Zprávy HCJB 27.3.2008

 Papež pokřtil prominentního muslima
   Muslimský spisovatel a kritik islámského fundamentalismu Magdi Allam se stal katolíkem a byl pokřtěn papežem Benediktem. Allam řekl, že islám je „fyziologicky nepřátelský“ a on sám se nyní kvůli své konverzi nachází ve „velkém nebezpečí.“ „Vím, proti čemu jsem se postavil, ale svůj osud ponesu se vztyčenou hlavou, s rovnými zády a s nitrem posíleným mocnou jistotou víry,“ řekl Allam. Papež tohoto 55letého muže narozeného v Egyptě pokřtil v katedrále sv. Petra o Velikonocích v sobotu 22. března. Allamova konverze ke křesťanství byla držena v tajnosti, dokud to Vatikán neoznámil ani ne hodinu před obřadem. Zdroj: Religion Today
 
 Všechny zprávy v angličtině
   MINISTRY HELPS CHRISTIAN PRAYER WARRIORS FIGHT TERRORISTS

Source: Assist News Service
The new web-based ministry, Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer (ATFP), helps Christians follow Jesus’ instructions to love and pray for their enemies. While agreeing that the military needs to fight terrorism, ATFP founder Thomas Bruce advocates prayer as a counter-offensive that is off limits to generals and politicians. Bruce sees the war on terrorism as a spiritual struggle against fear. “The terrorists are just the highest profile intimidators in Satan’s arsenal,” he said in a news release. “They think they are serving God.” Bruce believes terrorists are vulnerable to an authentic word from God and to Jesus’ forgiving love. He referred to what God says through the prophet Ezekiel, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” Visitors to the site can learn about nearly a hundred prominent individuals identified by the FBI and State Department as either terrorists or terrorism sponsors. “Visitors can then find a terrorist to pray for, as well as see how many others are praying for them,” Bruce added. “It’s all about connecting these prayer warriors to each other to see how others are praying, to encourage each other, to spread the word, and fight this war on terrorism in a powerful and spiritual way.”

NEW ANTI-CONVERSION BILL PASSES IN INDIA’S RAJASTHAN STATE

Source: Compass Direct News
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in northwestern India’s Rajasthan state on Thursday, March 20, passed a new “anti-conversion” bill with more stringent and arbitrary provisions than previous legislation that was stalled by objections from the former governor. The constitutionally questionable bill states that if a society or trust is found to be “contemplating” the use of money for converting people, its registration can be cancelled. Christian groups fear this provision would provide the pretext for numerous complaints against Christian organizations. The bill also obliges anyone intending to convert to send notice at least 30 days in advance or face a fine of up to 1,000 rupees (US$25). It adds that the same requirement and penalty will not be applied to a person wishing to revert to her or his “original religion.” Christians note that the bill, like anti-conversion laws in other states, only vaguely defines “force,” “fraud” and “inducement,” clearing the way for spurious attempts to label Christ’s commands to feed the hungry and make disciples as “fraud” or “inducement.”

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU: TRADITIONAL FAMILY UNITS ON THE REBOUND

Sources: OneNewsNow, Religion Today
Statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau recently are being acknowledged by many pro-family advocates as a good development for the traditional notion of two-parent families. The bureau’s report of 2004 surveys shows that nearly 62 percent of the nation’s 73 million children live with both biological parents, within a larger figure of 70 percent overall living with two parents and two-thirds living with two married parents. The New York Times reports that the statistics represent a major trend slowdown between 2004 and a previous survey in 1990 versus a dramatic loss in two-parent homes and an increase in single-female parent homes between 1970 and 1990. Mike McManus, cofounder of Marriage Savers, calls the statistics “a good sign” and notes that “more and more marriages are staying together and fewer and fewer children are having [to suffer] these kinds of effects.” McManus acknowledges the part of the report which reflects 19 million children living with only unmarried biological mothers and 3.7 million living with one biological parent and an unmarried partner. He says that number is still too large and that empirical evidence continues to show cohabitation is driving several major trends contributing to the deterioration of the family.

POPE BAPTIZES PROMINENT MUSLIM ON CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY

Source: Religion Today
Magdi Allam, a Muslim author and critic of Islamic fundamentalism, was baptized a Catholic by Pope Benedict after announcing his conversion to Christianity. Allam said that Islam is “physiologically violent,” and he is now in “great danger” because of his conversion. “I realize what I am going up against, but I will confront my fate with my head high, with my back straight and the interior strength of one who is certain about his faith,” said Allam. The pope baptized the 55-year-old, Egyptian-born man at St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Eve, Saturday, March 22. Allam’s conversion to Christianity was kept secret until the Vatican disclosed it in a statement less than an hour before it began.

MICHIGAN CHURCH CHARGED WITH LOUD MUSIC VIOLATION

Source: Cybercast News Service
A large Michigan church filed a federal lawsuit after police officers, led by a local prosecutor, entered the sanctuary at least twice without a warrant alleging the church’s music was too loud and, in one instance, threatened to arrest church musicians for disorderly conduct. Faith Baptist Church, with a congregation of about 10,000 members, is suing local officials in the Township of Waterford, Mich., in a First Amendment case a church attorney said could have national ramifications in establishing what local governments can do in regulating churches. The suit alleges that the township violated the church’s freedom of religious expression, freedom of speech and freedom of association. It was filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Detroit after the church had been subject to what it describes as raids by the Waterford Police Department, led by township prosecutor Walter Bedell. At least one of those raids occurred during a Sunday service, according to the suit. The church played contemporary Christian music that included guitars, drums and other instruments. Township officials contend that they were simply trying to enforce local noise laws and that the church is being a bad neighbor.

© Copyright 2008 - HCJB Global - Colorado Springs, CO USA
 

   Zpět  Další zprávy: www.prayer.cz