Bishop Lawrence calls for Diocesan-Wide Prayer for the Persecuted Church, September 14

Dear Friends in Christ,

Many of us have been following with alarm the persecution of Christians in various countries of the Middle East and Africa. Concern has been expressed within our diocese by priests and laity of the need for us to have a diocesan response to this current crisis.

At our Diocesan Council Meeting last week all concurred that as Bishop I would appoint an upcoming Sunday to be set aside for specific prayer and intercession for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in the midst of this persecution as well as a day for fasting on their behalf. I have appointed September 14th as a Sunday for such diocesan wide intercession. It is the Sunday nearest to Holy Cross Day which is transferred this year to be observed on Monday, September 15th.

Although it is technically a “feast” day, I am suggesting that we use it as a called fast day for personal and corporate self-denial and intercession whether corporately or individually observed depending upon the constraints of parish and personal schedules. I believe there is virtue in many within the diocese banding together in prayer, self-denial and offering in solidarity with fellow Christians around the world.

Those who desire to assist in monetary ways may I suggest Anglican Relief and Development (ARDF) or Voice of the Martyrs as appropriate ministries to assist those in need. Included in this email is a link for a bulletin insert to be used in your parish on Sunday, September 14th which includes a collect and prayer as well as a suggested Psalm according to the Book of Common Prayer.

Yours in Christ,

+Mark J. Lawrence
XIV Bishop of South Carolina

+Anis requests prayer for Egypt

Prayer Request from Egypt

24 November 2012

Dear friends,

I am so grateful for the messages and assurance of prayers which I have recently received. The situation is not easy, and no-one can predict what is going to happen.

There is obviously agitation within Egypt after President Mursi produced a Constitutional Declaration on Thursday the 22nd of November. This declaration removed the Chief Prosecutor, who was appointed by Mubarak, without consulting the Supreme Judicial Council. Also, the declaration gave absolute power to the President’s decisions. It states that his decisions are "final and unchallengeable by any individual or body until a new constitution has been ratified and a new parliament has been elected.” The Supreme Judi-cial Council described the declaration as "an unprecedented attack on the independence of the judiciary and its rulings.”

People gathered yesterday (Friday) at Tahrir Square and other places and cities in protest. They called it the ‘Friday of Anger.’ At the same time, Islamists surrounded the Presidential Palace in support of the President. Some clashes happened between the two groups. It is sad to see this division between the Egyptian people. There are people who continue to demonstrate and a major demonstration is planned for Tuesday.

A few days ago, the churches in Egypt alongside some liberal parties, withdrew their representatives in the committee responsible for writing the new constitution. This was an act of protest, because the majority of the committee are Islamists who want to impose their own views in the constitution. As we dream for real democracy, it was my hope, with many other Egyptians, to have a constitution that is inclusive of all Egyptians. It is very sad because it is now almost two years since the start of the revolution, and we are still longing for stability, democracy, and the opportu-nity to rebuild Egypt.

Do pray for Egypt.

May the Lord bless you!
+ Mouneer

H/T Anglican Ink

New Catholic video suggests severe ballot backlash

The Obama Administration has done many foolish things over the last three and a half years, but none more so than thumbing its nose at the Catholic Church. Obama and his minions may well rue the day they chose confrontation over compromise with an institution that has outlasted more than a few temporal empires. As this video suggests, the backlash at the ballot box, from a constituency once thought reliably Democratic, may be severe.

Unreached peoples, the persecuted church, and the Global Day of Prayer

Leading up to the Global Day of Prayer, please join with Lent and Beyond in praying for some of the most unreached countries and peoples throughout the Muslim world. These are areas in which believers are severely persecuted and proclaiming the Gospel is difficult. Ten countries specifically identified for prayer focus are:

Afghanistan
Egypt
Libya
Mauritania
Oman
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
Yemen

For more information, please visit the Lent and Beyond website.

Persecution Watch: Egypt

HT: Dhimmi Watch

MEDIA ADVISORY, from the Christian Newswire, July 10: Coptic Organizations in America along with activists from Egypt, the Middle East, Europe and the United states, will conduct a peaceful demonstration in front of the White House on Wednesday July 16, 2008, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. The purpose is to convey, to world's opinion and international human rights organizations, recent incidents of persecution, discrimination and marginalization inflicted on Coptic Christians of Egypt by the Egyptian government and Muslim extremists.

The Copts of Egypt are the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. They number about 15% of Egypt's population of 80 million. Not a month passes by without their churches, homes and businesses being attacked. According to a study made by Ibn Khaldoun Research Center in Cairo, over 240 major attacks against the Copts took place during the period from 1972- 2003. Magdy Khalil, a writer and researcher, estimates that as a result of these attacks more than 4000 Copts were killed or injured. This, in addition to damages to Coptic properties that could exceed hundreds of millions of dollars, during the last three decades alone. Hundreds of Coptic girls are abducted and forced to embrace Islam while security forces act as accomplices and helpers of the criminals.

During the last few weeks, the extremists attacked a jewelry store owned by Copts killing four Copts. The extremists also attacked Abu Fana Coptic monastery injuring many monks and kidnapping three. The abducted monks were tortured, while they were ordered to announce abandoning their Christian faith and embracing Islam. In Fayoum, Muslim extremists attacked homes and businesses owned by Coptic Christians. A Coptic Christian man was killed by Muslims in the town of Dafash, governorate of Minia, in the southern part of Egypt.

We call on the American and International Media, human rights organizations and all freedom loving people to join our demonstration in an effort to send a message to the Egyptian government to stop persecuting the Copts and take responsibility in providing adequate protection for them.

Persecution Watch: Canada (Again!)

Apparently, the Canadian Thought Police think they can control what a visiting American youth minister says in an Alberta church! Via Stephen Boissoin:

Last week I received an email through my website from a concerned US citizen. This individual and her husband have been invited to facilitate at a seminar which is being hosted by an Edmonton church...IN THE CHURCH.

The US couple was concerned about their freedoms here in Canada because they're offering a teaching on Biblical sexuality that is based in the Song of Solomon and does address homosexuality as sin. They were thinking about cancelling due to risk of prosecution. I encouraged them to keep it in the church and they should be ok.

The couple decided to contact the Alberta Human Rights Commission to enquire about the legalities surrounding their presentation. Below you can read the phone log of the conversation with Ralph Roman an officer of the AHRC.

An interesting point here is that this couple was advised by Ralph Roman, to inform the church that they should hire a lawyer to draft up legal consent forms and ensure that the attendees consent to the teaching...PLUS, she was advised to have the curriculum reviewed by the Police and was cautioned that the attendees should NOT talk about the information presented. Ralph Roman went on to inform her that even with a consent form there is still no guarantee that a complaint could not be filed IF someone was offended....like a teacher for instance.

Christian parents are not allowed to "opt" their kids out of biased pro-homosexual propaganda in our public schools but the HRC advises that we need to obtain consent to teach our religious beliefs in our own religous institutions.

Persecution Watch: Iraq

The end of Saddam's brutal regime has brought no relief for Iraq's Christian community. This disturbing article by Robin Harris gives much needed attention to their plight.

But Christianity now faces extinction. The 1987 census recorded 1.4 million Christians in Iraq. Numbers began to drop as conditions deteriorated after the first Gulf War. There were, though, around 800,000 at the time of the U.S-led invasion of 2003. Of these, about half have now left the country altogether, while more than 100,000 are internally displaced persons.

There is no mystery as to why. With other (still smaller) religious minorities, such as Yazidis and Mandaeans, Iraq’s Christians are suffering sustained persecution. While constituting less than 4 percent of the population of Iraq, Christians constitute 40 percent of the refugees leaving the country. Most of these have found refuge in Syria and Jordan, where they are living in utterly degrading conditions. The current rate of Christian exodus is estimated at about 2,000 a day.

Members of all religions have been affected by the violence since the toppling of Saddam Hussein. But Christians are in a worse position since they suffer directly because of their Christian faith. Targeted by Islamist extremists, they are confronted by demands to convert, death threats, looting of their homes and businesses, systematic intimidation, abductions for ransom, bombings, and frequently murder. Because Christians are known to be weak they and their property are also prey to gangsterism. Churches and church leaders are particular targets for Islamists. The 65-year-old Chaldean archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul was abducted and murdered in March. Numerous priests and deacons have been tortured and shot or beheaded. At least 40 churches have been burnt.

The Iraqi Christian community has disappeared altogether from many areas of the country. Baghdad is rapidly emptying of its once flourishing Christian community, whose members have fled north to the traditional Christian homeland in the towns and villages of the plains of Nineveh. But here too they are hugely vulnerable. The regionally dominant Kurds, with whom relations have historically been bad and occasionally bloody, have little interest in offering protection. The Shia-dominated government in Baghdad is distant, unsympathetic, and has its own interests and problems. Even the relative success of the U.S. surge strategy has brought difficulties for the Christians, because the struggle with al-Qaeda is now focused on the regional centre Mosul, where Christians had hoped to find security. The Christian population itself is unused to bearing arms. It has no militia to defend it. It has no regional protectors. It is subject to pressures of illegal land confiscation and annexation, aimed at pushing it out of its last refuge.

Persecution Watch: Algeria

Muslim converts to Christianity are on trial in Algeria for taking the Great Commission seriously.

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - Two men who converted from Islam to Christianity went on trial Wednesday on charges that they illegally promoted the Christian faith in Algeria.

Rachid Mohammed Seghir, 40, and Jammal Dahmani, 36, were already convicted in absentia for illegal practice of a non-Muslim religion in 2007 but asked for a new trial, as Algerian law allows, their lawyer said.

They are charged with praying in a building that had not been granted a religious permit by authorities and are also accused of trying to spread the Christian faith among Muslims, the court said.

Persecuted Pastor Appeals Thought Police Verdict

From the Red Deer Advocate:

An appeal will be filed next week concerning a former Red Deer pastor and an anti-gay letter he wrote and had published.

“We do plan to file Monday or Tuesday through the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta,” said Calgary lawyer Gerald Chipeur on behalf of his client Stephen Boissoin, on Thursday.

The appeal will centre on a recent ruling and decision made by the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission.

In November, the commission ruled the Concerned Christian Coalition and its former executive director, Boissoin, broke Alberta’s human rights law after a letter was published in the Red Deer Advocate in June 2002.

The commission said Boissoin’s letter likely exposed homosexual people to hatred and contempt.

On May 30, the commission ruled that Boissoin and the coalition would have to pay $5,000 in damages to former Red Deer school teacher Darren Lund.

Lund had filed the complaint that the letter was a hate crime after a gay teen was attacked in the city.

Another $2,000 would have to be paid to Janelle Dodd, one of Lund’s witnesses who spoke at an earlier commission hearing.

Boissoin and the coalition were also ordered to stop publishing in all forms of media any “disparaging remarks” about gays and homosexuals.

As well, they must give a written apology to Lund, and request that the Red Deer Advocate publish a copy of the May 30 order and their written apology.

For the record, here is the original letter which ran Pastor Boissoin afoul of the Canadian Thought Police (via The Blog of Walker):

Homosexual Agenda Wicked

The following is not intended for those who are suffering from an unwanted sexual identity crisis. For you, I have understanding, care, compassion and tolerance. I sympathize with you and offer you my love and fellowship. I prayerfully beseech you to seek help, and I assure you that your present enslavement to homosexuality can be remedied. Many outspoken, former homosexuals are free today.

Instead, this is aimed precisely at every individual that in any way supports the homosexual machine that has been mercilessly gaining ground in our society since the 1960s. I cannot pity you any longer and remain inactive. You have caused far too much damage. My banner has now been raised and war has been declared so as to defend the precious sanctity of our innocent children and youth, that you so eagerly toil, day and night, to consume. With me stand the greatest weapons that you have encountered to date - God and the "Moral Majority." Know this, we will defeat you, then heal the damage that you have caused. Modern society has become dispassionate to the cause of righteousness. Many people are so apathetic and desensitized today that they cannot even accurately define the term "morality."

The masses have dug in and continue to excuse their failure to stand against horrendous atrocities such as the aggressive propagation of homo- and bisexuality. Inexcusable justifications such as, "I'm just not sure where the truth lies," or "If they don't affect me then I don't care what they do," abound from the lips of the quantifiable majority. Face the facts, it is affecting you. Like it or not, every professing heterosexual is have their future aggressively chopped at the roots.Edmund Burke's observation that, "All that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing," has been confirmed time and time again. From kindergarten class on, our children, your grandchildren are being strategically targeted, psychologically abused and brainwashed by homosexual and pro-homosexual educators.

Our children are being victimized by repugnant and premeditated strategies, aimed at desensitizing and eventually recruiting our young into their camps. Think about it, children as young as five and six years of age are being subjected to psychologically and physiologically damaging pro-homosexual literature and guidance in the public school system; all under the fraudulent guise of equal rights.Your children are being warped into believing that same-sex families are acceptable; that men kissing men is appropriate.

Your teenagers are being instructed on how to perform so-called safe same gender oral and anal sex and at the same time being told that it is normal, natural and even productive. Will your child be the next victim that tests homosexuality positive? Come on people, wake up! It's time to stand together and take whatever steps are necessary to reverse the wickedness that our lethargy has authorized to spawn. Where homosexuality flourishes, all manner of wickedness abounds.

Regardless of what you hear, the militant homosexual agenda isn't rooted in protecting homosexuals from "gay bashing." The agenda is clearly about homosexual activists that include, teachers, politicians, lawyers, Supreme Court judges, and God forbid, even so-called ministers, who are all determined to gain complete equality in our nation and even worse, our world.Don't allow yourself to be deceived any longer. These activists are not morally upright citizens, concerned about the best interests of our society. They are perverse, self-centered and morally deprived individuals who are spreading their psychological disease into every area of our lives. Homosexual rights activists and those that defend them, are just as immoral as the pedophiles, drug dealers and pimps that plague our communities.

The homosexual agenda is not gaining ground because it is morally backed. It is gaining ground simply because you, Mr. and Mrs. Heterosexual, do nothing to stop it. It is only a matter of time before some of these morally bankrupt individuals such as those involved with NAMBLA, the North American Man/Boy Lovers Association, will achieve their goal to have sexual relations with children and assert that it is a matter of free choice and claim that we are intolerant bigots not to accept it.

If you are reading this and think that this is alarmist, then I simply ask you this: how bad do things have to become before you will get involved? It's time to start taking back what the enemy has taken from you. The safety and future of our children is at stake.

Rev. Stephen Boissoin

Visit Stephen Boissoin's web site and blog.

Fr. de Valk Fights Christian Persecution in Canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2008

A monthly Canadian Catholic magazine of news, analysis and opinion has been burdened by $20,000 in legal costs so far to defend itself against a campaign of harassment – including a human rights complaint – launched by homosexual activists.

Catholic Insight magazine had the human rights complaint filed against it in February 2007 by Rob Wells, a member of the Pride Centre of Edmonton. Sixteen months later, the publication is still awaiting a ruling from the Canadian Human Rights Commission on whether the matter will proceed beyond the investigation stage. The magazine has held to the position that the complaint is without basis.

The magazine has also had to engage legal counsel to deal with frivolous and unsuccessful actions launched by a homosexually “married” Toronto resident and disgruntled former Catholic seminarian, who wrote in an August 21, 2007 posting on the http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/ website with respect to opposing religious institutions, “As long as the disruption is non-violent and it is proportionate to the provocation, then I think that it may be acceptable. It may not be legal, it may not be pretty, but it may be morally acceptable in some cases.”

This individual’s campaign of “disruption” against Catholic Insight has included attempting to strip the magazine of its funding under Heritage Canada’s Publications Assistance Program and filing a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Catholic Insight editor Father Alphonse de Valk is deeply offended that the publication, which operates on a modest budget, has been burdened with such unnecessary, but significant, legal expenses for complaints and actions that have so far failed in every case. At the same time, he is heartened by the fact that the magazine’s subscribers and supporters, both within and outside Canada, have stepped forward generously to help the publication deal with its financial challenges through contributions to a Legal Defence Fund.

While pledging that the magazine will not be fazed by the actions and will continue to publish for years to come, de Valk renewed his call for the elimination, or at least radical restructuring, of human rights commissions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Father Alphonse de Valk, (416) 204-9601

Only in America?

The Gestapo is alive and well in New Mexico.

A Christian law firm will appeal a ruling by the New Mexico Human Rights Commission fining a photographer who refused to take photos of a homosexual commitment ceremony.

Elaine Huguenin and her husband Jon, who co-own Elane Photography in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are both Christians. So when a lesbian couple asked them to photograph their "commitment ceremony" in Taos, the Huguenins politely refused. In response, Vanessa Willock filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission claiming the Huguenins discriminated against her because of her "sexual orientation." On Wednesday, the Commission found the Christian couple guilty of discrimination under state anti-discrimination laws and ordered them to pay more than $6,000 in costs.

Jordan Lorence with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) represented the Huguenins. He contends the lawsuit reflects an attitude among homosexual activists.

"This decision is a stunning disregard for religious liberty and First Amendment freedoms of people of faith, of Christians, and those who believe in traditional marriage defined as one man and one woman," says the attorney. "This shows the very disconcerting, authoritarian face of the homosexual activists, who are using these non-discrimination laws as weapons against Christians in the business world and Christians in their churches."

Lorence believes the Huguenins will win an appeal of the decision. But he warns this is how similar laws in 19 other states, and the proposed federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act, can be misused to silence biblical beliefs.

"There is a great threat to our religious liberties and our ability to speak out in favor of traditional marriage when these non-discrimination laws are interpreted in such a harsh way to censor Christians and others," he asserts.

Lorence said Americans do not surrender their freedoms of speech or religion just because they choose to open a business. He added that the Commission's decision is tantamount to the State of New Mexico forcing a vegetarian videographer to create a commercial for a butcher shop.

Jeff Johnson, OneNewsNow.com

Whenever a political entity establishes a "Human Rights Commission," it is putting in place a mechanism for tyranny. Deceptive language is a tried and true tactic for silencing dissent. Who, after all, would be opposed to "Human Rights?" It is such a pleasant and affirming term, in a serpentine kind of way.

The "Religion of Peace" Strikes Again

Another example of religious tolerance in "moderate" Turkey:

ISTANBUL, December 17 (Compass Direct News) – A 19-year-old Muslim youth stabbed an Italian priest in the stomach yesterday after Sunday services outside a Catholic church in Turkey.

Father Adriano Franchini, 65, was hospitalized overnight in the Aegean city of Izmir, and hospital authorities expected to discharge him today, the Anatolia News Agency reported.

According to the daily Hurriyet newspaper, the arrested assailant admitted in his statement to the police that he had been influenced by a recent episode of the popular television serial drama “Kurtlar Vadisi” (Valley of the Wolves). The series caricatures Christian missionaries as political “infiltrators” who pay poor families to convert to Christianity.

Fr. Franchini was stabbed near Izmir’s St. Anthony Church by a man identified as Ramazan Bay following Sunday mass. Although Bay fled the scene, he was reportedly taken into custody an hour later.

Just before the attack, Fr. Franchini and Bay had a 15-minute conversation following mass in which Bay expressed his interest in becoming a Christian. But at the close of their talk, he suddenly became angry and stabbed the priest, drawing blood but not leaving a deep wound.

Bay’s father said his son left their house in Balikesir to travel to Izmir 10 days ago. Before he left he said he had “found a new job,” Hurriyet reported. “We are very sorry,” the father said.

Disputes sometimes result when Turks visit Catholic and Protestant churches, due to the popular notion that Christians will pay them to come to church or send them out to the West if they convert to Christianity, said Monsignor Luigi Padovese, apostolic vicar of Anatolia.

For this reason, he said, Turkey’s Catholic churches exercise caution when local Muslim citizens show an interest in Christianity. Although Turkey is 99 percent Muslim, the country’s secular laws allow Muslims to officially change their religious identities to another faith.

“If someone will come to us, we must see if he is serious, honest and if he will really be a Christian, not for receiving money or going [abroad],” Padovese said. “We must see the intention.” The bishop said Fr. Franchini was aware of these conditions since he has lived in Turkey for more than 25 years.

Fr. Franchini, who is fluent in Turkish, delivered the homily yesterday at St. Anthony Church. He serves as curate of the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, where Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass in his papal voyage to Turkey last November.

Remember the Persecuted This Sunday

This Sunday, November 11, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Please visit the IDOP web site for helpful and informative materials, including critical prayer requests from our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

A Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Based on Psalm 46

'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.' Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV)

Father in heaven,
we come into your presence now, to advocate specifically for all your children who are living amidst great trouble and with terrible suffering. Their homelands shake because of war, communal violence and religious persecution. Their lands are flooded with violence, hatred, insecurity and hopelessness. Father we implore you to be their refuge and strength. Draw them close to you – men and women, small children, anxious parents, the frail and elderly – rescue, sustain and protect them who are the 'apple of your eye'. May they know and experience you as their refuge and strength, their very present help in trouble. Lord, increase their faith so that regardless of their circumstances, fear cannot prevail nor have victory over them.

'There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.' (vv4-7)

Father,
we ask you to abundantly provide streams of 'living water' to refresh, sustain, uplift and invigorate the suffering persecuted Church, bringing her supernatural strength, life and joy in the midst of her hardships. By your Spirit may your children know and rejoice in your presence, despite the difficulties of their circumstances. May they be comforted and encouraged as they see by faith that the LORD of hosts is with them, standing firm in the midst of his people.

'Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.' (vv8-11)

Father,
we pray that you will open the eyes of every child of God to 'behold the works of the LORD'. May your children be encouraged by your great and awesome deeds in all the earth, including the Muslim world and Asia, where prayer is being answered despite severe persecution, the Church is growing, and your glory is spreading. May the persecuted believers be blessed with spiritual sight to 'behold the works of the LORD' in their own lives and in their nation.

Lord,
we pray that you will expose and destroy the evil forces that wage war against your Church. We ask you to 'frustrate the ways of the wicked': disrupt illicit transfers of weapons that would be used against your children, and bring to naught all evil and foolish schemes that would harm your beloved people. We beseech you to send out more workers and spread your gospel through the whole world. May your Holy Spirit wield as a sword your holy word as it goes out from the lips of your servants so that truth may deal a death-blow to lies and false religion. May hearts be turned towards peace, so that wars might cease and weapons be needed no more.

The earth may be filled with trouble, but you O Lord are the refuge, strength, fortress and deliverer of your people. You, O Lord, do faithfully supply and sustain your beloved. You, O Lord, will be exalted amongst the nations. You, O Lord, will be exalted in the earth. You, O Lord, are with your people. You are our fortress, and for this we give you thanks and praise as we lift our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ before your throne.

AMEN