Hong Kong protest continues with worship

There has been days of demonstrations in the city over a planned extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited from Hong Kong to mainland China.

Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam on Sunday apologised for proposing the bill which has since been suspended but the unrest has grown with protesters demanding she resigns.

 

Karen Chu is a Christian and a student at Hong Kong University.

She told Premier that many Christians have been involved with the demonstrations.

“I actually haven’t gone out to protests at all, just because for me I decided that I want to just pray in my own time and in my own space, but there has been a lot of Christians that went to protest, which…I guess has not been seen before,” she explained.

“Hong Kong Christians have always been criticised as people who don’t care about politics, or people who don’t speak out about it – which I don’t agree with.”

 

She validated reports of “the unofficial anthem” of the vast crowds protesting.

“Churches and a lot of Christians have been organising…

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Bombers Target Church in Sweden for the Second Time

Bombers Target Church in Sweden for the Second Time



A Syrian Orthodox church in Sweden was targeted by bombers for the second time last week.


According to Summit News, a bomb went off inside of a building adjacent to St. Afrem Church in Södertälje, Sweden last week around 3:00 am.


The building was being used as a rental space for events and parties.


According to CBN News, police were alerted of the bombing after nearby residents heard loud explosions.


Reportedly, this is the second time in recent months that this church – which is located in an area that is highly populated by Muslim refugees – has been targeted.


According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe – a not-for-profit persecution watchdog – St. Afrem was first targeted last September when the banquet hall which was often rented from the church for events was bombed. No injuries occurred as a result of the explosion since the hall was empty at the time.


The National Bomb Guard is investigating the most recent bombing, but police are already speculating that there is “a motive against the church.”


Authorities believe that the investigation will be difficult since suspects typically swiftly flee from scenes where bombings are committed.


According to Summit News, Sweden received a high percentage of refugees in their country of the past few years. Particularly in Södertälje, more than 50 percent of the…

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Israel Folau in fresh controversy following sermon

 

The former Australian rugby player was fired from the sport earlier this year after a comment on social media saying ‘hell awaits adulterers, drunks and homosexuals.’

Speaking to members of Sydney’s Truth of Jesus Christ Church on Sunday, Folau addressed the issue of children having the freedom to change gender as an example.

 

He said: “You see in today’s youths and everything, they are allowing young kids in primary school to be able to have the permission to change their gender if they want to by taking away the permission of their parents.

“Now they are trying to take control as a government to make those decisions for young kids who are basically 16 years old or younger, they don’t even know what they are doing.

“This is what the devil is trying to do, to instill into the government, into this world, into society, and it is slowly happening.”

Folau is currently in the process of suing bosses at Rugby Australia on the grounds of religious discrimination.

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MLK, Jr’s Niece Calls on Gillibrand to Apologize after Comparing Abortion to Racism

MLK, Jr’s Niece Calls on Gillibrand to Apologize after Comparing Abortion to Racism



Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Director of Civil Rights for the Unborn, has called on Senator and presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to rescind her previous statement comparing racism to abortion.


“I was shocked and saddened at the recent comments of presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., comparing pro-life advocates to racists,” King said in a statement according to Truth PR. “…Little babies in the womb, regardless of race, gender, or physical or mental disability are people. To defend their right to life is not racism—it is true compassion!”


King continued by celebrating Georgia’s most recent and restrictive abortion law, which bans abortions by the time a heartbeat is detected. She supported the bill as part of the National Black Pro-Life Coalition, an organization hoping to end abortion.


“According to Gillibrand’s reasoning, me, the black men and women in that and other Black Pro-Life groups are racists. How ridiculous and shameful!” she said. “After surviving 400 years of slavery and racism in America, we deserve more than abortion.”


“Gillibrand should be ashamed of herself for making such insensitive remarks,” King concluded her statement. “She owes an apology to babies, black and all pro-lifers—and to God!”


In an article last week in newsmax.com,…

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Another congregation leaves Scottish Episcopal Church

Members of St Silas Church took a vote after a process of consultation and prayer.

86 per cent were in favour of leaving the denomination.

  

The Scottish Episcopal Church recently changed the law to allow same sex marriages to take place in its buildings.

In a statement, St Silas said: “Recent decisions of the Scottish Episcopal Church have made clear to us that the denomination does not regard the Bible as the authoritative word of God. 

“With deep sadness, we have therefore decided that for reasons of integrity we can no longer continue as part of the Scottish Episcopal Church.”

In response The Most Rev Mark Strange, Interim Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway said: “Following meetings and conversations with the people of St Silas they have now decided to separate from the Scottish Episcopal Church to fulfil their mission as they understand it to be.

“Although there is always sadness when brothers and sisters walk separately, our brothers and sisters at St Silas continue on their journey of faith with my prayers and blessings; just as they would receive if they decide to return to the Scottish Episcopal Church.”

St Silas is now seeking alternative oversight from the worldwide Anglican conservative group GAFCON.

 

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Pastor Convicted of Sex Trafficking to Be Sentenced, Wife Sentenced to Nearly Two Years for Lying

Pastor Convicted of Sex Trafficking to Be Sentenced, Wife Sentenced to Nearly Two Years for Lying



The ex-wife of one of three pastors who was convicted in a sex trafficking investigation has also been convicted and sentenced to nearly two years in prison for lying to investigators.


Laura Lloyd, of Ohio, told a judge that she lied because she was trying to protect her job and her family.


Lloyd was sentenced to 21 months in prison.


Lloyd is a former county administrator in Toledo who was let go from her job after her ex-husband was suspected on child sex trafficking.


Last month, ex-husband Cordell Jenkins was sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors say he had sex with a teenager at his home and his office at the church where he pastored. According to the Associated Press, he recorded the encounters with his phone. He pled guilty to the charges last week.


Another one of the three ministers found guilty of sex trafficking is scheduled to be sentenced soon. The pastor could face life in prison.


Anthony Haynes has also pled guilty of multiple charges of sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation. Previously, he denied the charges, telling jurors, “I’m not a pervert.”


A 19-year-old woman told jurors that when she was 14, Haynes encouraged her to have sex with the three pastors. According to ABC News, he also paid the woman during the three-year period after he told her mother that he would protect her.


Earlier this…

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Bishops repent over anti-Semitism

It has signed up to a definition of anti-Semitism which has also been backed by the Welsh and UK Governments, together with other governing bodies.

 

In a statement the Bishop said: “We regard anti-Semitism as abhorrent and recognise that the Christian Church has need of repentance for the ways in which it has contributed in the past to anti-Jewish sentiment.”

The new definition states: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The new definition has been put together by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

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Atheist Groups Demands Investigation after 18 Alabama Football Players Are Baptized

Atheist Groups Demands Investigation after 18 Alabama Football Players Are Baptized



The Freedom From Religion Foundation is taking an Alabama High School to task after 18 football players were baptized last month.


According to Fox News, 18 players for the Washington County High school were baptized in a feeding trough by Chatom Baptist Church’s pastor in May. The event was recorded and posted to Facebook where most people rejoiced in the sight. 


One person, however, seemingly did not find the baptism of the players appropriate, prompting them to reach out to the FFRF.


According to Fox News, the FFRF – an atheist law firm claiming to fight to protect the separation of church and state – sent a letter to the Washington County Schools Superintendent in May, claiming that the coach was participating in “illegal” activities because of his involvement in the players’ baptisms. 


The letter claimed that one resident of the 1,200 people living in the town of Chatom contacted the FFRF upset that the players were baptized, some by the coach. 


 Christopher Line, a legal fellow at the FFRF, wrote in his letter to the Superintendent that it is “illegal for coaches to organize or participate in religious activities with students, including baptisms.”


He continued, “We request that the district investigate and take the appropriate steps to ensure there will be no further illegal religious events, including team baptisms, during…

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