Mexico: Catholic Church fans flames of gay rights row
A row between Catholic Church leaders and Mexico City's mayor over gay rights has embroiled the Supreme Court. ‘Would any of you want to be adopted by a couple of lesbians or queers?’ said the Archbishop of Guadalajara at a recent news conference where he reacted to Supreme Court ruling granting equal rights to same-sex couples, including the right to adopt, was constitutional. The Cardinal’s next comments fanned the flames of the quarrel further when he alleged that Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard had bribed the Supreme Court judges to hand down a ruling that supported gay rights. Mr Ebrard is now sueing Cardinal Sandoval Iniguez for defamation. A Church spokesman urged Mexican voters to punish the mayor's party at the next election. The dispute has taken further twists and turns, drawn in other players and is closely followed by the Mexican media. At its heart is tension between the Roman Catholic Church and the secular state. Pray: that God’s truth will rid Mexico of its endemic corruption through the church’s grace filled message of truth, love and peace. (Ps.45:2) More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11119011
Malawi: Church warns of 'dictatorship'
‘Malawi is sliding into dictatorship where it is a crime to hold dissenting views to government policy.’ warned leaders of the Church of Central Africa. The charges came after the arrest and subsequent release of the synod's general secretary the Rev. Levi Nyondo. ‘We are shocked and surprised that government could stoop so low to arrest a general secretary of a reputable church,’ synod moderator the Rev. Mezuwa Banda said. Nyondo was arrested after speaking at the funeral of former Cabinet minister Moses Chirambo who died just days after being dismissed from the government. Nyondo was charged with sedition for uttering words that could incite public anger and has since been granted bail by the Mzuzu Magistrate Court. Synod moderator Joyce Banda said the arrest of Nyondo would not intimidate the church into submission, but rather invigorate it to preach the truth. Joyce Banda is sitting vice president and may run for the presidency in 2014 elections. Pray: for the church to deliver God's prophetic message and continue to stand against wrongdoing. (Ps.18:33-34)
India: Recent persecutions
Chhattisgarh - Police arrested three Christians for ‘luring people to convert to Christianity’ by offering them money and ‘false hope’ when Hindu extremists filed a complaint against them. Karnataka – Hindu extremists disrupted the worship meeting of Ebenezer Assembly of God Church and beat Pastor Ravi George and a church member identified only as Ramu. Both received hospital treatment for serious head and hand injuries. Karnataka - Christians face a social boycott of business and grocery shops, students are prevented from attending Christian schools and the Rev. Philip Rock of St. Sebastian Church was charged with ‘causing disharmony’ after Christians refused to follow Hindu rituals. New Delhi - Hindu extremists attacked Pastor Isaac Laal returning from a Sunday church service. The Evangelical Fellowship of India reported that armed extremists took him to a Municipal Corporation hall, accused him of forceful conversion and severely beat him. Pray: for these and the hundreds of other Christians persecuted for their faith in India. (Ps.18:6) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/24929/
Seoul: Lay Catholics likened to a ‘sleeping giant’
Lay Catholics are held back by commitments within the clerical structures. It is now time to awaken them to their specific mission living in the world like a leaven, transforming it, showing the diversity of their life of faith so as to arouse admiration and questions in those who are non-believers. This is a summary of the contents of discussions and conversations at the Congress of Asian Catholic laity in Seoul which sees the present as a time of transition for the church. A professor at the Seminary from Vietnam emphasized that any commitment of the Church that does not include the mission to non-Christians is not a true ecclesial commitment. An Asian layman member of the Philippine government spoke of how important it is to maintain good relations with the media and fill it with Christian values. Pray: for God to wake up the sleeping Catholic Church in Seoul and globally. (Eph.5:14) More: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Lay-Catholics-in-Asia:-a-sleeping-giant-that-is-waking-up-19350.html
