US
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill on Wednesday creating new measures that prohibit anti-abortion protesters from hindering individuals from entering or exiting abortion clinics. The law, called the Act to Promote Public Safety and Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities, allows police to “order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive health care facility.”READ MORE
World
The Chinese government has been cracking down on previously government-approved churches since April, threatening to tear down their crosses and, for some churches, to destroy the entire church itself. The government had been citing “violations of zoning regulations,” but reports show that they have been specifically targeting Christian institutions and symbols.READ MORE
World
Pope Francis met with evangelical pastor Giovanni Traettino and 350 more Pentecostal guests whom Traettino invited on Monday, and gave a formal apology to them on behalf of Catholics for the persecution that they had experienced under Italy’s fascist regime in the 1920s and 1930s. “I am the shepherd of the Catholics and I ask you to forgive my Catholic brothers and sisters who did not understand and were tempted by the devil,” he said.READ MORE
World
Dr. Kent Brantly, a doctor working with Samaritan’s Purse, and Nancy Writebol, a missionary from SIM, contracted the Ebola virus during the past weekend, and are continuing to fight the virus at a hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. Although they are suffering some symptoms of Ebola, both of them are currently in stable condition, according to Ken Isaacs, the vice president of programs and government relations at Samaritan’s Purse. “But they are not out of the woods yet,” he added.READ MORE
US
As the International Religious Freedom Report 2013 was released Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry said in his statement that “we have a long journey ahead of us” for international religious freedom. Secretary Kerry showed his concern about the widespread religious persecution. He mentioned in particular the regions and groups that have been gaining attention from news media during the past year for its persecution of Christians.READ MORE
World
Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of one of the founding leaders of Hamas, rejected Hamas ideology, turned to Christianity, and sought asylum in the United States. In an interview with CNN, Yousef revealed the ways that Hamas indoctrinates children and the true intentions of Hamas to not only take over Israel, but every civilization.READ MORE
Church
In an interview, Pastor Jim-Bob Park expresses his experiences with the first and second generations, and the ways in which both generations must understand each other. The first generation must try to understand the second generation as a mission field, and the second generation must understand how much the first generation had invested in them.READ MORE
US
Mirelle Miller-Young, an associate professor of feminist studies at University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) to the charges of battery, vandalism, and theft, as a result of her assault of a group of pro-life students who advocated on campus in early March.READ MORE
World
UPDATE: According to numerous reports, French President Francois Hollande said in a statement Friday that there were no survivors from the crash. He also mentioned that one of two blackboxes that were attached to the aircraft were found in the debris, and is currently being transported to a city called Mao, located in northern Mali.READ MORE
Ministries
The Pan Pacific Film Festival (PPFF) is taking place for the 6th time, this year in Little Tokyo, from July 24 to 26. The first night ended on Thursday with the awarding of many filmmakers and actors for their work during the Stellae Awards, the “most anticipated event of the Pan Pacific Film Festival,” according to the website.READ MORE
World
Church leaders from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the World Council of Churches released statements online on Tuesday, asking President Obama to continue to push for a ceasefire negotiation between Israel and Hamas, and expressing their grave concern for the violent conflicts of which there seems to be no imminent end. They showed distress for the lives of civilians that have already been taken, and the lives that they fear will continue to be taken if this conflict continues the way it is.READ MORE
World
Taiwan’s TransAsia Airways GE222 flight crashed Wednesday during an emergency landing on Penghu, killing 47 people. The airline stated that the reason for the emergency landing was because of inclement weather, but the exact reason for the failure of the initial attempt for landing is unknown as of now.READ MORE
World
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) now has an even tighter grip in Mosul after the militant group burned down a 1,800-year-old Mosul church Saturday. Christians had been forced to convert to Islam, pay a tax which is referred to as jizya, or flee the city by the deadline of Saturday at noon, according to a report by Al Arabiya.READ MORE
US
On Monday, President Obama signed an executive order which amends Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), prohibiting federal contractors and federal branches from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. ENDA had already previously banned the federal government from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation, but the order signed on Monday included gender identity, and the ban is also now placed on federal contractors in addition to federal branches.READ MORE
Church
For the sixth time, around 30,000 churches are expected to be participating in the Back to Church Sunday movement, an event in which churches will be holding special services specifically catered to welcoming families, friends, and neighbors to come to church. In 2013, “more than 21,000 churches from all 50 states, over 120 denominations, and over 90 countries worldwide” participated in the event.READ MORE
The Sunday Assembly, also known as the “Atheist Church”, based in the United Kingdom is scheduled to have its first global assembly. The “church” is also known to have a branch and ...
World May 06, 2014 02:34 AM EDTThe leaders of the DPRK have been making very strong statements regarding human rights. A representative from the North Korean government has stated in a speech that the U.S. is a ‘living ...
World May 08, 2014 03:08 AM EDT
