Charges Against Muslim Murderer of Coptic Christian Dropped; Dubious Claim of ‘Mental Illness’ Cited

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Charges Against Muslim Murderer of Coptic Christian Dropped; Dubious Claim of ‘Mental Illness’ Cited

<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Coptic Christians in Los Angeles, California, protest against deadly clashes in Cairo, Egypt, between Christian protesters and military police in this October 16, 2011 photo.” title=”<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Coptic Christians in Los Angeles, California, protest against deadly clashes in Cairo, Egypt, between Christian protesters and military police in this October 16, 2011 photo.” name=”jpg” src=”http://images.christianpost.com/full/73563/coptic-christians-in-los-angeles-california-protest-against-deadly-clashes-in-cairo-egypt-between-christian-protesters-and-military-police-in-this-october-16-2011-photo.jpg” class=”imgPhoto” width=”550″ height=”450″ /> <small class=(Photo: Reuters/David McNew)

Christian Post Report – Coptic Christians in Los Angeles, California, protest against deadly clashes in Cairo, Egypt, between Christian protesters and military police in this October 16, 2011 photo.

Upper Egypt prosecutors are dropping all charges against a gunmen that murdered a Christian man, claiming the assailant is mentally unfit to stand trial.

In January, Shaheed Nesemis Saroufeem, a Coptic Christian, was followed and then shot dead in Egypt’s Luxor Province.

According to some, this is a common tactic in predominately Muslim countries where legal officials work in concert with government authorities to avoid prosecution of those that are persecuting the Christian minority.

Morning Star News reported the comments of Safwat Samaan, director of the human rights group Nation Without Borders, who doubts the validity of the too mentally unfit to stand trial claim.

“It is a common legal tactic in Egypt for Muslims who have killed Copts or committed other acts of violence against members of the Orthodox minority to use the insanity defense to avoid trial or any kind of punishment,” declared Samaan.

Hasan Baghdadi was arrested in January for firing nine shots at Saroufeem from a motorcycle that resulted in his death. Saroufeem is a cousin of a Coptic Christian who was killed along with three other Copts in July 2013.

Morning Star News has reported that there were several witnesses who claimed to see Baghdani gun down Saroufeem. Bagdhdadi and his brother, Mohamed, believed to be an accomplice in the murder, are related to one of the men accused of killing four Copts in 2013. Mohamed Baghdadi has not been charged with a crime and the investigation against him was dropped.

Government officials are now encouraging Christian families of the victims to participate in “reconciliation meetings,” which generally results in no punishment of Muslim persecutors. Reconciliation meetings are not usually part of the legal justice system in Egypt, and usually favors the party and family that has more power, which in Egypt, is rarely the Christians.

Egypt in 2013 faced nationwide upheaval during the ouster of then President Mohamed Morsi, who had strong ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Coptic Christians in Egypt overwhelmingly supported the ouster of Morsi for a more secular government, hoping it may dissipate some of the persecution against Christians.

Family members believe the slaying of Saroufeem is retribution because relatives refuse to drop the charges against Baghdadi’s family member involved in the murder of Copts. Saroufeem was slain a day after a hearing of the 2013 murder of Coptic Christians.

“It’s not the first time that a Muslim in Egypt has attacked a Christian or a church has claimed to be mentally ill,” says Samaan, “and there seems to be an epidemic of cases in other countries as well, so it seems like ‘the devil’ is leading these people to do such things.”

Coptic Christians face increasing violence in Egypt during times of national duress and uncertainty, where they are often blamed for problems plaguing the country. Egypt, which was majority Christian until the 10th century, is now about 10 to 12 percent Christian. Copts make up over 90 percent of Egypt’s Christian population. Copts did praise the Egyptian government in the wake of Egyptian military airstrikes against ISIS in Libya for the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya.

The Coptic Church traces its roots back to the Gospel writer Mark, who is said to have brought the Gospel to Alexandria in the middle of the first century.

Source : Christian Post

Christian Law School Forced to Support Homosexuality If It Wants Accreditation, Canadian Court Rules

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Christian Law School Forced to Support Homosexuality If It Wants Accreditation, Canadian Court Rules

<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Trinity Western University” title=”<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Trinity Western University” name=”jpg” src=”http://images.christianpost.com/full/78032/trinity-western-university.jpg” class=”imgPhoto” width=”550″ height=”450″ /> <small class=(Photo: Trinity Western University)

Christian Post Report – Trinity Western University

A court in Canada has ruled that a Christian law school can be denied accreditation for having a policy in opposition to homosexuality.

In a ruling made last week, a three-judge Divisional Court of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled against Christian Post Report – Trinity Western University’s lawsuit against the Law Society of Upper Canada.

In April 2014, the Law Society denied accreditation to Trinity Western, an evangelical Christian university based in Vancouver, British Colombia.

At issue was Trinity Western’s Community Covenant, which requires students and faculty to “voluntarily abstain” from “sexual intimacy that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman.”

  • Canada
    (Photo: Reuters/Mark Blinch)
    A man holds a rainbow colored Canadian flag attached to a hockey stick during the “WorldPride” gay pride Parade in Toronto, June 29, 2014.

“The university’s mission, core values, curriculum and community life are formed by a firm commitment to the person and work of Jesus Christ as declared in the Bible,” reads the covenant. “The community covenant is a solemn pledge in which members place themselves under obligations on the part of the institution to its members, the members to the institution, and the members to one another.”

Other actions that the covenant calls for its community to abstain from include “gossip, slander, vulgar/obscene language,” … “stealing, misusing or destroying property belonging to others,” … “drunkenness, under-age consumption of alcohol, and the use or possession of illegal drugs.”

The court’s decision against Trinity Western reads, in part: “The fact remains that the effect of the Community Covenant is to exclude certain persons from eligibility for all of the spaces available at TWU’s law school. … That reduces their opportunities for acceptance to law school in comparison with all other persons, and it does so on a discriminatory basis.”

The Ontario Divisional Court is not the only province wherein Trinity Western is fighting a rejected accreditation from a regional law society.

In January, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruled in favor of Trinity Western in its lawsuit against the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.

Justice Jamie S. Campbell of the court concluded that the society’s “resolution and regulation infringe on the freedom of religion of TWU and its students in a way that cannot be justified.”

“For many people in a secular society religious freedom is worse than inconsequential. It actually gets in the way. It’s the dead hand of the superstitious past reaching out to restrain more important secular values like equality from becoming real equality,” wrote Campbell.

“The discomforting truth is that religions with views that many Canadians find incomprehensible or offensive abound in a liberal and multicultural society. The law protects them and must carve out a place not only where they can exist but flourish.”

Trinity Western provided The Christian Post with a statement from university spokesman Guy Saffold, who focused on how the Divisional Court acknowledged that there was “a breach of religious freedom rights in this case.”

“The Court’s ultimate decision against TWU is starkly at odds with the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2001 decision directing approval of TWU¹s teacher education program,” said Saffold. “It points a knife at the freedom of faith communities across Canada to hold and practice their beliefs.”

Janet E. Minor, treasurer for the Law Society, said in a statement shared with CP that they are “pleased the Court confirmed the Law Society’s jurisdiction, and that Convocation’s decision is a reasonable one.”

Minor’s statement highlighted certain points of the ruling in Christian Post Report – Trinity Western University v. The Law Society of Upper Canada, including the Court’s statement that the Law Society “was entitled to balance the applicants’ rights to freedom of religion with the equality rights of its future members, who include members from two historically disadvantaged minorities (LGBTQ persons and women).”

Trinity Western plans to appeal the Divisional Court ruling. Meanwhile, a third legal case regarding accreditation is being processed in British Columbia, with a judicial review hearing scheduled for Aug. 24-28.

Source : Christian Post

Award Winning Singer Ese-Osa (Formerly Liora) Returns with New Single “Bigger” July 14

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Award Winning Singer Ese-Osa (Formerly Liora) Returns with New Single “Bigger” July 14

 

Benin, Edo, NG — Over a year ago, she released one of the biggest Gospel song out of Nigeria/Africa, featuring renowned International concert Pianist Adlan Cruz. The song ”Iyobo” and a follow up single titled “I love you” got her a nomination in the prestigious Crystal Awards 2014 and on other Gospel music Award platform. The song also got great reviews from various media houses all over the World and also got massive airplay on Radio Stations across Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

 

This time, she is back with something #BIGGER. Liora, now known as ESE-OSA (christened Osasuyi Deborah Esosa) is set to release what promises to be another Urban Contemporary sound with a blend of the African Traditional Gospel sound titled #Bigger. The song which will premiere Nation-wide on all digital music websites and radio stations across Africa on July 14th, is a Praise song that talks about the Greatness of God. God is ”Bigger” than any situation, trials and struggle that life might throw at us.

 

Let the countdown begin!!!

 

For more updates follow Ese-Osa

Twitter:@eseosamusic

Facebook/eseosamusic

www.ese-osa.com

Source : Praise World Radio

Father’s House Choir, Crystal Sound LIVE In Concert with Onos

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Father’s House Choir, Crystal Sound LIVE In Concert with Onos

 

Abeokuta, Ogun, NG — For the first time in the 10 year history of Father’s House, her official choir ‘Crystal Sound’ will this Sunday July 12, 2015 host a live concert themed “The Worship Experience”. This follows several monthly Praise and Worship special services “Father’s Nite” previously held.

This concert which is open to the general public will kick off with a red carpet reception at 4pm, with the main event starting at 5pm at FATHER’S HOUSE, Glass house, Odo Eran Abeokuta.

Special guest ministration from multi award winning and dynamic singer Onos and her team

They are set to touch Heaven and shake the earth in worship. It’s gonna be an experience and hearsay will not be able to handle the efficacy of miss outs.

The expectations of people are so high, the momentum is building. Father’s House yearly has been responsible for setting a tone for the entire city. Several people say that it’s always looked forward to as it has been labelled as the event of the Year for several years.

This highly anticipated concert is here now. Do all you can to make it to the city of Abeokuta (Glasshouse at Obantoko) as early as possible as sources have gathered that getting a place to sit even in the overflow might be a Miracle as soon as the event commences.

You can also be a part of the big one coming up in the Morning inside the Glasshouse as well. It’s a Drama Fiesta starting 8am which is also going to be off the hook.

Fathers House is the place where it happens. Join this Chariot.

Stay tuned to Praiseworld Radio to listen to exclusive gospel tunes and exciting programs all day every day.

Source : Praise World Radio

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Tells Rock Church He And Ciara Are Dating ‘Jesus’ Way,’ Abstaining From Sex

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Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Tells Rock Church He And Ciara Are Dating ‘Jesus’ Way,’ Abstaining From Sex

Russell Wilson (Photo:Youtube Video/Rock Church)

Christian Post Report – Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson speaks with pastor Miles McPherson from The Rock Church in San Diego, California, on Sunday, June 5, 2015.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson asked members of The Rock Church to pray for him and singer Ciara Harris on Sunday as they strive to build a strong relationship “Jesus’ way” and abstain from sex.

Wilson, 26, participated in a 48-minute Q&A session with pastor Miles McPherson at The Rock Church in San Diego on Sunday, where he was candid about his relationship with Ciara. There, he revealed that the pair had not been sexually intimate and would abstain from doing so until they were married.

The star quarterback who made it to the Super Bowl two years in a row recalled asking his girlfriend a very important question about their relationship.

“I asked her ‘what would you do if we took all that other stuff off the table and did it Jesus’ way, no sex?” Wilson questioned the singer.

Even lthough Wilson said Ciara agreed, the Christian athlete admitted that resisting temptation in his relationship has not been easy. He called for people to pray for celibacy with the entertainer he labels a “15 out of 10.”

“I need y’all to pray for us,” Wilson said.

While making his media rounds recently, the football star stopped by late night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!.” There, he revealed that the pair had been seeing each other for four or five months and were “seeing how it goes.”

“It’s going well. (We’ve) been to the White House and been to some cool places,” Wilson told Kimmel. “It’s been fun. She’s a special girl.”

Kimmel then surprised Wilson with a video of Ciara rooting for rival quarterback Tom Brady whom he faced in Super Bowl XLIX. In the video, the singer made it clear that she was a fan of Brady.

“I rep Tom Brady all day everyday …,” Ciara said in the Instagram video made prior to her dating Wilson.

Wilson laughed at the video and joked about it causing issues for the pair.

“Well that was our first argument. … I saw that about a week ago,” Wilson joked. “Her response was the fact that the following week she was cheering for the Seattle Seahawks and she was rooting for us the whole time.”

Last month, Wilson invited Ciara to visit the Seattle Children’s Hospital where the pair met children who are battling cancer. While Wilson regularly visits the hospital, Ciara spoke about being touched by her experience there.

Their bravery, will, and courage touched me in a way I can’t explain,” she tweeted about the children she met at the hospital. “I am thankful!

Ciara has her own child that she shares with hip-hop star Future whom she broke off an engagement with last year. Although she is not as vocal about her spiritual beliefs as Wilson, Ciara previously spoke about her son being the greatest gift that God has given her.

“Honestly, I feel like everything in life happens for a reason and my son has been the greatest gift that God has given me in my life and been the most game-changing thing that’s happened to my life, in a necessary way,” she said on Power 105.1 FM’s syndicated radio show, “The Breakfast Club” earlier this year.

Source : Christian Post

Bill Cosby Supporter Jill Scott ‘Hurt, Disgusted’ by Mentor’s Admission That He Raped Women

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Bill Cosby Supporter Jill Scott ‘Hurt, Disgusted’ by Mentor’s Admission That He Raped Women

bill cosby Reuters/Eric Thayer

Christian Post Report – Actor Bill Cosby attends the American Comedy Awards in New York April 26, 2014.

Singer Jill Scott says she’s disgusted to hear that her mentor, Bill Cosby, has admitted to purchasing drugs with the attention of giving them to women in a 2005 court testimony that was released Monday.

Cosby, the 77-year-old comedian who became popular in the 1980s and 1990s family sitcom “The Cosby Show,” has been the subject of media scrutiny since late 2014 when close to two dozen women accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting them. On Monday, The Associated Press obtained a 2005 court document where Cosby admitted to purchasing the sedative Quaaludes with the intention of drugging a former Temple University employee.

Although the AP reports that the case was settled for an undisclosed amount in 2006, the news was released Monday night, much to the disappointment of Scott who publicly supported Cosby.

Scott, the 43-year-old actress, was presented with an honorary Temple University doctorate degree by Cosby in 2014, but admitted she was hurt by the recent reports that have surfaced.

“About Bill Cosby. Sadly his own testimony offers PROOF of terrible deeds, which is ALL I have ever required to believe the accusations,” Scott tweeted

“Proof will always matter more than public opinion. The sworn testimony is proof,” she wrote. “Completely disgusted. I stood by a man I respected and loved. I was wrong. It HURTS!!!”

The comments come months after Scott took to Twitter to defend Cosby.

“If this is true, he’ll face his due just like everyone,” she responded to fans in a tweet last year. “I’m respecting a man who has done more for the image of brown people than almost anyone EVER. From Fat Albert to the Huxtables.”

Source : Christian Post

Obama Needs to ‘Shut Up and Go Home’ With His ‘Gay Agenda,’ Says Politician at Kenyan March to ‘Protect the Family’

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Obama Needs to ‘Shut Up and Go Home’ With His ‘Gay Agenda,’ Says Politician at Kenyan March to ‘Protect the Family’

Christian Post Report – 1

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  • Kenya(Photo: Reuters/Thomas Mukoya)
Members of the anti-gay caucus chant slogans as they march along the streets in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, July 6, 20Christian Post Report – 15. The demonstration is aimed at U.S. President Barack Obama, who protesters fear will put pressure on the government to legalise same-sex marriage during his upcoming visit on July 25.
  • Kenya(Photo: Reuters/Thomas Mukoya)
    • Kenyan legislator Irungu Kang’ata, MP of the Kiharu constituency, leads the anti-gay caucus as they chant slogans during a march along the streets in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, July 6, 20Christian Post Report – 15. The demonstration is aimed at U.S. President Barack Obama, who protesters fear will put pressure on the government to legalize same-sex marriage during his upcoming visit on July 25.
  • Kenya(Photo: Reuters/Thomas Mukoya)
    • Members of the anti-gay caucus chant slogans as they march along the streets in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, July 6, 20Christian Post Report – 15. The demonstration is aimed at U.S. President Barack Obama, who protesters fear will put pressure on the government to legalize same-sex marriage during his upcoming visit on July 25.

    A Kenyan politician has reportedly said that U.S. President Barack Obama needs to “shut up and go home” with his “gay agenda,” ahead of an official state visit later in July. Dozens of demonstrators marched in Nairobi on Monday to “protect the family” and the traditional definition of marriage.

    “We are telling Mr. Obama when he comes to Kenya this month and he tries to bring the abortion agenda, the gay agenda, we shall tell him to shut up and go home,” lawmaker Irungu Kangata told demonstrators outside parliament, Reuters reported.

    Kenyan politicians and pastors of evangelical churches have said that Obama should not push America’s pro-gay marriage stance on the African country where the practice is criminalized.

    In May, close to 700 pastors urged Obama not to “preach” his same-sex marriage views on the Kenyan people during his visit.

    “We would like to send a strong message to the U.S. president that the homosexuality debate should not become part of his agenda, as it has been his tendency whenever he comes to Africa,” Bishop Mark Kariuki of the Evangelical Alliance said at the time.

    “[Obama] should respect the faith, culture and people of Kenya when he comes in July,” he added. “He should not put [homosexuality] as one of his main agenda[s] in the country.”

    BBC News noted that Kenyans are also going on Twitter urging Obama to “spare us the gay talk,” as one user put it. The hashtag #KenyansMessageToObama was trending with nearly 3,000 tweets on Monday, with a number of the messages focusing on social issues the American president might bring up during his visit.

    Obama has been a strong supporter of gay marriage and celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling that state bans on same-sex marriage are unconstituional by lighting the White House in Washington D.C. in rainbow colors.

    Homosexual relations remain illegal in a number of African countries, including Kenya, which Obama has spoken out against.

    “When it comes to people’s personal views and their religious faith, I think we have to respect the diversity of views that are there,” Obama said in a 20Christian Post Report – 13 speech alongside Senegalese President Macky Sall.

    “But when it comes to how the state treats people, how the law treats people, I believe that everybody has to be treated equally. I don’t believe in discrimination of any sort.”

    In a response to a question on the subject, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said during a press briefing on Monday that “when the president travels around the world, he does not hesitate to raise concerns about human rights.”

    “And that’s been true when he’s traveled to places like China, it’ll be true tomorrow when he meets with the general secretary of Vietnam, and I’m confident the president will not hesitate to make clear the protection of basic human rights in Kenya is also a priority consistent with the values that we hold dear here in the United States of America,” Earnest added.

    Source : Christian Post