Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
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Rise in Protestantism Has Drawn Backlash from Mexican Catholics
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Pakistani Christians Announce Day of Protest, Prayer & Fasting
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Report: 'Freedom of Religion Does Not Exist' In Saudi Arabia
Rise in Protestantism Has Drawn Backlash from Mexican Catholics
Even though freedom of religion is guaranteed by
Clergyman Tried for Heresy by Diocese
Newsday
A rare heresy trial was held Tuesday for a former Roman Catholic priest who joined an Ecumenical denomination in 1999. The Rev. Ned Reidy did not attend the one-day closed trial, which was conducted by three priests at the Diocese of San Bernardino. Reidy, 69, called the trial "medieval" and contends it has no authority because he stopped being a Roman Catholic. Rev. Howard Lincoln, spokesman for the diocese, said Reidy was automatically excommunicated when he went to another denomination, but under church law he remains a Catholic priest until he is formally excommunicated and defrocked. "I just think the discourtesy level is appalling," Reidy said of the trial. "I'm not a Roman Catholic priest. I used to be." Reidy was ordained in 1962 and was pastor of a parish in
Pakistani Christians Announce Day of Protest, Prayer & Fasting
ASSIST News Service
A number of Pakistani Christians will observe an upcoming day of “Protest, Prayers and Fasting.” The event will take place on Dec. 20, and signify the completion of 40 days of mourning for the recent tragedies in Sangala Hill, when announcements were made in mosques urging Muslims to attack Christians. According to a news release from the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), “This day will be observed to condemn the lawlessness and intolerance in the name of religion, and (the) callous attitude of authorities for not arresting the real culprits.” APMA Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti explained that the incidents revolved around a Christian man, Yousaf Masih, being falsely alleged for desecration of the Koran. That was followed by announcements in a number of mosques on Sangala Hill urging Muslims to attack Christians. A mob of approximately 5,000 attacked Christians with weapons, gasoline, highly flammable chemicals, sticks and batons. Bhatti said at the insistence of a variety of Sangala Hill’s community leaders, an official visited the site of the incident six days after it occurred. According to Bhatti speaking in the news release, this official promised to launch an immediate official enquiry into what happened. He said that Christians living at Sangala Hill are worried because of the ongoing atmosphere of fear and insecurity. “Bhatti added that “Discriminatory laws such as blasphemy laws, a major tool for creating disharmony should be repealed, and reconciliation efforts between people of different faith should be made to eliminate violence in the name of religion.”
Report: 'Freedom of Religion Does Not Exist' In
The Christian Post
Freedom of religion does not exist in