1.12.2017
An Egyptian Christian couple were found dead on Coptic Christmas Day with their throats cut, according to World Watch Monitor.
CHR Comment: Other Coptic Christians were killed in Egypt on January 6. Police attributed the killings to a robbery but a brother of the victim found nothing missing from the home.
Source: Coptic Christian Couple Stabbed To Death In Their Beds | Christian News on Christian Today
Mexico’s Roman Catholic Church on Monday harshly criticized what it called a campaign to smear three priests murdered in less than a week by suggesting the victims had been involved in questionable behavior.
CHR Comment: Drug cartels and a government prosecutor have condemned ministers serving in Mexico where 28 priests have been killed since 2006.
Source: Catholic Church alleges smear campaign against slain priests – The Washington Post
Roman Catholic Church officials pleaded on Thursday for the life of a priest who was kidnapped from his parish residence one day after two other priests were abducted and killed in another part of Mexico.
CHR Comment: Twenty-eight priests have been killed in Mexico since 2006. Father Jose Alfredo Lopez Guillen remains missing.
Source: Priest kidnapped in Mexico adds to worries after 2 killed – The Washington Post
The family of a Pakistani man who was killed while trying to rescue his Christian daughter from a forced Islamic marriage has been given hope for justice after the men who killed him were charged over the murder by state authorities.
CHR Comment: There is progress on this sad story as authorities seem willing to act.
Capital murder is punishable by execution or life in prison; the sisters’ religious orders have issued a joint statement against the death penalty.
CHR Comment: Motive for the killing may be robbery but remains unconfirmed. The killer was living across the street.
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
A Christian woman and the wife of a local Nigerian pastor was stabbed to death by attackers last week, reports say, allegedly because she insulted the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
CHR Comment: Bridget Abahime was 74-years old and the most recent target of violence against Christians in this nation that is half Christian and half Islamic. The article also describes the deaths of hundreds of Christian farmers at the hands of Islamic Fulani herdsman since there are disputes over land in the Benue region.
Source: Pastor’s Wife Stabbed to Death in Nigeria for Allegedly Insulting Prophet Muhammad
Home grown terrorism continues to afflict African American Christians. Lord, have mercy.
9 dead in shooting at black church in Charleston, S.C..
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