Posts Tagged ‘Religious freedom’

“God is not in the minority!”

Monday, October 9th, 2023

God is not in the minority… This is an assertion I can make only through faith and Scripture. I believe that God’s presence is expressed in every heart and in every reality, beyond the signs and words (religious or otherwise) that express this presence. “The wind blows where it pleases; you can hear its sound, Read more

Jimmy Carter – An appreciation

Thursday, September 7th, 2023
jimmy carter

“Enough is enough! I’m writing the President!” After hitting the umpteenth brick wall, my wife had reached the end of her rope. As a Canadian citizen in America, married to an American, obtaining a green card for work should have been a walk in the park for her. But it wasn’t. After three years of Read more

Mongolian Catholics hear of hope in arid desert

Monday, September 4th, 2023
Mongolian Catholics

Pope Francis on Sunday told Mongolian Catholics that only love can truly satisfy our hearts’ thirst. In his historic first visit to Mongolia, the pope spoke to about 2,000 people at Ulaanbaatar’s Steppe Arena and emphasised God’s presence in difficult times. Francis drew parallels with life in Mongolia, where about 30% of the land is Read more

Farmer banned from market for his views on marriage

Monday, August 28th, 2023
marriage

A Michigan court says a Catholic farmer’s religious freedom was violated when his views on marriage saw him banned from selling his products at a market. “We’re very grateful for all the prayers and support we’ve received,” says Country Mill Farms owner Steve Tennes (pictured with his family). Faith has always been part of the Read more

Religious freedom report reveals worsening global persecution

Monday, June 26th, 2023
Religious freedom

A new report has revealed that 61 countries encompassing 62% of the world’s population severely or totally restrict religious freedom. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has released its latest edition of the Religious Freedom Report, shedding light on the increasing persecution faced by individuals and communities worldwide. The report, published every two years Read more

Treaty of Waitangi guarantees religious freedom

Thursday, November 24th, 2022
Hate speech law

Hate speech has been the subject of much debate in Parliament lately. Debate has centred on protecting individuals from such speech via the Human Rights Act. It’s been an ongoing question with pros and cons. Should the Act be expanded – or not? The legislation already specifically protects people from being subject to hate speech Read more

Please protect people during China’s crackdown

Thursday, July 7th, 2022
China's crackdown

China’s crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong has led a Catholic prelate to ask regional leaders to put people first. Give young people a reason to trust authority, Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong suggests in a special message published last Friday. Among the advantages he lists is a greater sense of unity in a Read more

Tajikistan will no longer register any new churches

Thursday, July 7th, 2022

Sulaymon Davlatzoda, the Chair of the State Committee for Religious Affairs and Regulation of Traditions, Ceremonies and Rituals (SCRA), summoned leaders of Protestant Churches to a meeting at its offices in Dushanbe in late May. “We will no longer register any new Churches. We will keep the figure of registered Churches unchanged from now on’, Read more

Religious abortion-rights advocates prepare next steps

Thursday, June 30th, 2022
abortion-rights

Religious abortion-rights advocates in the US are planning their next move following the judgement against the right to abortion. One advocate is Jody Rabhan, chief policy officer for the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW). She and other members of her organisation are “absolutely devastated, shocked and angry,” she says. “This is not the end. Read more

Pastafarians still strain for recognition

Thursday, November 4th, 2021

Sometime next year, the European court of human rights will decide on the case of a Dutch woman who feels unfairly treated because her country’s highest court has told her she cannot wear a plastic colander on her head for her ID photo. Pastafarians, who are members of The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s believers Read more