Church Under Attack

Syria: Aleppo priest advises Christians to leave : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-04-24T20:18:00.001-04:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Following the kidnapping and (reported) release of two Orthodox prelates, a parish priest in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, discussed his ministry there.
“Car bombs have been found near churches,” said the anonymous priest. “Divine Providence has permitted our fellow citizens to notice the danger and so the bombs were disabled before their explosion.”
“I think that all agree on this point: should we leave the country or stay and keep the Christian presence in the Levant?” he continued. “I, and I say it with sincerity, advise those who can, to go away even if momentarily.”

[As shared earlier here the Syrian Orthodox bishops were erroneously reported as released. They are still being held captive. Please pray for their safety and release.]

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Syria: Aleppo priest advises Christians to leave : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Feminist protest disrupts archbishop's talk in Brussels : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-04-24T20:02:00.001-04:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Four bare-breasted feminist demonstrators interrupted a lecture by Archbishop André-Marie Leonard of Brussels on April 23, and soaked the prelate with water.
The topless protesters, members of the radical group Femen, wore jeans and boots, and had slogans painted across their chests. They carried water bottles, with which they soaked the archbishop before being removed.
Ironically, Archbishop Leonard was speaking at a conference on blasphemy and the limits of religious freedom.

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Feminist protest disrupts archbishop's talk in Brussels : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Violence against Christians in India following allegations of proselytizing children : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-04-18T18:10:00.001-04:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Armed with stones and sticks, a group of men in Srinagar, a largely Muslim city of 1.3 million in northern India, attacked and attempted to set fire to a Christian children’s home. The men beat residents of the home before police arrived.

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Violence against Christians in India following allegations of proselytizing children : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Coptic leader raps Egyptian president for failure to contain anti-Christian violence : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-04-09T19:56:00.001-04:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II has berated Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi for his government’s failure to protect the country’s Christian minority.
The Coptic leader said that Morsi had promised to protect St. Mark’s cathedral in Cairo, “but in reality he did not.” The cathedral was attacked by Islamic radicals, in which 80 people were injured, during the past weekend.

[Meanwhile, the Obama administration keeps sending money to a government that allows attacks on Christians. But it's OK. They are attacked by adherents to the "religion of peace".]

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Coptic leader raps Egyptian president for failure to contain anti-Christian violence : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Pakistan: mob burns shops, cars in Christian neighborhood : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-04-05T18:57:00.000-04:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

A Muslim mob burned shops and cars and threw stones at a church in a Christian neighborhood in Gujranwala, a city of 2.7 million in northeastern Pakistan that was the site of anti-Christian violence in 2011. Six were wounded in the latest incident; calm was restored following police intervention.
“The spark that ignited the violence was a dispute between young Muslims and Christians which degenerated into a fight,” said Samson Salamat, director of the Centre for Human Rights Education, who told the Fides news agency that “an imam of the mosque instigated the Muslims to attack Christians.”

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Pakistan: mob burns shops, cars in Christian neighborhood : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Students try to banish Catholic chaplain from campus for anti-gay stance | The Daily Caller

2013-04-05T18:46:00.003-04:00

The following excerpts are from The Daily Caller:

Two gay seniors at George Washington University say they feel alienated because the chaplain at George Washington’s Newman Center rejects homosexuality, and they aren’t going to take it anymore.
The seniors, Damian Legacy and Blake Bergen, have announced a coordinated campaign to rid the campus of the Roman Catholic priest, reports The GW Hatchet, the school’s independent student newspaper.
They also assert that 12 or more students have quit the Newman Center in recent years because they can’t tolerate Father Greg Shaffer’s ardent anti-gay – and, for the record, anti-abortion — beliefs.
Shaffer has worked for five years at George Washington’s Newman Center. He told the Hatchet that religion and unrestricted speech “play a vital role at a diverse university like GW.”
Legacy and Bergen say they are primarily upset about the counseling Shaffer offers. They say he urges students who have homosexual feelings to lead a life of celibacy.

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Students try to banish Catholic chaplain from campus for anti-gay stance | The Daily Caller

Boko Haram has destroyed 50 Catholic churches in one Nigerian state, priest reports : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-03-20T01:13:00.001-04:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

The Boko Haram terrorist group has destroyed 50 of the 52 Catholic churches in Nigeria’s Borno state, according to a priest there.

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Boko Haram has destroyed 50 Catholic churches in one Nigerian state, priest reports : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Archbishop Chaput: new 'compromise' on HHS mandate still 'gravely flawed' : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-02-05T20:24:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

A new proposal by the Obama administration to apply the HHS contraceptive mandate to religious institutions “remains unnecessary, coercive, and gravely flawed,” according to Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia.
The latest “compromise” offered by the White House “may actually make things worse,” the archbishop said.

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Archbishop Chaput: new 'compromise' on HHS mandate still 'gravely flawed' : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

String of attacks against Armenian Christians in Istanbul : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-01-30T19:53:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Cultures "Catholic World News":

Five Armenian Christians have been attacked recently in an Istanbul neighborhood. One 85-year-old murder victim was stabbed repeatedly and had a cross carved on her corpse.

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String of attacks against Armenian Christians in Istanbul : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Italian bishop confined to home by homosexual demonstration : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-01-28T19:49:00.000-05:00

The following excerpts are from the Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

An Italian archbishop has revealed that he was confined to his home, forced to remain inside his “besieged” residence, when homosexual activists staged a protest there earlier this month, and warned that gay-rights campaigners aim to prosecute all who oppose their agenda.
Archbishop Giampaolo Crepaldi of Trieste was the target of a demonstration organized by ArciGay on January 12. Italian media outlets ignored the incident, and city officials in Trieste showed their support for the protest. Two members of the local city council reportedly participated in the demonstration.

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Italian bishop confined to home by homosexual demonstration : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Christians will not leave Egypt, Coptic leader vows : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-01-07T23:07:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Pope Tawadros II, the Coptic Orthodox leader, has dismissed as “irrational” a proposal to divide Egypt’s territory to create a Coptic state.
The Coptic Church is “an integral part of that Egypt that will not be divided,” the Orthodox prelate said. He said that Copts are loyal Egyptian citizens, and the concerns that many Copts have expressed about the language of a new constitution do not reflect sectarian concerns but understandable worries about the fundamental principles of equal justice under law.

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Christians will not leave Egypt, Coptic leader vows : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

French government calls for no discussion of same-sex marriage in Catholic schools : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-01-07T23:04:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

French President Francois Hollande and Education Minister Vincent Peillon are urging Catholic schools not to hold discussions with students about impending legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage. Hollande’s administration supports the legislation.

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French government calls for no discussion of same-sex marriage in Catholic schools : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

New restrictions on religious freedom in Vietnam : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-01-03T20:38:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Decree 92, issued by Vietnam’s Communist government in November, went into effect on January 1 and is raising concerns among the nation’s Christians and Buddhists – particularly after the vice president of the nation’s parliament said that “Vietnam will increasingly model itself on China in matters of religious policies.”

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New restrictions on religious freedom in Vietnam : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2 dead following church bombing in Libya : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013-01-02T19:03:00.001-05:00

2 dead following church bombing in Libya : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Catholic church receives bomb threat post Christmas | The Jakarta Post

2012-12-30T00:41:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from The Jakarta Post:

The North Sumatra Police’s bomb squad on Saturday secured an alleged homemade bomb, that contained 500 grams of nails, which was found in the backyard of Salaon Toba Catholic Church in Samosir Island, located at the center of the renowned Lake Toba.
The church’s priest, Herman Nainggolan, said the package was found following a text message received by local district head Ronggur Ni Huta at 11:11 p.m. local time on Friday that read, “There is a bomb in your jurisdiction at the Salaon Church.”
The text message was promptly reported to the police, which sent a team to inspect the church.
“No one had the courage to move it. It [the bomb] was secured only after the bomb squad arrived today,” Nainggolan said on Saturday.
The suspicious package, which was packed in two drinking bottles, stirred panic among the congregation taking part in Christmas mass.
The team arrived at the church at about 11:30 a.m. and brought the package to the Samosir Police headquarters for further examination.
Samosir Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Donny Damanik said the package had been examined and it was not a bomb. It did not contain explosive material, but it was equipped with batteries connected to the nails with cables.

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Catholic church receives bomb threat post Christmas | The Jakarta Post

Nigeria: 2 churches attacked during Christmas services; 12 dead : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2012-12-27T17:49:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Two Protestant churches in Nigeria suffered terrorist attacks during Christmas services.

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Nigeria: 2 churches attacked during Christmas services; 12 dead : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

India: court sentences Hindu marauders for anti-Christian violence in Orissa : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2012-11-29T22:01:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Reuters:

A court in India has sentenced 12 Hindu militants to prison terms in connection with the anti-Christian violence that broke out in the state of Orissa in 2008.

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India: court sentences Hindu marauders for anti-Christian violence in Orissa : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Egypt's Embattled Christians Fear Exclusion Under New Islamist Constitution

2012-11-23T19:30:00.001-05:00

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

London, 23 November 2012

As the Western media shift attention from crisis to crisis in the Middle East, one continuing, omnipresent tragedy goes wilfully ignored, the violent persecution of the regions' remaining Christians. Nowhere is this more evident than Egypt, where the new government, dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, press on with the drafting of a new constitution with Sharia Law it is core and little tolerance for Christians.

As Syria and Gaza dominate the headlines, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has quickly gone about shaping what was once a relatively moderate nation into an Islamist republic. The Arab Spring's ambitious hopes for pluralist democracies has quickly faded, only to be supplemented with theocratic regimes potentially worse than those which preceded them.

The Christians of Egypt, amounting to approximately 10% of the population, have expressed growing despondency as to the nature of the draft constitution. Church leaders have found themselves repeatedly shut out of dialogue by the nations' Salafis who are determined to enshrine their dominance into law. While the future constitution looks bleak for religious minorities, the persecution of the Coptic community continues each day. Since President Morsi and the Muslim brotherhood gained power dozens of Christians have been murdered in addition to increased attacks on Christian property and the burning of Churches. Kidnappings are not uncommon as well as reports of qualified Christians being turned away from employment.

Speaking from his office in Westminster to the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, Lord Alton, Honorary President of the British Coptic Association and Chairman of the Cross-Party Working Group on Human Dignity, appealed to the Egyptian government to remain true to their election assurances:

"Mohammed Morsi swept to power on the promise that he would rule for all Egyptians, including the Christian community. As the future constitution is drafted and the next chapter of Egyptian history determined, President Morsi must be held accountable to his solemn pledge to bring peace and tolerance to the marginalised communities of Egypt. The Coptic community have shown remarkable forbearance in these past five months, I sincerely hope their patience with the new government will not be betrayed through further degradation."

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

Bomb explodes near parish in Kenya : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2012-11-21T20:13:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

A man threw a bomb into a minibus near a Catholic parish and primary school in Nairobi on November 18, killing seven.

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Bomb explodes near parish in Kenya : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

MN priest discusses ‘denial of Confirmation’ to pro-gay marriage teen : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2012-11-19T21:37:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

In a letter to his parishioners, Father Gary LaMoine, a priest of the Diocese of Crookston (Minnesota), discussed news reports that Lennon Cihak, a 17-year-old in his parish, was “denied” the Sacrament of Confirmation because of his support for same-sex marriage.
The teen, said Father LaMoine, was one of a few who chose not to be confirmed because of support for same-sex marriage.

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MN priest discusses ‘denial of Confirmation’ to pro-gay marriage teen : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Increasing violence against Christians in Syria : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2012-11-19T21:33:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Violence against Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities in Syria is on the rise, according to John Pontifex of Aid to the Church in Need.
Pontifex fears that Syria, like Iraq, could lose the majority of its Christian population.

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Increasing violence against Christians in Syria : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The Malicious Mangling of the Virgin Mary - Brent Bozell - [page]

2012-11-16T12:23:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from an article by Brent Bozell on Townhall.com:

A Christian can be crushed gazing at the picture of Mary standing at the foot of the cross, watching her beloved son suffocate and die. But in that vision, she stands there for hours, patiently enduring her suffering. For two millennia, she has been a role model for Christians, a woman who practiced obedience in the most difficult of human circumstances, with fervent hope for what this sacrifice will offer all mankind as it struggles with sin.
This is why it seems so hard to reflect that vision of patience when black-hearted "artists" practice character assassination on the Blessed Virgin Mary to strip her of every virtue: her patience, her obedience, her courageous love and her prayerful faith in God. On Nov. 13, Simon and Schuster launched a vicious little 96-page novella titled "The Testament of Mary."
The author, an Irish ex-Catholic named Colm Toibin, presents us instead with a Bible-burning "reimagination" of an alienated Mary who fled the scene of her son's death in fear for her own life. Two decades after the Resurrection -- or was there one? -- this anti-Mary is filled with bitterness and rage. She describes herself as "unhinged" and bubbling with contempt for her son's demented followers, to the extreme that she threatens the Gospel writers with a knife. She lives as a bandit, stealing to survive.

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The Malicious Mangling of the Virgin Mary - Brent Bozell - [page]

Australia: a campaign to break the confessional seal : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2012-11-14T20:46:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Politicians, pundits, and even a few dissenting Catholic clerics are calling upon Catholic priests to break the confessional seal in sex-abuse cases.
Attorney general Nicola Roxon said that a federal commission investigating sexual abuse would take up the question of whether priests should be required to disclose information from sacramental confessions. Prime Minister Julia Gillard also said that the commission should discuss the matter. But Senator Nick Xenophon, a persistent critic of the Catholic Church, was more candid, saying that the government’s recognition of the confessional seal is “a medieval law that needs to change.”

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Australia: a campaign to break the confessional seal : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Australian cardinal: confessional seal is inviolable, even in abuse cases : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2012-11-13T20:07:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, has said that while the Church will cooperate with a federal commission investigating child abuse, priests will not break the seal of confession.

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Australian cardinal: confessional seal is inviolable, even in abuse cases : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Dissenting Minnesota priest calls for archbishop’s resignation for defending marriage | LifeSiteNews.com

2012-11-09T19:43:00.001-05:00

The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:

A Minneapolis-area priest has called for the resignation of Archbishop John Nienstedt after the archbishop supported Minnesota’s effort to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex “marriage.”
Fr. Michael Tegeder wrote a letter to the editor of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune oh Thursday requesting that Archbishop Nienstedt “prayerfully consider stepping down from his office.”
Calling Nienstedt’s support for the marriage amendment a “misguided crusade,” he suggested that the archbishop’s resignation would be “healing for our state” and “would show some magnanimity on [Nienstedt’s] part.”
Tegeder has long been a dissenter from Catholic teaching on the issue of homosexuality. He and the archbishop have clashed repeatedly over the issue.

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Dissenting Minnesota priest calls for archbishop’s resignation for defending marriage | LifeSiteNews.com