Christianity

Right to Worship Still Under Threat, Watchdog Warns

February 3, 2010

Author: Nurfika Osman

Source: The Jakarta Globe

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/right-to-worship-still-under-threat-watchdog-warns/356616

In another blow to Indonesia’s drive for religious tolerance, a report released on Wednesday said 200 violations against freedom of worship were filed with state agencies in 2009, involving 139 cases. 

Hendardi, the chairman of the Setara...

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Defacement Of AFA Pagan Worship Area Causing Outrage

February 3, 2010

Author: Mireya Garcia

Source: KRDO News

http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=11930031

The desecration of a pagan worship circle at the air force academy causes outrage.

A sergeant involved with the new site says he found a large wooden cross on January 17th and reported it. Now some religious freedom advocates say the Air Force Academy is not taking the right approach in dealing with what they consider a hate crime.

One former student...

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Delta Muslims, Christians Denounce Jos Crisis

February 2, 2010

Author: Omon-Julius Onabu

Source: This Day Online

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=165579

Muslims and Christians in Delta State, under the auspices of Arewa Forum and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), yesterday jointly denounced the recent ethno-religious crisis in Northern part of Nigeria, particularly in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

They also carpeted the Federal Government for what the...

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Priest Bridges Religious Divide By Funding Germany's Biggest Mosque

February 2, 2010

Author: Isabelle de Pommereau

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0202/Priest-bridges-religious-divide-by-funding-Germany-s-biggest-mosque

The recent Swiss ban on minarets reflects a climate gone sour between Muslims and non-Muslims in Europe. But here in Germany, two people have taken a stand to promote a dialogue that...

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Malaysian Hindus Celebrate Festival Amid Tensions

January 30, 2010

Author: Julia Zappei

Source: Yahoo News

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ap/20100130/tap-as-malaysia-hindu-festival-b3c65ae.html

Hundreds of thousands of people - many with hooks pierced through the skin of their backs -thronged temples Saturday to celebrate a Hindu festival amid tensions surrounding attacks on houses of worship in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Eleven churches, three mosques, two Muslim prayer...

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Islamic Activists Angered By SoCal Mayor's Speech

January 29, 2010

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Fresno Bee

Wire Service: AP

http://www.fresnobee.com/state/story/1802761.html

Islamic-rights activists are criticizing the mayor of Lancaster for promoting Christianity during his State of the City speech this week, specifically his comment that he is "growing a Christian community."

The Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Friday that Mayor R....

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Monks Up In Arms Over Police Assault

January 28, 2010

Author: Do Je-hae

Source: The Korea Times

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/01/113_59889.html

The case of a drunken group of policemen beating up a monk is testing the relations between the Lee Myung-bak administration and the Buddhist circles.

The assault took place on the night of Jan. 19 at Yonghwa Temple in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. Jigwan, the chief monk of the temple, claimed that he went out when he...

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A Modern Tale Of Meatpacking And Immigrants

January 28, 2010

Author: Kate Linthicum

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-immigrant-nebraska28-2010jan28,0,6078807.story?page=1

Hawa Farah was living in Minneapolis three years ago making $8 an hour at a bakery when her fiance, Hussein Hussein, got a call about good jobs that paid better.

So the couple, like many Somali immigrants who follow work around the...

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Lithuania Steps Into European Crucifix Debate

January 28, 2010

Author: Ruta Tumenaite

Source: Ecumenical News International

http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=3732

Lithuania has come out in support of Italy in its efforts to revise a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights that obliges State schools throughout Italy to remove crucifixes from classrooms. 

The online news daily www.delfi.lt, on 13 January reported that the Committee for Foreign Relations of the Lithuanian...

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'Philosophy' Poster Containing Ten Commandments Gets Judge Back In Spotlight

January 27, 2010

Author: Mary Beth Lane

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/01/27/poster-with-10-commandments-puts-judge-back-in-spotlight.html?sid=101

A second constitutional challenge to an Ohio judge's display of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom is making its way through the court system.

At issue is whether a...

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Pig Heads Left At Malaysia Mosques After Allah Row

January 27, 2010

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8482267.stm

Several severed pigs' heads have been found in mosque compounds in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

The national police chief, Musa Hassan, linked the discoveries to recent attacks on various houses of worship.

Pigs are considered unclean by Muslims and their presence in the mosque compound will be taken as an insult.

In recent weeks,...

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Rights Group: Russian Religious Freedom In Danger

January 25, 2010

Author: Nataliya Vasilyeva

Source: Yahoo News

Wire Service: AP

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100125/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_religious_freedoms

Religious freedoms are being rapidly curtailed throughout Russia as the Orthodox Church seeks to boost its dominance, human rights activists warned Monday.

In its annual report on religions freedoms, the independent Moscow-...

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Egypt's Anxious Copts 'Await Next Catastrophe'

January 25, 2010

Author: Yolande Knell

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8478397.stm

Worshippers arriving for mass at St Mary's Church in central Cairo say they were shocked but not surprised by a deadly attack against Coptic Christians in southern Egypt earlier this month.

"Copts have been suffering for a long time," comments Magda accompanying her teenage son to the service.

"There have been a lot of tensions between Christians...

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