The Pan-Orthodox Council Must and Will Proceed

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A majority of the Orthodox Churches desire to “walk together” towards unity, while a minority desire ethnic isolation. The Pan-Orthodox Council must not and will not be postponed due to this minority. Nor will the nonparticipation of a minority invalidate the proceedings of the Council.

CHR Comment: The dividing issue that has caused some Orthodox Churches to withdraw from the council, which was fifty years in development, is the issue of consensus—how voting will take place. The article repeatedly speaks of a vast majority of Orthodox Churches participating in the council. However, this seems misleading since the Russian Orthodox Church is the largest body representing the most people. Their withdrawal is significant.

Source: The Pan-Orthodox Council Must and Will Proceed | Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis and Paul L. Gavrilyuk | First Things

Ex-Argentina Official Arrested over Cash Bags at Monastery

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An official in the former government of President Cristina Fernandez was arrested on Tuesday as he allegedly tried to hide millions in dollars and other currencies at an Argentine monastery.

CHR Comment: The monastery is  Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. The money was not received by the nuns who live at the monastery but by another corrupt official.

Source: Ex-Argentina official arrested over cash bags at monastery

Orlando, Religion, Right, and Wrong

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CHR Comment: The shooting in Orlando at a homosexual club is causing some religious leaders to reflect on the potential influence of religion in such mass murder events. The two examples I have linked below are (1) a blog post by Bishop Robert Lynch of the St. Petersburg Diocese and (2) an interview with Megachurch Pastor Joel Hunter. The bishop wrote:

“Sadly it is religion, including our own, which targets…and often breeds contempt for gays, lesbians and transgender people.”

Both leaders express some sense of guilt about this horrifying event. As human beings we all have a gut reaction, that sickening feeling when we see something wrong, know it is wrong, and wish something could be changed. Hunter’s comments were introspective, worried that his preaching and teaching might unintendedly lead to harm. The bishop’s comments linked the horrible event directly to “religion, including our own [Christianity], which targets . . . and often breeds contempt.”

I do not recall ever meeting a fellow Christian who said that mass murder was an acceptable or even a considered response toward homosexuality. On the contrary, Christianity very clearly teaches that we should not murder. That commandment is repeated throughout the New Testament. I do not see that religion itself is to blame in this case. Sin, anger, and hatred are to blame—the very things that genuine religion would help us overcome. We need not less religion. We need true religion more than ever (James 1:26–27).

Source: Bishop Calls Out Homophobia In Religion… And He Isn’t Blaming Islam

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/megachurch.pastor.joel.hunter.evangelicals.must.repent.of.lgbt.oppression/88394.htm

Muslim Villagers Building Church in Pakistan

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Muslim villagers in a Pakistani community are helping to build a church for their Christian neighbors, seeking to show peace and solidarity in a country deeply troubled by religious persecution of minorities.

CHR Comment: Pakistani Christians have too often suffered at the hands of their Muslim neighbors. The peaceful relations in Khaksabad are encouraging to see. Hopefully efforts toward peace can multiply. The church in Khaksabad was destroyed by weather, not by violence.

The story explains that Muslims in Khaksabad behave differently and perhaps believe differently too since one of the persons interviewed expressed that Christians and Muslims have the same God. However, many Christian and Muslim leaders would not agree that they worship the same God since Christians believe that God is triune and Muslims reject the doctrine of the Trinity.

Source: Muslim Villagers Building Church in Pakistan Claim Christians, Muslims ‘Worship Same God’

U.S. Southern Baptists Formally Repudiate Confederate Flag

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The resolution calls for Southern Baptist churches to discontinue displaying the Confederate flag as a “sign of solidarity of the whole Body of Christ.”

CHR Comment: The quotation from the article seems confusing to me (see above). It implies that Southern Baptist churches were displaying the Confederate flag. Perhaps I have not spent enough time in the south but I have never seen a church of any denomination displaying the Confederate flag. No doubt members of Southern Baptist churches have flown the Confederate flag on their own property but that is not the same as raising such a flag over a church. If there is a reader of the blog who is from the south and has actually seen the Confederate flag displayed over a church, please add a comment about that experience.

The Baptists were not the only ones who divided over the issue of slavery. Similar denomination splits occurred among Presbyterians, Lutherans, and perhaps others.

Source: U.S. Southern Baptists Formally Repudiate Confederate Flag

Comfort Dogs Provide Emotional Support after Orlando Shooting

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Eleven golden retrievers headed to Florida.

CHR Comment: The Comfort Dogs are turning into a popular and widespread service. The article explains that the dogs are trained and supported through Lutheran Church Charities, a service organization of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. I’m grateful to see the Huffington Post share the story of the Comfort Dogs and information about the faith-based organization that supports them.

Ironically, I heard a local radio station report about the Comfort Dogs this week. The radio report said nothing about the faith-based nature of the charity and their work. I find that news reports that might positively mention the role of religion in public life often do not do so. In contrast, when religious persons act badly (as the shooter did in this case), the person’s religion seems to get more attention. Perhaps this is because religious persons in general do not act in these extremely violent ways so that the examples of bad behavior seem more exceptional and therefore more newsworthy. (If a religious person consoles someone, that is no surprise. But if a religious person kills someone, that is shocking and makes the news.) In any event, this was indeed a good news story.

Source: Comfort Dogs Provide Emotional Support After Orlando Shooting

Chinese Christian Lawyer Tortured

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In a rare interview, Chinese dissident lawyer Gao Zhisheng talked with The Associated Press on the eve of the launch in Hong Kong of his memoir, using a messaging app to circumvent the constant surveillance he lives under.

CHR Comment: Gao Zhisheng describes the importance of his faith as a source of strength while he was undergoing persecution and as he continues his struggle for human rights in China. He recently released a memoir of his experiences in prison and under surveillance.

Source: Q&A: Tortured Chinese lawyer on his faith, hopes — and teeth – The Washington Post

Christian Burial Sought for “Elephant Man”

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“Elephant man” should be given a Christian burial, according to campaigners who are determined to see his remains removed from their glass viewing case at Queen Mary, University of London.

CHR Comment: Although Joseph Merrick died in 1890, he was never properly buried. His bones remain on display in a glass case at the Queen Mary Museum of London. Museum curators argue that medical students should be able to see Merrick’s bones; descendants of those who worked with Merrick believe he should receive a proper Christian burial as a man of sincere faith.

Source: ‘Elephant man’ was a devout believer and should have Christian burial, say campaigners | Christian News on Christian Today

Terror Campaign in Bangladesh

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Assailants hacked a Hindu holy man to death Friday in northern Bangladesh and fled without anyone witnessing the attack, which police suspect was carried out by Islamist militants.

CHR Comment: The article describes the murder of eight minorities in this Islamic country. In some cases, Islamic militant groups claim responsibility. The fourth paragraph mentions a Christian grocer who was killed only two days before this latest attack.

Source: Hindu holy man hacked to death in Bangladesh

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/06/13/brutal-killings-target-bangladesh-religious-minorities/85842236/

29 Christians Attacked by Hindu Extremists

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Hindu extremists have beaten and tortured 29 Christians who refused to deny their faith in Christ in the village of Katholi in India, reports say.

CHR Comment: The article notes that Christian communities are growing in India at the same time that Hinduism is trying to assert its traditional hold on India. This naturally leads to conflict and persecution of minorities such as Christians.

Source: 29 Christians Tortured by Hindu Extremists for Refusing to Forsake Christ