Austrian Teenagers who planned to marry IS militants walk free from custody

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Two Austrian teenage girls intercepted on their way to marry fighters of the insurgent group Islamic State (IS) walked free from custody on Tuesday when a judge issued a preliminary ruling that they had committed no crime.

Prosecutors had asked a Salzburg court to place the girls, aged 16 and 17, in investigative custody pending an investigation into whether they were members of a terrorist organization.

The teens had returned to Austria from Romania, where they were picked up by authorities on a train on Dec. 30 as they tried to make their way to Syria to marry Islamic State jihadist fighters there.

But the Salzburg judge decided to release the girls.

“In her opinion the girls’ behavior is not criminal, not yet, because they were stopped in Romania and did not really get to join a terrorist organization,” a court spokeswoman said.

The court imposed no travel restrictions on the two, she added.

Prosecutors, who had wanted the suspects jailed to prevent them from fleeing, have 14 days to appeal against the ruling while the investigation continues.

Around 170 people, many from Islamic immigrant backgrounds, have traveled to the Middle East from Austria to join Islamist militant groups, the government says.

Around 60 have returned, raising fears they could launch attacks akin to the slayings in Paris last week.

The girls were detained in their homes in Salzburg and Upper Austria province after their return. They had Bosnian and Chechen family backgrounds, according to the APA news agency.

Source: Christian Today

Pope Francis blames massacre in France on “deviant forms of religion”

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Pope Francis blames massacre in France on “deviant forms of religion”

Pope Francis spoke to a large crowd last week to address the massacre in France and condemned “deviant forms of religion” for the shedding of blood.

“Losing their freedom, people become enslaved, whether to the latest fads, or to power, money, or even deviant forms of religion,” Francis said in an address to the members of the Diplomatic Corps. There is a “culture of rejection” that leads to “the breakdown of society and spawning of violence and death.”

Last week was one of the worst attacks in the city of Paris, with a total of 17 people left dead after persons loyal to the Islamic State murdered 12 persons, and another two people killed a police officer and several hostages in a standoff that ended on Friday. The three suspected killers were shot dead by police after the standoff. In the wake of the assault, Parisians and European leaders came together to send a powerful message that they would not cower to terrorists.

“We see painful evidence of this in the events reported daily in the news, not least the tragic slayings which took place in Paris a few days ago,” the Pontiff said. “Religious fundamentalism, even before it eliminates human beings by perpetrating horrendous killings, eliminates God himself, turning Him into a mere ideological pretext.”

However, Francis did not limit his words of concern to the actions in Paris. He also addressed the kidnapping of young schoolgirls in Nigeria by Boko Haram and the “unspeakable brutality” of over 100 children by the Taliban in Pakistan. The Pope then spoke to the closing of Guantanamo prison, which he hopes will happen sooner rather than later, and the newly reformed relations between Cuba and the United States. Francis was instrumental in helping the two countries come together after years spent in seclusion.

The Pope is currently in Sri Lanka on a mission to pursue the truth and greet his followers.

“The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity,” Francis said after landing in the capital of Colombo. “The great work of rebuilding must embrace improving infrastructures and meeting material needs, but also, and even more importantly, promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and the full inclusion of each member of society.”

This is the first papal visit to the country since 2009, when a deadly civil war finally ended.

Source: Christian Post

Archbishops of Canterbury and York warn that Church of England must reverse its decline

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Archbishops of Canterbury and York warn that Church of England must reverse its decline

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have warned that decline in the Church of England has to be reversed if it is to continue its nation-wide ministry.

In a paper prepared in advance of the forthcoming General Synod meetings next month, Most Revs Justin Welby and Dr John Sentamu say: “The urgency of the challenge facing us is not in doubt. Attendance at Church of England services has declined at an average of 1 per cent per annum over recent decades and, in addition, the age profile of our membership has become significantly older than that of the population. Finances have been relatively stable, thanks to increased individual giving. This situation cannot, however, be expected to continue unless the decline in membership is reversed.”

Average attendance at Sunday services has dropped by nearly half during the last 40 years and currently stands at around 800,000.

The archbishops also warn of a coming crisis in clergy staffing levels, saying: “The age profile of our clergy has also been increasing. Around 40 per cent of parish clergy are due to retire over the next decade or so. And while ordination rates have held up well over recent years they continue to be well below what would be needed to maintain current clergy numbers and meet diocesan ambitions.”

Of the Church’s 16,200 church buildings, 12,500 are listed. Of all England’s Grade I listed buildings, 45 per cent are cathedrals and churches. The archbishops say that the “burden of church buildings weighs heavily” on congregations. They add that there is “no central investment in reaching out into the digital and social media world” and say: “If the Church of England is to return to growth, there is a compelling need to realign resources and work carefully to ensure that scarce funds are used to best effect.”

The two archbishops praised four task group report calling for administrative changes in the Church in different areas, due to be debated by the Synod next month. They also signalled the possibility of an injection of funds from the Church Commissioners to enable reforms to be carried out, saying: “If all the above has to be done within the confines of current funding there will be a long period before its impact can be real, not least given the need to support dioceses through the transition from the present way in which national funds are distributed.”

They concluded: “We believe that these reports, to be discussed in February, provide a basis for developing and delivering a major programme of renewal and reform within the Church of England as a matter of urgency.”

Source:Christian Today

Islamic State claims to capture 21 christian crusaders in Libya

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Islamic State claims to capture 21 christian crusaders in Libya

Islamic State in Libya has claimed responsibility for abducting Christians there in a statement received by the SITE intelligence group, which monitors the electronic communications of jihadis.

The statement read: “Urgent. Soldiers of the Islamic State captured 21 Christian crusaders.”

Photoshopped pictures of several men were posted alongside the statement. A farmer from Minya in Upper Egypt, Bisheer Estefanos, said he recognised the faces of his brothers, Bishoy and Samuel. “All we can do is pray to God for help,” he said. “Their mother is tired of crying.”

Reports earlier this month said that 20 Coptic Christians in two groups, at least some of them from Egypt, had been kidnapped in the Sirte province over several days.

It was later reported that 13 of the men had been released, but this information was never confirmed.

The 13 were abducted when gunmen stormed a residence for expatriates in Sirte, according to Magdy Malik, a Christian activist in Egypt

Gunmen went room to room and asked for identification papers to separate Muslim workers from Christians, witness Hanna Aziz told The Associated Press.

“They were 15 armed and masked men who came in four vehicles,” he said. “They had a list of full names of Christians in the building. While checking IDs, Muslims were left aside while Christians were grabbed. I heard my friends screaming, but they were quickly shushed at gunpoint. After that, we heard nothing. I am still in my room waiting for them to take me. I want to die with them.” He said he escaped capture because he didn’t open his door.

Libya has descended into chaos after the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011 following a civil war in which Western air strikes were used to back his opponents. A weak central government has been unable to impose order on the various tribal and other factions which emerged after the war. Sectarian killings are commonplace and rival militias are battling for control of resources.

As many as 10,000 Egyptians work in the country, mainly in the construction sector. They are frequently targeted by extremists. In December a 13-year-old girl was abducted by armed men and killed in a suspected religiously motivated attack, while in February last year the bodies of seven Egyptian Christians who had been shot were found near Libya’s second city, Benghazi. The previous year, militiamen abducted and tortured several dozen others.

source: Christian Today

Islamic State release online pictures of their youngest suicide bomber

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Islamic State release online pictures of their youngest suicide bomber

Yesterday, Islamic State (IS) posted online pictures of a boy sitting in a pick-up truck filled with barrels of explosives, clutching a grenade and wearing an explosive vest. The boy has been identified as Abu al-Hassan al-Shami and is thought to be no more than 12 years old, according to The Times.

The bombing was carried out in the Iraqi province of Salahuddin. The boy is believed to be one of two Syrian fighters to carry out truck bombings in the area. The final photo in the series, which is entitled ‘Battle of Vengeance for the Mother of Believers (Aisha)’, shows a huge explosion.

The photos have been released amid a surge of other IS propaganda promoting child soldiers.

“ISIS does seem to be making their child soldier training a bit more prominent,” Charlie Winter, a researcher at the Quilliam Foundation think-tank, told The Times. “They are holding children’s training camps and running indoctrination centres, and they’re publicising it because they know it shocks the world.

“This is part of the group’s very calculated media strategy.”

The young boy’s actions have been praised by IS supporters on Twitter. One tweeted: “His youth didn’t prevent him from supporting his religion.”

Source: Christian Today

Bishop Heather Cook Remains in Jail as Judge Refuses to Lower $2.5million bail

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Bishop Heather Cook Remains in Jail as Judge Refuses to Lower $2.5million bail

Embattled Episcopal Bishop of Maryland Heather Cook, 58, who was formally charged with the drunk driving death of 41-year-old married father of two, Thomas Palermo, last Friday, spent the weekend in jail after failing to clear the hefty $2.5 million bail set by a district court commissioner.

In highlighting the charges Friday, Baltimore’s new State’s Attorney, Marilyn J. Mosby, said at a press conference that Bishop Cook, who’s the first female bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and the second highest-ranking official in the diocese, had registered a staggering .22 blood alcohol level shortly after the Dec. 27 incident that killed the beloved father.

The charges, which include driving under the influence, causing an accident due to texting while driving, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, could see the bishop spending more than 20 years in prison and $20,000 in potential fines.

A representative at the Baltimore Detention Center confirmed with The Christian Post that Cook was being held at the Women’s Detention Center which was “on lockdown” at the time of our interview. It could not be confirmed if Cook had any visitors during the weekend, but the bishop has been talking on the telephone.

“She’s been talking to somebody. She’s been making phone calls. I don’t know who she’s been talking to but she’s making phone calls,” the representative who did not want to be identified told CP.

A spokesperson from Mosby’s office said Cook was scheduled for a bail hearing at 1:30 p.m. Monday but couldn’t comment on whether or not she might be offered some kind of plea deal to avoid a protracted trial going forward.

After the hearing Monday, the presiding judge denied a request to change Cook’s bail amount, according to The Associated Press. Her attorney said she would remain in jail because she cannot make the $2.5 million bail.

Pointing to her previous DUI conviction and the fact that she left the scene of the incident for 30 minutes, prosecutors argued that Cook was dangerous and a flight risk, and asked the judge to remove the possibility of any bail. Cook’s defense attorney argued for a lower bail amount saying she could go into treatment or remain under house arrest.

On the final day of a business meeting at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, on Sunday, the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church offered up prayers for Cook, the Palermo family and the Diocese of Maryland even though the bishop’s troubles were not part of the set agenda.

“Prayers were sent up for Heather Cook, the Palermo family and the Diocese of Maryland,” said Neva Rae Fox of the Episcopal Church’s office of public affairs.

She also explained that the meeting in Maryland was not triggered by Bishop Cook’s arrest and sought to clarify the coincidence.

“The meeting, the dates and the locations of those meetings (business meetings) were set two years ago. Two years ago it was decided we were gonna be in Maryland. Our meeting in Maryland had nothing to do with the Heather Cook situation. It was not discussed because the executive council is akin to a board of directors and so this is not their purview. We prayed for everyone involved but it was not a matter on the agenda and it was not discussed during the meeting,” said Fox.

As for the disciplinary proceedings that have been launched against Cook by the Episcopal Church, Fox said the charges against her will remain confidential, but once the church makes a decision on their future relationship with the embattled bishop it will be made public.

“The ecclesiastical charges are confidential … the proceeding remains confidential and the proceedings are going on and that’s according to the canon. As soon as a decision is made that will be made public,” said Fox.

Cook, who was elevated to her position last spring, was promoted despite a DUI incident in 2010 where she registered a .27 blood alcohol level and was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Delegates who voted to promote her to the position of bishop have since said they were not informed of Cook’s 2010 DUI charge and argued that if they had known they never would have voted the way they did.

Senior Episcopal Diocese of Maryland officials who knew of Cook’s struggles, however, said they were satisfied that the 2010 incident was an anomaly and though it better to forgive the bishop.

“One of the core values of the Christian faith is forgiveness. We cannot preach forgiveness without practicing forgiveness and offering people opportunity for redemption,” the Diocese of Maryland said in an earlier statement.

“As part of the search process, Cook fully disclosed the 2010 DUI for which charges were filed resulting in a ‘probation before judgment.’ After extensive discussion and discernment about the incident, and after further investigation, including extensive background check and psychological investigation, it was determined that this one mistake should not bar her for consideration as a leader,” it continued.

Source: Christian Post

 

France Defence Minister; IS must be wiped out

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France Defence Minister; IS must be wiped out

Islamic State fighters must be wiped out, France’s defence minister said on Tuesday, indicating that Paris would not pull back from military operations overseas after 17 people were killed by home-grown militants in Paris last week.

After the United States, France has the largest number of planes and troops involved in the coalition fighting Islamic State, which last year took control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

It also has about 3,500 troops and special forces operating in the Sahel-Sahara region hunting down al Qaeda-linked militants.

France intervened in Mali to oust Islamist militants from its former colony in January 2013 and Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian noted that two years later French forces were now fighting the “same threat” on home soil.

“It is the same enemy. Our forces are on the ground here because … for our troops it’s the same fight,” Le Drian told Europe 1 radio, referring to the 10,000 soldiers being deployed across France to secure key sites following last week’s attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

Parliament will vote later on Tuesday on whether to extend France’s military mission in Iraq, four months after its launch. In a posthumous video, one of last week’s killers cited France’s operations abroad as one reason for his actions, but there have been no major calls in France for its troops to withdraw from operations against Islamic militants.

“The response is inside and outside France. Islamic State is a terrorist army with fighters from everywhere … it is an international army that has to be wiped out and that is why we are part of the coalition,” Le Drian said.

More than 1,120 French citizens are involved in jihadi cells linked to Iraq and Syria, of which about 400 are in the region.

The suspected female accomplice of one of the gunmen who attacked a Jewish supermarket last week fled to Syria ahead of the killings, Turkish officials said on Monday.

France has 800 military personnel, nine fighter jets, a maritime patrol aircraft and a refuelling plane at its base in the United Arab Emirates as part of its “Chammal” Iraq mission, as well as an anti-aircraft warship in the Gulf. It also operates six Mirage fighter jets from Jordan.

It is due to send its aircraft carrier to the Indian Ocean on Wednesday and Le Drian said in December Paris would send 120 military advisers to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

However, it has ruled out striking the Islamic State in Syria, where it provides equipment and training to “moderate” forces fighting President Bashar al-Assad. There was no indication of a change in that stance on Tuesday.

Source: Christian Today

More than One third of US clergy are obese

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More than One third of US clergy are obese

More than a third of American clergy are obese, according to a new study from Baylor University – but the profession also has some built-in prevention methods.

The figure for obesity correlates with the national statistics for the US, a third of whose adults are obese, and backs up previous studies. The equivalent figure in the UK is around 23 per cent.

The report published in the journal Social Science Research, “Occupational conditions, self-care and obesity among clergy in the United States”, identifies particular factors such as stress, long hours, being underpaid and failing to take care of themselves as some of the reasons for pastors being overweight.

However, pastors do have advantages, if they are willing to use them.

Lead researcher Todd Ferguson said: “In many religious traditions, the theology actually mandates at least one day a week to recuperate. Also, some pastors have the opportunity to be part of a small, intensive, introspective group of other pastors, and that can help with stress. There are structures in place that can actually help them cope and lower their chances of obesity.”

He said that pastors tended to be in situations where food was available: “Pastors are an integral part of the most intimate aspects of community life – marriages, deaths, births – and these often entail food. It’s part of the culture.”

However, the research shows that while clergy are in a relatively high-status occupation, many are compensated poorly compared to other professionals with similar education levels. They may have no other option than to be bi-vocational. The study showed that 10 per cent lead more than one congregation, while 15 per cent are employed in a second job of another type.

The stress of an additional job – coupled with the long hours and demands of pastoring – may make it difficult to have a lifestyle that includes nutritious foods, exercise and time to recover from physiological stress that leads to weight gain.

“Pastors are ‘on’ or ‘on call’ at all times. The role or identity of a pastor is something you can’t just shut off,” said Ferguson, a former associate pastor in a Houston Baptist church. “And you are in an organisation that relies partly – or even fully – on volunteers rather than a paid staff, who can leave on a whim.”

The study also asked whether pastors had too many demands made on them by congregation members, experienced stress because of dealing with critical congregants, felt lonely and isolated in their work or worked more than 46 hours per week.

It showed that 20 per cent had taken a sabbatical in the past 10 years, while 43 per cent are involved in a support group that focuses on their personal concerns or struggles.

Source: Christian Today

Tearful Prophet Mohammad to be Charlie Hebdo’s front page

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Tearful Prophet Mohammad to be Charlie Hebdo’s front page

Charlie Hebdo will publish a front page showing a caricature of the Prophet Mohammad in its first edition since Islamist gunmen attacked the satirical newspaper.

With demand surging for the edition due on Wednesday, the weekly planned to print up to 3 million copies, dwarfing its usual run of 60,000, after newsagents reported that large numbers of customers around the country were placing orders.

A total of 17 people were killed in three days of violence that began when two Islamist militants burst into Charlie Hebdo’s weekly editorial meeting, opening fire in revenge for the paper’s publication of satirical images of Mohammad in the past.

The front page of the Jan. 14 edition shows Mohammad, a tear on his cheek, holding a sign saying “JE SUIS CHARLIE” (“I am Charlie”) below the headline “TOUT EST PARDONNE” (“All is forgiven”).

The new edition of Charlie Hebdo, known for its satirical attacks on Islam and other religions, will include other cartoons featuring the Prophet Mohammad and also making fun of politicians and other religions, its lawyer, Richard Malka, told France Info radio on Monday.

On Sunday, at least 3.7 million people throughout France took part in marches of support for Charlie Hebdo and freedom of expression. World leaders linked arms to lead more than a million people through Paris in an unprecedented demonstration to pay tribute to the victims.

GUN BATTLE

Three days of violence ended on Friday with a siege at a Jewish deli in Paris where four hostages and a gunman were killed. Shortly before that, police killed the Charlie Hebdo attackers in a separate gun battle at a print works northwest of the city.

In the wake of the violence, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said 10,000 troops were being deployed at sensitive sites, such as mosques, synagogues and airports.

France’s Islamic council called on the government to step up protection of mosques, saying that 50 anti-Islamic acts had been reported since the attack on Charlie Hebdo last Wednesday.

European leaders are worried that the events in France last week will add to rising anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe.

On Monday, a record 25,000 anti-Islamist protesters marched through the eastern German city of Dresden, many holding banners with anti-immigrant slogans.

In light of the threat to France, Le Drian said the government would need to review some of its military capabilities.

“One of the questions that will have to be raised is the role of the army reserves,” he said.

He also raised the prospect of reconsidering the severely strained military budget when its long-term spending plan comes up for review later this year in parliament.

The French government was due to seek parliament’s approval for France’s participation in air raids against Islamic State in Iraq. One of last week’s killers cited France’s military strikes against Muslims as a motivation for his acts.

Under French law, the president can launch foreign military action, but must seek parliament’s approval four months into an operation if it is to continue.

Source: Reuters

Iraq Christians create christian force to fight and defend their land against IS

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Iraq Christians create christian force to fight and defend their land against IS

More than 500 Iraqi Christian fighters have come together under the name of Ninevah Plains Force to defend their sacred lands against Islamic State (IS), reports The Kurdish Globe.

“The forces are fighting under Ministry of Peshmerga Commandment and their main task is to defend Christian lands and to take back their areas that have been occupied by ISIS,” said Yelda Shimuel, the Head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s headquarters in Telkef.

The Kurdish Globe reports that another force will also be formed and the recruitment process will start soon.

This follows months of hardship for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians.

When IS captured Mosul in June, thousands of Christians were forced to leave everything behind and flee to neighbouring cities. Since then, IS has captured several other key cities in the north and west of Iraq causing many more to flee to Kurdistan region. IS has destroyed churches, Shiite mosques and other ancient sites in Mosul, and has stolen and sold millions of pounds worth of artefacts from churches across Iraq.

The Ninevah Plains Force are hoping to prevent further loss of land for their people.

Source: Christian Today

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