Turkey: Official discrimination towards Christians
Aykan Erdemir, a member of Turkey’s parliament, will travel to Diyarbakir Church in mid-June. To prepare for his visit, he looked up the church’s website but his parliamentary office computer blocked the church website with a message that it contained ‘pornographic’ content. Checking the websites of other Turkish Protestant churches Erdemir and his colleagues found they also were blocked. Diyarbakir Church is not under a national ban (occasionally websites are banned). The block only affected computers in the parliament and was quickly removed after Erdemir complained. Erdemir said the episode is a symptom of deep-rooted governmental antagonism toward Christians (especially Protestants) and of Turkey’s increasing intolerance towards minorities. He believes law enforcement authorities consider Christianity to be one of the country’s greatest threats and that military training has reinforced an attitude of marginalisation. ‘They really don’t see Turkish Christians as citizens of this country,’ he said.
EU takes aim at radical jihadist websites
Nine European countries endorsed plans on 5th June to step up intelligence-sharing and take down radical websites to try to stop European citizens going to fight in Syria and bringing violence back home with them.The initiative by states that deem themselves most affected by jihadist violence was given new urgency after the killing of three people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels last month by a Frenchman recently returned from fighting with Islamist rebels in Syria's civil war. EU officials will hold meetings with ‘the leading Internet operators’ this month to look into the possibilities for immediately shutting down web sites and barring messages that spread hatred or encourage violent militancy or terrorism. Also Britain proposed creating a European task force using media campaigns to counter the radicals' message. Experts will work on details of the new measures before they are decided on by ministers at a meeting in Milan in July.
Rome: Archbishop Justin Welby visits Pope Francis
On Monday Pope Francis met with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and much of their official discussion was confirming the need for the world-wide church to persevere in a united commitment to eradicate human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Pope Francis said, ‘Notable collaborative efforts have been initiated on the ecumenical level and in cooperation with civil authorities and international organizations. Many charitable initiatives have been undertaken by our communities, and they are operating with generosity and courage in various parts of the world. I think in particular of the action network against the trafficking in women set up by a number of women’s religious institutes. Let us persevere in our commitment to combat new forms of enslavement, in the hope that we can help provide relief to victims and oppose this deplorable trade. I thank God that, as disciples sent to heal a wounded world, we stand together, with perseverance and determination, in opposing this grave evil.’ See also Global Freedom Network at http://www.gfn2020.org/
Turkey: Official discrimination towards Christians
Aykan Erdemir, a member of Turkey’s parliament, will travel to Diyarbakir Church in mid-June. To prepare for his visit, he looked up the church’s website but his parliamentary office computer blocked the church website with a message that it contained ‘pornographic’ content. Checking the websites of other Turkish Protestant churches Erdemir and his colleagues found they also were blocked. Diyarbakir Church is not under a national ban (occasionally websites are banned). The block only affected computers in the parliament and was quickly removed after Erdemir complained. Erdemir said the episode is a symptom of deep-rooted governmental antagonism toward Christians (especially Protestants) and of Turkey’s increasing intolerance towards minorities. He believes law enforcement authorities consider Christianity to be one of the country’s greatest threats and that military training has reinforced an attitude of marginalisation. ‘They really don’t see Turkish Christians as citizens of this country,’ he said.
EU takes aim at radical jihadist websites
Nine European countries endorsed plans on 5th June to step up intelligence-sharing and take down radical websites to try to stop European citizens going to fight in Syria and bringing violence back home with them.The initiative by states that deem themselves most affected by jihadist violence was given new urgency after the killing of three people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels last month by a Frenchman recently returned from fighting with Islamist rebels in Syria's civil war. EU officials will hold meetings with ‘the leading Internet operators’ this month to look into the possibilities for immediately shutting down web sites and barring messages that spread hatred or encourage violent militancy or terrorism. Also Britain proposed creating a European task force using media campaigns to counter the radicals' message. Experts will work on details of the new measures before they are decided on by ministers at a meeting in Milan in July.
European Commission President
The leadership of the Commission has always been a tightly fought contest. In 2014 Britain vetoed the appointment of Guy Verhofstadt, with the French opposed to Chris Patten and leaders settling on José Manuel Barroso instead. The current controversy, coming less than three years before Britain holds a referendum on EU membership. Should the Conservative Party still be in leadership, which has given the election additional importance. EU leaders are expected to make a decision on the next Commission President during a summit next week on the 26th -27th June. The European parliament will hold a confidence vote on the chosen candidate, possibly as early as 15th July. Pray for the new commission president to ensure a fair deal for Britain. See also:
Rome: Archbishop Justin Welby visits Pope Francis
On Monday Pope Francis met with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and much of their official discussion was confirming the need for the world-wide church to persevere in a united commitment to eradicate human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Pope Francis said, ‘Notable collaborative efforts have been initiated on the ecumenical level and in cooperation with civil authorities and international organizations. Many charitable initiatives have been undertaken by our communities, and they are operating with generosity and courage in various parts of the world. I think in particular of the action network against the trafficking in women set up by a number of women’s religious institutes. Let us persevere in our commitment to combat new forms of enslavement, in the hope that we can help provide relief to victims and oppose this deplorable trade. I thank God that, as disciples sent to heal a wounded world, we stand together, with perseverance and determination, in opposing this grave evil.’ See also Global Freedom Network at http://www.gfn2020.org/
Myanmar: God hears children's prayers
When children pray, God seems to move more powerfully. John Robb, chairman of the International Prayer Council, shares this observation with confidence. He witnessed it when he was director of prayer at World Vision, a large international development and child-care organization. ‘Staff often observed the Lord’s miracles when our project children prayed. We actually surveyed this phenomenon in five very poor countries where staff asked the kids to pray for specific infrastructural changes, such as the resolution of community splits, and many other needs. They did this for two years, and all were astonished by the miracles that occurred. When the children prayed, the parents got healed from terminal illness, governments chose those villages for the wells or the clinics, or the terrorists were kept out of those communities where the kids were praying.’
Scottish police drop charges against Christian street preacher
A former LA deputy sheriff arrested while street preaching in Scotland has been told by police he will no longer face charges. Tony Miano was arrested in Dundee after a member of the public complained he had been using ‘homophobic language’. He was on a weeklong street-preaching mission in the city in January with evangelist Josh Williamson when he was arrested under hate-crime legislation. (See Prayer Alert 2.2014). The Christian Legal Centre, which represented him, said he was held by police for 24 hours and that they refused to watch video footage of his street preaching. Mr Miano, 50, said it ‘took months’ for the prosecutors to watch the footage. ‘When the prosecutors finally managed to get the video footage off my camera they could plainly see that the accuser had made allegations about my speech that were simply untrue,’ he said.
Myanmar: God hears children's prayers
When children pray, God seems to move more powerfully. John Robb, chairman of the International Prayer Council, shares this observation with confidence. He witnessed it when he was director of prayer at World Vision, a large international development and child-care organization. ‘Staff often observed the Lord’s miracles when our project children prayed. We actually surveyed this phenomenon in five very poor countries where staff asked the kids to pray for specific infrastructural changes, such as the resolution of community splits, and many other needs. They did this for two years, and all were astonished by the miracles that occurred. When the children prayed, the parents got healed from terminal illness, governments chose those villages for the wells or the clinics, or the terrorists were kept out of those communities where the kids were praying.’