Four Christians accusing employers of discrimination
Christians who lost employment tribunals for discrimination in the workplace took their fight to the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday. Their stories centre around whether religious principles have a place in the modern British workplace. When civil partnerships were legalised in 2004, Marriage registrar Miss Lillian Ladele refused to conduct them saying it was against her religious beliefs. Relationship councillor Mr McFarlane was sacked by Relate after objecting to giving sex therapy guidance to same-sex couples. Ms Eweida went home from a job with British Airways after she refused to conceal her silver cross necklace which breached uniform policy. Former nurse Mrs Chaplin was also asked not to display her cross necklace by the NHS Trust because the necklace breached health and safety guidelines. Mrs Chaplin had worn the cross necklace on the wards for 30 years.
Pray: that the judgement of the European Court will be led by the Holy Spirit and not by man. (Pr.1:5)
Budapest: Youngsters seek united, peaceful world
Over 12,000 youngsters from some 100 nations have concluded Central and Eastern Europe's first-ever 'Genfest', a youth summit, with a call for a more united and peaceful world. After three days of exchanging ideas on how to realize that utopia, they prayed and listened in front of Budapest's Saint Stephen's Basilica, one of Hungary's largest Roman Catholic Church buildings. During Sunday's open air Mass they were encouraged not to give up their hope and dreams. The Vatican's ambassador to Hungary, the Apostolic Nuncio Alberto Bottari de Castello reminded the participants of this year's Genfest theme: 'Let's Bridge'. He said, ‘Christ is the true bridge between people and God,’ and ‘the Lord wants us to carry out that message as bridges of love towards all people.’
Pray: for all the young people who attended that they will have met with Christ the true bridge between people and God. (Is.42:5-7)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/23157-thousands-of-youngsters-seek-united-peaceful-world-in-budapest
Budapest: Youngsters seek united, peaceful world
Over 12,000 youngsters from some 100 nations have concluded Central and Eastern Europe's first-ever 'Genfest', a youth summit, with a call for a more united and peaceful world. After three days of exchanging ideas on how to realize that utopia, they prayed and listened in front of Budapest's Saint Stephen's Basilica, one of Hungary's largest Roman Catholic Church buildings. During Sunday's open air Mass they were encouraged not to give up their hope and dreams. The Vatican's ambassador to Hungary, the Apostolic Nuncio Alberto Bottari de Castello reminded the participants of this year's Genfest theme: 'Let's Bridge'. He said, ‘Christ is the true bridge between people and God,’ and ‘the Lord wants us to carry out that message as bridges of love towards all people.’
Pray: for all the young people who attended that they will have met with Christ the true bridge between people and God. (Is.42:5-7)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/23157-thousands-of-youngsters-seek-united-peaceful-world-in-budapest
Iran: Youcef Nadarkhani’s imprisonment ignored
Last week a Jewish advocacy group, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), urged Iran's Non-Alignment Movement summit to address the plight of Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been imprisoned for over 1,000 days due to his Christian faith. The summit served as a platform for Iran to gain international support during tough sanctions levied against it by many western countries and bolster its relationships with North Korea, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Sudan. AJC implored United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to ‘emphatically speak out in support of Pastor Nadarkhani's freedom’ arguing that Iran is violating its own constitution, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, by holding Nadarkhani for more than 1,000 days on charges of apostasy and attempting to evangelize Muslims.
Pray: against Iran’s harassment of Christians, religious minorities, human rights advocates and for the release of all prisoners of conscience. (Is.61:1b)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/youcef-nadarkhanis-imprisonment-ignored-at-irans-nam-summit-80740/
Sudan: Rescue effort launched
Barnabas Fund is to airlift 2,000 needy and vulnerable Christians stranded in Sudan to safety and a new life in South Sudan. The first of 12 chartered flights are due to leave Khartoum for Juba on September 7th. Approximately 800 women (two-thirds are widows and 1,200 children) will be transported from makeshift shelters in flood conditions to the South. They are among hundreds of thousands of people of Southern origin who remain trapped in Sudan, having been stripped of their citizenship after the South voted to secede. Many have now made their own way to South Sudan but the poorest and most vulnerable do not have the resources. As well as being impoverished, Christians in Sudan are extremely vulnerable, as Islamist President Omar al-Bashir has made it clear that they are not welcome and repeatedly declared his intention to make the next constitution 100% Islamic and strengthen sharia law.
Pray: for the most vulnerable to be able to reach their extended families in the South and that NGO’s will be able to help with their practical needs. (Ps.132:15)
Pakistan: Possible blasphemy law debate
An unexpected twist in the Rimsha Masih blasphemy case appears to have paved the way for her freedom from false charges of desecrating the Quran. The imam who supported her accuser was himself arrested and appeared in court on the same charge as the girl because he tampered with evidence. The case triggered a debate on how Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws are being used to settle personal scores and vendettas. Most blasphemy cases registered against Muslims and Christians involve very poor people, the most vulnerable. There are never cases of blasphemy lodged against the Zoroastrians (Parsis) because they are the most educated and prosperous community in Pakistan. The highest number of cases against non-Muslim people are against Christians, who are the poorest and least educated when compared with other religious communities. There is a need to address the rising persecution against Christians.
Pray: for an abolition of the anti-blasphemy laws across Pakistan and wise judgement by those in authority. (Ps.58:11)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/article_1704924.htm
Canada: humanist attempts to force Gideons out of schools
A humanist in Canada is seeking to stop the Gideons from distributing free copies of the Bible in schools. Rene Chouinard says it is biased for the Bible to be distributed but not free atheist literature. He offered some free atheist material to schools, hoping that it would result in ending the Bible distribution. He said it was not his intention to hand out truckloads of literature, he just wanted to force the school board to ‘show its hand.’ His campaign began in 2010. Now, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has agreed to hear his case. Mr Chouinard welcomed the decision, saying: ‘We would like to see religion completely removed from the classroom.’
Pray: that God’s Word will not be halted and that the Gideon's work will instead flourish. (Mk.13:31)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/canada-humanist-attempts-to-force-gideons-out-of-schools/
USA: Obama and Romney - rare glimpse of spiritual lives
Democrat President Barack Obama says it's not his job to defend his Christian faith against doubters who suspect he's Muslim. His Republican Party challenger Mitt Romney says religion is ‘integral’ to his life - he often avoids mentioning his Mormon faith by name. The men responded in writing to nine questions about their faith. Religion has been a tricky political issue for both men. A recent Pew Research Centre poll found that 49% of Americans correctly identify Obama as a Christian. More Americans know that Romney is Mormon, but 30% do not believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christian. Both men said that political candidates should be judged by their works not faith. Both also said that religion is central to their lives.
Pray: for the race to the next term of office in the White House to focus on helpful facts, leading to informed choices when voting. (Dt.16:18-20)
North Korea has been hit by flooding again with a lot of devastation and hardship. The South Korean Red Cross has been providing some relief along with other organizations, but it is still very difficult. To make things more complicated, there are major changes occurring in the economy from wages replacing food distribution in some places to distribution centers selling food. There is also serious inflation in relation to Chinese currency and the price of rice. At the same time, the North Korean central bank has been trying very hard to gather foreign currency, even to selling rice for hard currency.
While we do see economic reforms under way, it is a very difficult time. We can probably expect to see more changes as the new leadership continues to establish itself and look for ways to improve the situation. Keep North Korea in your prayers as it goes through all these changes.
A woman in Burma spoke to CSW about the horrific devastation the Burma Army has been wreaking on her village. The soldiers have been torturing, raping, and killing the mainly Christian civilians in Kachin State – and leaving churches in ruins along the way.
Burma’s ruling military junta is trying to convince the world that they’re making the country more peaceful and democratic. And it’s true that some changes have been made. But while rape, murder, and destruction of churches is taking place in Kachin and other states, the full story is clearly very different.
Churches Occupied and Destroyed
“Villagers had stored some of their property in the churches, thinking that the church would be safe, but the Burma Army troops took whatever they wanted...They stayed in the church for three days and destroyed almost everything – the leaves for the roof, personal property - and they burned down houses near the church.”
Helen (not her real name) had already fled to a refugee camp by the time we spoke to her. Her village had been invaded by the Burma Army with the troops occupying and destroying both the Roman Catholic and Baptist churches. “We never loot or destroy or disrespect Buddhist pagodas, but they do this with our churches.”
She also told us about the soldiers stealing money and possessions from the villagers. A heavily pregnant nursery teacher had saved 500,000 kyats (US$500) for the baby’s birth, but the troops robbed her of this money. When she pleaded with them to return the money, they gave her back a little but kept the rest.
Continue to pray that the reforming process going on in the central government will be extended to all parts of the nation so there will be an end to this ethnic conflict and mistreatment of minority peoples like the Kachin.