Law and Religion Headlines
Tuesday, 8 January 2019
Christian persecution expected to increase in 2019; believers facing 'modern-day jihad'
(Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post)
Israel strikes back against Hamas terror group after several attacks
(Kayla Koslosky, Christian Headlines)
Ecumenical Patriarch recognizes independence of Orthodox Church of Ukraine
(Carl Bunderson, Catholic News Agency)
Debate begins on decriminalizing abortion in Ecuador
(David Ramos, Catholic News Agency)
Patriarch grants Ukrainian Church independence at Istanbul mass
(Ayla Jean Yackley, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Merger of parliamentary committees further sidelines Iraqi women
(Sara al-Qaher, Al-Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Fewer Israelis marrying through Rabbinate, report shows
(Judy Maltz, Haaretz)
Sale of churches sparks controversy in Iraq
(Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Christian community in Nigeria devastated by years of Fulani militant violence
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
Pakistani Christians fear new security mandate may lead to church closures
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
2000 soldiers will be deployed to secure Philippines’ Black Nazarene Feast
(Gina Goh, International Christian Concern)
Hmong Christians in Vietnam repeatedly beaten and arrested
(Gina Goh, International Christian Concern)
Nassar says religion turned to trade, demands banning Niqab in public places
(Egypt Today)
Muslims enjoy freedom in Xinjiang: China Islamic Association
(The Nation)
How Chinese doctors who harvest organs get away with murder
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Blasphemy laws do not have a place in the 21st century
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Impacting Freedom of Religion or Belief one step at a time: 5 highlights from 2018
(International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB))
January 2019 Legislation factsheet: Registration laws
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
USCIRF suggests standards for registration of religious groups
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
More spilled ink, as global Byzantine puzzle games continue with the Orthodox in Ukraine
(Terry Mattingly, Get Religion)
Orthodox schism: Ukrainian Christians celebrate their first Christmas under an independent church
(The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Putin goes to church on Christmas Eve
(Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
In repressive Myanmar, a tiny Jewish community hangs on to the past
(Charles Dunst, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Pope appoints retired cardinal as apostolic administrator of Hong Kong diocese
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pope’s outreach to Islamic world in 2019 has deep roots
(Elise Harris, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
With migrants stranded at sea, Pope Francis urges welcome
(Claire Giangravé, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Russian church head: Smartphones could precede Antichrist
(Associated Press)
India’s lower house passes citizenship bill despite protests
(Wasbir Hussain, Associated Press)
A different outreach: on Modi government and religion
(Vinay Kaura, The Hindu)
Monday, 7 January 2019
Catholic homes destroyed, land expropriated in Ho Chi Minh City
(Maria Thuy Tien, Asia Times)
Church fights Vietnam land grabbing
(UCA News)
Saudi Woman who tried to flee family says, ‘they will kill me’
(Richard C. Paddock and Ben Hubbard, The New York Times)
Ma’ruf Amin says he regrets testifying against Ahok
(The Jakarta Post)
Hindus prepare for Thai Pongal celebration
(Corey Barnett, World Religion News)
China targets prominent Uighur intellectuals to erase an ethnic identity
(Austin Ramzy, The New York Times)
Coptic Christians cautiously prepare for Orthodox Christmas
(Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
The Vietnamese government grabs land offered by church, demolished houses
(Gina Goh, International Christian Concern)
Christians face mounting discrimination in Pakistan’s schools
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
Will India’s Trump fears ease with the New US Asia Reassurance Initiative Act? – Analysis
(Rajeswari Paillai Rajagopalan, The Diplomat)
Ukrainian Orthodox Church breaks away from Russian influence
(Ayse Wieting and Zeynep Bilginsoy, Deseret News)
Egypt opens largest church for Coptic Christians in the Middle East
(Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
In Nepal, Tradition is killing women: The Hindu practice of chhaupadi is dangerous and deadly, but legislation is not enough to stop it.
(Sophie Cousins, Foreign Policy)
Holy Land for sale The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is selling church land that’s ending up in the hands of Israeli settler groups. Its Palestinian Christian congregants are furious.
(Dalia Hatuqa, Foreign Policy)
Lutheran Church adopts interfaith approach to tackle farmers/herders clashes in Adamawa
(Segun Otokiti, Worldstage)
‘Vacationing’ to reconnect with India’s Zoroastrian culture
(Bhavya, Religion News)
These Rohingya refugees actually want to return to Myanmar. The difference is they're Hindus
(Vidya Krishnan, Los Angeles Times)
Fact check: How many people are enslaved in the world today?
(Monti Datta, The Conversation)
China's Muslims brace for attacks
(James Palmer, Foreign Policy)
FoRB on the Frontlines: Fighting for freedom as long as it’s necessary
(CSWPress, FoRB in Full (a blog by CSW))
Interfaith group sues for peaceful 2019 polls
(The Nation)
Turkey: "Election of new board members for the non-Muslim community foundations critical for their livelihood"
(Mine Yıldırım interviews lawyer Sebu Aslangil, Freedom of Belief Initiative)
Activists mobilize in Midtown Manhattan to ban coercive conversion
(Cheonji News)
Here comes caste-free, religion-free reservation
(League of India)
Veep calls for tolerance among religious groups
(Ghana Web)
Does religion encourage or help to prevent the use of violence?
(Sylvia Rothschild, The Jewish Chronicle)
Women’s empowerment: Between religion and culture
(Hoda Al-Helaissi, Arab News)
Iran arrests demographers, the latest target amid an escalating crackdown on academics and activists
(Melissa Etehad and Ramin Mostaghim, Los Angeles Times)
Islam is not inherently hostile to religious freedom: Philpott
(Javad Heirannia, Tehran Times)
China: Authorities shutter 35 temples in under a week
(Jiang Tao, Bitter Winter)
China just passed a law to have its own version of Islam–one that is more ‘compatible’ with socialism within next five years
(Business Insider India)
Solidarity with persecuted leads to persecution
(Lin Yijiang, Bitter Winter)
Critical thinking and philosophy to be taught in Saudi schools
(Mohammed Al-Kinani, Arab News)
Israel to seek $250bil in compensation from Arab, Muslim countries
(Tamar Beeri, The Jerusalem Post)
The religious call behind Bennett and Shaked’s Hayemin Hehadash party
(Uri Bollag, The Jerusalem Post)
Access to egalitarian prayer section still closed after six months
(Jeremy Sharon, The Jerusalem Post)
The age in which we live: Readers seeking Asia Bibi news may need to look in op-ed pages
(Terry Mattingly, Get Religion)
Putin congratulates Orthodox Christians on Christmas
(Interfax-Religion)
Creation of independent church in Ukraine geopolitical disaster for Russia - Poroshenko
(Interfax-Religion)
Creation of new church in Ukraine ‘political put-up job’ - Russian Patriarch
(Sputnik News)
Poroshenko promises to respect religious choice of citizens of Ukraine
(Interfax-Religion)
Pope blasts US bishops on sex abuse crisis, saying church's credibility has been 'undercut'
(Daniel Burke, CNN)
John Bolton visits Western Wall, angering Palestinians
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Opinion: Catholic Church's meddling in DRC politics reckless and dangerous
(Isaac Mugabi, Deutsche Welle)
‘Give them freedom’ – PNG bishops denounce six-year refugee detention
(Catholic News Agency)
Egypt el-Sissi inaugurates cathedral, mosque in new capital
(Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press)
Pope decries rise of nationalism, flaws of globalization
(Associated Press)
The death of Hong Kong bishop a potential crisis for Church in China
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Hong Kong picks advocate of China-Vatican dialogue as bishop
(Associated Press)
Ukrainian Orthodox Christians formally split from Russian Patriachate at Istanbul ceremony
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Veterans group rejects petition to turn Malaysia into an 'Islamic state'
(Straits Times)
Celebrations planned, tension lingers a month after marriage equality resolution takes effect
(Mary Frances Schjonberg and David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service)
Christian workers in Somalia worship in secret, fear al-Shabab
(Tonny Onyulo, Religion News)
Saturday, 5 January 2019
Akufo-Addo knows what separation of church and state means, Dr. Apaak
(Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Modern Ghana)
Egyptian explosives expert killed defusing bomb near church in Cairo
(Reuters)
Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially gains independence from Russian Church
(Francesca Paris, National Public Radio)
Why Turkey’s authoritarian drift is unlikely in India
(Francis Ghiles, The Arab Weekly)
China passes law to make Islam 'compatible with socialism'
(Al Jazeera)
Ukrainian custom authorities seize copies of Patriarch Kirill's Christmas greeting - Moscow Patriarchate
(Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian Orthodox Church breaks away from Russian influence
(Ayse Wieting and Zeynep Bilginsoy, Associated Press)
Ukraine: new Orthodox church gains independence from Moscow
(Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
Delegation of Ukrainian politicians attends church ceremony in Istanbul
(Credo Press, Russia Religion News)
Poroshenko invites Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Ukraine
(Interfax-Religion)
Boycotted election in Togo raises fear of violence
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Congo criticizes Catholic church over election statements
(Mathilde Boussion, Associated Press)
The Sexual Revolution’s latest victims: Children abusing children
(John Stonestreet and Anne Morse, The Christian Post)
Devastated families finally bury murdered Christian teachers in Kenya
(Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post)
Conversion or reform: What will Catholic bishops choose in 2019?
(Ed Condon, Catholic News Agency)
'Give them freedom' – PNG bishops denounce six-year refugee detention
(Catholic News Agency)
Shift in Syrian conflict impacts Christian discipleship efforts
(Claire Evans, Persecution: International Christian Concern)
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