Indonesia Suicide Church Bombing Injures 14 Worshipers
Indonesian President Joko Widodo pledged to break up a terror network Sunday after two suspected suicide bombers attacked a Catholic Church in the city of Makassar, injuring 14 worshipers.
Catholic Church
Catholic Church ‘cannot bless same-sex unions’
The Catholic Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions, the Vatican office responsible for doctrine has said.
Islamic terrorists murder 16 more people in DR Congo: “Please pray for those traumatized by the violence”
An Islamist terrorist organization operating in DR Congo is believed responsible for murdering 16 people and burning down a Catholic church in the northeastern Congolese province of Ituri, International Christian Concern reports.
Number of Protestants in historically Catholic Mexico now exceeds 10% of population
A new census shows that the number of Protestants in Mexico now exceeds 10 percent of the predominantly Catholic population, Christianity Today reports. Mexico has historically been dominated by the Catholic Church and ranks as one of the most strongly Catholic countries in Latin America.
Turkey continues to desecrate historical churches
Turkey is continuing its neglect of historical churches, in what is reportedly an ongoing effort by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to lead the country further into Islamic culture, International Christian Concern reports.
Nigeria Gunmen Release Bishop But Violence Continues
A prominent Catholic bishop in Nigeria, kidnapped on December 27, has been released unharmed in an “answer to prayers,” his church said Saturday.
Polish Church Gets Back Bell Stolen By Nazis
A 16th-century church bell will be returned to a Catholic church in southern Poland some 77 years after the German Nazis plundered it in World War Two.
China bans Christmas activities
Chinese government authorities increased their persecution of Christians this Christmas season by banning numerous worship services and carol events, the Christian Post reports.
Supreme Court sides with churches against California on coronavirus restrictions
The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with churches against California’s coronavirus gathering restrictions.
California churches appeal to Supreme Court after governor tightens coronavirus restrictions
Two California churches on Friday appealed to the Supreme Court for an emergency injunction against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus restrictions, days after the state revamped its shutdown orders.
Hungary Warns Of Christian Persecution in Europe
Hungary’s anti-migration government has warned that surging Christian persecution must end worldwide, including in Europe, which faced several Islamic terror attacks.
Hungary Bans Gay Adoptions In Constitution To Protect ‘Order of Creation’
Hungary’s government has proposed a constitutional amendment defending “the order of Creation” that would require children to be raised according to Christian principles and bans adoption by same-sex couples.
Islamic State Claims Austria Terror Attack Killing Four
Austrian police detained 14 people in several raids Tuesday after an Islamist gunman shot and killed four people in Vienna.
Poland’s Leaders Condemn Church Attacks After Anti-Abortion Ruling
Poland’s prime minister has condemned “pro-choice” protestors who disrupt church services and block roads to express anger over a court ruling that severely restricts abortions.
Rioters burn down two churches in Chile
Large groups of anti-government rioters in Santiago, Chile went on to burn down two Catholic churches, after vandalizing buildings and looting stores as protests broke out in the city over the weekend, CBN News reports. Demonstrations had been taking place in the run-up to the October 25 national referendum on whether to strike down Chile’s dictator-era constitution. Peaceful protests had been conducted during the day but rioting took over at night.
Belarus Detains Dozens Of Pro-Democracy Protestors Opposing President
As talks were underway between the Vatican and Belarus, reports emerged that Belarusian authorities detained dozens of pro-democracy protesters.
Opposition Leader Urges End To Deals With Belarus President Amid Kidnappings and Expulsions
An opposition leader says an increasing number of critical activists opposing Belarusian President Alexander Lukanhesko are detained, kidnapped, and sometimes expelled from the country. The statement by Svetlana Tikhanovskaya comes amid dramatic scenes at the borders of the former Soviet republic.
Recent Supreme Court ruling being used to force hospital into performing transgender surgery
A recent US Supreme Court ruling has opened the door for a lawsuit that seeks to force a Catholic hospital to carry out transgender surgery, PJ Media reports. Brought by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Maryland lawsuit is relying on the case of Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) to make its case. In Bostock, Justice Neil Gorsuch led the Court’s four liberals to redefine a person’s “sex” as including transgender identity and sexual orientation. At the time of this ruling, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito warned that Gorsuch’s decision would pave the way for the kind of case that has now been filed.
Poland Voters Elect President As Country Seeks Direction
People in Poland went to the polls Sunday in what commentators called a razor-blade-close presidential election runoff amid a coronavirus pandemic. Voters were deciding whether to give another chance to the current conservative President Andrzej Duda, or to make the liberal mayor of Warsaw the next head-of-state.
Pope Calls People of All Faiths to a Day of Prayer on May 14
The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has called on believers of all religions to “unite together spiritually” and pray on May 14 that God would “help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic.” However, many evangelical leaders warn about ecumenical movements laying aside essential doctrines of the faith for the sake of unity and affirm this is the apostasy of which the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2.