Key Quotes - Religious Persecution

A world perspective in bite-size chunks
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Last update: Wednesday 25th March
 
Algerian Christians have appealed for urgent prayer after the police ordered the closure of churches across the country. The head of the Algerian Protestant Church Association – to which the majority of Algerian churches belong – received a notice, dated May 22, from a High Police Commissioner informing him that a decision had been made to close down all Christian places of worship in the country that are not designated for religious purposes.
Religious PersecutionLife And Work July 2011
 
Humanist philosopher AC Grayling has written a secular version of the Bible entitled The Good Book: a secular bible. Aimed to be a ‘positive’ book but without any mention of God, it mirrors the language of the Bible but uses secular philosophies instead of religion. It contains ten ‘commandments’ such as respect nature, do your utmost, be informed, be kind’. The Birkbeck College professor is a well-known atheist.
Religious PersecutionChristianity June 2011
 
Hundreds of Muslims in Gujranwala on April 30 attacked Christians’ homes, a school and a Presbyterian church building after learning that police had released two Christians accused of ‘blasphemy’. Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Mushtaq were released on April 29 after a handwriting expert hired by police determined that the latter had not written a threatening note accompanying burned pages of the Qur’an.
Religious PersecutionEvangelicals Now June 2011
 
A Leeds-based Catholic charity which wants exemption from equality laws which would force it to provide its adoption services to gay couples has had its latest appeal rejected.
Catholic Care has spent more than two years arguing it will have to give up its work finding homes for children if it has to comply with recent equality regulations which prohibit discrimination against same-sex couples wanting to adopt.
Religious PersecutionThe Universe May 8 2011
 
The General Medical Council “overreacted” in its damning chastisement of a doctor who shared his faith with a patient, it has been claimed. Dr Richard Scott, who is now taking legal action, was accused of ‘harassment’ after a patient’s mother complained, and the GMC ruled that he risked bringing the profession into disrepute. But the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) said that the General medical Council had acted with “inappropriate and disproportionate force” and had applied its guidance in a selective and unbalanced way.”
Religious PersecutionThe Church Of England Newspaper May 27 2011
 
A report on the persecution of Christians around the world concludes that the situation in some countries is the worst ever, and may lead to the faith disappearing from some areas. The report, from the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, surveys the situation around the world for all Christian denominations. ‘Significant developments in key countries point to the inescapable conclusion that – especially in the Middle East and some other countries – Christianity is under threat as never before and could yet disappear,’ it stated.
Religious PersecutionChristianity, May 2011
 
Apple has withdrawn an App from an ex-gay organisation following protests from gay rights groups. Exodus International, a Christian organisation that ministers to gay people, said it produced the App to be a resource for ministers with the same information that is on its website. However, a gay rights group began a petition to drop the product, calling it ‘hateful and bigoted’ and obtained nearly 150,000 signatures.
Religious PersecutionChristianity, May 2011
 
Conservative MP Jo Johnson, brother of Boris, the Mayor of London, in early February said that the House of Commons should stop saying prayers at the start of its proceedings. The contentious proposal could ‘save three or four minutes every day’ and would better reflect the UK, he said. They should, he suggests, be moved from the main chamber to Westminster Hall. Last year his brother Boris backed prayers in Parliament, saying it was helpful for both believers and non-believers.
Religious PersecutionEvangelicals Now, April 2011
 
This year it shows that in many Islamic countries persecution is increasing. Islam is the dominant religion in eight of the top 10 countries listed. Iran’s growing house church movement is coming increasingly under threat, while Christians in Afghanistan may only worship in secret; and in Saudi Arabia, converting to Christianity is illegal. North Korea is, however, unrivalled, taking the top spot as the country in which Christians undergo the most persecution. Believers risk being killed if they are found in possession of Christian materials. In May last year, a group of 23 Christians were discovered. Three of them were then publicly executed while the others disappeared within the infamous Yodok Prison camp. The fact that in the previous year more than 2,200 Christians were killed on account of their faith and millions more are routinely persecuted in defiance of International law, should stop us in our tracks says Eddie Lyle CEO of Open Doors UK.
Religious PersecutionIdea March/April 2011
 
A Christian cou¬ple, Owen and Eunice Johns, were recently banned from fostering children because of their belief that homosexuality is wrong. Ten days ago, two senior judges concluded that the right of homosexuals to equality 'should take precedence' over the right of Chris¬tians to manifest their beliefs and moral values. On Tuesday, David Cameron blundered into the controversy. The Prime Minister asserted that the couple had been dealt with in an 'appropriate way', and added that Christians must be 'tolerant and welcoming and broad-minded' towards homosexuality. That same day, another judge in a different court ruled that the 'deeply held' beliefs of a prominent animal rights cam¬paigner and hunt saboteur called Joe Hashman should be protected from discrimination in the same way as religion.
Religious PersecutionDaily Mail March 10th 2011
 
A Christian couple were left “extremely distressed” yesterday after the High Court ruled Derby City council was entitled to exclude them from becoming foster carers because of their faith-based opposition to homosexuality. The court ruled “a conflict” could arise over the council’s duty to “safeguard and promote the welfare” of children and the couple’s beliefs. Eunice ad Owen Johns, ages 62 and 65, from Derby called for an independent inquiry.
Religious PersecutionThe Sentinel - 1st March 2011
 
Human Rights Watch in January called on the US to return Vietnam to its list of ‘countries of particular concern’ (CPCs), a designation for countries that consistently deny religious freedom and commit human rights violations. The report said that religious repression in Vietnam is ‘systematic, severe, and getting worse by the day’. Christians in the country have been subject to police harassment, forced closure of churches, and arbitrary arrests. Vietnam was removed from the list of CPCs in 2006.
Religious PersecutionEvangelicals Now, March 2011
 
Christians within the European Union in January accused the EU Commission of deliberately excluding Christian holidays from diaries for school children. Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter are missing, while Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim festivals are scattered throughout. Three million copies of the diaries were printed for 2011, with 350,000 copies being sent to schools in the UK.
Religious PersecutionEvangelicals Now, March 2011
 
Burmese soldiers are systematically using forced labour, torture and rape to persecute majority-Christian residents of Chin state in western Burma, according to a report released on January 20. The report documented ‘extraordinary levels of state violence’ against the Chin ethnic population. The Chin are estimated to be 90% Christian and the study indicates that it is, therefore, difficult to separate religious attacks from ethnic and other human rights abuses.
Religious PersecutionEvangelicals Now, March 2011
 
Draconian and politically correct rules which discriminate against Christians living out their faith in the public square have been slammed by the public in a new survey published in December, commissioned for Christian Concern’s Not Ashamed campaign. 72% of British adults believe that Christians should be able to refuse to act against their conscience without being penalized by their employer. 73% agree that the right of people to wear Christian symbols such as a cross in their workplace should be protected by law. 87% disagree that health care workers should be threatened with the sack for offering to pray with patients.
Religious PersecutionEvangelical's Now February 2011
 
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