Iceland: Repeal of blasphemy law
Iceland's parliament has abolished its blasphemy laws, despite opposition from some of the country's churches. A bill was put forward by the minority Pirate Party, which campaigns for internet and data freedom. It came after the deadly attack against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The bill said it was ‘essential in a free society that the public can express themselves without fear of punishment’. Three Pirate Party MPs moved a bill before Alþingi (Iceland’s parliament) to have a clause removed from the Icelandic Penal Code, in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris. On 7 July the three MPs took to the Alþingi lectern and one after another, while the vote was under way, declared, ‘I am Charlie Hebdo.’ The established (Lutheran) Church of Iceland supported the move, but the Church of Iceland parish of Berunes (Eastern Iceland), the Catholic Church of Iceland, and the Fíladelfía Pentecostal church opposed it. The Catholic Church argued that blasphemy can inflict psychological abuse on individuals or groups. The Fíladelfía church asked, ‘Does a person’s human rights include the right to mock the beliefs of others?’
Hungary: YWAM sandwich run
The city of Budapest has a big number of homeless people, some of whom have been living on the streets for the last 30 years or more. It is heart-breaking to hear their stories of how they ended up on the streets, many being rejected by their families. YWAM reaches out to these vulnerable friends by giving them sandwiches, listening to their stories, praying for them with the ultimate goal of sharing the Hope and Love of Christ! Their Mission Statement says, ‘With Jesus as our source of life and ministry, we are committed to demonstrate and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Budapest, the nation of Hungary, the Balkans, and nations beyond. We endeavour to disciple and train young leaders by equipping and releasing those called to help fulfil the Great Commission mandate through their church, local ministry, or foreign missions project.’
Vatican City State: Pope’s message to South
From 5 to13 July the Pope is visiting Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. His message puts him on delicate ground. Pope Francis has accused multinational companies of stripping poor countries of natural resources, criticised unfettered capitalism for promoting ‘exclusion and inequality’ and beatified a slain Salvadoran archbishop who is an icon of the Latin American left. His messages have sounded like a message from Latin America’s leftists in Ecuador and Bolivia (the first two stops on his tour). In the past he has been critical of heavy-handed governance in his native Argentina. He was deeply influenced by Peronism, a populist movement launched by Argentine strongman Juan Domingo Peron that showers the working class with government aid. He maintained close ties to Argentina’s labour unions and their leaders, who say he believes a decent job is an essential aspect of human dignity. ‘Peronist doctrine shares much in common with the church’s social doctrine,’ Francis is quoted as saying.
Greece: Act II of Greece’s debt tragedy
On Friday, Greece asked for 53.5 billion euros to help cover its debts until 2018, a review of primary surplus targets and ‘re-profiling’ the country’s long-term debt. Greece’s future is in the hands of the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, France and Germany. With Greece and Germany at loggerheads, France has found itself caught in the middle. The country’s role is a pivotal one; it must help them to look beyond their past disputes. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is in a tricky situation. She can’t ignore the fact that most German politicians and a portion of the public are tired of hearing about Greece. The International Monetary Fund has been unpredictable since Christine Lagarde took over in 2011, its interests sometimes aligning with Greece, at other times with its creditors. Some have questioned whether the Greek debt crisis has undermined the European Commission instead of reinforcing its role at the heart of Europe’s institutions.
