Religion Today Summaries - Nov. 29, 2007

Government of India Again Delays Dalit Christian Reservation Hearing

According to a release carried by ASSIST News Service, the Supreme Court of India adjourned its hearing on the Dalit Christians’ demand for full Constitutional rights as the Indian Government once again failed to disclose its response, saying it had not yet from the National Scheduled Caste Commission. The Supreme Court will now take up the writ appeal challenging the Presidential order limiting Reservation rights to Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist Dalits after Christmas.

Pakistani Christians on Front Lines of Democracy Struggle

Pakistani Christians have played a prominent role in the struggle against harsh emergency laws established by the country’s president this month. And many of have paid the price. Pakistan’s Catholic Bishop’s Conference (PCBC) last week demanded an end to security measures used to arrest lawyers, journalists and rights activists, including many Christians, Compass Direct News reports. President Pervez Musharraf has claimed that growing violent extremism and an unruly judiciary necessitated the harsh laws in place since November 3. But Musharraf’s opponents argue that he arrested more than 5,000 activists under emergency law (many of them now released) in order to sideline political opposition. “People detained after the imposition of emergency [rule] must be released immediately and unconditionally,” the PCBC stated on Friday (November 23). Many Pakistanis, including Christians, have suffered from the growth of radical Islam in recent weeks.

Joyce Meyer Ministries Responds to Senator Grassley Inquiry

According to a Religion News Service release from Joyce Meyer Ministries, on November 6, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, formally requested the leadership of Joyce Meyer Ministries to provide detailed records and personal information pertaining to Dave and Joyce Meyer for his review. While the ministry is not under obligation by law to submit this information; in keeping with our own high standards of fiscal responsibility, our respect for the democratic process, and our established tradition of transparency with our ministry supporters, we are preparing the requested documents for presentation to the senator’s office—on time (by December 6, 2007) and in full detail. Our timely response to the senator’s efforts to ensure the financial accountability of all non-profits is a decisive demonstration of the high standard of fiscal responsibility that we hold ourselves to, above and beyond legal obligation, out of our deep commitment to our ministry partners and friends. We are profoundly thankful for the many Americans who help make this far-reaching global ministry and its charitable outreaches possible.

Open Doors Seeking To Help In Bangladesh

A release from Open Doors carried by ASSIST News Service reads: The southern coast of Bangladesh was hit by cyclone Sidr on November 15. The wind speed was over 150 miles per hour. The cyclone killed approximately 5,000 people and damaged more than 95 percent of houses and belongings in the affected areas. According to reports, four million remain homeless. Sidr is reported to be the strongest storm to hit the country since 1991. Aside from the loss of loved ones and property, survivors are facing waterborne diseases. Shrimp boats lying in the coastal areas were swept away, resulting in a loss of millions of dollars. Shrimp exporting has now stopped. The districts hit by the cyclone are still without power and telecommunication systems. We need to continue to pray for the people of Bangladesh, including our Christian brothers and sisters who were ravaged by the disaster. Some of those affected are Muslim Background Believers (those who convert from Islam to Christianity) who participated in the annual Converts Gathering sponsored by Open Doors. Relief items have been slow to reach most survivors. Victims of Sidr are badly in need of food, fresh water and temporary shelter. It is taking aid workers many hours to reach the areas that are badly hit.