Christian women wrongfully imprisoned in Nicaragua have been beaten and
denied time outdoors for praying aloud with rosaries, Christian Solidarity
Worldwide reported on March 6.
Lamor Whitehead, known as the “Bling Bishop,” pastor at Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Brooklyn, New York, has been convicted of fraud, extortion, and other charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District …
Churches in two Pennsylvania dioceses have raised $30,000 to eliminate $3 million in medical debt, celebrating the achievement with a symbolic burning of medical bills. The initiative, supported by the Help, Healing and Hope initiative …
Gallup reports a decrease in Americans viewing same-sex relations as morally acceptable, dropping from 71% to 64%. This shift is largely attributed to changing opinions among Republicans, with only 41% now viewing these relations as …
Some Ukrainian Christians have undergone the harrowing experience of being tortured by Russian forces due to their faith. Azat, a Ukrainian Baptist pastor was captured and severely tortured by Russian soldiers. Others have suffered similar …
Ukrainian and allied officials have expressed criticism toward Pope Francis for his comments suggesting that Kyiv should negotiate an end to the war with Russia, interpreting it as a call for Ukraine to surrender. The Pope’s …
A proposed ban on “magical healing” is the latest government initiative targeting Christian practice and evangelism in Assam.
State lawmakers in India are seeking to curtail evangelism with a ban on “magical healing” that could penalize Christians who offer prayer or any “non-scientific” practices to comfort people who are sick.
Last month, the northeastern state of Assam introduced the bill, which Christian leaders say unfairly targets their community’s custom of praying for the sick. Though church healing meetings in India have drawn people to Christ, local Christians insist that prayer is a legitimate, universal spiritual practice and not an unethical tool for conversion, as Hindu nationalists claimed.
The proposed ban, which passed the 126-member state assembly on February 26, states that:
No person shall take any part in healing practices and magical healing propagation for treatment of any diseases, any disorder or any condition relating to the health of a person (relating to human body) directly or indirectly giving a false impression of treatment to cure diseases, pain or trouble to the human health.
Any first-time offender can face one to three years in prison, a fine of 50,000 rupees (about $600 USD), or both. A subsequent conviction may result in up to five years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of 100,000 rupees (about $1,200 USD).
The bill must be ratified by the president of India to become an act. Assembly leaders in Assam say that the healing ban does not target any particular religion, but they were clear about their aims to restrict evangelism and conversion.
“We want to curb evangelism in Assam, so in that direction, the banning of healing … will be a very, very important milestone,” said Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam. The state is governed by the Hindu nationalist …Continue reading…
The Coptic Orthodox Church has suspended ecumenical dialogue with the Catholic Church due to disagreements over the latter’s stance on homosexuality. This decision, revealed by Coptic Orthodox spokesman Father Moussa Ibrahim, reflects the Church’s adherence …
The city of Baltimore agreed to pay $275,000 in legal fees after a federal court ruling favored a far-right Catholic group, St. Michael’s Media. The dispute arose when Baltimore officials attempted to block the group’s …
The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse, with no further action anticipated. This decision comes after a year-and-a-half-long probe into the committee …