Michael Swain –passionate about protecting freedoms that impact on the mission of the Church [notice]Cape Town pastor Michael Swain answers questions (see below) from Gateway News about his calling into an arena that is increasingly capturing news headlines and challenging Christians to respond effectively. Announcing Swain’s appointment, Andrew Selley, Founder […]
Tag: religious freedom
Eritrean church leaders still in jail 12 years later
Family speak about their pain and their joy after escape to safe country Originally published in World Watch Monitor Although the tiny East African nation of Eritrea has a population of just 6 million, Eritrea is one of the leading sources of refugees in Europe. There are many reasons for […]
Christian shopkeeper trusts God in battle of conscience
Originally published in Christian Telegraph Greg Storman and his family, devout Christians, who have been operating the small grocery store and pharmacy for the past four generations, decided that they could not sell abortion-related drugs, because it was against their deepest convictions to sell drugs that “promote death”, Christian Telegraph […]
Norway: Judge rules in favour of Christian couple, baby Ezekiel to be returned
Originally published in Christian Today A Norwegian judge has ruled that the baby son of the Bodnariu family should be reunited with his parents. Ezekiel Bodnariu was removed from their custody with his four older siblings by Norway’s controversial Barnevernet or child welfare service last November. The judge also ruled […]
China releases jailed pastor ahead of Obama meeting
Originally published in The Christian Post The Chinese government has reportedly released from prison the Rev Gu Yuese, the former leader of Hangzhou’s Chongyi Church, the largest government sanctioned church in the country, ahead of President Xi Jinping’s scheduled meeting with President Barack Obama. Herald Malaysia Online reported that Gu, […]
B&B fined $80 000 for refusing to host gay civil union ceremony
Originally published in Christian News Network ‘Our policy will not be changing,’ say owners The owners of a bed and breakfast in Illinois have been ordered to pay $80 000 (R1 178 500) after they declined to host a civil union ceremony for two homosexual men on the premises, and […]
Church appeals SAHRC’s Report on spanking in the home
On Wednesday, March 30, Joshua Generation Church delivered its appeal against the findings and recommendations of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in ‘the spanking case’, to the SAHRC. The Church’s appeal follows a finding by the SAHRC in January 2016, that spanking in the home violates children’s and […]
Four Bible translators murdered in Middle East
Originally published in Mission Network News Bible translation in Muslim-dominant areas is risky. Mix that occupation with animosity aimed at Muslim-Background Believers and what you get is a volatile and often explosive reaction. That’s proven true for Wycliffe Associates. President/Chief Executive Officer Bruce Smith confirms the deaths of four national […]
Cool heads needed in probe into religious exploitation
The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Linguistic and Religious Rights of Communities (CRL) has caused great consternation within the South African Christian community as it continues with its hearings into the commercialisation of religion and the exploitation of people’s beliefs. As a chapter 9 institution, the commission […]
Don’t downplay freedom of religion and belief, ACDP urges government
“Last year was the worst year in modern history for Christian persecution throughout the world. With this in mind the ACDP notes that religion and belief are conspicuous by their absence in the title of today’s debate,” ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said in parliament this week. Speaking in the Human Rights Day debate she […]