| August 22, 2009
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Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great |
Matthew 5:12
"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Mark 6:46-51
After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He *came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, ...
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Matthew 24:9
"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
Revelation 1:9
I, John, who also [am] your brother, and fellow-partner in the tribulation, and in the reign and endurance, of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, because of the word of God, and because of the testimony of Jesus Christ; ...
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2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
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Job 5:19
"From six troubles He will deliver you,
Even in seven evil will not touch you.
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Shalom in Christ Jesus,
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Rather than a normal
introduction, I will let missionary/street preacher and fellow Be Alert!
subscriber Miguel Hayworth give his personal testimony regarding the current
persecution occurring in the UK, persecution he is personally experiencing.
The Scriptures declare that this will only grow worse before the resurrection
and rapture of the Bride of Christ.
Two days Before Miguel's
arrest a related article regarding his story was also published in the
Telegraph (1st Article). Also, note that Miguel has family members that are missionaries for
Moriel in South Africa.
May the Lord bless you and keep you
BE/\LERT!
Scott Brisk
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Monday 17th august
At 9:30 pm, I was preaching
in Madestone Kent Town Center on repentance from sin and on the blood of Christ
and the hatred and love of God, in God's mercy He holds out His hands and wants
to love you, He wants to save you from His wrath and call you a son or a
daughter and He can only do this if you repent and turn from your sins, or
perish in hell, to with I opened my bible and started reading the NKJV: Gen 1,
Gen 2, Gen 6:11 to 13, Lev 26:14-30, Palm 2:4-9, Palm 5:4-6, Psalm 7:11-13, Psalm 10:3-4 New Testament John
3:36, Romans 1, Romans 8:1-8, 1 Cor 6:9-10, -- estimate time (11:30/12:00).
I was approached by between
3 and 4 officers who had stated that they received a complaint from a
homosexual who was black, accused me of homophobia and inciting racial comments
about black people in particular. I denied the allegation and
refused to accept a warning and told them that they would have to arrest me and
charge me. They decided to arrest me, and read me my rights, "you have the
right to remain silent etc".
I was taken to the station
to be booked in, during the time I spoke to one of the officers off the record
and was able to share with him my faith. He told me the reason for my arrest
was for my own protection and inciting homophobic and racial comments. The
officer asked me if I could have read the bible quietly. I responded even if I
did read the Bible quietly someone would still find offense, and even if I did,
how am I supposed to be heard?
The officer responded
"do you think it is right to force your beliefs on others" I told
him, well to force ones belief is to be like a Jihadist, that if a person did
not covert I would threaten to put them to death, this is not my way. I warn
them because men need to know why they are sinners, not because they want to
hear it, it is because they need to hear it.
I did ask him if he was an
atheist. He asked me what is an atheist. I told him some one who denies the
existence of God. He said well, he does not believe in a God. I stated this is
what an atheist is.
The arresting officer came
back and asked me to give him my Bible and I said I would not do that and if I
did you would have to stipulate in writing that you had confiscated my Bible.
He then stated that this would be up to the duty officer to do that.
I was searched decently;
they searched my bag, my wallet, and found a digital Dictaphone. They asked me
what it was used for and if it had been used today. I stated no that "I
forgot on this occasion to record myself". They then placed my belongings
in a bag, tagged it, and asked me to sign and I told them in return that I
would do that when I am released.
They asked me about the
recording device, if I had recorded the police officers today and why I carry
one about. I told them that the reason is that It was to record my self so I
know exactly what has been preached, and was instructed by my legal
representative to record the activities of the police to ensure they comment to
lawful conduct.
At this point, I was spoken
to through the procedure, as this has been the first time that I had been
arrested, they said I had a right to keep my Bible and they did not take it
from me. They asked me if I had legal representation and I stated I did and
appropriately gave them the details. They asked me if I would allow them to
take my finger prints and I told them that I have issues around Bio-metrics as
it could have a impact on my civil liberties and that I would like to seek
advice with the solicitor, they agreed.
They then shown hospitality
asked if I had dietary needs, they offered cups of tea also, the cell was clean
and comfortable, and they told me to take my shoes off before I entered the
police cell, they were courteous about this.
This is when the Christian
Legal Centre was contacted during the time and a solicitor turned up and
explained the procedure about being recorded. I had given a statement to the
solicitor and he advised me to co-operate with the police in confirming my
identity. This I did and a young policewoman talked me through the procedure
and began the recording and I told her what I preached during the morning, and
she allowed me to recite the verses I had read.
She then stated that she
would show video footage of a particular young girl running away from me, as
she was terrified. The solicitor confirmed that this was not the case but that
the girl was running to her mother because she was behind her and was trying to
keep up, as any child would.
This is the only area that
the officer said I would be charged - under section 5 of the public order act
for causing alarm and distress. I denied the charges, and they took my fingerprints,
which are now on the biometric national database. They did not take a DNA swab
sample. The case of the police seems to be inconsistent with the story they
told me.
I was not arrested for
reading the Bible, or preaching, but now it would appear that I have been
arrested on this technicality.
I asked her for the tape and
if this was the only film footage and are if there are any other angles from
any other CCTV cameras or if this the only one. She said it was just this one
CCTV camera.
I told her that in this case
(with the one camera angle) it could be interpreted in many different ways.
With the same photo different people can tell you different stories that may
not even be consistent, besides if the little girl was distressed in any way I
could only apologize my intention was not to cause alarm or distress to any
persons. However, if preaching the gospel makes me a criminal then I am a
criminal. I asked her if she had spoke to the mother and daughter in question,
and they clearly did not.
(Note: I could have
mentioned that the girl in question did not have remain if she was the mother
could have easily taken her away, 2nd point would this also apply in the same
way that mother would drag her screaming, terrified daughter to see Santa
against her own will.)
The interview was
terminated, the police woman asked me if I would have my finger print scanned
and I then said yes, I was informed that this will go on a national database,
(Note: please keep a close eye on this)
Ten minuets later I was released
on bail to return on Saturday 22nd of August at 12:00 PM. I was released on 17/08/2009 17:18 HRS.
In Christ,
Miguel
Hayworth
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Live Teaching Engagements
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Video: Sidewalk Preacher Says CNN Security Assaulted Him
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If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you
Preacher threatened with arrest for reading out extracts from the Bible in public
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 LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH [Barclay] - By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter - August 15, 2009
A street preacher is at the centre of a row over freedom of speech after police threatened to arrest him for reading the Bible in public.
Lawyers acting for Miguel Hayworth, 29, have demanded an explanation over the alleged intimidation and abuse of power by three officers.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, the director of the Christian Legal Centre, has written to Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, over the incident.
She claims that Mr Hayworth and his father, John, 55, were unlawfully and unfairly treated as they preached Christianity in the city at the end of July.
"They were clearly told that reading the Bible and preaching can be offensive and that they could be arrested," she wrote.
"Furthermore, they were subjected to abuse and intimidation. They were told that they were being monitored and filmed," she wrote.
Critics claimed that a Muslim preaching his religion in the street would not have been treated in such a way by police.
Mr Hayworth, a voluntary worker who is married with two children, has been a street preacher in the Manchester area for five years and he is often accompanied by his father.
He said that he and his father had decided to preach from 11am at St Ann's Square in Manchester instead of their usual place on nearby Market Street.
He was reading passages from the Old and New Testaments while his father distributed leaflets containing the message of the gospel.
"At 2pm, I was approached on more than one occasion by several police officers who falsely accused me, stating that I was inciting hatred with homophobic and racial comments," he said.
"One plain-clothed officer, who was with the other two uniformed officers, said: 'It is against the law to preach and hand out tracts: preaching causes offence and handing out tracts is harassment and could result in an arrest.'"
Mr Hayworth said that at about 2.30pm a second officer confirmed that his colleague had accused the preacher of inciting religious and racial hatred and wanted to warn him that this was an arrestable offence.
The second officer, Mr Hayworth claimed, also warned him his actions were being videoed and recorded, and he stopped preaching.
Some passages in the Bible are regarded as homophobic. For example, sections read out by Mr Hayworth in St Ann's Square included Romans Chapter 1 Verse 27, from the King James Bible, which says: "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly..."
He also read from 1 Corinthians Chapter 6, Verse 9: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind."
Mr Hayworth says he cannot understand how the racism complaint arose. Shortly after being confronted by the police, he stopped reading from the Bible.
He and his father later approached the Christian Legal Centre, which seeks to promote religious freedom and, particularly, to protect Christians and Christianity.
The centre, in turn, has instructed Paul Diamond, the leading religious rights barrister.
The centre and Mr Diamond believe that the police abused their powers during the dispute on Saturday, July 25.
It is against the law to use offensive, threatening or abusive words or behaviour. It is also an offence to incite hatred on grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation.
However, in its letter to the police, the Christian Legal Centre said: "Freedom of religious and freedom of religious speech is specifically protected by the European Convention on Human Rights." ...
"No one was arrested. I have received a letter from the Christian Legal Centre and will respond in due course."
Read Full Report
**Ed Note: More UK related articles further below.
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"My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths..."
A Modern-Day Daniel
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NEWS WITH VIEWS.com - By Chuck Baldwin - August 4, 2009
Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. - Daniel 6:10
The Biblical story of Daniel in the lion's den is one of the more famous stories of the Old Testament. In the story, Daniel is commanded to not pray by a decree from King Darius. Imagine that! Can you imagine any government forbidding its people to pray? What kind of totalitarian state would do such a thing? OK, perhaps Red China or North Korea, but that's about it, right? Oh, did I mention that Daniel was a government employee? (I guess the ACLU has been around a lot longer than everyone thought.)
Well, friends, think again. The nation that is resurrecting the totalitarian policies of old King Darius is none other than the good old United States of America.
For example, in an adjoining county to my hometown in Florida, a federal district judge by the name of Casey Rodgers has instigated criminal charges against a high school principal by the name of Frank Lay and his athletic director, Robert Freeman. Their crime: praying. Their possible sentence: jail. Darius' prosecutors are federal attorneys Randy Hensel and Dixie Morrow.
According to court records, Lay is accused of asking Freeman to offer a blessing before a January 28 luncheon at Pace (Florida) High School for people who helped with the school's new fieldhouse.
And guess what? The documents in which the judge sought the criminal charges are sealed, meaning they are not open to public view. Why they are sealed, an unusual step, could not immediately be determined. (Source: Pensacola News Journal)
Egad! A school employee asked to offer a blessing at a luncheon! Jail is not enough: to the lion's den with him! Or maybe even the burning fiery furnace!
What's that, you say, about religious liberty, the First Amendment, state sovereignty, and the Tenth Amendment? Those things are but relics from the "old republic." They are but memories of a bygone era. This is a new day, a new Amerika.
In today's Amerika, federal dictates are tantamount to the Law of the Medes and Persians. Federal judges have the authority of Caesars. Federal courts rule over states and local communities, as did Britain's royal governors in the original 13 Colonies. Federal police agencies use force and intimidation not unlike Hitler's SS. In short, this monstrosity known as the federal government has become a ubiquitous, gargantuan, out-of-control leviathan that is eating up the liberties (not to mention the tax dollars) of the American people faster than Elizabeth Taylor went through husbands.
Of course, since the feds are now jailing people who pray, there are other candidates they must consider worthy of the lion's den: those antiquated preachers who still quote the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality should also be cast into their pit. And, surely, the feds will want to add people who yet read (and believe) the words of George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson to the list of condemned.
And what about all those deluded souls out there who still believe in the right of the people to keep and bear arms? The feds must surely believe that they belong in the furnaces. Then there are the misguided simpletons who believe that free markets are superior to socialized medicine. Maybe they are the ones who will inhabit all these empty prison compounds we see the feds putting up all over the country.
Well, why not? People who believe in the right to life; who believe illegal immigration must stop; who oppose the United Nations, the New World Order, and gun control; and who voted for Ron Paul or Chuck Baldwin have already made it to the feds' "potential terrorists" list. What's next? The lion's den?
Let's face it: the America our forefathers bequeathed to us is dead and dying! All that is left are vestiges of a once-proud and free republic. As the Scripture says, "Woe be unto them that call evil good, and good evil." And there is another verse of Scripture that applies here: "For rulers are not a terror to good works."
But in Pace, Florida, a good man who is doing a good work (Frank Lay) is being terrorized by an oppressive federal government that is behaving as badly as did old King Darius. Therefore, from an historic, constitutional, and Biblical perspective, it is both an illegitimate and unlawful power.
Only when the various "free and independent states" begin reclaiming their sovereignty and standing up to this tyrannical federal leviathan in defense of their God-given liberties will the rights and freedoms of the American people begin to reemerge. Until then, Frank Lay faces jail for PRAYING.
Yes, America has a modern-day Daniel. ...
[Ed. Note: Chuck Baldwin provides comment and link regarding donating to his ministry if you wish to support]
Read Full Report
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"They love God [Allah] more than me; they have to do this," she said. "I'm fighting for my life. You guys don't understand."
US: Runaway Christian convert claims life is in danger
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ASSOCIATED PRESS - By Andrew Welsh-Huggins - August 14, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A 17-year-old girl who ran away from her Ohio home to Florida says she fears her parents will harm her for converting from Islam to Christianity, but her parents dismiss her claim and say she was brainwashed.
Her parents also question how the girl ended up in the home of a Florida family she met through an online prayer group. Authorities are trying to determine whether the girl, Rifqa Bary, should stay in state custody or be returned to her family in Ohio.
"We love her, we want her back, she is free to practice her religion, whatever she believes in, that's OK," her father, Mohamed Bary, told The Associated Press on Thursday.
"What these people are trying to do is not right - I don't think any religion will teach to separate the kids from their parents," he said.
Columbus police also question the girl's claim of being in danger.
Mohamed Bary "comes across to me as a loving, caring, worried father about the whereabouts and the health of his daughter," said Sgt. Jerry Cupp, chief of the Columbus police missing persons bureau.
Police investigating the girl's July 19 disappearance used phone and computer records to track her to the Rev. Blake Lorenz, pastor of Orlando, Fla.-based Global Revolution Church, who called authorities Aug. 6 to say she was staying with them.
With Lorenz holding his arm tightly around her, Rifqa told WFTV in Florida on Monday that she would be killed if she came home.
"They love God [Allah] more than me; they have to do this," she said. "I'm fighting for my life. You guys don't understand."
Lorenz did not return a phone call to the AP seeking comment.
An Orlando judge on Monday ordered the girl into the custody of Florida's Department of Children and Families until another hearing next week.
The family is originally from Sri Lanka and emigrated in 2000 to seek medical help for Rifqa, who had lost sight in her right eye when she fell and struck a toy airplane on a couch at home.
Rifqa, a high school junior in well-off suburban New Albany, had been questioning her faith for several months, her father said. She attended church with friends from school and later attended services at another church, Xenos Christian Fellowship, a megachurch that emphasizes small groups meeting at home.
The church has no record of her being a member but says it's possible given the size of the church - nearly 5,000 members, said spokesman Jay Reilly.
After Rifqa proselytized with a Bible at school, Mohamed Bary said, the family asked her to stop because it wasn't an appropriate activity in school. They also told her she had an obligation to study her original faith first, before choosing another. ...
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On the Net:
Global Revolution Church:
Original Report
Also:
Christian girl begs state: Don't let them kill me!
Judge decides fate of honor student, cheerleader who fled Muslim parents
WORLDNETDAILY - By Chelsea Schilling - August 20, 2009
A young Christian runaway in foster care awaits her hearing tomorrow when Florida authorities will decide whether she will be forced to return to her Muslim parents - whom she says will kill her for converting to Christianity.
Fathima Rifqa Bary, 17, an honor student and cheerleader, was raised in a Muslim family in Columbus, Ohio. She became a Christian four years ago as a result of her interactions with children at school.
Atlas Shrugs' Pamela Geller has followed Bary's case closely, reporting that the girl's friends accompanied her to the school counselor after they noticed bruises covering her arms and legs that allegedly resulted from beatings by her father and brother. ...
Read Full Report
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7 Christians martyred, 50 homes destroyed
Pakistan: Blasphemy Laws Seen As Root Cause of Violence Against Christians
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CYBERCAST NEWS SERVICE (CNSN.com) [Media Research Center] - By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor - August 4, 2009
A deadly attack by Muslims against Christians in Pakistan has turned attention once again to notorious blasphemy laws that carry the death penalty and are frequently used against the Christian minority.
National lawmakers in Islamabad on Monday condemned the mob violence, which left seven Christians dead, and called it a conspiracy aimed at defaming Islam. Government ministers said there was no evidence that a copy of the Koran was desecrated - the supposed trigger for the attack - and they spoke about a plot to disturb inter-religious harmony.
President Asif Ali Zardari promised financial compensation for the victims and families while some officials accused the police of not acting to stop the violence.
But amid the furor, the only calls for the blasphemy laws to be thrown out are coming from the Christian minority.
Muslims angered by claims that a Koran had been defaced during a wedding at a Christian home in Punjab province attacked scores of houses in a village called Korian on Thursday, incited by announcements made over mosque loudspeakers, Pakistani media reported.
Barnabas Fund, a Christian charity supporting Christian minorities in Islamic countries, said churches were vandalized and Bibles desecrated during the attacks, although no one was injured.
A second day of violence on Saturday saw more than 800 Muslims, some armed with sticks and guns, attack Christians in the nearby town of Gojra, looting, vandalizing and torching homes. Seven people were killed, either burned or shot to death.
A wire service report said they included five members of one family - children aged six and 13, their parents, and an elderly grandfather, while the minister responsible for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, said the dead were four women, two men and a child.
Bhatti also said about 50 houses were burned down, and more than 100 were looted. The World Council of Churches described the attack as "intensive and organized" and Pope Benedict XVI called it "senseless."
"There are indications that the attack on the two areas was planned," Barnabas Fund reported. "According to one local Christian, those in surrounding villages and towns began receiving threats as Muslim clerics started preaching hatred and revenge."
Punjab's provincial police chief Tariq Salim Dogar said 64 people had been arrested in connection with the attacks.
Christian organizations declared three days of mourning and shut all Christian schools for that period. They also announced plans to mark a "black day" on August 11 to protest the persecution of Christians in Pakistan. ...
Read Full Report
Hate Engulfs Christians in Pakistan
NEW YORK TIMES [NYTimes Group/Sulzberger] - By Sabrina Tavernise - August 2, 2009
GOJRA, Pakistan - The blistered black walls of the Hameed family's bedroom tell of an unspeakable crime. Seven family members died here on Saturday, six of them burned to death by a mob that had broken into their house and shot the grandfather dead, just because they were Christian. ...
The attack in this shabby town in central Pakistan - the culmination of several days of rioting over a claim that a Koran had been defiled - shows how precarious life is for the tiny Christian minority in Pakistan.
More than 100 Christian houses were burned and looted on Saturday in a rampage that lasted about eight hours by a crowd the authorities estimate was as large as 20,000 strong. In addition to the seven members of the Hameed family who were killed, about 20 people were wounded.
The authorities, who said the Koran accusation was spurious, filed criminal charges in the case late Sunday and apprehended at least 12 people. Officials said a banned Sunni militant group, Sipah-e-Sohaba, was among those responsible for the attacks, the third convulsion of anti-Christian mob violence in the region in the past four weeks.
Christians, who make up less than 5 percent of the entire population, are often treated as second-class citizens in Pakistan, where Islam is the official religion. Non-Muslims are constitutionally barred from becoming president or prime minister.
While some Christians rise to become government officials or run businesses, the poorest work the country's worst jobs, as toilet cleaners and street sweepers.
It was the poorest class who lived in Christian Colony, a small enclave of bare brick houses where the mob struck Saturday. Its residents work as day laborers and peddlers in the market, often earning far less than the minimum wage, $75 a month. ...
Waqar Gillani contributed reporting.
Read Full Report
Behind the scenes: A refugee camp for Pakistani Christians
CNN [Turner Broadcasting/Time Warner] - By Cal Perry - August 16, 2009
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- They are not war refugees, not displaced by violence; rather they believe they're here because they are Christian.
A mother of two sobs as she tells us, "I have no money. No money for books or uniforms to send my children to school." It's around 110 degrees Fahrenheit in this squalid camp in downtown Islamabad, where 2,000 Christians have settled, literally in the middle of the road.
The Christian population of Pakistan is only 5 percent of the overall population. Overwhelmed by a Muslim majority, at times they face violent attacks. Other times, they believe they're expelled from their lands -- faced with a distant and dark future.
This group has ended up living in tents for the past 3 months. ...
Read Full Report
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Beheadings: Old terror alive again in 21st century
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Author points to biblical prophecy about fate of saints
WORLDNETDAILY - August 13, 2009
The author of the hit prophecy book, "The Islamic Antichrist," says his thesis is supported by a wave of beheadings taking place in the Muslim world today.
Joel Richardson believes it is a foreshadowing of what is described in Revelation 20:4:
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.
Richardson's thesis about who will carry out the persecution of the saints in the endtimes conflicts with the widely held theory of a Roman or European "Antichrist," popularized in the 1960s and 1970s by best-selling author Hal Lindsey and other prophecy teachers.
"Now, while many students of prophecy have looked to Europe for an empire and a religion to emerge that will eventually legislate the beheading of Christians, many are now abandoning this notion as silly," writes Richardson in a column in WND today. "In Europe today, popular sentiment expresses an open revulsion at the wild and barbaric practices of some American states because they still continue to execute their murderers. Europe simply does not fit the many descriptions in the Bible of the iron-toothed beast-like empire that is said to overwhelm the earth in the days prior to the return of Jesus. And so, as Europe continues its slide toward a toothless effete state, so also does the slide away from the Euro-centric Antichrist paradigm also continue. The Euro-centric end time perspective is simply looking far less plausible than it once did. Instead, many are now turning their eyes toward radical Islam."
Richardson says radical Islam is using beheading right now in various parts of the world to punish those who refuse to convert to Islam.
Just last Thursday, he points out, a Nigerian newspaper offered an account of how three Christian pastors were beheaded for refusing to submit to Islam.
"The pastors... were asked to change their faith to Islam... I think there was an argument by one of the pastors which gave the others some level of confidence to also resist accepting Islam... They came out later to the courtyard within the compound and cut their heads one after the other and thereafter, shouted allah akbar in wild celebration accompanied with several gun shots." ...
Read Full Report
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Nigeria
Boko Haram: How 3 pastors were beheaded eyewitness
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THE SUN - Voice of the Nation (Lagos, Nigeria) [Sun Publishing Limited] - By Timothy Ola - August 6, 2009
Maiduguri: One of the victims of last week's attack by the Yusufiya sect in Borno State has given a shocking account of how the Islamic extremists killed three pastors who were captured along with other victims on the second day of the insurgence. The victim was among those held hostage in Yusuf's enclave. ...
"The Yusufiya men who were armed on that Tuesday afternoon were not comfortable with the pastors and they took one of them to the sect leader in his inner chamber. They came out later to the courtyard within the compound and cut their heads one after the other and thereafter, shouted allah akbar in wild celebration accompanied with several gun shots," the eye witness disclosed.
He said the hostages numbering about 50 within the area of the execution of the pastors and another fair complexioned man which he could not identify, were gripped with fear as non could foretell the outcome of their stay at the enclave of the fundamentalists. He was however lucky to escape as he was freed in the night with others with a warning not to mix with kafrici (infidels).
Corroborating the account of the killing, a Senior pastor with Good News Church, Wulari Maiduguri Rev. Baba Gata Ibrahim told Daily Sun in an interview that a pastor in his church, Pastor George Orjih was beheaded on the instruction of the Boko Haram leader because the clergy man refused to accept Islam.
"An eye witness who was also captured by the Islamic militants gave us details of how the pastor was killed. He told us they were persuading him to accept Islam and he said over his dead body. He was even said to have preached Christ to Mohammed Yusuf and that reportedly angered the sect leader who then as he ordered that the pastor and others be killed immediately," he disclosed.
The late Pastor George Orjih was said to have arrived Maiduguri last week from Jos where he was doing his Masters programme in Theology. Described as a fearless, hardworking, and intellectually sound, his care for the welfare and well being of his family allegedly contributed to his capture and eventual death. ...
Also delivering a sermon during the funeral rites for late Rev. Sabo Yakubu, slain COCIN Church pastor, the speaker, Rev Bulus Azi urged Christians to emulate the pastors who were killed because of their refusal to betray their faith. Quoting from the bible in Revelation 7: 9-15, the regional chairman of the church told Christians to prepare to die anytime as their calling demand.
Original Report
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Christians unwelcome here
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The Muslim world is becoming more intolerant
THE WASHINGTON TIMES [News World Communications/Moon-Unification Church] - EDITORIAL - May 17, 2009
As the West continues to reach out to the Muslim world with a message of tolerance, some Muslim communities are growing increasingly intolerant toward people of other faiths. A case in point is Iraq, where Christians are being chased out of their homeland.
New research reported by Associated Press indicates that the number of Christians in Iraq has fallen to between half and one-third of the estimated population of 1.4 million before the first Gulf War. Christians have been fleeing the country after being targeted in sectarian attacks, and most find the general climate increasingly less accommodating. After a series of particularly violent anti-Christian attacks in Mosul last October, leaders of the Catholic Chaldean church and other Christian denominations wrote a protest letter stating that "it seems that Iraq is one step closer to becoming an Islamic state intolerant to non-Muslims."
The Taliban last week threatened Pope Benedict XVI, whom they call "the most important personality in the Christian world," with violence over "stupid and irresponsible acts of proselytism" they contend are being conducted in Afghanistan by "crusader" missionaries. This followed edited footage aired on al-Jazeera that appeared to show the military's top chaplain in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Gary Hensley, encouraging troops to "hunt people for Jesus." Unedited footage released later showed the chaplain discussing in detail what constituted impermissible proselytizing and cautioning the troops not to cross the line.
For the Taliban, the mere presence of Christians in their country - not to mention Jews, Hindus and others - is anathema. Under current Afghan law - which is under the regime the United States and other Western countries are expending blood and treasure to defend - converting to another religion from Islam is a capital offense. Afghan aid worker Abdul Rahman, who converted to Catholicism, was allowed to flee to Italy after his arrest in 2006 created an international outcry.
During his recent tour of the Middle East, the pope denounced the "ideological manipulation of religion" and called for reconciliation between the various faiths. However, as the West promises, promotes and pleads for diversity, as national leaders travel to the Middle East to offer apologies and seek conciliation and fair play, the region answers them with faith-based apartheid. This is an issue President Obama cannot afford to ignore in his June 4 address to the Muslim world.
Original Report
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Somalia Islamic Militants Behead Four Christian Orphanage Workers
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BOSNEWSLIFE AFRICA SERVICE - By Stefan J. Bos - August 13, 2009
MOGADISHU, SOMALIA -- Christians in Somalia faced a tense day Thursday, August 13, amid fresh reports that fighters of the country's main Islamic insurgent group al-Shabab beheaded four Christian aid workers for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ.
International Christian Concern (ICC), a major advocacy group investigating reports of religious persecution, told BosNewsLife that al-Shabab members killed Fatima Sultan, Ali Ma'ow, Sheik Mohammed Abdi and Maaddey Diil after kidnapping them on July 27 in the coastal town of Merca, some 90 kilometers (56 miles) from the capital Mogadishu.
"The Islamists kidnapped and eventually beheaded the Christians after they refused to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ," ICC said. The four Christians had reportedly been working for a local non-governmental organization that helps orphans in southern Somalia.
ICC said that on August 4, an unidentified junior al-Shabab militant notified families of the victims that the four Christians had been beheaded for apostasy. He allegedly described the Christians as promoters of "fitna," a Muslim term for religious discord.
The militant, who called himself "Seiful Islam" ("the Sword of Islam"), told the families that the bodies will not be given to them "as Somalia does not have cemeteries for infidels," ICC quoted the statement as saying. "All the four apostates were given an opportunity to return to Islam to be released but they all declined the generous offer," a witness of the beheading allegedly said.
MORE THREATS
The reported killings of Christian aid workers came shortly after al-Shabab declared three United Nations agencies working with the country's U.N.-backed transitional government as "enemies of Islam" and said their operations in Somalia have been shut down.
Al-Shabab also claimed responsibility for other attacks against the Christian minority in Somalia, which has been plagued by widespread lawlessness and anarchy. Earlier last month, al-Shabab beheaded seven people in the southwestern town of Baidoa after accusing them of converting to Christianity and spying for the transitional federal government of Somalia, Christians said.
In 2008, fighters of the group killed more than a half dozen Somali Christians, ICC added.
"Al-Shabab has once again demonstrated its utter disregard for the dignity of human life," said Jonathan Racho, ICC's Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle East. "The majority of Muslims in Somalia, who are also the victims of al-Shabab's cruelty, do not support their ideology or practices. ...
AFRICAN UNION
However the government and African Union peacekeepers hold only a few blocks of Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab, which has foreign fighters in its ranks, operates openly in the capital and seeks to impose a strict form of Islam in Somalia and to overthrow the government. The United States considers al-Shabab a terrorist group with links to al-Qaida group, but al-Shabab denies that. ...
Somalia has been ravaged by violence and anarchy since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, but then turned on each other. ...
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Also:
Muslim radicals behead Christian orphan workers
WORLDNETDAILY - By Bob Unruh - August 11, 2009
Four Christians working in Somalia to provide services to orphans have been executed by beheading by al-Qaida-linked interests who told their families that is the penalty for apostasy.
The report on the outrage comes from International Christian Concern, which said the executions took place sometime after the kidnapping of the Christians July 27, but it only discovered the tragedy recently. ...
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The Fruit of Islam
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Two Iranian Women Arrested for Converting to Christianity
ASSYRIAN INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCY - By Ann Buwalda, Jubilee Campaign USA - August 11, 2009
In a dramatic session before the revolutionary court this past weekend, documented by Elam Ministries, Maryam Rustampoor (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh (30) [See link for picture of women] were told to recant their faith in Christ. Though great pressure was put on them, both women have refused to give in. Maryam and Marzieh were originally arrested on March 5, 2009 and have suffered greatly while in prison, suffering ill health, solitary confinement and interrogations for many hours while blindfolded. In a dramatic court room, the deputy prosecutor, Mr. Haddad, questioned Maryam and Marzieh about their faith and told them that they had to recant in both verbal and written form. They responded, "We will not deny our faith."
As the questioning continued, Maryam and Marzieh made reference to their belief that God had convicted them through the Holy Spirit.
Mr. Haddad told them, "It is impossible for God to speak with humans." Marzieh asked him in return, "Are you questioning whether God is Almighty?" Mr. Haddad then replied, "You are not worthy for God to speak to you." Marzieh said, "It is God, and not you, who determines if I am worthy."
In the eyes of the court, Maryam and Marzieh's only crime was their conversion to Christianity, but these young women have stayed strong and clung to their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are now in prison awaiting their verdict.
Although the Iranian Parliament has not yet passed a threatened new apostacy bill, over the last 20 years Iran has punished many converts to Christianity through torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings. Please pray for these courageous women of God.
Original Report
4 killed, 32 wounded as 6 Baghdad churches bombed
CNN [Turner Broadcasting/Time Warner] - From Jomana Karadsheh - July 12, 2009
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- At least four people were killed and 32 wounded as six Baghdad-area churches were bombed within 24 hours, officials told CNN.
The first bombing took place Saturday night at St. Joseph's church in western Baghdad, according to an Interior Ministry official. Two bombs placed inside the church exploded at about 10 p.m. No one was in the church at the time of the attack.
Sunday afternoon, three bombs exploded outside churches, wounding eight civilians, the official said. The bombs detonated within a 15-minute span, between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. Two of the churches are in central Baghdad's al-Karrada district, and the third is in al-Ghadeer in eastern Baghdad. ...
Most of the churches were damaged in the bombings, according to video footage. ...
George said he is concerned about the church bombings. If this continues, he said, "there will be no Christians left in Iraq." ...
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Sudan: Christian women flogged for wearing pants
Ministry cites 'outrageous' attack by Islamics
WORLDNETDAILY - By Bob Unruh - July 15, 2009
An international Christian ministry is condemning Sudanese Islamic officials for arresting, fining and flogging several Christian women for wearing pants. ...
The report said the nation's Criminal Penal Code allows up to 40 lashes or a fine, or both, for anyone wearing "indecent" clothing.
Some of the women arrested were non-Muslims under 18, who were given 10 lashes and a fine.
The report said several women demanded their lawyers, and their cases were delayed.
According to the ICC, a total of 10 were arrested; including three Christian girls under 18 years old.
The ICC said by subjecting the girls to inhumane and degrading treatment, the Sudanese officials violated international human right standards as well as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 by the Islamic government of Sudan and the mainly Christian and animist southern Sudanese.
The ICC said the agreement documented that Islamic laws are "not applicable to non-Muslims." ...
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Egypt: 'Swine flu being used to persecute Christians'
WORLDNETDAILY - By Aaron Klein - April 30, 2009
JERUSALEM - An Egypt government policy to slaughter the country's pigs as a stated precaution against swine flu is also aimed at targeting and weakening Egypt's long-persecuted Christian community, charged local Christian leaders.
Members of the Egyptian Christian Coptic community, speaking in interviews with WND today, said Egyptian authorities set up checkpoints in their communities and were harassing local Christians. ...
Egypt yesterday started seizing and slaughtering herds of pigs in a bid to rid the country of its swine, explaining it was a safety precaution against swine flu. The move was heavily criticized by the United Nations, which put out a statement that the mass cull of up to 400,000 pigs was "a real mistake" since the new flu strain has not been found in pigs. ...
According to Coptic leaders in Egypt, officials from the country's health and agriculture ministries who are known to be sympathizers of the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood made the decision to slaughter Egypt's pigs. The Christians spoke to WND on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. ...
"They are trying to take away our income," charged one Coptic leader. "Thousands of Christians lost their income." ...
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Molotov cocktail hits Christian mayor's car
'The Islamists are sending a message ... retaliation for Passover festivities'
WORLDNETDAILY - By Aaron Klein - April 26, 2009
JERUSALEM - A Molotov cocktail and gunshots targeted the car of Bethlehem's Christian mayor yesterday, as local leaders there quietly fingered Islamists for attempting to intimidate Christians in one of the most important cities for Christianity.
"It's in retaliation for the Passover festivities we held two weeks ago," claimed one Bethlehem Christian leader, speaking to WND on condition of anonymity out of fear for his life.
"We had very loud and public Christian displays," he said. "Now they (Islamists) want to send us a message not to get too comfortable."
Mayor Victor Batarsa's car was hit while it was parked in front of his home in the central shopping area of Bethlehem. Batarsa said he was not home at the time of the attack.
A security source in Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah organization, speaking to WND, blamed Islamists in Bethlehem connected to Fatah's rival, the Hamas terrorist organization.
Christians previously comprised the vast majority of the city, but most fled after PA Leader Yasser Arafat took control of the territory. Still, according to the city's bylaws, Bethlehem's mayor must be a Christian. ...
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Taliban militants kill two Christians in armed attack on Christian colony of Karachi
PAKISTAN CHRISTIAN POST - April 22, 2009
KARACHI -- The Talibanization of Karachi city begins with attack of armed Taliban on a Christian colony. The attack was well organized and heavy firearms were used by hundreds of Taliban to threaten unarmed Christian elders, women and children. The Taliban chalked slogans against Christianity and to accept Islam on Church walls in Taseer Town in night of April 19, 2009 which horrified Christian residents. ...
On night of April 21, 2009, more than one hundred masked Taliban intruded in Taseer Colony and attacked Christians with heavy machine guns. The feared Christian locked them in their homes but they pulled elders out on gunpoint's and dragged women from hairs in streets. They loudly said " You infidels have to convert to Islam or die. Why you cleaned our warnings chalked on walls of Church and home doors? How you dare to take out procession against Taliban?
The two Christians who resisted to Taliban, they killed them in execution style before their families. In a two hour long attack on Taseer Town Taliban killed two Christians and beaten dozens. ...
"Taliban are planning to expand Sharia law of their choice in Karachi and Christian colony is fallen first victim on their target" Nazir Bhatti said ...
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Islamists Kill African 'Crusader' Peacekeepers CYBERCAST NEWS SERVICE (CNSN.com) [Media Research Center] - By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor - February 23, 2009
Jihadists in Somalia responsible for the deaths of 11 African Union peacekeepers on Sunday targeted their victims while they were attending a church service, according to a spokesman for the Islamists.
"Two of our men were martyred," said Muktar Robow, spokesman for the notorious Al Shabaab group. "They inflicted heavy damage on soldiers at a church."
The attack came shortly after the emergence of a new message, purportedly from the fugitive al-Qaeda number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, offering encouragement to "mujahideen" (Islamic warriors) in Somalia and urging them to fight against "crusader invaders."
The A.U. peacekeeping force AMISOM currently comprises soldiers from Burundi and Uganda, both majority Christian countries.
The A.U. said in a statement that 11 Burundian soldiers were killed and another 15 seriously injured in the "criminal and cowardly" attack, which occurred at a compound for peacekeepers, at the former National University building in Mogadishu. ...
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The Bible's influence on Western Civilization causes uproar
US: Charter school's use of Bible ignites public firestorm
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Scripture in curriculum incites ACLU investigation, state review
WORLDNETDAILY - By Drew Zahn - August 1, 2009
A new charter school planning to open this fall in Idaho has come under fire since it publicly announced one of the textbooks students will be using is the Bible.
Unlike a typical public school, the Nampa Classical Academy has the freedom under Idaho's Public Charter School Commission to develop its own curriculum. Students will be taught, for example, Latin and Western civilization, but it's the school's choice to use the Bible as a historical and literary text that has ignited a public firestorm. ...
The American Civil Liberties Union plans to launch an investigation.
"Our main concern is the separation of church and state and that the state is not funding or endorsing a specific religion," Monica Hopkins, director of the ACLU of Idaho told the Idaho Press-Tribune.
The Public Charter School Commission has directed staff to review the legality of using the Bible in charter schools.
Even Idaho's Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Swartz, according to the Press-Tribune, has raised concerns that the Bible - even if it used in a purely secular manner - may not be allowed in the classroom under the Idaho Constitution.
Academy founder Isaac Moffet, however, has repeatedly argued that the Bible will be used only as one of many religious texts - including the Quran and the writings of Confucius - to instruct students in history and literature and that there is no plan to indoctrinate children in any religious faith.
"The U.S. Supreme Court has held in many cases that public schools may teach about religion, including the Bible or other Scripture," Moffett told the Press-Tribune. "The Court has also held that public schools may use the Bible in the study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion or the like."
Furthermore, Moffet has said, the Commission stepping in to censor use of the Bible would violate the intent of creating charter schools in the first place. ...
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Displaying Hatred for The Word of God
Anger after Bible defaced in British gallery
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AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE - July 28, 2009
Christians voiced anger and dismay Tuesday after a Bible, which was part of an exhibition inviting viewers to add their reflections, was defaced with offensive and foul-mouthed scrawl.
Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art has decided to put the Bible in a glass case after the exhibit, called Untitled 2009 and part of a show entitled Made In God's Image, was vandalised.
Artist Jane Clarke, a minister at the Metropolitan Community Church, asked visitors to annotate the Bible with stories and reflections, as a way of making it more inclusive.
But visitors to the gallery took the invitation a bit further than she had anticipated.
"This is all sexist pish, so disregard it all," wrote one person, while another described the Bible as "the biggest lie in human history" and a third wrote: "Mick Jagger and David Bowie belong in here."
On the first page of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, someone had written: "I am Bi, Female and Proud. I want no god who is disappointed in this."
Clarke said: "I had hoped that people would show respect for the Bible, for Christianity and indeed for the Gallery of Modern Art. I am saddened that some people have chosen to write offensive messages.
"Writing our names in the margins of a Bible was to show how we have been marginalised by many Christian churches, and also our desire to be included in God's love.
"As a young Christian I was encouraged by my church to write my own insights in the margins of the Bible I used for my daily devotions -- this was an extension of that idea."
On Tuesday over 100 people gathered outside the gallery to protest at what they said was vandalism. ...
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Also:
Fury as art exhibition encourages visitors to deface the Bible
LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Graham Grant - July 23, 2009
An art exhibition where people are encouraged to write in a Bible has seen visitors daub abuse and obscenities across its pages.
Part of Made in God's Image, the exhibit also includes a video of a woman ripping pages from the Bible and stuffing them into her bra, knickers and mouth.
Next to the copy of the Bible at the Gallery of Modern Art (Goma) in Glasgow is a container of pens and a notice, which says: 'If you feel you have been excluded from the Bible, please write your way back into it.'
The exhibit, entitled Untitled 2009, was put forward by the Metropolitan Community Church with the aim of reclaiming the Bible as a sacred text.
But its pages have been scrawled with comments including 'F*** the Bible' and 'I am Bi, Female & Proud. I want no god who is disappointed in this'.
The exhibition was created by artists Anthony Schrag and David Malone, alongside organisations representing gay Christians and Muslims. ...
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Sotomayor Supported Censoring Biblical Verse on Homosexuality from New York City Billboard
CYBERCAST NEWS SERVICE (CNSN.com) [Media Research Center] - By Adam Brickley - July 8, 2009
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is again drawing fire from conservative groups, this time as the result of a 2003 ruling against a Christian group.
In the case of Okwedy v. Molinari, decided in 2003, Sotomayor sat on a three-judge panel that upheld a lower court's ruling (from 2001) against Keyword Ministries and its pastor, Kristopher Okwedy. The ministry had purchased billboard advertisements featuring Bible verses that condemned homosexuality.
The ads were taken down after a local government official complained about their message to the company that owned the billboard, and Okwedy sued both the company and the government official who wrote the complaint.
He claimed his rights were violated under the Free Speech, Establishment and Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment; the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment; and several state laws.
The advertisements featured various translations of Leviticus 18:22, which reads in the King James Version, "Thou shall not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is an abomination."
Posted in the New York City borough of Staten Island, the messages were taken down after Guy Molinari, the borough president, sent a letter condemning them to PNE Media, LLC, which owned the billboards.
His letter was printed on official New York City letterhead.
"As Borough President of Staten Island," Molinari wrote, "I want to inform you that this message conveys an atmosphere of intolerance which is not welcome in our Borough." The advertisements were taken down later that day. ...
Full Report Posted on the Be Alert! Blog
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U.S. military destroys soldier's Bibles
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ONE NEWS NOW [American Family News Network] - By Fred Jackson - May 5, 2009
The U.S. military is confirming that it has destroyed some Bibles belonging to an American soldier serving in Afghanistan.
Reuters News says the Bibles were confiscated and destroyed after Qatar-based Al Jazeer television showed soldiers at a Bible class on a base with a stack of Bibles translated into the local Pashto and Dari languages. The U.S. military forbids its members on active duty -- including those based in places like Afghanistan -- from trying to convert people to another religion.
Reuters quotes Maj. Jennifer Willis at the Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, who said "I can now confirm that the Bibles shown on Al Jazeera's clip were, in fact, collected by the chaplains and later destroyed. They were never distributed."
According to the military officials, the Bibles were sent through private mail to an evangelical Christian soldier by his church back home. Reuters says the soldier brought them to the Bible study class where they were filmed.
The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, told a Pentagon briefing Monday that the military's position is that it will never "push any specific religion."
Original Report
Related:
US Navy censors Christian moms
Tells chat group for relatives of U.S. sailors to change name
WORLDNETDAILY - By Bob Unruh - June 26, 2009
The U.S. Navy has ordered a chat group gathered on a special website the military set up for families of service members to drop the word "Christian" from its title.
It also has changed the website's rules to ban all "religious discussions" because such speech "contradicts our purpose by creating unnecessary divisions among site members."
The issue was exposed by officials with Liberty Counsel, a public interest law firm that has written to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus demanding that the censorship on the NavyforMoms.com website be reversed.
"The prohibition of religious groups and religious speech on Navy for Moms by the United States Navy is unconstitutional," said the letter dispatched also to the private company engaged by the Navy to operate the site.
"The government simply may not create a forum and then proclaim religious views are not welcome as that is blatant viewpoint discrimination, absolutely prohibited by the First Amendment. Even if the restrictions were evaluated as content restrictions, the United Sates Navy could not withstand the strict scrutiny required by the Supreme Court for analyzing the restrictions," the letter, signed by attorney David Corry on behalf of Liberty Counsel, said.
"The use of the name 'Christian' cannot violate the Establishment Clause since it is purely private, occurs in a designated public forum, and has been publicly announced and open to all on equal terms," he wrote. ...
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"Do you say 'praise the Lord?' "
County won't force permit on Bible study leaders
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Code officer formally warned couple over meetings at home
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE [Platinum Equity LLC] - By Helen Gao, Union-Tribune Staff Writer, Janine Z��iga, Union-Tribune Staff Writer - May 31, 2009
Sweeping issues of religious freedom and governmental regulation are swirling around Pastor David Jones' house in rural Bonita, attracting attention from as far away as China and New Zealand.
He says it all started with $220 in car damage.
Jones and his wife, Mary, hold a weekly Bible study at their home that sometimes attracts more than 20 people, with occasional parking issues. Once, a car belonging to a neighbor's visitor got dinged.
David Jones paid for the damage, but he thinks the incident spurred a complaint to the county.
A code enforcement officer warned the couple in April for holding a "religious assembly" without a permit. The action became an international incident when it was reported last week on the Web site worldnetdaily.com. [See article below]
The Joneses assert that the county's action violates their rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion. Their story was picked up by conservative Web sites for days, then made it to CNN yesterday.
Barraged by hundreds of complaints, San Diego County officials backed down yesterday from their enforcement.
"No one respects the right to free religious expression more than I do, and no one would find the infringement of such rights more abhorrent," county Chief Administrative Officer Walt Ekard said in a statement.
Chandra Wallar, the county's general manager of land use and environment, said the county has re-examined the situation and decided that the Joneses don't need a permit after all.
Religious assembly, under the county land-use code, is defined as "religious services involving public assembly such as customarily occurs in synagogues, temples, and churches."
Wallar said that definition, which doesn't spell out specific thresholds on when a religious gathering becomes a religious assembly, probably needs to be clarified and that more training may be warranted for code enforcement officers.
She said the county was not targeting the Joneses because they were exercising their religion, but rather it was trying to address parking and traffic issues.
"We've advised the pastor he has the authority to continue to hold his meetings just as he's held them," Wallar said. "My hope is we will be able to resolve the traffic concerns."
Wallar said the person who filed the complaint alleged that Bible study was drawing 30 to 40 cars.
In an interview yesterday, the pastor said at most, there are six additional cars on Bible study day. Jones, pastor of South Bay Community Church in National City, said he has visitors park in a lot that he owns beside his house.
"We're in trouble if they are going to go with a parking issue, because that means that thousands of people in Bible study groups could be cited for a parking violation," Jones said.
"What about people who gather to play Texas Hold 'Em, Mommy and Me, 'Monday Night Football,' Boy Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous? Everyone has a right as a homeowner to the quiet enjoyment of their property. They're trying to take that away. We're not going to let it go."
Constitutional law scholars say that the county can impose land-use restrictions on religious gatherings, as long as they are not unreasonable or discriminatory.
"If people can get together weekly to read books or discuss books or play bridge, if those are OK, there would be a constitutional issue involved in singling out, among other things, religion as a forbidden thing," said Larry Alexander, constitutional law professor at the University of San Diego.
Dean Broyles, president of the Western Center for Law & Policy, a nonprofit organization in Escondido that supports religious liberty, is representing the Joneses. He said traffic issues were not raised when the code enforcement officer first visited the Joneses in response to the complaint. The warning itself does not mention traffic or parking problems.
"Even though the county is saying it's about traffic and parking, it's a fake issue. It's a fabricated issue," Broyles said.
According to Broyles, the code enforcement officer asked a series of pointed questions during her visit with the Joneses - questions such as, "Do you sing?" "Do you say 'amen?' " "Do you say 'praise the Lord?' "
Wallar said the county is investigating what questions were asked and in what context. She said a code enforcement officer does have to ask questions about how a place is being used to determine what land-use codes are applicable.
"Our county simply does not tolerate our employee straying outside what the appropriate questions are," Wallar said.
Ekard, the top county executive, emphasized in his statement that he would get to the bottom of the matter.
"Should I find that county staff at any level acted in a heavy-handed way; did anything inappropriate under the circumstances; or that a change or revision to our processes and procedures is warranted, I will take appropriate action immediately," he said.
As of late yesterday, county Supervisor Greg Cox's office - which represents the area - reported having received 400 e-mail messages about the Joneses'situation. Wallar said her department has received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls as well.
Broyles said he's been fielding media calls nonstop.
"It's been hard to do anything else but to handle the phone calls and media interviews," he said. "It's been crazy, back to back to back to back."
Original Report
First Report:
US - Couple: County Trying To Stop Home Bible Studies
KGTV-TV ABC 10/10 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA [McGraw-Hill Broadcasting Co.] - May 25, 2009
SAN DIEGO -- A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold Bible studies in their home, 10News reported.
Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife.
Broyles said, "The county asked, 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?' She said, 'Yes.' 'Do you say amen?' 'Yes.' 'Do you pray?' 'Yes.' 'Do you say praise the Lord?' 'Yes.'"
The county employee notified the couple that the small Bible study, with an average of 15 people attending, was in violation of County regulations, according to Broyles.
Broyles said a few days later the couple received a written warning that listed "unlawful use of land" and told them to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit" -- a process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
"For churches and religious assemblies there's big parking concerns, there's environmental impact concerns when you have hundreds or thousands of people gathering. But this is a different situation, and we believe that the application of the religious assembly principles to this Bible study is certainly misplaced," said Broyles. ...
Original Report
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Evangelical Group Banned From Tulsa Housing Projects, Chapter Leader Says
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FOX NEWS [News Corporation/Murdoch] - By James Osborne - June 8, 2009
A Christian evangelical group that works to improve the lives of underprivileged children says it has been prohibited from conducting Bible study classes in public housing projects in Tulsa, Okla., potentially violating a Supreme Court ruling that upheld religious groups' right to the use of public institutions.
For more than 70 years, the Missouri-based Child Evangelism Fellowship has worked with underprivileged kids, not only to convert them to Christianity, but to improve their lives through education and after-school activities. In one program, fellowship missionaries visit prisons and sign up inmates' children for Bible study programs in an effort to keep them from winding up in jail themselves.
And for more than two decades, the fellowship has hosted a religious-themed summer program in Tulsa's tough housing projects, designed to keep children from falling victim to the temptations of drugs and crime.
But recently, the fellowship was told that it was in violation of a long-standing policy prohibiting religious instruction on public housing property, said Larry Koehn, who heads the organization's chapter in the city.
"They said they have a policy now whereby we can't come in and talk about God or Christ," Koehn said. "We can come in and play games and talk about moral things, but we can't mention the name of God."
Koehn said he was informed of the decision by Youth at Heart, a non-profit company that administers recreational programs for the Tulsa Housing Authority. A company representative said she had been told to refer all calls about the evangelical group to the housing authority. ...
Koehn said he didn't know why the fellowship was being forced out after 20 years. He said Youth at Heart said the rule has "always been in effect, but it's just never been enforced."
Mathew Staver, founder of the Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based law firm specializing in religious cases, said he will file a lawsuit in federal court against the housing authority if the fellowship isn't allowed back in.
"The rules are fairly straightforward," he said. "Some people dig their heels in and don't want to deal with it.
"There is a mistaken notion if you allow equal access to a religious group, you're violating the Constitution."
The Supreme Court ruled in 2001 that religious groups are afforded the same right as any other citizens' group to use and meet in public institutions, including schools and government buildings. ...
Original Report
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| Obama Youth Brigade: Church Attendance Forbidden |
THE VOICE MAGAZINE [Jonas Clark Communications] - By Jonas Clark
Is this the change you really voted for? President Obama has only been in office for two months. Now we have HR 1388. The Bill was sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) with 37 others. The Bill was introduced to the floor of the House of Representatives where both Republicans and Democrats voted 321-105 in favor. Next it goes to the Senate for a vote and then on to President Obama.
This bill's title is called "Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education" (GIVE). It forms what some are calling "Obama's Youth Brigade." Obama's plan is require anyone receiving school loans and others to serve at least three months as part of the brigade. His goal is one million youth! This has serious Nazi Germany overtones to it.
The Bill would forbid any student in the brigade to participate in "engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization." That means no church attendance or witnessing.
Again, is this what America voted for? Here is part of the HR1388 Bill's wording:
SEC. 1304. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
Section 125 (42 U.S.C. 12575) is amended to read as follows:
SEC. 125. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Prohibited Activities- A participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not engage in the following activities:
(1) Attempting to influence legislation.
(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes.
...
(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization. ...
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Matthew Shepard Act
US: Federal Hate Crime Law Looks Inevitable |
REASON - By Jacob Sullum - July 27, 2009
Last week the Senate approved the Matthew Shepard Act, which dramatically expands the "hate crimes" covered by federal law, as an amendment to a must-pass military spending measure. Since the House already has passed a stand-alone version of the act, which President Obama strongly supports, it is expected to become law by the end of the year. Yesterday I discussed that prospect on The Bob Zadek Show, which airs on San Francisco's KNEW. The major themes of the hour-long show: The hate crime bill exceeds the federal government's constitutional powers, allows retrial of defendants acquitted in state court, violates the principle of equal protection by giving special treatment to crime victims if they belong to certain groups, and punishes people for their speech and beliefs by enhancing penalties for crimes motivated by bigotry.
Regarding that last problem, the House version of the bill includes a provision, demanded by the American Civil Liberties Union as a condition of its endorsement, that says "evidence of expression or associations of the defendant may not be introduced as substantive evidence at trial, unless the evidence specifically relates to that offense." I'm not sure how much impact that provision would have in practice. Wouldn't evidence of a defendant's opinions about homosexuality, for example, be deemed "specifically related" to his motivation in beating a gay man? In any case, the Senate version of the bill instead says that "nothing in this Act shall be construed to allow prosecution based solely upon an individual's expression of racial, religious, political, or other beliefs or solely upon an individual's membership in a group advocating or espousing such beliefs" (emphasis added). Since any prosecution under the law hinges on the commission of a violent crime, that provision does nothing to prevent the introduction of constitutionally protected speech as evidence to support a conviction. It will be interesting to see whether the ACLU, which has long been divided on the issue of hate crime legislation, withdraws its support for the bill if the final version includes this meaningless reassurance instead of the provision the organization favors.
The House version of the Matthew Shepard Act is here; the Senate version is here. A recording of yesterday's radio show is available here. Previous Reason coverage of hate crime laws, including my 1992 feature story and my last column on the subject, here.
Original Report
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| Civil Religion's Sharper Teeth |
All believers welcome, so long as they aren't religious.
CHRISTIANITY TODAY [CTI Publications] - By Mollie Ziegler Hemingway - April 27, 2009
Shortly after he was asked to deliver a prayer at President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities, Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson proudly announced it wouldn't be a Christian one. He had been "horrified" at how "specifically and aggressively Christian" previous inaugural prayers were. Robinson, whose elevation as his church's first gay bishop has been a major factor in bringing the Anglican Communion to the brink of schism, ended up addressing his prayer to the "God of our many understandings."
The day after Obama became President, the Episcopal Church's National Cathedral hosted an interfaith worship service featuring Muslims, Jews, and Hindus. The service's liturgical framework was Christian while the content was strictly nonsectarian. The sermon cited Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Cherokee sources, avoided exclusive truth claims, and shied away from particular names for deities. Cathedral staff even rewrote the Book of Common Prayer's responsive prayers to avoid any overt Christian witness. The only way the service could have been more inclusive was if they had replaced the altar with a kitchen sink.
While many Christians might be alarmed by civil religion in the Obama era, the Bush era wasn't terribly different. In his second inaugural address, for instance, Bush praised the "truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran." And he told Arab news channel Al Arabiya, "I believe in an almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God."
Still, the Obama era of religious inclusivity has new-and very exclusive-teeth that may leave some Christians wondering if they are welcome. Take Obama's proposal for changing the faith-based initiative rules. "If you get a federal grant, you can't use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can't discriminate against them-or against the people you hire-on the basis of their religion," he said during the campaign.
In his 2000 campaign, President Bush promised, "We will never ask an organization to compromise its core values and spiritual mission to get the help it needs." If it sounded too good to be true, it was. Soon, religious groups had to wipe doctrine out of their charity programs and had to teach morality without the basis for morality. They couldn't witness to or discriminate against those they were trying to help. Still, at least Baptists could staff Baptist charities with Baptists.
But now that right may be threatened. Officially, Bush's policy still stands. But the new head of faith-based initiatives said the hiring issue would be handled on a "case-by-case basis," and both of the church-state experts on Obama's new religious advisory council oppose the right of religious groups who receive federal funds to use religion as a hiring criterion. (Other members of the council disagree.) ...
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If this was a 12yr old homosexual being persecuted it would have been on the front page of The NY Times
YouTube community tells kid to kill himself
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Christian 12-year-old slammed for posting views on homosexuality
WORLDNETDAILY - By Drew Zahn - April 11, 2009
A self-described Christian 12-year-old boy who dared post his views on same-sex marriage on the popular Internet video site, YouTube, has since been ridiculed and insulted by tens of thousands of comments that attack the boy, his sexuality and his faith.
"Kill Christianity, and then kill yourself," responded a YouTube community member identified as greenacidfusion.
A commenter calling himself WizzyBoy 520 added, "How do you know the Bible isn't full of lies? You, just like everyone who is against gay marriage, is a mentally retarded bigot. No exceptions. Now go to h---."
Thousands of others have simply slammed the boy by calling him a "homo" or making comments like the one from chao129: "You are against gay marriage because you are a fag in denial."
The boy identifies himself only by the name Scott and the YouTube member name ChristianU2uber. His 13 videos have become a YouTube sensation, approaching 1 million hits over the last four weeks, making ChristianU2ber the thirteenth most-viewed YouTube contributor in the "Gurus" channel over the past month.
With his popularity, however, have come tens of thousands of comments from the YouTube community, the vast majority of them insulting. His video "Gay Marriage - Is It Right or Wrong?" generated over 11,000 comments by press time, mostly critical, many laced with profanity.
ChristianU2ber claims on his YouTube channel, "I am a Christian, and I love to upload videos that teach you what Christianity is all about."
When he addressed the issue of homosexual marriage, however, the backlash grew so furious and profane that even outspoken atheists on YouTube have come to ChristianU2ber's defense.
"I can't believe it. I'm watching these video responses, these comments to ChristianU2uber, who is a 12-year-old, and you people are trying to blast him to oblivion," says self-described atheist TOMMYfromtheBRONX in a YouTube video of his own. "Does everyone have to act 12 years old, just because he's 12 years old?" ...
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You made a difference: ChristianU2uber
Concerned readers help police find boy persecuted on YouTube
WORLDNETDAILY - By Drew Zahn - April 25, 2009
A 12-year-old boy who had been mercilessly ridiculed and even told to kill himself by members of the YouTube.com community has removed himself and his videos from the website, thanks in part to people reporting the cruel treatment to the authorities. ...
The response was so brutal, many WND readers, bloggers and concerned YouTubers began seeking protection for the boy, including intervention by the police.
Upon hearing the outcry, WND has learned, Internet crime specialists in Texas were able to locate the boy and his family and persuade ChristianU2uber to remove the videos and receive counseling.
"I wanted to update you that we have located this 12-year-old, and we spoke to him and his parents," said Sgt. Chris Meehan of the Collin County Sheriff's Office's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, in an email. "The minor has decided to remove his videos from his site and delete his YouTube account. Further, we will be providing him with counseling to get through this matter."
Meehan explained that the attention generated by WND and concerned bloggers resulted in "numerous cybertips reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding ChristianU2uber." ...
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Persecution of Believing Christians Growing at a fast pace in the U.S.
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Connecticut church creates stir with gay exorcism video
ASSOCIATED PRESS - June 24, 2009
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - A Connecticut church has outraged gay rights advocates by posting a video of members performing an apparent exorcism of a teen's "homosexual demons."
The 20-minute video was posted on YouTube before it was taken down.
Gay youth advocate Robin McHaelen (mih-KAY'-lehn) says the video appears to show abuse. She says she plans to report it to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
The boy confirms he is 16 but otherwise has declined to comment.
The Rev. Patricia McKinney of Manifested Glory Ministries in Bridgeport says he is 18 and came to the church on his own seeking help.
She denies the church is prejudiced and says it took care of the youth.
Original Report
"Gay Exorcism" On YouTube Causes Controversy
WTIC-TV FOX 61/31 HARTFORD / NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT [Tribune Company] - By Laurie Perez and Burchell Henry - June 25, 2009
... The video shows leaders of the Manifested Glory Ministries in a frenetic scene, screaming, "Right now I command you to leave!"
At the same time a teen writhing on the ground as the adults around him implore so called "homosexual demons" to get out.
The leaders yell at the boy on the ground saying, "Right now in the name of Jesus, I call the homosexuality, right now in the name of Jesus."
For 20 minutes it continues with the boy in a near seizure, even vomiting. ...
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Bible-wielding couple arrested for trespassing at Pride
THE MINNESOTA INDEPENDENT - By Andy Birkey - June 28, 2009
A Wisconsin couple was arrested on Saturday for distributing bibles without permission at Twin Cities Pride, Minnesota's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender celebration. After Brian and Doris Johnson, self-described "born-again Christians," were denied a vendor table at the festival, the couple took matters into their own hands and began distributing bibles. When they were told by police to stop because they were in violation of festival rules, the couple continued and were arrested on trespassing charges.
The Johnsons have hosted a table at the festival for more than a decade, displaying models of aborted fetuses and signs with bible verses. While they don't have signs criticizing LGBT people, they would often engage festival goers in heated conversations homosexuality. The couple told WCCO on Friday that they "believe homosexuality is a sin and God has sent them to share that message."
Because the couple often sparked controversy and arguments, the organizers of Twin Cities Pride denied them a table this year.
"It is not, in our belief, discrimination, certainly not," said Twin Cities Pride chair David Hill. "If anything, we're worried about being discriminated against at our own event."
Original Report
Christian attorneys defend public prayer
ONE NEWS NOW [American Family News Network] - By Charlie Butts - August 8, 2009
An atheist organization is yet again opposing the practice of opening public meetings with prayer.
Public prayer is constitutional and customary within many governing agencies, according to Joel Oster, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF).
"The town of Chesapeake, Virginia, has allowed prayer before it begins its town council sessions -- and that practice is now under attack by the Freedom From Religion Foundation," he notes.
ADF has offered to defend the city free-of-charge if they adopt the ADF policy that allows for prayer at the beginning of a council session. Oster adds the Foundation is using familiar tactics.
"This is a threat. This is intimidation to scare people into stop doing what has been done constitutionally in America since its inception," he adds. "Since the beginning of our country, legislatures have opened up sessions with prayer. It is a practice that the U.S. Supreme Court has approved of, and it is perfectly permissible."
Because of the number of threats against governing bodies by atheist organizations, Oster is hopeful more of them will stand for their rights.
Original Report
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UK: Christians risk rejection and discrimination for their faith, a study claims
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LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH [Barclay] - By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent - May 30, 2009
Christians are facing discrimination at work, and ridicule and rejection at home, according to new research.
The first poll of Britain's churchgoers, carried out for The Sunday Telegraph, found that thousands of them believe they are being turned down for promotion because of their faith.
One in five said that they had faced opposition at work because of their beliefs.
More than half of them revealed that they had suffered some form of persecution for being a Christian.
The findings suggest a growing hostility towards religion in this country, which has been highlighted by a series of clashes between churchgoers and their employers.
Church leaders, including the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, have urged Christians to "wake up" and defend their beliefs after the suspension of Caroline Petrie, a community nurse, for offering to pray for a patient.
Churchgoers are likely to be further concerned by new guidelines that warn that employees face dismissal if they share their faith with colleagues at work.
Employers have been given new advice in a campaign, funded by the Government's equality watchdog, that says people who evangelise in the workplace are "highly likely" to be accused of harassment.
The guidelines have been drawn up by the British Humanist Association (BHA), an atheist group, with the help of a �35,000 grant from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a taxpayer-funded body.
Andrew Copson, director of education at the BHA, claimed that attempts to convert colleagues could amount to harassment under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.
He said: "The law specifically protects people from being intimidated or confronted with a hostile environment in the workplace.
"Systematically undermining someone's beliefs or persistently attempting to convert someone would lead to the creation of a hostile environment."
However, legal experts have attacked the guidelines as "nonsense" and Christian groups have condemned them as "propaganda".
Churchgoers interviewed in the ComRes poll said that they are already facing discrimination at work and one in 10 churchgoers said they have been rejected by family members because of their religious beliefs.
As many as 44 per cent said they had been mocked by friends, neighbours or colleagues for being a Christian, and 19 per cent said they had been ignored or excluded for the same reason.
They also claimed that they are being discriminated against at work, with five per cent saying they had been turned down for promotion due to their faith. The same number said they had been reprimanded or cautioned at work for sharing their faith.
There has been a series of cases over recent months featuring Christians who have been suspended after expressing their religious views, including a teacher who complained that a staff training day was used to promote gay rights.
Churchgoers believe that these incidents reflect growing intolerance towards Christianity in Britain.
Nearly three out of four of those questioned said that there is less religious freedom in the UK now than 20 years ago, and one in five said persecution of Christians is worse in this country compared to other European nations. ...
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| UK: Cartoon strip aimed at under-12s depicts Christian boy as Islamaphobe thug |
LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Jonathan Petre - April 4, 2009
A Government-funded charity was at the centre of a row last night after a magazine it publishes for children appeared to depict Christians as Islamaphobes who regard Muslims as terrorists.
In a cartoon strip, a boy wearing a large cross around his neck is shown telling a friend that a smiling Muslim girl in a veil looks like a terrorist.
He later confronts her and shouts: 'Hey, whatever your name is, what are you hiding under your turban?'
She replies that the garment is called a hijab and it is part of her religion, 'like that cross you wear'.
The girl is then shown standing up for another boy, who is being bullied, and her behaviour is contrasted with that of the boy wearing the cross.
The cartoon story, entitled Standing Up For What You Believe In, appears in the latest issue of Klic!, a quarterly magazine aimed at children in care aged from eight to 12.
Published by the Who Cares? Trust, a charity set up in 1992, it is described on the cover as 'the best ever mag for kids in care' and is widely distributed by town halls.
The charity received �100,000 from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, headed by Ed Balls, in both 2007 and 2008, and �80,000 this year.
Although the cartoon does not specifically refer to the boy's religion, it has angered Christian groups and MPs who fear it sends out the wrong message.
Mike Judge, of the Christian Institute, said: 'What about Christian children in care who received this magazine? How will they feel to see themselves mocked as narrow-minded Islamaphobes?
'It is a clumsy caricature, symptomatic of a culture which says it is OK to bully Christians in the name of diversity.' ...
But Who Cares? Trust chief executive Natasha Finlayson said she had no intention of withdrawing it, describing the cross as 'bling' rather than a religious symbol.
She said the charity had received a complaint but did not agree the cartoon was derogatory towards Christians.
'I am a Christian myself, so when a woman called us, I went back and looked at the comic strip from her point of view,' Ms Finlayson said.
'I am sorry that she is upset but I don't share her view. When I saw the cartoon, I didn't think of that character being a Christian because I saw the cross as 'bling', as jewellery.
'To me it is a cartoon about bullying rather than discrimination or religion.'
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| Christianity Under Attack in the UK |
UK: Christian teacher tells of race slurs by pupils aged 8
LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Luke Salkeld and Laura Clark - July 18, 2009
A teacher claims he has been sacked for reprimanding pupils who made racist remarks about his being a Christian.
Nicholas Kafouris said he lost his �30,000-a-year post because he would not tolerate the 'openly racist' behaviour of pupils as young as eight.
He said the predominantly Muslim youngsters openly praised Islamic extremists in class, and hailed the September 11 terrorists as 'heroes and martyrs'. ...
'In late November and December 2006, many various unacceptable and openly racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Christian remarks ... he said.
'These included, "We want to be Islamic bombers when we grow up", "the Twin Towers bombers are heroes and martyrs", "we hate the Jews" and "we hate the Christians".' ...
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Registrar demoted to receptionist because she refused to marry gay couples
LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Jonathan Petre - June 20, 2009
A Christian registrar was demoted to receptionist because she refuses to preside over gay 'marriages' - and last night claimed she is facing dismissal.
Theresa Davies, 58, said she is being forced out of the �26,000-a-year job she loves because of her religious objections to same-sex civil partnerships. ...
At one point Miss Davies, who is not married, rose to deputy superintendent registrar - third in the hierarchy in the 16-strong department - although she then chose to return to the role of deputy registrar.
After the introduction of civil partnerships in December 2005 she told her bosses her beliefs would preclude her from performing same-sex ceremonies.
While her position was being discussed, she felt under so much pressure that in June 2006 she took four months' sick leave with stress.
On her return she says she was told that she would have to be demoted to an entry-level job on reception or face dismissal. Believing that she had no choice, she accepted and worked as a receptionist for the next two years, despite finding it humiliating. ...
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Male nurse of 40 years is sacked after urging 'patient' to go to church (in a training session)
LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By David Wilkes - May 26, 2009
A nurse has been sacked after suggesting during a role play session on a training course that a 'patient' could go to church to relieve stress.
Anand Rao, 71, a committed Christian, was taking part in an exercise to see if he would advise a wife with a serious heart condition about how to reduce stress.
Mr Rao, who has 40 years' nursing experience, said: 'The "patient" told me that her doctor had informed her that she would not live long and this had created stress.
'I called on my spiritual point of view and told her it would be wise to go to church to ease her stress and if God wished she might live a little longer.'
It is understood the 'patient' did not feel his advice was sympathetic or suitable.
The course organiser, Leicestershire and Rutland Organisation for the Relief of Suffering, then sent a report to Mr Rao's employer, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, where he had worked as a bank staff nurse for four years.
He was later dismissed for breaching the Nursing and Midwifery Council's code of conduct on respecting a patient's dignity. ...
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Queen's Trinity Cross medal scrapped... because it's 'too Christian'
LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Mail Foreign Service - May 9, 2009
A medal personally established by the Queen is being withdrawn after it was deemed offensive to Muslims and Hindus.
The honour - known as The Trinity Cross of the Order of Trinity - has been ruled unlawful and too Christian.
It has been awarded to 62 distinguished residents of the former colony of Trinidad and Tobago over more than 40 years, including cricketers Brian Lara and Garfield Sobers, novelist V.S. Naipaul and many diplomats and politicians.
But groups representing the Caribbean islands' Muslim and Hindu communities - which account for around a third of their 1.3million-strong population - had argued that the words 'Trinity' and 'Cross' were 'overtly Christian'. They also said the use of a cross insignia was offensive. ...
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'What makes you think it's natural to be heterosexual?': Christian teacher suspended over gay rights promotion row
LONDON DAILY MAIL [Associated Newspapers/DMGT] - By Jonathan Petre - April 26, 2009
A senior teacher has been suspended from his �50,000-a-year job after he complained that a training day for staff was used to promote gay rights.
Kwabena Peat, 54, was one of several Christian staff who walked out of the compulsory session at a North London school after an invited speaker questioned why people thought heterosexuality was natural.
The presentation was given by Sue Sanders, a co-founder of the Schools Out organisation which campaigns for gay equality in education.
According to Mr Peat, Ms Sanders, herself a lesbian, said that staff who did not accept that being gay was normal had 'issues' they had to deal with.
Mr Peat, a history teacher who is also a head of year, said he was upset that people who disagreed on religious grounds had no chance to respond.
He wrote privately to the three staff members who organised the session, complaining about Ms Sanders' 'aggressive' presentation. In his letter, he cited the Bible and warned that practising homosexuals risked God's 'wrath'.
But the staff complained to the school's principal that they felt 'harassed and intimidated' by the letter and, after an investigation, Mr Peat was placed on paid leave. He is now being supported by the Christian Legal Centre. ...
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Christian charity worker suspended over opposition to gay rights
THE TIMES of LONDON [News Corporation/Murdoch] - By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent - April 12, 2009
A charity worker has been suspended after telling a colleague about his Christian beliefs against homosexuality, even though he says he is not homophobic and was merely responding to questions from a colleague about his beliefs.
David Booker, 44, who works at a Christian hostel in Southampton, a charity whose patron is the Archbishop of Canterbury, was asked about his faith by a colleague, Fiona Vardy during a late shift last month.
He told her he was opposed to same-sex marriages and to homosexual clergy but denied being homophobic and said that he had homosexual friends.
The next evening, Mr Booker was suspended from his �19,000-a-year post as a hostel support worker with Society of St James, where he has been employed for the last four years. The hostel told him the action was taken for "events that happened last night".
A few days later he was told he had "seriously breached" the charity's code of conduct "by promoting your religious views which contained discriminatory comments regarding a person's sexual orientation". The action had been taken "to safeguard both residents and staff", he was advised.
Mr Booker, an evangelical from Southampton, who is being advised by the Christian Legal Centre, now faces an enquiry and a disciplinary hearing. ...
Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and director of the Christian Legal Centre, said: "This case shows that in today's politically correct, increasingly secularised society, even consenting reasonable discussion on religion between two employees is being twisted by employers to discriminate and silence the Christian voice and freedom of expression." ...
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Secretary threatened after daughter mentions Jesus
WORLDNETDAILY - February 12, 2009
A school secretary whose daughter mentioned Jesus to a classmate now is facing discipline, including the possibility of dismissal from her position, for having sent an e-mail to friends from her home computer asking for prayer about the issue.
The case is developing, according to a report in the London Daily Mail, for Jennie Cain, a receptionist at Landscore Primary School in Crediton, Devon.
Her daughter, Jasmine, age 5, attends the school and recently was scolded by a teacher for talking about God and her faith, the report said. She was in tears after the discipline, the paper said.
Cain, who has worked at the school part-time since 2006, said after her work shift was completed - as a parent - she went to talk with teacher Sharon Gottelier about the situation. She then was summoned to the office of Principal Gary Read the next morning, where she was told "how he wasn't happy about her making statements about her faith," Cain told the paper.
After meeting with Read, Cain went home and e-mailed a prayer request about the situation to some friends at her church, and soon she was notified of the pending discipline for her statements in the e-mail.
"I felt embarrassed that a private prayer e-mail was read by the school - it felt like someone had gone through my personal prayer diary," she told the paper. "I feel my beliefs are so central to who I am, are such a part of my children's life.
"I do feel our beliefs haven't been respected and I don't feel I have been treated fairly. I don't know what I am supposed to have done wrong,' she said. She reported she doesn't know how the school got a copy of her e-mail.
Christian Institute spokesman Mike Judge said children should be allowed to discuss religion without interference from teachers, the report said.
Cain said she now is being investigated for professional misconduct, and Read has confirmed the school's board of governors is involved.
It is the second incident of Christians being disciplined or threatened by employers in the U.K. over issues of prayer in just the last few weeks. ...
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China:
More Than 30 House Church Leaders Arrested in Sichuan
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CHRISTIAN NEWSWIRE - June 12, 2009
SICHUAN -- On June 9 more than 30 house church leaders were arrested while gathering in a house church in Langzhong city, Sichuan province. Thirteen leaders were given 15 days of administrative detention, and five of the leaders were placed under criminal detention. The other leaders were released.
The Christian leaders were gathered in Pastor Li Ming's house church at 5:30 p.m., in Lanzhou city, when several dozen officials in six to seven police vehicles from the local Domestic Security Protection Squad surrounded the site, then arrested all of the Christians and searched the house. ...
ChinaAid calls on Christians around the world to pray for the imprisoned Christians and their families. ChinaAid also strongly denounces the Langzhong authorities in Sichuan for their reprehensible conduct which violates both Chinese and international laws guaranteeing freedom of religion. ...
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U.N. Shuts Out Christian NGO After China Objects
CYBERCAST NEWS SERVICE (CNSN.com) [Media Research Center] - By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor - July 28, 2009
The United Nations has rejected a Christian Ministry's application for official status because it refused to produce names and addresses of its members in China, citing religious freedom concerns.
A U.N. watchdog said the move set a dangerous precedent, enabling "repressive regimes" to sideline critics.
China led the opposition to the Dynamic Christian World Mission Foundation's application for "consultative status" enjoyed by some 3,170 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the U.N. The status allows NGOs to attend meetings and to submit written or oral statements.
At a meeting in Geneva on Monday, the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a 54-member body that makes decisions on which NGOs get the status, endorsed a decision taken by a subsidiary committee earlier this year turning down the group's application.
The move, in the final week of ECOSOC's month-long annual session, came despite an attempt by the United States to rescind the earlier decision.
The foundation, based in Los Angeles and also registered in South Korea, says its aim is to spread the Christian gospel through educational projects. ...
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Three-year Prison Sentence for Distributing Bible
VOICE OF AMERICA [Broadcasting Board of Governors/Indy US Non-Mil International Broadcasting] - By Zheng Yuwen - June 16, 2009
WASHINGTON D.C.-A Beijing court recently sentenced a bookstore owner to three years in prison for printing and circulating the Bible. He was officially convicted for conducting "illegal business activities." Observers say that this sentencing shows China only pays lip service to religious freedom. People's right to follow their own faith is heavily restricted or even stripped away.
The bookstore sells Christian books in Beijing. The owner, 38-year-old Mr. Shi Weihan, is also the leader of a house church. On June 10, a court in Beijing sentenced him to three years in prison, and charged him 150,000 Yuan (approximately $20,000) in fines. Six others, including members of the same church and workers at the printing house, were also sentenced to prison or fined.
Shi's wife, Ms. Zhang Jing, told VOA that the family was surprised by the long sentence term. Shi's daughters, who are 8 and 12, are having a hard time accepting the sentence. Ms. Zhang said, "The two kids feel that their father is innocent. They don't know why he was convicted and sentenced." ...
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Sodom and Gomorrah Redux
'Family Guy' mocks being born again
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American Family Association launches campaign to contact advertisers
WORLDNETDAILY - By Bob Unruh - March 31, 2009
Editor's Note: The following contains descriptions of a graphic television program some readers will find offensive:
BE/\LERT! NOTE: This is so vile that I have only put a small portion. However it is an outright attack against Christians and God. Pray that this perversion is removed from the air.[Also note that this is FOX]
The "Family Guy" cartoon program on the Fox television network, targeted earlier by a campaign to notify the Federal Communications Commission of its sexually suggestive content, now is in the crosshairs of another campaign urging people to contact its advertisers.
WND reported last week when the American Family Association set up a campaign for viewers to contact the FCC in protest of the program's sexually explicit theme. Tens of thousands of complaints were submitted in just the first day over the March 8 episode, which was rated by the network as appropriate for 14-year-olds, included multiple references to homosexual sex and featured discussion of an "11-way gay orgy."
Now the Florida Family Association has set up a link for consumers to contact the program's advertisers directly with their concerns over the nature of the cartoon.
It cited the March 8 program content but also noted the cartoon's attack on Christianity in the March 29 episode.
According to the association, the program featured the family dog denouncing God and saying He does not exist, and then mocking the character Meg's born-again Christian experience.
Finally, the dog convinces Meg that God does not exist, and she gives up her faith, the association reported.
The family group said the cartoon "has turned to denouncing God, mocking the born again experience and embracing perversion to 'entertain' viewers."
The association said among the advertisers on the program were Sprint-Nextel (Boost Mobile), Unilever (Axe), Brinker International (Chili's Grill), KIA (Spectra), Yum Brands (Taco Bell), Volkswagen, Ford (Southern Ford Dealers), Amscot and Pepsi.
"We have prepared an e-mail for you to conveniently send by the press of one button that will encourage the CEOs and VPs of all of these companies to stop supporting Family Guy with their advertising dollars," the family group said.
The organization said the March 29 episode further featured the character Stewie trying to beam the "Star Trek" cast into his home. But failing, the character instead beams "four semi nude dominatrixes with their all nude and bound male prey into [the home]." ...
WND reported earlier on the AFA campaign to contact the FCC.
"This should be disturbing to a lot of American families," said AFA spokesman Randy Sharp.
"It's beyond me how a network finds humor in the deviancy of human nature," he continued. "The writers of this program, you really have to question who are these people who come up with this and call it entertainment."
He said the organization has set up an online feature in which viewers can submit complaints to the FCC.
A video of a brief excerpt has been posted here (Warning: Content sexually suggestive -- See Link for full story - advance prayerfully with caution)
--- According to the AFA report, the offensive March 8 episode featured:
- Peter, the husband/father figure, turns "gay" after taking an experimental shot of the "gay" gene. He is paid $125 to take part in the experiment to prove that being "gay" is not a choice.
- Peter and his new lover make out in a restaurant.
- There's discussion of the "11-way gay orgy." ...
- Peter leaves his son Chris in charge of the family while he spends time with his "gay" partner. Upon his new role, Chris immediately passes gas in his sister's face and knocks out his mother, Lois. ...
The program's reference to Christians went even further.
"At a 'straight' meeting, the speaker talks to gays about Jesus and tells them, [Jesus] hates many people, but none more than homosexuals,'" the report said.
"The FCC has a duty to enforce the law and fine Fox for this sickening violation of broadcast decency standards," the statement said.
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Professing to be wise, they became fools
Ohio scholar reports bias against 'Darwin doubters'
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17 cases are detailed in new book
TOLEDO BLADE [Block Communications Inc (BCI)] - By David Yonke, Blade Religion Editor - May 2, 2009
Jerry Bergman is a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, and balding college professor, author, and member of Mensa - a group of people whose IQs are in the top 2 percent of the population.
He also is a man on a mission, going about his task with the same tenacity as a pit bull in attack mode.
For the last 30 years, Mr. Bergman, 62, has interviewed hundreds of people in academia and documented cases in which he contends that careers were derailed because of doubts about evolution.
The results of his interviews and research are compiled in his latest book, Slaughter of the Dissidents: The Shocking Truth about Killing the Careers of Darwin Doubters, published last fall by Leafcutter Press.
The students, professors, and scientists suffered not because they were advocating the teaching of biblical Creationism or Intelligent Design, he said, but for questioning or debating aspects of Charles Darwin's famous theory.
It's an issue Mr. Bergman takes personally.
"In 1979, I was let go by Bowling Green State University openly due to my increasing disillusion with Darwinism," he said in a lecture Monday night at WLMB-TV, Channel 40, Toledo's Christian television station. The two-hour program was filmed before a studio audience of 60 and will be broadcast at a later date, according to Jamey Schmitz, WLMB's president and CEO.
Mr. Bergman has nine academic degrees, including a doctorate in education from Wayne State University, and currently teaches at Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio, and the University of Toledo's Health Science campus.
In 35 years as an educator, Mr. Bergman has taught college-level courses in biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, pathology, anthropology, geology, and statistics, among other subjects, and has published more than 800 academic papers.
He also made a gradual transition from atheism to Christianity after studying the Bible and comparing its explanation for human existence to that offered by scientific rationale - including evolution and neo-Darwinism, he said.
When Mr. Bergman was denied tenure after seven years on staff at BGSU, he challenged the decision through the university's own system and then in civil court alleging religious discrimination.
His appeals were rejected and Mr. Bergman said filing suit was the biggest mistake of his life. University and court officials did not take his claims seriously and put shockingly little effort into reviewing or understanding his arguments, he said.
The lawsuit turned out to be "the kiss of death" in academic circles, Mr. Bergman said, not only shattering his promising career but also ruining his marriage, which soon ended in divorce.
Publicity over the lawsuit, however, led other academics to contact him with similar stories, he said. He has since compiled a list of 3,000 cases alleging discrimination due to religious beliefs, and personally has interviewed more than 300 people in such situations.
That topic was brought to the mainstream's attention last year when actor, comedian, and attorney Ben Stein released the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. ...
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The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
Atheists stage festival for anti-religion films
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'Evolution: The Musical,' rants by George Carlin, Woody Allen
WORLDNETDAILY - June 27, 2009
What is being billed as the first-ever Atheist Film Festival and featuring a large number of films that largely address religion will be held in San Francisco Sunday - and it lumps Jesus along with Zeno, Flying Saucers, The Flying Spaghetti Monster and Eden.
The event in San Francisco's Mission District is being held in two rooms at the Roxie Theater starting at noon and running to midnight.
Among the features will be "Root of all Evil?" in which famed British atheist Richard Dawkins issues a warning about how faith is "gaining ground in the face of rational, scientific truth."
Events are being sponsored, among others, by the San Francisco Atheists, who report they, "do not believe in gods, devils, angels, ghosts, or other imaginary creatures.'
According to their website, they "want to live natural, religion-free lives ... respect science and learning, knowing that only human thought, effort and courage will bring individual freedom and cultural progress." ...
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Creation Museum: Atheists still welcome
ASSOCIATED PRESS - August 12, 2009
PETERSBURG, KY - The co-founder of the Creation Museum says atheists are still welcome despite some ill-mannered chortling by a large group of atheists who visited last week.
Mark Looy says the 285 members of the Secular Student Alliance were among more than 2,200 visitors to the Bible-based museum near Cincinnati last Friday. He says their mockery of the exhibits offended other visitors, but only one of the atheists was asked to leave.
Since its opening just over two years ago, the museum has attracted more than 825,000 visitors.
Its exhibits seek to show that scientific evidence supports the Genesis account of Creation.
Looy said that while none of the atheists may have been converted, "These are people who would probably not even think about attending church -- and here, they got the gospel message!"
Original Report
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| NPR axes Christian radio programs |
ONE NEWS NOW [American Family News Network] - By Pete Chagnon - April 30, 2009
A shocking decision has been handed down by the National Public Radio board.
In 1985, National Public Radio (NPR) adopted a policy stating that member stations had to provide "nonsectarian, non-political, noncommercial" educational programming. But in February 2009, the wording was changed to say: "NPR Member Stations shall provide ONLY [emphasis added] nonsectarian, non-political, noncommercial educational content on all broadcast channel(s) and related media distribution platforms such as member partners that use the NPR member brands."
The rule, which takes effect May 1, means that any NPR stations carrying religious programming must cease and desist that programming as of that date. In explaining its decision in a similar matter, PBS -- another federally funded media outlet -- says it "places a high value on presenting diverse perspectives, as opposed to rigidly adhering to any single political or religious point of view." Allowing such programming, it continues, "would cause the public's trust in PBS to erode, along with the value of the brand."
David McNabb is the host of "Christian Corner" on KJZA (in Williams, Arizona), which is a partner station with KJZZ in Phoenix. His and several other religious programs featured on the NPR member station will be axed effective tomorrow. ...
McNabb's program had a half-hour weekend slot and was bringing in $300 per month in revenue. The other religious programming was bringing in revenue as well and actually out-performing other weekend "nonsectarian programming."
The change in NPR policy affects all NPR affiliates in the United States.
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