NCC condemns the death sentence of Sudanese woman sentenced to die for marrying a Christian
Washington, May 15, 2014 - Officers of the National Council of Churches today condemned "in the strongest possible words" the death sentence in Sudan for a woman whose only crime was to marry a Christian man.
The sentence of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag is also reproached by the U.S. government, American Baptist Churches USA, and many other churches and religious groups.
Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary of the NCC, said the sentencing of Ishag for associating with Christians "is inhuman and an act of unspeakable religious ignorance and bigotry. It is a fundamental violation of the most basic religious precepts that declare God's love and openness to all people."
The Rev. A. Roy Medley, chair of the National Council of Churches governing board and general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, said American Baptists "and all persons of faith and good will" join in the censure of the Sudan court.
A statement by American Baptists condemned the sentence "as a violation of the fundamental human right to religious liberty."
Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, NCC associate general secretary, Faith & Order and Interfaith Relations, said, "All our interfaith partners and member communions stand in solidarity with Ms. Ishag. Until all persons are safe to express their faith anywhere, even in areas where they are in the minority, freedom of religion will remain an elusive ideal."
National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the U.S,. strongly condemns the sentence and called on Sudan "to meet its obligations under international human rights law."
Hayden said, "Since 1999, Sudan has been designated as a Country of Particular Concern for its ongoing, egregious, and systematic violations of religious freedom. We continue to urge Sudan to fulfill its constitutional promise of religious freedom, and to respect the fundamental freedoms and universal human rights of all its people."
WCRC supports release of Nigerian schoolgirls
Posted by Phil
Saturday, May 17, 2014
The Executive Committee of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) formally adopted a statement joining its voice to all those calling for the release and return of the kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria.
Earlier in the week the Executive Committee joined the #bringbackourgirls movement through social media and has offered prayers throughout the week for them.
Here is the statement in full:
"We are meeting here at a time when the world has been agonizing over the plight of the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls. We join the strong global voice to say: "Bring back our girls."
"We are shocked and saddened that young people, especially girls, cannot be given the opportunity freely to further their education. We hope and pray that this injustice will be rectified, not only here but globally.
"We believe that the action against these Nigerian girls is reprehensible and repugnant for people of all religions - Christians and Muslims and other people of faith who know the peace for which our religions call.
"We, the Executive Committee of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, support the efforts that are being made to find and free these girls and reunite them with their families.
We have prayed for these girls in our meeting and we shall continue to pray."
The Executive Committee, the governing board of the WCRC, is holding its annual meeting Hannover, Germany, 11-18 May. It is composed of 30 members from around the world.
Article HERE