Originally published in World Watch Monitor. ‘Religious freedoms can counter violent extremism’ was the key message at a two-day global conference held at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) last week. The conference explored ways to build resilience against extremism and identified opportunities to work together. More than 50 […]
Tag: religious freedom
Christians bakers who lost business over gay cake stand say ‘God is in control’
Originally published in The Gospel Herald. Christian bakers who lost their business after refusing to make a cake reading the phrase “Support Gay Marriage” have said their faith is stronger than ever despite ongoing legal woes. On Monday, Daniel and Amy McArthur, who run Ashers Baking Company in Belfast, lost […]
CRL report on regulation of religion delayed
In last week’s Gateway News, we reported on the recent meeting with religious and traditional leaders to discuss the outcome of the CRL Rights Commission’s investigation into the ‘commercialisation’ of religion and abuse of people’s belief systems, and in particular the Commission’s proposed regulation of religion. At the meeting, the […]
CRL Commission moves quickly to regulate religion in South Africa
On Tuesday (October 11), Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) joined 50+ religious and traditional leaders invited to a meeting at the CRL Rights Commission, to discuss the Commission’s findings and recommendations following its recent controversial investigation into the “commercialisation” of religion and abuse of people’s belief systems in […]
China wants to constrict Christian activities with 26 new rules
Originally published in Christianity Today. This week is the last chance Chinese Christians have to tell their government what they think of its latest religion law. They have an awful lot to comment on. China released a draft of new religious restrictions in September, including the prohibition of online religious […]
Freedom of religion or belief — the defining issue of our time
100 parliamentarians from 60 countries met last week (September 12-14 2016) in Berlin, Germany for workshops and seminars under the title “An Embattled Right: Protecting and Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief”. ACDP Member of the South African Parliament, Cheryllyn Dudley said: “I came away from the conference with a […]
Hidden agenda behind campaign to ban US hate preacher
By ChristianView Network Mid-day today, 13 September 2016, the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba announced the banning of American Hate Preacher Steve Anderson from entering South Africa. South African Christian groups strongly opposed to homosexuality, including the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa, the Baptist Union of South Africa (Anderson […]
Christian-owned wedding venue advertises it won’t host same-sex weddings
Originally published in Christian Today A Christian couple who owns a wedding venue in Texas has placed an advertisement in a local newspaper to announce that they will not host same-sex weddings because of their faith. “Our Christian faith demands that we not participate in same-sex, transgender or any other […]
Chinese authorities forcefully close house church, replace crosses with national flag
Originally published in The Gospel Herald Chinese authorities closed down a prominent house church in the country’s coastal Zhejiang province for organising “Christian activities without permission” and attempted to replace crosses with the national flag amid an ongoing crackdown on believers. According to China Aid, Chinese authorities have increased pressure […]
Blasphemy laws focus of US State Department’s religious freedom report
A brief overview of the US State Department’s 2015 International Religious Freedom Report Originally published in World Watch Monitor The following are a selection of news stories covered over the past three months that highlight the extent of the suppression of religious freedom: Algerian Christian gets maximum sentence for ‘blasphemy’ Chinese […]
