Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: a German town expresses its concern with the conversion plans for an old church, officials in the Philippines investigate a powerful sect, and an Iowa bike race becomes a platform for Muslim women's rights.
AROUND THE WORLD
As German Church Becomes Mosque, Neighbors Start to Shed Unease
by Jesse Coburn
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/world/europe/as-german-church-becomes-mosque-neighbors-start-to-sh...
A church that has stood in Horn, a working-class district in Germany, since 1961 has been sold to a Muslim congregation that plans to convert the deconsecrated building into a mosque. The planned construction has many residents of the historically Protestant city up in arms, as they view the building’s conversion as a symbol of the so-called "Islamization" of the country.
Tunisia’s Secular Government Cracks Down on Mosques in Aftermath of Massacre
by Carlotta Gall
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/world/africa/rift-widens-in-tunisia-as-government-cracks-down-on-m...
After a gunman massacred 38 tourists last month in Sousse, a flurry of security measures by the Tunisian government has resulted in a crackdown on dozens of mosques--closing 80 buildings of worship and even barring two preachers unaffiliated with the shooting.
Philippines Investigates Alleged Abductions in Powerful Sect
by Oliver Teves
Washington Post/AP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/philippines-investigates-alleged-abductions-in-pow...
A politically influential but secretive sect in the Philippines is facing allegations of abductions and misuse of funds--prompting the Justice Department to open an investigation into the close-knit religious group.
Priests No Longer Needed as Digital Antarctica Embraces Online Religion
Guardian/AP
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/24/priests-no-longer-needed-as-digital-antarctica-embraces...
Due better communications systems and internet connections, America’s National Science Foundation has told Christchurch’s Catholic Diocese in New Zealand--who has been sending priests to the area since 1957--that it no longer needs local clerics on the ice.
Nun’s Tale Captures the Paradoxes of India’s Love Affair With Religion
by John L. Allen, Jr.
Crux
http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/07/23/nuns-tale-captures-the-paradoxes-of-indias-love-affair-with-...
Although Christians compose less than three percent of India's population, for the most part they enjoy wide esteem there. However, the intense religiosity throughout the nation has been known to turn ugly, putting devout Christians--such as those at convents--directly in harm's way.
DOMESTIC
Evangelicals and Muslims Together Denounce Franklin Graham’s Anti-Muslim Remarks
by Sara Weissman
Washington Post/RNS
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/evangelicals-and-muslims-together-denounce-franklin-...
An evangelical pastor from Texas joined American Muslim leaders on Thursday in denouncing recent anti-Muslim comments by evangelist Franklin Graham. The pair then announced upcoming efforts to build bridges between their religious communities, including an upcoming conference of pastors and imams to be held in southern Maryland.
How An Iowa Bike Ride Is Promoting Rights For World's Muslim Women
by Antonia Blumberg
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ragbrai-muslim-women_55b14a03e4b07af29d57f69b?utm_hp_ref=religio...
In hopes of promoting female sports participation as a fundamental right, seven Muslim women from around the world are bicycling 470 miles across Iowa this week. The women of Team Shirzanan--a Persian word that means “female heroes”--will cover up to 70 miles a day in the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
As German Church Becomes Mosque, Neighbors Start to Shed Unease
by Jesse Coburn
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/world/europe/as-german-church-becomes-mosque-neighbors-start-to-sh...
A church that has stood in Horn, a working-class district in Germany, since 1961 has been sold to a Muslim congregation that plans to convert the deconsecrated building into a mosque. The planned construction has many residents of the historically Protestant city up in arms, as they view the building’s conversion as a symbol of the so-called "Islamization" of the country.
Tunisia’s Secular Government Cracks Down on Mosques in Aftermath of Massacre
by Carlotta Gall
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/world/africa/rift-widens-in-tunisia-as-government-cracks-down-on-m...
After a gunman massacred 38 tourists last month in Sousse, a flurry of security measures by the Tunisian government has resulted in a crackdown on dozens of mosques--closing 80 buildings of worship and even barring two preachers unaffiliated with the shooting.
Philippines Investigates Alleged Abductions in Powerful Sect
by Oliver Teves
Washington Post/AP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/philippines-investigates-alleged-abductions-in-pow...
A politically influential but secretive sect in the Philippines is facing allegations of abductions and misuse of funds--prompting the Justice Department to open an investigation into the close-knit religious group.
Priests No Longer Needed as Digital Antarctica Embraces Online Religion
Guardian/AP
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/24/priests-no-longer-needed-as-digital-antarctica-embraces...
Due better communications systems and internet connections, America’s National Science Foundation has told Christchurch’s Catholic Diocese in New Zealand--who has been sending priests to the area since 1957--that it no longer needs local clerics on the ice.
Nun’s Tale Captures the Paradoxes of India’s Love Affair With Religion
by John L. Allen, Jr.
Crux
http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/07/23/nuns-tale-captures-the-paradoxes-of-indias-love-affair-with-...
Although Christians compose less than three percent of India's population, for the most part they enjoy wide esteem there. However, the intense religiosity throughout the nation has been known to turn ugly, putting devout Christians--such as those at convents--directly in harm's way.
DOMESTIC
Evangelicals and Muslims Together Denounce Franklin Graham’s Anti-Muslim Remarks
by Sara Weissman
Washington Post/RNS
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/evangelicals-and-muslims-together-denounce-franklin-...
An evangelical pastor from Texas joined American Muslim leaders on Thursday in denouncing recent anti-Muslim comments by evangelist Franklin Graham. The pair then announced upcoming efforts to build bridges between their religious communities, including an upcoming conference of pastors and imams to be held in southern Maryland.
How An Iowa Bike Ride Is Promoting Rights For World's Muslim Women
by Antonia Blumberg
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ragbrai-muslim-women_55b14a03e4b07af29d57f69b?utm_hp_ref=religio...
In hopes of promoting female sports participation as a fundamental right, seven Muslim women from around the world are bicycling 470 miles across Iowa this week. The women of Team Shirzanan--a Persian word that means “female heroes”--will cover up to 70 miles a day in the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
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