House passes amended same-sex marriage bill, sends it to Biden’s desk
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill codifying same-sex marriage into federal law, sending the measure to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Christian
Myanmar: Child among three killed in military attack on Christian village
Continuing its onslaught against non-Buddhist minority faith groups, the Myanmar military junta killed a seven-year-old child and two other people in an attack on the historic Christian village of Mon Hla in the Sagaing region on November 23, the Barnabas Fund reports.
Algeria: Government is persecuting the Church, which continues to grow
While Algeria’s government has now shut down all but a tiny handful of churches in the country, Algerian church leaders say the persecution is causing an increase in the number of new Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Supreme Court grapples with Christian business owner’s objection to Colorado’s pro-LGBTQ law
The Supreme Court grappled Monday with balancing free speech against gay rights, hearing a case involving a Colorado website designer who says she shouldn’t be compelled to violate the tenets of her faith by creating products for same-sex marriages.
Call to prayer for missionary pilot and volunteers imprisoned by Mozambique government
A call to prayer has been sent out for the release of an American Christian missionary pilot and two South African volunteers who have been jailed in Mozambique for a month since being arrested by government officials on suspicion of insurgents in the ongoing civil war, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
California Supreme Court says church cannot be forced to pay over $200,000 in COVID-19 fines
The California Supreme Court has determined that Calvary Chapel Church in Santa Clara County does not have to pay the $217,500 in fines imposed by the state for violating COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Iran Abandons Morality Police After Protests; Christians Still Uncertain (Worthy News In-Depth)
Iran’s morality police, which is tasked with enforcing the country’s strict Islamic dress code, has been disbanded following weeks of protests that killed hundreds of people, authorities say.
Nigeria: 48 Christians abducted in two attacks on buses, “please mobilize prayer for our brethren”
Suspected radicalized Fulani militants in Nigeria’s Ondo and Edo states kidnapped a total of 48 Christians in two attacks on buses on November 24, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Jailed Church Leader Facing India Trial
A jailed leader of more than 30 churches and congregations in northeastern India faces a trial on charges supporters link to his Christian activities, sources told Worthy News late Thursday.
China Closes House Church And School
Chinese authorities closed a house church and its Christian school in Shanxi province after detaining church members amid a crackdown on unauthorized worship in China, Christians confirmed late Thursday.
Scripture engaged Americans gave $145 billion to churches and other charities last year
A new study published by the American Bible Society shows that Scripture engaged Americans donated $145 billion to churches and other charitable causes last year, giving much more than Americans in the “movable middle” and Americans that are Scripture disengaged, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Iraq: Christian families are leaving in droves
The Chaldean Patriarchate has issued a statement attesting that Iraqi Christians are leaving their country in droves due to compelling sociological and political factors, which include discrimination, Agenzia Fides reports. The Christians of Iraq make up one of the oldest continuous Christian communities in the world; there are an estimated 500,000 Christians still in the country.
Britain, Wales see dramatic drop in Christian populations, Falls Below 50% for first time
A new census shows the number of people identifying as Christian in England and Wales has fallen below 50% for the first time, although researchers say this does not mean Britain has turned its back on religion, Christian Today (CT) reports. The census also shows that the percentage of the English and Welsh population who said they had no religion rose sharply from 25.2% in 2011 to 37.2% in 2021.
Wyoming: Christian group is free to hire only Christians following settlement of discrimination lawsuit
Federal agencies and the state of Wyoming have acknowledged in settling a lawsuit filed against them that the Christian Wyoming Rescue Mission is free to hire only like-minded believers who share in the organization’s mission to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Washington Times reports.
Syria: Christians under threat from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terror group
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has stated in a new report that Christians in northwestern Syria are now living under threat from the de facto rule of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a former al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, Christian Today reports.
Sudan: Pastor jailed after praying for his mother to be healed
A pastor in Sudan has been jailed for alleged “witchcraft” after he led a prayer meeting for his sick mother, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. State-sponsored persecution of Christians has returned to Sudan since last year’s military coup toppled the moderate government, which had succeeded ousted Islamic dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
Pakistan: 200 Christian families homeless after government demolishes homes and church
Pakistan government officials bulldozed the homes and church building of 200 Christian families in Islamabad last month, with no warning or offer of substitute housing, the Christian Post reports.
China: Crackdown and closure of house churches continues
China’s ruling Communist Party is continuing its crackdown and closure of evangelical house churches: earlier this month, the Covenant Home Church in Shanxi province was issued with an official notice that it has been banned and must close, reports Bitter Winter, a news outlet focused on religious liberty and human rights in China.
Israel: Ancient city in Golan was important center of Christianity
Archaeologists in Israel have recently discovered that the ancient city of Hippos in the northern Israeli region of the Golan was a major center for Christianity during the Byzantine period, Israel365 reports. Although Hippos was closely connected to Greco-Roman culture and was known as a religious center for the pagan Seleucids, archaeologists have discovered the remains of seven Byzantine-period churches there.
UK street evangelist charged with public order offense after preaching on homosexuality
A UK Christian street preacher charged with a Public Order offense for telling a same-sex married couple that their union is against the Bible’s teaching has had his case dropped after the couple refused to engage with it, Christian Concern (CC) reports.