Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: China ordains its first Catholic bishop in three years, Pope Francis urges American Catholics to defend religious freedom, and Hindu protestors call for a change in the draft of their constitution.
AROUND THE WORLD
China Ordains 1st Catholic Bishop Since 2012 Amid Tensions
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/05/world/asia/ap-as-rel-china-bishop-ordained.html
Amid tensions between Beijing and the Vatican and a strained relationship between Chinese leadership and Christianity in general, a diocese in central China ordained the country's first Catholic bishop in three years. The ordination also marks the first appointment of a new Chinese bishop under Pope Francis, who has made a point of attempting friendly relations with China and its leaders.
related | Severe Crackdown in China on Church Crosses Draws Backlash
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/05/world/asia/ap-as-rel-china-removing-crosses.html
Pope Urges American Catholics to Defend Religious Freedom
by Thomas D. Williams
Breitbart
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/05/pope-urges-american-catholics-to-defend-religious-freedom/
In a strongly worded statement to American Catholics, Pope Francis declared that marriage between one man and one woman is “under attack from powerful cultural forces,” and urged Americans to defend “those freedoms upon which your nation was founded,” the cornerstone of which is “religious liberty.” The message from Pope Francis, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was sent to participants in an international conference organized by the Knights of Columbus, which opened Tuesday in Philadelphia.
full text of letter | Pope Francis Highlights Religious Freedom and Marriage in Message to Knights of Columbus
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-highlights-religious-freedom-and-marr
For These Druze Refugees from Syria, Help Comes From an Unexpected Source
by Ruth Eglash
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/for-these-druze-refugees-from-syria-help-comes-from-an-unexpected-source/2015/08/04/125e3a7c-3481-11e5-b835-61ddaa99c73e_story.html
An American-born rabbi, Yechiel Eckstein heads the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews--a charity that supports an array of social welfare programs in Israel, with some $140 million a year in donations from evangelical Christians in the United States. Eckstein's most recent mission is to bring aid to some of Syria's 700,000 Druze, who are facing increasing violence and persecution in the midst of the country's brutal war.
Christian Persecution Spurs Charity, Calls for More Asylum
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/04/us/ap-us-rel-knights-of-columbus-mideast-christians.html
While visiting Philadelphia on Tuesday, a Syrian archbishop said the United States' reluctance to offer asylum to persecuted Christians is "unjust," and he pleaded for help withstanding Islamic militants fighting to root out the Christian faith.
Protesters March in Nepal to Demand Charter Drop the Term 'Secular'
New York Times/Reuters
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/08/05/world/asia/05reuters-nepal-protests-secularism.html?_r=0
Hindu activists protested in the Nepali capital on Wednesday, saying the use of the word "secular" in the Himalayan nation's draft constitution would spur efforts by other religious groups to convert Hindus. […] Politicians working on Nepal's first post-monarchy constitution face pressure to use the term "Hindu state," or include a guarantee of religious freedom, following overwhelming public demand to return to the former status of a Hindu nation.
Pope Francis Urges Church To Embrace Those Who Divorce And Remarry
by Bill Chappell
NPR Religion
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/05/429618751/pope-francis-urges-church-to-embrace-those-who-divorce-and-remarry
Though remaining that their acts are contrary to the sacrament of marriage, Pope Francis is stressing that Catholics who divorce and remarry must be embraced by the Church--an agenda which has left some wondering if the pope might be considering easing the restrictions on divorced Catholics receiving communion.
North Korea and Christianity--Uneasy Bedfellows
by Stephen Evans
BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-33740261
Despite recent concerns that Christian communities are facing destruction in parts of the Middle East, there are other parts of the world where they also meet extreme difficulty. North Korea proves one particularly challenging environment for followers of Christianity, as leaders seem to fear that its spread could become an alternative--and dangerous--source of power.
DOMESTIC
Christian Leaders Call on Candidates to Address Climate Change, Inequality
by Sara Weissman
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/08/04/christian-leaders-call-candidates-address-climate-change-inequality/
In preparation for the first presidential debate in Cleveland on Thursday, a coalition of more than 70 evangelical, Protestant, and Catholic leaders has issued a statement calling on presidential candidates to address climate change and economic inequality.
China Ordains 1st Catholic Bishop Since 2012 Amid Tensions
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/05/world/asia/ap-as-rel-china-bishop-ordained.html
Amid tensions between Beijing and the Vatican and a strained relationship between Chinese leadership and Christianity in general, a diocese in central China ordained the country's first Catholic bishop in three years. The ordination also marks the first appointment of a new Chinese bishop under Pope Francis, who has made a point of attempting friendly relations with China and its leaders.
related | Severe Crackdown in China on Church Crosses Draws Backlash
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/05/world/asia/ap-as-rel-china-removing-crosses.html
Pope Urges American Catholics to Defend Religious Freedom
by Thomas D. Williams
Breitbart
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/05/pope-urges-american-catholics-to-defend-religious-freedom/
In a strongly worded statement to American Catholics, Pope Francis declared that marriage between one man and one woman is “under attack from powerful cultural forces,” and urged Americans to defend “those freedoms upon which your nation was founded,” the cornerstone of which is “religious liberty.” The message from Pope Francis, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was sent to participants in an international conference organized by the Knights of Columbus, which opened Tuesday in Philadelphia.
full text of letter | Pope Francis Highlights Religious Freedom and Marriage in Message to Knights of Columbus
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-highlights-religious-freedom-and-marr
For These Druze Refugees from Syria, Help Comes From an Unexpected Source
by Ruth Eglash
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/for-these-druze-refugees-from-syria-help-comes-from-an-unexpected-source/2015/08/04/125e3a7c-3481-11e5-b835-61ddaa99c73e_story.html
An American-born rabbi, Yechiel Eckstein heads the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews--a charity that supports an array of social welfare programs in Israel, with some $140 million a year in donations from evangelical Christians in the United States. Eckstein's most recent mission is to bring aid to some of Syria's 700,000 Druze, who are facing increasing violence and persecution in the midst of the country's brutal war.
Christian Persecution Spurs Charity, Calls for More Asylum
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/04/us/ap-us-rel-knights-of-columbus-mideast-christians.html
While visiting Philadelphia on Tuesday, a Syrian archbishop said the United States' reluctance to offer asylum to persecuted Christians is "unjust," and he pleaded for help withstanding Islamic militants fighting to root out the Christian faith.
Protesters March in Nepal to Demand Charter Drop the Term 'Secular'
New York Times/Reuters
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/08/05/world/asia/05reuters-nepal-protests-secularism.html?_r=0
Hindu activists protested in the Nepali capital on Wednesday, saying the use of the word "secular" in the Himalayan nation's draft constitution would spur efforts by other religious groups to convert Hindus. […] Politicians working on Nepal's first post-monarchy constitution face pressure to use the term "Hindu state," or include a guarantee of religious freedom, following overwhelming public demand to return to the former status of a Hindu nation.
Pope Francis Urges Church To Embrace Those Who Divorce And Remarry
by Bill Chappell
NPR Religion
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/05/429618751/pope-francis-urges-church-to-embrace-those-who-divorce-and-remarry
Though remaining that their acts are contrary to the sacrament of marriage, Pope Francis is stressing that Catholics who divorce and remarry must be embraced by the Church--an agenda which has left some wondering if the pope might be considering easing the restrictions on divorced Catholics receiving communion.
North Korea and Christianity--Uneasy Bedfellows
by Stephen Evans
BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-33740261
Despite recent concerns that Christian communities are facing destruction in parts of the Middle East, there are other parts of the world where they also meet extreme difficulty. North Korea proves one particularly challenging environment for followers of Christianity, as leaders seem to fear that its spread could become an alternative--and dangerous--source of power.
DOMESTIC
Christian Leaders Call on Candidates to Address Climate Change, Inequality
by Sara Weissman
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/08/04/christian-leaders-call-candidates-address-climate-change-inequality/
In preparation for the first presidential debate in Cleveland on Thursday, a coalition of more than 70 evangelical, Protestant, and Catholic leaders has issued a statement calling on presidential candidates to address climate change and economic inequality.
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