WASHINGTON — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has released a report highlighting concerns surrounding the rise of anti-conversion and anti-blasphemy laws in South Asia over the past decade. “[G]overnments across the South Asia region have taken legal measures to prohibit religious conversions from the dominant religious group,” the commission explains in its introduction. […]
(The Christian Institute) — More than 100 Christians have been arrested in Iran in just one week and ordered to cut all contact with religious groups and house churches. They were detained by Iranian authorities, questioned on their involvement in Christian activities, and told to expect a call from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. Christian charity […]
ROME — The leader of Roman Catholicism, Jorge Bergoglio, also known as “Pope Francis,” delivered a homily on Wednesday in recognition of the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a day surrounding the claim that Mary appeared to an Aztec Indian in the 1500’s and left her image imprinted on his cloak. The observance […]
(Mission Network News) — In a new report, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom says anti-conversion laws are on the rise in South Asia. The USCIRF is calling on the U.S. government to work with South Asian allies and “[apply] pressure on governments to rescind laws that deny individuals the right to share and […]
CHENGDU — An elder of Early Rain Covenant Church penned a handwritten letter providing spiritual exhortation and guidance on how the church should proceed in the middle of persecution as over 100 members, including pastors, elders and deacons, were detained on Sunday by Chinese police. “Beloved brothers and sisters, do you have joy?” asked Li Yingqiang. […]
LONDON — The apostatized Church of England has released new guidance for “parishes planning services to help transgender people mark their transition,” a move that has raised concerns among those who were already worried about the direction of the denomination. “The Church of England welcomes and encourages the unconditional affirmation of trans people, equally with all people, […]
(The Christian Institute) — A doctor has been charged with unlawfully ending a patient’s life in the first case of its kind since euthanasia was legalized in the Netherlands in 2002. The nursing home doctor, who remains anonymous, administered a lethal injection to a 74-year-old dementia patient despite the fact that her will was “unclear […]
(The Christian Institute) — A mother of three has lambasted an Irish politician for claiming that abortion regret does not exist. In a recent debate in the Irish parliament, two politicians proposed a pro-life amendment to the government’s abortion bill. Carol Nolan and Paedar Tóibín said they represented citizens who have experienced abortion regret, but […]
(BBC) — A bill to legalize abortion services in the Republic of Ireland has passed all stages in the Dáil (Irish parliament). TDs voted in favour of the legislation by 90 votes to 15, with 12 abstentions. It followed hours of debate and more than 60 amendments. The Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill will […]
(The Christian Institute) — Heidi Crowter, a 23-year-old U.K. woman from Coventry, has been voicing her experience of life with Down syndrome and speaking out against disability screening. Heidi said that parents “are being told lies” about Down syndrome and she hopes that her example of life and faith will challenge the misconceptions. She is […]