An appeal by a Catholic priest kidnapped in Yemen by Islamic extremists last March surfaced over the holidays.
Tag: india
Some Christians in India Face Beatings and Fines for Worshiping Jesus
Christians living in Hunter village in the Indian state of Jharkhand are facing dual threats from police who are barring them from worshiping and Hindu radicals who are threatening to kill them.
CHR Comment: Jharkhand land is in eastern India, near Bangladesh where similar threats and murders of Christians have taken place. However, in Jharkhand the threats are coming from Hindus rather than Muslims.
I’ve added a link to another, related story from this region.
Source: Christians in India Face Fines for Worshiping Jesus After Hindu Radicals Threaten to Kill Them
India: 12 Arrested for “Converting to Christianity”
Twelve people have been accused of converting to Christianity, arrested and put in jail in India, according to UCA news.
CHR Comment: Hindu activists surrounded a house in Dahar village, Madhya Pradesh, India. Inside were twelve persons suspected of converting to Christianity. In this region of India, it is illegal to convert without informing the government, which is run by conservative Hindus. Local police arrested the twelve people and took them to jail on January 14, 2016. They were later released on paying bail.
Shankar Singh, who spoke for those arrested, explained that they had not converted to Christianity and had gathered to observe a Hindu harvest festival that coincides with the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makarsankrati). However, he added that the group had faith in Jesus, followed His teachings, and prayed to Him even though they had not joined any Christian church.
In regions where Christianity is new and in the minority, the issue of what makes for a genuine conversion is common. Augustine records an example of this same issue in his Confessions by relating the story of Victorinus, a famous Roman teacher of rhetoric who read Christian books. Victorinus confessed to his friend Simplicianus that he had become a Christian. But Simplicianus contended that he would not agree that Victorinus was a Christian until he saw him at church, to which Victorinus cleverly replied, “Then do walls make Christians?” (Confessions: A New Translation by Henry Chadwick [Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992], 136). Victorinus was afraid to make a public confession of Christ due to the social pressures of the pagan society that surrounded him and celebrated his talents. A public conversion would bring down upon him the scorn of the dominant religious culture.
The followers of Jesus in Dahar village are having a similar experience. They have learned about Jesus and want to follow Him but know that formally converting to Christianity will have great personal costs. May the Lord help them and other Christians in the region work through these matters of conversion safely and sincerely. In closing, we may remember that Victorinus finally asked Simplicianus to take him to church where he received formal instruction in the Christian faith and Baptism.
Source: India: 12 arrested for ‘converting to Christianity’ | Christian News on Christian Today
Pope Francis Approves Mother Teresa for Sainthood
Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the poor.
CHR Comment: Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was declared a saint by Pope Francis. The leader of the Missionaries of Charity was widely respected for her work among the poor in Calcutta, India, and as an advocate for human dignity. The article includes a fine infographic that explains the process by which someone is approved for sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church as well as biographical information.
Church Attendance Plunges after Nepal Becomes a Secular State
Christians mostly welcomed new constitution. Nepal’s main trading partner did not.
CHR Comment: Due to political changes and parliament representation, India has blocked the transport of fuel into Nepal. As a result, fewer Nepalese are able to travel to church as easily as before. Attendance at some congregations has been cut in half.
Source: Church Attendance Plunges after Nepal Becomes a Secular State… | Gleanings | ChristianityToday.com
Recent Examples of Violence against Indian Christians. Modern Church
This article includes numerous examples of persecution and intimidation against Christians in India. The article also looks at conversion practices and their effects on various religious groups. India’s minority Christians struggle against violence and persecution | National Catholic Reporter.
Hindus Attack Nun at Church
The attack on an elderly nun also included the removal of a cross and placement of a hindu idol in the church. This illustrates that the persecution is not just random violence but specifically religious. Lord, have mercy.
BBC News – Narendra Modi expresses deep concern over India nun rape.
Delhi Facebook Page for Christians
Vandals defaced a school in Dehli and the police are responding with support for the Christian minority there by giving them a means of reporting incidents. The Dehli region was home to the Dehli Sultanate during the medieval period.
Delhi Police launches dedicated Facebook page for Christians | Siasat.
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