Quebec’s bishops fear a new law banning religious symbols in the public sector will ‘nourish fear and intolerance’ rather than contribute to social peace. The new law (formerly known as Bill 21) prohibits some government employees, including public school teachers, state lawyers, judges and police officers from wearing religious symbols or clothing. However, the religious Read more
Well, he did it. Bill Shorten snatched defeat right out of the jaws of victory. Which is all the more embarrassing when you remember how he formerly introduced himself to Arnold Schwarzenegger as Australia’s next Prime Minister. But, incredibly, not only did all of the media pundits get the election result wrong, but so did Read more
Governments and media in Western countries have been too scared to point out widespread persecution of Christians. The comments were made to Newshub by Former Massey University Professor and religious history expert Peter Lineham. “Western countries, with the exception of the USA, are sensitive about their Muslim minorities feeling as though things are loaded against Read more
Cardinal Pietro Parolin is calling on the media to highlight religious persecution wherever it occurs. Parolin, who is the Vatican Secretary of State, has condemned the ongoing abuse of religious freedom in many parts of the world. “Despite so many efforts to promote and reinforce the fundamental human right of religious freedom, we are actually Read more
Aggressive nationalism is fuelling the rise in violence and intimidation against religious minorities, and Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are on the rise in the West. Furthermore, the West is failing to convert words of concern into action, a report by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need says. John Pontifex, editor-in-chief of the biannual Religious Read more
More than 3,000 Egyptian churches and church-affiliated buildings are still waiting for legal recognition from the Egyptian government. They have been waiting for nearly two years after legislation, seen by some as positive step for religious freedom in the Muslim-majority country, was passed. Read more
An Australian religious freedoms report which has reviewed religious protections in Australia says it should be more difficult for schools to turn away gay students. According to Philip Ruddock, the author of the as yet unreleased document, the report suggests narrowing the scope of existing sex discrimination laws. “We weren’t suggesting that the law should Read more
Eradicating all religions apart from “open” state-sanctioned ones is part of an “ambitious new effort” in China, according to a recent Associated Press (AP) investigation. AP found churches in China being shut down, Bibles being seized and restrictions being placed on a number of religions. Crescents have been removed from mosques. Tibetan children have been Read more
A British doctor lost his National Health Service job because he refused to renounce his belief that gender is determined at birth. When his instructor said reports must only refer to the patient – or “client” – by the sex that person identified themselves as, the doctor says a discussion took place among the medics Read more
Christian conversion is not for the fainthearted in Iran. It can be a crime leading to a decade in jail. The Iranian government uses the Internet to censor and monitor activists and to enforce official religious interpretations. Surveillance cameras watch Catholic churches. They’re looking for Muslims going into Christian churches, Iranian-born journalist Sohrab Ahmari says. Read more