*Nejnovější zprávy v originální anglické verzi jsou vždy ZDE.

Authorities in the northeastern African country of Eritrea have extended their crackdown on organized religion to Roman Catholics, jailing 25 members of a local Catholic church during a wedding rehearsal in Asmara Sunday, Jan. 9. Police entered the building and took the entire wedding party to jail where they remained under arrest as of Thursday, Jan. 13. The arrest marked the first reported crackdown against Eritrea's Catholic community which enjoys "official" recognition by the government along with Orthodox and Lutheran Christians and Muslims. The same Sunday morning, security police swooped down on a wedding ceremony in Barentu and arrested the 67 evangelical Christians present. All the prisoners -- among them a number of elderly people and young children -- reportedly were to be taken to the Sawa Military Training Center for "military punishment." Meanwhile, 25 of the 60 Rema Charismatic Church members arrested at a New Year's Eve celebration in Asmara were released after signing a pledge never to participate in such meetings again. (Compass)

CHRISTIAN DIRECTOR OF GIRLS' HOME IN EGYPT TO STAND TRIAL

The Egyptian Christian director of a home for troubled Coptic Christian girls goes on trial Sunday, Jan. 16, in Cairo on charges of holding a 16-year-old girl against her will and without her parents' permission, and also of trying to rape her. Shafik Saleh Shafik, 57, says the case against him is an attempt to close down his recovery ministry among Coptic girls who are being enticed to leave their Christian families and convert to Islam. "The state security police wrote on their report about me that I am a 'very dangerous man' because I am preaching Christianity," Shafik said. The case began last September when Magda Refaat Gayed escaped from Shafik's facility the morning after her family placed her there, claiming she had been beaten and raped. In violation of Egyptian law, police have refused to return the girl to her parents' custody, sending her instead to a facility operated by an Islamic group. Shafik's "safe-house" has been closed down. (Compass)

NAMIBIA REINSTATES RELIGIOUS BROADCASTS AFTER KEY MEETING

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) announced Tuesday, Jan. 12, that it would reinstate morning and evening devotions on its radio services, effective immediately. This decision came after a meeting between the NBC and the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) on Tuesday morning following NBC Director General Gerry Munyama's executive decision to suspend all religious programs on the corporation's radio and television services late last week. CCN Secretary General Rev. Nangula Kathindi said, "During the discussion the NBC agreed to reintroduce the morning and evening devotions and religious songs." Meanwhile, the CCN is in the process of inviting church leaders for information sharing and consultation on the matter. A statement released by the NBC on Tuesday said that the meeting held with the CCN "critically reviewed the manner in which religious programs were conducted on both radio and television. . . . Further consultations on proper guidelines would be held to regulate the production of these programs." (WorldWide Religious News/The Namibian)

CHRISTIAN ARABIC SATELLITE TV SERVICE AIRS SPECIAL TSUNAMI PROGRAMS

SAT-7, a Christian Arabic television service in the Middle East, has been airing TV spots urging millions of viewers across the Arab world to pray for survivors of the Dec. 26 tsunami that killed more than 150,000 people. "We know that prayer opens heaven's gates and brings to earth the mercies of God," said TV producer Nader Hanna. "This is why we want to engage the members of our audience in prayer." In addition to broadcasting prayers and giving information about charitable giving, SAT-7 is airing interviews with Middle East survivors of the disaster. The ministry is also gathering comments from Arabic Christian leaders, theologians and even a Christian geologist, explaining why they believe God allowed the tragedy to occur. (Assist News Service)

ARRAIGNMENT DELAYED FOR 4 U.S. CHRISTIANS ACCUSED OF HATE CRIMES

Arraignment has been delayed until next week for four Christians accused of hate crimes for urging homosexuals to repent at last October's "Outfest" in Philadelphia, Pa. Their attorney, Brian Fahling of the Center for Law and Policy, said the city "views the biblical message of sin and repentance as hate speech." Fahling said that while some question his clients' wisdom in loudly proclaiming the gospel at a homosexual festival, he said they had a constitutional right to do so and should not be punished for it. Defendant Michael Marcavage said, "In America today, Christianity is being criminalized -- whether it be Ten Commandments plaques or monuments in public places. Now just speaking the gospel in the public square is a crime." The charges of ethnic intimidation, criminal conspiracy and inciting to riot carry penalties of up to 47 years in prison and fines of up to $90,000. (Friday Fax)

PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER IN FLORIDA DIES WHILE PREACHING ABOUT HEAVEN

A Presbyterian minister collapsed and died at the pulpit after saying, "And when I go to heaven. . . ." The Orlando Sentinel reported that about 240 parishioners at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oviedo, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 9, were listening to their former senior pastor, Jack Arnold, 69, deliver a message on what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Near the end of his message he told the congregation that once he had completed the work the Lord had for him, "I'm out of here." Arnold said a few more words, began swaying, grabbed his pulpit and fell backwards. Although he was treated by paramedics, before leaving the church Arnold had died of apparent cardiac arrest. Arnold had been released from his permanent preaching assignment at New Covenant Presbyterian Church in 1997 so he and his wife, Carol, could travel overseas to train other pastors and their wives in countries such as Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa and Jordan. He taught and mentored hundreds of Christian leaders who are now serving across the U.S. and the world. On Sunday he was substituting for the church's senior pastor, Jim Fitzgerald. During the sermon, Arnold quoted Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Assist News Service)

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