcomed the decision by the Constitutional Court.

The spokesman said the decision sent a positive signal for the "overwhelming majority of religiously minded parents in our country, who accept the educational mandate of the state and are happy to send their children to state schools."

[Shammu]

June 27, 2006

Persecution of Christians on the Rise
At Least 55,000 Christians Are Killed for their Faith Every Year

By Wolfgang Polzer
Special to ASSIST News Service

DRESDEN (ANS) -- The number of persecuted Christians is on the rise worldwide, according to Professor Thomas Schirrmacher, director of the Religious Liberty Commission of the German Evangelical Alliance.

Three in four cases of severe persecution are targeted at Christians, said Schirrmacher in a lecture at a gathering of the Protestant Association of the Christian Democratic Union in Dresden.

According to Schirrmacher at least 55,000 Christians are killed each year for religious reasons. Christians in India, Indonesia and Pakistan run the highest risk of losing their lives.

Schirrmacher encouraged politicians to increase their efforts for religious freedom. They were often reluctant to address the persecution and discrimination of Christians in Islamic countries in case this may jeopardize religious dialog.

Schirrmacher is convinced that interest in religion is rising worldwide: “The Communist atheistic realm has shrunk to small countries like North Korea”. Christianity is experiencing phenomenal growth outside the Western world.

Many Chinese intellectuals, for instance, regard the Christian faith as “trendy”, said Schirrmacher. The number of worshippers in China exceeds the Sunday service attendance in Europe. Since 1970 the number of Christians has tripled in Africa and Asia and doubled in Latin America.

Because of the decreasing numbers in Europe these developments are not very noticeable on a world scale. Christianity grows annually by 1.25 percent, roughly in line with the population growth of 1.22 percent.

Persecution of Christians on the Rise

[Soldier4Christ]

‘Forgotten’ Christian serves eighth year waiting for appeal hearing.

A Pakistani Christian has won a religious persecution award after spending eight years in prison on contested charges that he damaged a sign containing verses from the Quran.

The International Society for Human Rights (IGFM) honored Ranjha Masih, still serving his life sentence, with the newly established Stephen Endowment award in recognition of Masih’s “steadfastness in maintaining his Christian beliefs.”

Masih was unable to accept the award in person at the IGFM annual conference in Frankfurt, Hesse state, Germany on May 6.

The prizewinner remained behind bars thousands of miles away in Faisalabad Central Jail, seemingly forgotten by Pakistan’s legal system. Three years after filing an appeal before the provincial High Court, the Christian has not been given a hearing.

IGFM said it hoped that the award, including 500 Euros (US$629), would “raise Ranjha and his family’s morale, helping them financially and improving Ranjha’s fate through greater publicity.”

IGFM Director Karl Hafen presented Masih’s award to Wasim Muntizar from the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) to deliver to Masih’s family. CLAAS lawyers have been pursuing Masih’s appeal since a district court sentenced the Christian to life imprisonment in April 2003.

CLAAS lawyers told Compass they anticipate a hearing in the High Court by the end of this year. “We hope to God that he will be acquitted,” one lawyer handling the case commented.

Masih, 58, suffers from arthritis and hemorrhoids and at times experiences difficulty walking due to swelling in his knees. But the Christian remains in “good spirits,” Masih’s Faisalabad lawyer Khalil Tahir Sindhu informed Compass after visiting the prisoner last month.

Many Pakistani Christians despair that Masih’s case has been forgotten. His initial trial lasted five years.

“Please pray for Ranjha Masih,” Faisalabad Catholic Bishop Joseph Coutts appealed to Compass. “The man has been sitting forgotten in jail for years.”

Masih was arrested on charges of blasphemy in May 1998, allegedly having disfigured an Islamic sign during a funeral procession for former Faisalabad Catholic Bishop John Joseph. Ironically, Bishop Joseph had committed suicide in front of the Faisalabad courthouse to protest Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws.

Masih denied damaging the sign, and police testified in court that its invocation of Muhammad as the prophet of Islam was in perfect condition, lawyer Sindhu told Compass. But the Faisalabad Additional District and Sessions Court sentenced Masih to life imprisonment in April 2003.

Threat from Extremists

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws stipulate life imprisonment for defamation of the Quran and the death sentence for blasphemy against Muhammad. No blasphemy convict has been executed since the law was established in 1986, but extra-judicial killings of blasphemy prisoners are common.

Human rights organizations claim that Christians and other religious minorities are disproportionately targeted under the blasphemy law.

At least 23 people involved in blasphemy cases have been murdered in Pakistan, according to the National Commission for Justice and Peace. A quarter of the victims were Christians, although Christians constitute less than 2 percent of the country’s population.

Masih, his wife and six children may face greater danger if Masih is acquitted.

“In case [Masih] is released, it is to be feared that he, like other acquitted Christian blasphemy prisoners, will have to live in hiding or outside of Pakistan,” an IGFM representative told Compass. “The threat from Islamic extremists and self-proclaimed guardians of sharia, Islamic law, would be too great.”

Cleared of blasphemy charges last month after spending eight years in prison, Christian brothers Amjad and Asif Masih have been forced to live in hiding due to threats from radical Muslims.

Most blasphemy charges in Pakistan are leveled against Muslims. In unrelated incidents, two Muslims in Punjab province were killed on June 15 and 16 for their involvement in blasphemy cases.

An angry mob in Hasilpur killed elderly school teacher Mohammad Sadiq when he tried to save a Muslim leader whom the mob was torturing on charges of blasphemy. The next day, blasphemy suspect Abdul Sattar was knifed in Muzaffargarh while on his way to court in police custody.

[Soldier4Christ]

A group of Muslims bulldozed the house of a Christian Munsha Masih and killed his son


Kasur: The Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan team rushed to a small village in Kasur on information of killing and demolishing home of one Christian family.

Background

Mansha Masih son of Izhaq Masih his father and two brothers were living at village Gadi Wind district Kasur from their forefathers. They are poor laborer and hardly meet their needs. Mansha and his brothers are married.

A Muslim fellow named as Nazar Mohammad son of Murly Khan claimed that the house in which they were living is his property; litigation is pending with the courts. Nazar Mohammad is a businessman and has strong terms with police officers and political leaders.

According to Mansha Masih, Nazar Mohammad made fake documents of the disputed property with the help of “Patwari” (record keeper of lands).

One of SLMP team members asked Mansha Masih that how long they are living for. Mansha replied, “We are living in the house from our forefathers”, “Now about 40 years later Nazar Mohammad claimed that the land of the house belongs to him”.

Occurrence

On the day of occurrence Mansha, his father and brothers were at their work place while Mansha’s wife named as Arshad Bibi was present at the house with her daughter aged 2 years and a son about 40 days’. Nazar Mohammad came there along with some vagabonds armed with deadly weapons, some policemen and started beating Mansha’s wife Arshad Bibi and throwing the households out in the street and bulldozed the house.

Mansha’s 40 days’ son was lying in the bed. When Nazar Mohammad etc were throwing the households out in the street they also threw bed with. 40 days old baby son of Mansha received injury on his chest and got expired. When police saw the dead body of Mansha’s son they fled away from the spot.

Mansha and his brothers were informed later about the occurrence, they rushed the house and saw the house was demolished and households were scattered in the streets while Arshad Bibi was weeping on the dead body of her son.

Statement of Mansha Masih

SLMP team asked Mansha Masih about the occurrence, who told, “My father, brothers and I were present at our work place on the day of occurrence. Somebody informed me that Nazar Mohammad bulldozed my house and my son is also died”, “We rushed the house and saw our house was demolished and my wife was howling on my son’s death. We moved application in local police station but did not Registered the case. Superintendent of the police threatened us if we would raise the voice. We took dead body to hospital for medical certificate but Nazar Mohammad already reached there before us and joined hands with doctor. When we asked doctor for medical certificate, he refused us by saying that my son is died with hunger”.

SLMP team also met with Station House Officer (S.H.O) of local police station

Statement of S.H.O

‘I was informed about the bulldozing of Mansha’s house but their cases are pending with court so I cannot interfere the court’s matter”.

One of SLMP team member asked S.H.O that why did police not registered case of Mansha’s murder, but he denied giving any answer on it.

S. H.O also denied that police was present there when occurrence took place.

Current Situation

Mansha along with entire family members became homeless..

Opponent party has taken possession on the land of Mansha Masih and started construction while more then half articles of households are still there.

Criminal case could not be registered against Nazar Mohammad for killing a baby boy of Mansha Masih.

Prayer Request

Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan strongly recommends keeping the homeless family in your prayers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Death sentence
for not praying
Islamic regime spells out law
for Muslims in Somali capital

Muslims who fail to pray five times daily will be sentenced to death under the rule of Islamic clerics who have taken over the Somali capital Mogadishu.

"He who does not perform prayers will be considered as infidel, and Sharia law orders that that person be killed," said Sheikh Abdalla Ali, a founder and high-ranking official in the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia, reported Agence France-Presse.

The edict was issued by a leading cleric speaking at the opening of an Islamic court in the capital last night, who added it was the duty of every Somali to implement the provisions of Sharia, or Islamic law.

The Quran requires Muslims to pray five times daily.

Mogadishu was taken over in June by militia – now called the Conservative Council of Islamic Courts – that routed a U.S.-backed alliance of warlords after four months of fighting. The U.S. wanted to stem what officials call "creeping Talibanization" of Somalia by the courts and harboring of terrorists, including al-Qaida members.

Late Tuesday, militia members broke up a protest against a ban on watching television, shooting dead two people among a crowd viewing a World Cup game at a local cinema.

The accused killers, however, face prosecution under Sharia law for shooting unarmed civilians and could be sentenced to death.

In recent months, according to AFP, Muslim militiamen have presided over several public executions ordered by Islamic courts.

Somalia is regarded as a predominantly moderate Muslim country, but the Islamists have vowed to impose Sharia law nationwide, challenging a mostly powerless transitional government.

Last month, the Islamic courts signed a mutual recognition pact with the government, but are at odds with the regime over a number of issues. The Islamists oppose a proposal to deploy foreign peacekeepers to help establish central authority.

The African nation has been in turmoil, with no effective government, for the past 16 years.

The leader of the Islamic militia, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, is listed by the U.S. State Department as a suspected al-Qaida collaborator. Bush administration officials say Aweys was an associate of Osama bin Laden in the early 1990s.

[Soldier4Christ]

THIS LAND WAS YOUR LAND

City begins condemnation process for church land

The city of Arvada is working toward condemning a church property in Olde Town to build a parking lot for the new Arvada Library set to open this fall.

Arvada City Council approved an ordinance to use eminent domain if needed to acquire the lot owned by Shrine of St. Anne's Catholic Church. A public hearing is set for 7:30 p.m. on July 10.

However, City Manager Craig Kocian said negotiations are ongoing with the church.

"It's still entirely possible that there will be an agreement between the parish and the city," he said.

Negotiations between the two have been ongoing for about 18 months for the 35,500-square-foot lot at Webster Street and West 57th Avenue.

Kocian said condemnation proceedings had to be started if talks didn't work out so parking space would be available in time for the library's opening.

While Kocian was optimistic about reaching a deal, the attorney representing the church in negotiations, Robert Frie, was not.

"The message I'm getting loud and clear is that the City Council's made up its mind," Frie said. "They're condemning this even though the city owns a piece of property of equal size that is adjacent to this and could build their parking ramp on that structure."

The city land near the church is planned as a site for future housing, city officials have said.

Church officials will meet with some parents and the parish council this week to inform them of the latest news, Frie said.

Although few details were available, the last potential agreement was a 15-year lease, with a 15-year renewal option at the city's behest, said Bill Ray, deputy city manager.

City officials did not release how much the city would pay for the lease and had said it was under negotiations.

If the council approves the condemnation after the July 10 public hearing, then the city will take steps to sue the church for the property, Frie said.

[Shammu]

MOB STONES WOMAN TO DEATH FOR EVANGELIZING

Extremists overwhelm police to kill unidentified Christian for ‘insulting’ Muhammad.
July 6 (Compass Direct) – Church leaders here said Muslim extremists overwhelmed police officers providing refuge for an unidentified Christian woman in this town in Niger state on June 28 and stoned and clubbed her to death for doing street evangelism.

David Atabo of the Roman Catholic Church in Izom said he witnessed the killing of the woman. He told Compass that she had met a group of Muslim youths, shared the gospel with them and gave them some tracts to read.

“As soon as the woman left, some Muslim elders standing by sought to know from the youths what the woman told them,” Atabo said. “When they learned that the woman had preached to the youths, they claimed she insulted the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, and directed that the woman must be killed.”

Atabo said the Muslim leaders’ allegations inspired hundreds of Muslims to pour into the streets to track down the woman. They caught up with her around the River Gurara area and started beating her, he said, but police rescued her.

Officers took the woman into protective custody at the Izom police station. But the restive mob stormed the premises, demanding that the woman be released to be stoned to death in accordance with sharia (Islamic) law or else they would burn down the police station.

“The police, realizing that the Muslim crowd was overwhelming, smuggled the woman through a back door to escape with her, but the Muslims blocked all escape routes, and at this point the police abandoned the woman to save their lives,” Atabo said. “She was clubbed to death.”

Police later moved the woman’s corpse to the mortuary at the Suleja Government Hospital. Atabo added that three policemen were injured in the fracas.

Mystery Identity

Christian leaders in Izom said they were disturbed that police have not identified the woman.

“This woman was killed before the police could identify her or even question her,” Atabo said. “We have also tried to find out which church she comes from, but without success.”

The area Christian leaders suspect the murdered woman might have come from neighboring Suleja town.

Atabo, chairman of the local chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Izom town, said the Muslims claimed that the Christian woman dropped a document containing derogatory remarks about Muhammad.

When he asked the police to allow him see the alleged document, though, “there was nothing like that,” he said.

Daniel Mazuri, pastor of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) Good News Church in Izom, said those at the scene of the incident told him Muslims accosted the woman and accused her of insulting Muhammad. The Muslims claimed she dropped a letter in a mosque insulting Muhammad, he said, but friends of his in the police force told him this was false.

“I believe the Muslims just wanted to ignite a religious crisis in this town,” Muzari told Compass. “This is a very unhealthy development, and it has now opened the door for unending religious conflicts.”

Mazuri said his inquiries led to the conclusion that Muslims doctored a document in order to create a religious crisis in this town.

“They are known for this attitude, and we are not surprised at the occurrence of this incident,” he said.

The Rev. Tanko Madaki of the ECWA, Hausa section, also concluded that Muslims planned the attack with the aim of igniting a religious crisis in the town.

“We are aware of the antics of the Muslims,” he said. “They are always good in fabricating falsehood and then anchoring their actions on such falsehood.”

Another First

It is common in Nigeria to find Christians engaged in street evangelism – preaching the gospel in marketplaces, buses and trains. Muslims are believed to constitute about half of the residents of Izom town, in the Gurara local government area.

The death of the unknown Christian woman marks the first fatality of Niger state’s Islamic legal system, introduced in 2000. Niger is one of the 12 states that has implemented sharia in northern Nigeria.

“We are hoping that the police will be able to unravel the identity of this woman eventually, or that any of her relations may contact us soon,” Atabo said.

There are nine churches in Izom town, including the Roman Catholic Church, the ECWA, All Christian Fellowship Mission, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Apostolic Church, the Baptist Church, and the Deeper Life Bible Church.

[nChrist]

MOB STONES WOMAN TO DEATH FOR EVANGELIZING

Extremists overwhelm police to kill unidentified Christian for ‘insulting’ Muhammad.
July 6 (Compass Direct) – Church leaders here said Muslim extremists overwhelmed police officers providing refuge for an unidentified Christian woman in this town in Niger state on June 28 and stoned and clubbed her to death for doing street evangelism.

This is the so-called peaceful religion of Islam at work. The same and worse is happening around the world. It's really far past time to call Islam what it really is, a religion of hate, intolerance, conquest, persecution, and death. It's only a religion of peace when a Christian rejects JESUS CHRIST, yields, and becomes a Muslim. AND, we all should know that will NEVER happen with a real Christian. Once a person has JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Saviour, there is no other GOD and there is no other TRUTH!

There is LOVE and PEACE only in JESUS CHRIST, and Christians don't stone or harm those who reject JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Saviour.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Philippians 1:9-11 NASB  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;  having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

House-church leader gets
7-1/2 years in prison
Family members concerned over prominent Chinese pastor's health

A prominent Chinese house movement leader, Pastor Zhang Rongliang, has been sentenced to seven-and-a- half years in prison.

According to China Aid Association, the July 4 verdict was issued by Zhongmu County People's Court, though CAA reported that neither Zhang's wife nor other members of his immediate family received a formal notification. Zhang was arrested Dec. 1, 2004.

The China Aid Association was told by one of its sources that Zhang, 55, was arrested at Xuzhai village, Zhengzhou city, Henan province in a rented apartment. The apartment was searched and all of Zhang's Christian DVDs, materials and photos revealing relationships with foreigners and foreign agencies were confiscated.

Zhang's wife and their two sons have been deeply concerned for his welfare and safety, especially as he has suffered from serious diabetes for seven years. His disease was so serious that he was admitted to the Xinmi City People's Hospital while at his detention center from Dec. 19, 2005, until Jan. 23, 2006, for emergency treatment. He was seen handcuffed and chained to his hospital bed while there.

The popular Christian pastor was charged with "attaining a passport through cheating" and with "illegal border crossing" for his international traveling including to the U.S., Australia, Egypt and Singapore for world mission conferences.

Zhang is the leader of the Fangcheng Mother Church, Henan, and the leader of the China for Christ Church, which is one of the largest house-church networks estimated to have more than 10 million members. He has been well known by the international community, CAA stated, as one of the house-church patriarchs.

He is a co-author of the book "House Churches of China's Confession of Faith and Declaration" in 1999. He has been featured in a number of international articles and books, including "Jesus in Beijing" (2003) by former Time magazine writer David Aikman, Newsweek (May 12, 2004), Charisma and Christianity Today. Last year, the European Parliament passed a resolution demanding Zhang's release.

Zhang has been wanted for many years since his last imprisonment in August 1999. He has already spent 12 years in prison for his faith since his secret baptism in 1969 during five separate detentions. CAA reported that he has experienced extreme torture, including electric shocks, during his prison terms.

Bob Fu, who is the president of China Aid and personally knows Zhang and his family, said in a news release: "We are deeply disappointed for this extraordinary harsh verdict given the fact that the Chinese authorities often deny passports and other travel documents to well-known religious leaders like Pastor Zhang."

He added, "This is yet another case showing the Chinese government's new tactic of religious persecution in the name of criminal charges."

[Soldier4Christ]

Suit Filed On Behalf of Repent America Members Arrested in Chicago


(AgapePress) - Members of a Philadelphia-based Christian ministry claim they were harassed by authorities in Chicago, Illinois, for sharing the gospel with homosexuals who were in town for the city's "Gay Games," an Olympics-style sports event series for homosexuals. Three members of the evangelical group Repent America say they were handcuffed and arrested by Chicago police officers for passing out Christian literature to homosexuals and holding up signs with Bible verses near Navy Pier.

The evangelists had been warned that they would be arrested if they were caught handing out literature outside of certain designated "free-speech zones." But even after they moved across the street from Navy Pier as directed, the police returned and told the Christians they could not stay in that area and then arrested them.

Repent America filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order. Consequently, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority -- the government agency that runs Navy Pier -- agreed to allow the Christian group to continue their activity there. However, Chicago attorney John Mauck says the arresting officers had made it clear, at least one of them in profane language, that Repent America's message was not welcome.

It is not unusual, Mauck notes, for evangelical ministry workers and other believing individuals to encounter this kind of response. "There's a level of antagonism among some people against the Christian message, that it's politically incorrect or somehow insulting," he says.

But the people from Repent America were not at Navy Pier to insult or harass homosexuals, the Christian attorney insists. "In fact," he adds, "these are folks that so love gays that they're willing to spend a significant amount of time and even go to jail so they can tell them that there's hope."

The Christians' lawyer believes it was because of this very message that the three ministry members were targeted. The lawsuit he has filed on behalf of the arrested believers alleges that their free-speech rights were violated by the city and by the police officers.

The Repent America members were singled out for harassment, Mauck contends, by officials who saw these young evangelists from out of town and said to themselves, "Well, we can push them around, and nobody's going to complain -- and we're not going to have to worry about offending the homosexual activists."

So that is exactly what the local authorities did to the Christians -- "they just pushed them around," the Chicago attorney contends. "And if it weren't for the lawsuit and the federal courts," he adds, "they wouldn't be preaching the gospel right now."

Mauck says he plans to go forward with the lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the police officers who arrested the Repent America members. The suit seeks a court order that would prevent the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority from confining the plaintiffs to free-speech zones in the future.

[Soldier4Christ]

Missionaries face jail in India


JULIA and Richard do not look like fugitives but they could be jailed under new Indian laws to stop missionaries converting low-caste Hindus to Christianity without a magistrate’s approval.

A well educated British couple with young children, they left London two years ago to teach missionary work in some of India’s poorest states, such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Orissa.

Last week Madhya Pradesh became the latest state to pass an anti-religious conversion bill that could leave Christian missionaries open to criminal charges. Leaders of India’s 26m Christians say the bill is an attempt to intimidate and persecute them, while increasing votes for the Hindu nationalist BJP party. Under its provisions missionaries and their converts face up to three years in jail if they do not notify a magistrate of their intentions.

Christian leaders also fear the initiative will encourage attacks against them. India’s National Commission for Minorities has voiced concern about incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in which orphanages and schools have been targeted.

Last month police in Madhya Pradesh raided a Bible study group and arrested worshippers after complaints that they were converting Hindus. Nuns have been raped and several priests have been murdered in the past seven years. Last year 11 members of a Hindu mob that burnt an Australian missionary and his two young sons to death as they slept had their convictions overturned.

Hindu fundamentalists claim missionaries, mostly American and South Korean, prey on the ignorance of lower castes and persuade them to turn against their culture. The missionaries say they provide education and healthcare and teach the Bible to untouchables whose own religion treats them as outcasts.

“In the past 10 years Christianity has taken off in north India. Dalits (untouchables) are asking, ‘What has Hinduism done for us?’” said Richard, who asked for his name and that of his wife to be changed. “We’re authentic followers of Jesus in a country with a range of ideas, but where one section is antagonistic towards all non-Hindus. I don’t think we’re doing anything wrong.”

He said he did not believe missionaries had forced anyone to convert, but acknowledged there were problems with some Indian missionaries who were telling tribesmen that God would heal their illnesses.

Richard and Julia are not allowed to work legally as missionaries in India because of visa restrictions, but Raju Matthew, a British neuro-physiologist, and his wife Kate operate freely because he has an Indian passport. Matthew has been targeted by Hindu nationalists and was recently acquitted of making forced conversions after a two-year legal battle.

A spokesman for the Madhya Pradesh government denied the bill was intended to stop conversions, saying it was to protect people being coerced into changing religion. “We had some complaints and we have to enforce the law,” he said.

[Soldier4Christ]

China police crush Christian church
Dozens imprisoned as nearly-finished meeting place destroyed


A nearly completed Christian church building in Xiaoshan district has been demolished by government contractors and about 60 Christian leaders imprisoned as China continues to battle unregulated Christianity.

China Aid Association, a Texas-based organization set up to develop and preserve religious freedom in China, said yesterday the demolition of the Dangshan city church building happened July 29.

On that day, about five dozen Christian leaders, some of whom now have disappeared, were taken into custody. And yesterday, China Aid said three more leaders were jailed.

The three latest Christian community leaders jailed were identified as Ni Huiming, 45; Shen Zhuke, 52; and Shen Jian, 48. China Aid officials say they, like the people arrested earlier, largely are held incommunicado, and their locations and conditions are unknown.

One other woman, Wang Aizhen, of Kanshan town, remained hospitalized with broken chest bones after being beaten by riot police during the July 29 church demolition, China Aid said.

The action is out of the ordinary, even for a government that maintains a constant crackdown on house churches like this one, or those that are not formally acknowledged by the government, officials said. "It was very unusual to use excessive force to destroy an almost-finished church building," Bob Fu, a spokesman for China Aid, told WorldNetDaily yesterday.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a government agency, noted in its 2006 report that "every religious community in China is subject to serious restrictions, state control, and repression."

"We were informed that some brothers and sisters were seriously injured when they were caught, and some have lost contact with their family members who do not know where to send money or clothing to help them," China Aid said. "The lives of some Christians might be in danger."

The original church building, built in 1921 on a 10,000-square-foot parcel, was occupied starting with the 1949 "liberation" by the communist government. The local Christians then worshipped in a 200-year-old building for a time, and in recent years had been reconstructing a worship center on the original site. Then government officials, four excavators and hundreds of military policemen arrived and destroyed the structure.

Of the 60 Christians arrested, about 50 remain in custody, without any formal charges being filed, China Aid said.

"What has worried us most is that some Christians disappeared after the conflict," China Aid said. "Some are young students that can not be found in either the detention or custody centers. According to reliable sources, some may have been beaten to death."

In China, only churches that have registered with the state and meet the government's requirements are allowed to meet, have property or buildings. The government also decides who can register.

While China Aid monitors the China situation on its Monitor China site, the USCIRF lists China as a country of "particular concern" because of the government's behavior towards religious groups.

In its 260-page report on international religious persecution, agency members noted that during their first-ever visit to China to discuss those issues, when a Catholic bishop with the state-affiliated Catholic church began discussing the arrest of a bishop from the unregistered Catholic church, the interview was immediately ended.

[Shammu]

Priest guards church against ‘racist’ attacks
By Caroline Innes

A PRIEST is set to install high fences around his church in Blackburn in a bid to combat racist attacks.

The move was revealed as a Muslim leader blasted the gang of youths which targeted St Joseph's RC Church, in Audley, Blackburn.

Coun Salim Mulla, secretary of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said the gang were "disgraceful and disrespectful" and he was so angry that when he found out who was responsible he would personally report them to the police.

The latest incident happened on Sunday at 11pm and although the church's alarm system prevented the youths from gaining access to the church, significant damage was done to the church door.
continued...

Father Francis Parkinson, the Roman Catholic priest at St Joseph's, was also targeted in February when he was racially abused by a gang of youths who had been loitering in the church car park.

A 19-year-old later admitted racially aggravated threatening behaviour against the priest and was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Father Francis said the church and its car park have been plagued with gangs of juveniles making a nuisance of themselves.

He said he was looking to install high fences around the church and car park to keep youths out and protect the church from vandalism.

He added: "I would simply like to know why these young men feel they have got to do this as I personally don't understand it.

"This is just another example of wanton vandalism that is upsetting community cohesion.

"These youths have shown no respect for the church as a place of worship. How would they feel if a gang of vandals attempted to break into their mosque?

"I was racially abused by youths hanging around the church car park a few months back and now we have had an attempted break-in.

"The bolt on the door has been broken. Repairs cost money. I have spoken to Coun Mulla about this situation and he is most upset that this keeps happening and has said he will do what he can to find those responsible."

Coun Mulla said he couldn't believe the church had been targeted again and called for the Muslim community to condemn the youths' actions.

He said: "The Muslim community works very closely with the Christian community and it is important we understand and respect everybody else's beliefs.

"I expect all youths to be law abiding and not cause harm to people's places of worship. Sadly some youths behave disgracefully and these youths in particular have disgraced their community by what they have done to St Joseph's."

"I want to send a strong message to the community that this sort of racist and anti-social behaviour is not acceptable."

Insp Jenny Coulston, of Blackburn police, said she believed the incident was part of an ongoing problem of juvenile nuisance in the Audley area.

Priest guards church against ‘racist’ attacks

[Shammu]

Homosexual-activist cop threatens Christians
Officer orders pro-marriage petitions removed from Promise Keepers event
Posted: August 4, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern


© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

A homosexual-activist police officer assigned to security at a Promise Keepers men's conference in Florida is being investigated for threatening members of a Christian organization petitioning for a state constitutional marriage amendment.

"I have never in my life seen such unprofessional and bizarre behavior from a law enforcement officer," said John Stemberger, the president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council.

"This kind of ridiculous harassment and intimidation was meant to thwart the effort to protect marriage in Florida. It should remind all of us that we are engaged in a culture war. …"


Sgt. Stephen Allen, right, kisses another officer to mock Christians (Florida Family Policy Council)

His group had rented a display table at a June Promise Keepers conference in the Fort Lauderdale area to publicize its effort to collect more than 611,000 signatures on petitions to call for a vote of Florida people. The goal is to protect traditional marriage – between one man and one woman – in the state constitution.

But as the signatures were being collected, officers of the Sunrise city police department ordered volunteers for Florida4Marriage.org to stop accepting names.

"Officers then physically removed the petitions from 'public view' on the table at the exhibitors tent," the council said in a website update of the situation. "Two of the male officers mocked the volunteers by kissing each other after they initially removed all the petitions from the area."

Stemberger yesterday told WorldNetDaily the situation now is on hold while the police department fulfills its obligation to do an investigation.

"I have filed the complaint with internal affairs. They are doing a good-faith investigation because they've called me several times. I know that the officer's retained counsel," he said.

"No one would have ever believed our story without that photograph. That photograph really captures the attitude that we were approached with," he said.

The camera was a fortunate circumstance, he said, because one volunteer said she always carried one around. Her tape recorder, however, didn't work, he said.

Stemberger said without a significant result from the police department's investigation, it would produce a "chilling" effect on any Christian activities in public areas.

"Marriage is the picture God gives in the Scripture about Christ and the church," he said.

In the actual confrontation, Stemberger was called after the officers removed the petitions. He sought further legal counsel from Rick Nelson of American Liberties Institute and then confronted Sgt. Allen.

He said he asked the sergeant what law or ordinance was being violated by the petitions and Allen simply responded with a not-entirely accurate lecture on Jesus' view of homosexuality in the New Testament and the statement that the petition was a "waste of time."

The sergeant then proclaimed he was the authority and "the Bible says that Christians should obey the authorities."

Allen was backed up by four other Sunrise officers and continued to argue "theology" even after Promise Keepers' own security and event officials arrived and explained the petitions were authorized.

Allen also threatened to arrest Stemberger, who stood his ground.

The situation ultimately cooled down when managers for the arena told the sergeant to stand down, the council said.

WND's calls to the city manager's office yesterday were referred to the police chief, whose secretary said he was out of town and unavailable to provide an update on the investigation. The police agency's website does speak of a "diversified" team of officers.

The petition drive is trying to collect 611,009 signatures to put the issue on the 2008 election ballot. Similar constitutional amendments already have been endorsed by voters in 20 states, with another half dozen on the ballot this year already.

"We always have great relationships with the venues and the security details (at the conferences) and that's the first time we ever saw that level of partisanship from security," Promise Keepers spokesman Steve Chavis told WND.

[nChrist]

WOW! - Those police officers need to be fired and charged, and someone needs to arrange some massive publicity. Contrary to what some people might want to believe, Christians still have a few rights left in this country. At the very least, that would be violation of civil and Constitutional rights under the color of law. It would be and should be a Federal Criminal Case. One would have to carefully look at all of the facts, but I think that the above is accurate.