Europe’s stuttering timidity in denouncing the persecution of Christians

by Bernardo Cervellera (Comments can be read at JihadWatch)
After nearly three weeks, finally a European text condemns the violations of religious freedom of Christians. The statement suffers from "excessive" balance and distance. The EU's inability to understand what is happening in North Africa and the Middle East is a result of its ignoring its Christian roots. Without a sense of identity the ability to read the situation or offer a way forward. The teaching of Benedict XVI.

Rome (AsiaNews) - After more than three weeks of debate, the EU has managed to produce a text that explicitly mentions Christians as victims of persecution and the object of violent attacks. An earlier text had been prepared in January, after the terrorist attack on the Church in Baghdad and the massacre at the Church in Alexandria, but was it rejected because of the lack of references to Christians, since the EU preferred to use generic term "religious minorities".

The new text approved yesterday explicitly mentions "Christians and their places of worship" victims of "acts of religious intolerance and discrimination," but now hastens to include among the victims of such acts "Muslim pilgrims and other religious communities" as well .

Jean-Mohammed: the Franciscan who Came from Islam

Photo from Amazon

Source: OASIS, thanks to Dar Al-Masih: The simple name of Father Jean-Mohammed Abd-el-Jalil already suggests a rather unusual existence: John (Jean), ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’ according to the Gospel, and Mohammed, the only Prophet of God according to the Koran. In these times, in which Christianity and Islam are once again perceived as being in opposition, it is advisable to reflect upon the life and message of this Franciscan religious who converted to Christianity but who never really denied the values of the Muslim religion in which he had been born and brought up. Without ever falling into a facile syncretism, Abd-el-Jalil attempted, in opposite fashion, to make the profound values of the religion of his ancestors better understood (1).

Jean-Mohammed Abd-el-Jalil was born in Fez in Morocco in 1904, to a humble family, with origins that went back to Andalusia, which brought him up in the Muslim faith of his ancestors. Fez was a city of ancient culture in which Islam shaped the daily lives of all the inhabitants. The young Mohammed thus followed the normal path of every child who attended the local Koranic school. At the age of ten he even accompanied his parents on their pilgrimage to Mecca. A traditional upbringing, therefore. He conserved great respect for the ulema, of whom he would later say: ‘it was with these loquentes – often the anonymous repeaters of textbooks, commentaries and glossaries…it was with these loquentes that, as a young student in a white robe, sitting on a carpet of red or green wool that I carried under my arm, I felt reawaken in me at the University of Karaouin that religious feeling that would lead me to the visible-invisible reality of the Church. From these ulema I received a taste for divine transcendence, whose taste is truly revealed only in the mystery of Christ’ (2). Seeing his intellectual gifts, his father enrolled him at the French high school of Fez, which he then left for the Gouraud high school of Rabat where he completed his secondary studies. His first contact with Christianity goes back to this period. It was through the Franciscans where he lodged. His marks at his finishing exam (baccalauréat) gained him the attention of Marshal Lyautey, at that time the Resident General of Morocco, who chose him to engage in higher studies in Paris. Lyautey had a humanistic vision of colonisation and wanted to form well-trained native officials for Morocco. The two would remain friends and many years later Abd-el-Jalil helped the elderly Marshal, who was by then retired, to draw near once again to Christian faith.

Italy arrests Moroccans for inciting hatred of Pope

Comments can be read at JihadWatch

Magdi Allam (left) was baptised in 2008

BBC - Six Moroccan men have been arrested in northern Italy on suspicion of seeking to incite hatred of Pope Benedict among Muslims.

Police in the city of Brescia said the suspects had allegedly banded together to stir up religious hatred.

A note was found calling for the Pope to be punished for converting a Muslim journalist to Roman Catholicism.

According to another source, the suspects are not suspected of planning attacks.

Five of the men, who are all Brescia residents, were placed under house arrest while the sixth was taken into custody.

Egyptian Army takes Monks and Monastery

Thanks to Islamization Watch

Egyptian Armed Forces Fire At Christian Monasteries, 19 Injured

Photo Source : Islamization Watch

(AINA) -- For the second time in as many days, Egyptian armed force stormed the 5th century old St. Bishoy monastery in Wadi el-Natroun, 110 kilometers from Cairo. Live ammunition was fired, wounding two monks and six Coptic monastery workers. Several sources confirmed the army's use of RPG ammunition. Four people have been arrested including three monks and a Coptic lawyer who was at the monastery investigating yesterday's army attack.

Monk Aksios Ava Bishoy told activist Nader Shoukry of Freecopts the armed forces stormed the main entrance gate to the monastery in the morning using five tanks, armored vehicles and a bulldozer to demolish the fence built by the monastery last month to protect themselves and the monastery from the lawlessness which prevailed in Egypt during the January 25 Uprising.

"When we tried to address them, the army fired live bullets, wounding Father Feltaows in the leg and Father Barnabas in the abdomen," said Monk Ava Bishoy. "Six Coptic workers in the monastery were also injured, some with serious injuries to the chest."

The injured were rushed to the nearby Sadat Hospital, the ones in serious condition were transferred to the Anglo-Egyptian Hospital in Cairo.

Norma Jean Coon, Woman "Catholic" Priest Repents

Document of Renunciation of Ordination to Diaconate

From Norma Jean Coon's website

On July 22, 2007, I was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Patricia Fresen, of Germany and South Africa who was ordained by three male bishops in Germany for the group called Roman Catholic Women Priests. The ordination took place at the Santa Barbara Immaculate Heart Spiritual Center. Because neither Patricia Fresen nor myself were given permission for the ordination by Pope Benedict XVI, the ordinations were illegitimate and not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Thus an excommunication process called Latae Sententiae occurred, excommunicating oneself by failure to observe the Canon Laws of the Church.

I wish to renounce the alleged ordination and publicly state that I did not act as a deacon as a part of this group except on two occasions, when I read the gospel once at mass and distributed communion once at this same mass. I withdrew from the program within two weeks of the ceremony because I realized that I had made a mistake in studying for the priesthood. I confess to the truth of Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis. I confess the authority of the Holy Father on these issues of ordination and recognize that Christ founded the ordination only for men.

Formally, I relinquish all connection to the program of Roman Catholic Women Priests and I disclaim the alleged ordination publicly with apologies to those whose lives I have offended or scandalized by my actions. I ask God's blessings upon each of these folks and their families.

Norma Jean Coon, RN, MFCC, PhD
San Diego, California
Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Coptic Christian priest killed in Egypt, setting off new protests by religious minority

ASSIUT, Egypt (AP News — A Coptic Christian priest has been killed in southern Egypt, triggering street demonstrations by several thousand Christians.

The priest was found dead in his home. A fellow clergyman, Danoub Thabet, says his body had several stab wounds. He says neighbours reported seeing several masked men leaving the apartment and shouting "Allahu akbar," or "God is great," suggesting the killing was motivated by the divide between Egypt's Muslims and its minority Coptic community.

About 3,000 protesters scuffled with Muslim shop owners Tuesday night and smashed the windows of a police car in the city, Assiut.

Egypt's religious tension spiked in January when a suicide bomber killed 21 people outside a Coptic church in the port city of Alexandria. Days of protests followed.

Egyptian Armed Forces Demolish Fences Guarding Coptic Monasteries

(AINA) -- Egyptian armed forces this week demolished fences surrounding ancient Coptic monasteries, leaving them vulnerable to attacks by armed Arabs, robbers and escaped prisoners, who have seized the opportunity of the state of diminished protection by the authorities in Egypt to carry out assaults and thefts.

"Three monasteries have been attacked by outlaws and have asked for protection from the armed forces, but were told to defend themselves." said activist Mark Ebeid. "When the terrified monks built fences to protect themselves, armed forces appeared only then with bulldozers to demolish the fences. It is worth noting that these monasteries are among the most ancient in Egypt, with valuable Coptic icons and manuscripts among others, which are of tremendous value to collectors."

On Sunday February 20, armed forced stormed the 4th century old monastery of St. Boula in the Red Sea area, assaulted three monks and then demolished a small fence supporting a gate leading to the fenceless monastery. "The idea of the erection of the gate was prompted after being attacked at midnight on February 13 by five prisoners who broke out from their prisons," said Father Botros Anba Boula, "and were armed with a pistol and batons. The monks ran after them but they fled to the surrounding mountains except for one who stumbled and was apprehended and held by the monks until the police picked him up three days later."

Pastor Of Catholic Couple Killed By Somali Pirates Praises Their Faith

SANTA MONICA, CALIF., February 23 (EWTN / CNA) - A sailing Catholic couple killed by Somali pirates during their global cruise to distribute Bibles was a "wonderful part" of a California Catholic parish, the couple's pastor said.

Retirees Scott and Jean Adam of Marina del Rey, Calif. had decided to make a difference in the world by bringing Bibles to the "far-flung corners of the earth," St. Monica Catholic Community pastor Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson said in a Feb. 22 interview.

"Our community believes in helping to form loving disciples who will transform this world," he explained. Sharing Bibles was the Adams' way of doing that during the sailing trip they began in 2004.

Their 58-foot sloop, the Quest, had separated from the Blue Water Rally cruise fleet traveling from Australia to the Mediterranean when they were hijacked by 19 Somali pirates in the northwest part of the Indian Ocean off the coast of Oman. The pirates captured the Adams and their friends Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle of Seattle.

The Lutherans Are Coming!

Thanks to THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: A quick look at the Anglican Ordinariate Google Map reveals an interesting trend. It looks like some Lutherans are availing themselves of the opportunity to join the pope's emerging Anglican Catholic Ordinariate here in the United States. The trend can be verified on The Anglo-Catholic blog. The development signifies something startling. The Anglican Ordinariates are beginning to cross denominational lines - specifically Protestant denominational lines. No longer are traditional Anglican congregations the only one's interested in entering the Catholic Church through the pope's personal ordinariate. Now we see traditional Lutherans following through as well. This is not a separate ordinariate mind you, it's the SAME ordinariate! It would appear the Traditional Anglicans and Traditional Lutherans are patching things up between them as they head toward Rome...

View Emerging Anglican Catholic Ordinariates in a larger map

Egyptian Revolution: Muslims and Christians united

by Samir Khalil Samir

Asia News - Many wonder if the Egyptian revolution and the overthrow of Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, who was a politically moderate president, will result in Egypt falling into the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood in or some extremist Islamic group.

There is no doubt that Mubarak was opposed to the Muslim Brotherhood and that he aspired to a secular state and a modern secular society (dawlah madaniyyah hadîthah, rather than dawlah ‘almâniyyah, as he himself said in his speech at al Azhar of September 5 2010 and again in Parliament December 19, 2010).

Meanwhile, however, the Muslim Brotherhood movement has changed somewhat in the aftermath of giving up violence, and no longer seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate, or to apply Islamic Sharia in all its aspects. Indeed it aims to maintain the general practice along the lines of Islam, but it is not yet known to what extent. However, alongside this movement others equally as strong want a more neutral, and more liberal society regarding religious traditions, as has clearly emerged from a survey carried out in Cairo and in Alexandria on February 5 to 8, which we will return to a t a later date.

We know that the Patriarch Shenouda III was not favourable in the first week, towards the popular movement and ardently defended President Mubarak. The reason was that no one knew how this movement was going to end. The Coptic people, took tot he streets from the very outset of the protests. The "revolution," or rather the Egyptian intifada, was the peoples revolution. Copts and Muslims, hand in hand, without discrimination. Perhaps in reaction to the savage attack against the church of Saints in Alexandria New Year’s eve.

Rather than a long analysis, it seemed more useful ¬ - for once – to let the pictures from Liberation Square (Midân al-Tahrîr) speak for themselves. Here are ten pictures showing Muslims and Christians, with their religious symbols, hand in hand. For us Egyptians, this event recalls the "Egyptian Revolution of 1919" against the United Kingdom which occupied Egypt and Sudan, just after the armistice of 11 November 1919 after the First World War in Europe.

Poster with cross and crescent and the word "Egyptians, one hand"

European bishops call for EU action on behalf of persecuted Christians

Catholic Culture - The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) has welcomed the Council of the European Union’s decision to condemn violence “against Christians and their places of worship, Muslim pilgrims and other religious communities” and urged the EU to follow up with “concrete action” to assist persecuted Christians.

“The fusion of ‘common sense’ and ‘political will’ has prevailed to secure the strong statement urgently needed to stop the widespread acts of terrorism and sectarianism against Christians worldwide,” COMECE said in a statement. “Yet the security and survival of Christian communities, especially in the Middle East, requires concrete action.”

“COMECE hopes that the EU will implement its conclusions in significant political action, and thus help to eradicate the stark sectarian divide, the war of cultures and religions, and the wave of religious-cleansing.”

Gaza church nurtures hope despite Israeli blockade and Hamas control

By Paul Jeffrey
Catholic News Service

Sister Nabila Saleh, a member of the Congregation
of the Rosary, participates in Mass at Holy Family
Catholic Church in Gaza. (CNS/Paul Jeffrey)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (CNS) -- The only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip is alive and well, despite an Israeli blockade of the besieged Palestinian enclave and the tight cultural and political control exercised by Gaza's Islamist government.

"Despite all the bad things you hear about Gaza, there is life here," said Father Jorge Hernandez of Holy Family Catholic Church. "People here pray and lead virtuous lives. They are happy, even living in Gaza with all its problems.

"This is their homeland. Their loved ones are buried here. God is here, and it's a fruit of the Holy Spirit that people here embrace and celebrate the life they have," Father Hernandez said.

Of Gaza's 1.6 million people, Father Hernandez said, about 3,000 are Christian and only 206 of them are Catholics. But in a land where just about everyone is Muslim, denominations matter little.

Egypt's Copts march to demand a secular state

Photographed by طارق وجيه

Al-Masry Alyoum, Cairo - Hundreds of Coptic Christians protested in front of the State Television building on Sunday to call for the amendment of Egypt’s Constitution to establish a secular state.

The march started in the mixed Coptic and Muslim neighborhood of Shubra--a northern suburb of Cairo--with chants of “Civil! Civil!” and “The people want to change the constitution.”

The protest reflects the rising fears of the Coptic community since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, who maintained a relatively secular type of governance.

Copts account for nearly 10 percent of Egypt’s population of over 80 million and constitutes the Middle East’s largest Christian community. They have complained about frequent discrimination and sectarian attacks, and allege that they are overlooked for top jobs in the army, police and certain high ranking administrative posts.

Kahihiyan sa Iglesia ni Cristo ang mga bloggers na nagpapakilalang mga INC members sila

Isang uri ng kabute, sandaling nabubuhay
tumutubo magdamag at namamatay kinabukasan

"Gaya-gaya, puto maya!" isang paboritong kasabihan pambata na sinasambit kapag may mga ibang mga batang walang ginawa kundi ang MANGGAYA sa ginagawa ng iba.

Ganyan ang laro ng mga nagpapakilalang mga bloggers na kaanib daw ng Iglesia ni Cristo.

Kamakailan lamang biglang nagsulputan ang mga maraming blogs na umaatake sa mga Catholic Defenders. Ang iba ay sadyang ginawa upang mag-RESBAK.  Ang ang iba naman ay sadyang ginawa para magpapansin at sila'y BASAHIN raw (README) at ang iba naman ay gawa-gawa lamang at ang iba ay sadyang ginawa para MAMERSONAL. At halos sa lahat ng mga forums, bastos at walang modo ang mga nagpapakilalang mga kaanib raw ng Iglesia ni Cristo.

Reactions can be read at JihadWatch

Read also Pakistan: The incidents against Christians are increasing at an alarming rate

Imran Masih

LAHORE, Pakistan, February 16 (CDN) — The Christian family of 24-year-old Imran Masih in Pakistan’s Punjab Province was in anguish. The previous week, on Feb. 7, Masih was found dead at his Muslim employer’s farmhouse.

The employer, influential landowner Chaudhry Maqsood Cheema, claimed that Masih committed suicide by hanging himself. Masih’s relatives believe that Cheema – seeing the young Christian man as a “soft target” whose family had little standing or legal recourse in the predominantly Muslim society – killed him for taking a day off without informing him.

Masih had married eight months ago, and the couple was expecting their first child, his father Lal Masih told Compass by telephone from Nath Kallan village in Esa Nagar, Gujranwala district. He said Cheema had hired his son to care for his livestock a month ago, and that a few days before his death, Imran Masih had taken a day off from work without informing Cheema.

“Cheema did not approve of this action and reprimanded him severely,” he said.

Catholic Priest killed in Tunisian capital

What would happen if a Muslim imam was deliberately killed in the West? An unimaginable violence against non-Muslims would erupt around the world. But when an infidel priest dies at the hands of Muslims, we Christians simply pray for the soul of their victim and that may his blood be the seed of witnessing to Christ's own sacrifice on the Cross. Praise and thanks God (alhamdulillah), I am a Christian!

To Jesus Christ be praised forever!

(Reactions can be read at Jihadwatch.org)

(Reuters) - A Polish priest was murdered in the Tunisian capital Friday, state media cited the Interior Ministry as saying, the latest sign of rising religious tension since last month's revolution.

Mark Marios Rebaski was found dead at the School of Our Lady in Manouba where he worked, Tunisia Africa Press reported. His throat had been cut.

"The Ministry of the Interior condemns this act and regrets the death. Based on results of the preliminary investigation, including the method of assassination, it believes a group of terrorist fascists with extremist tendencies was behind this crime," it said.

An Iglesia ni Cristo member quoting protestant anti-Catholic websites to Demonize the Catholic Church which is the TRUE Church of Christ according to INC Official Magazine PASUGO Abril 1966, p. 46

There is an on-going forum-debate at (Dr. Quirino Sugon, SJ) MONK'S HOBBIT post Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) logo: Christian or Masonic symbol?. Two active regular commentators (or should I say deceivers) Artsee and Truth are the "Resident Evils" in the forum doing nothing in their power but DEMONIZING the Catholic Church in defense of their beloved cult, the Iglesia ni Cristo founded by Felix Manalo which was  incorporated it in 1914 according to the pages of history.

Artsee is obviously an INC member while Truth is trying NOT TO BE so obvious about his INC affiliations (nahihiya siguro and I can understand that).  He can pretend NOT to be an affiliate but of course he cannot always pretend forever.  The TRUTH will always triumph! How he was unmasked? Come to think of it.  What is a Trinity believing protestant doing in a forum that talks NOTHING but the MASONIC SYMBOLS in the Iglesia ni Cristo's LOGO?  (Anong ginagawa ng isang Protestanteng naniniwala sa pagka-Dios ni Cristo sa isang forum na ang pinag-uusapan ay ang mga Masonic symbols sa logo ng Iglesia ni Cristo?)

Raymond Ibrahim: Is the Media 'Fair and Balanced' on Christian Persecution?

(Read comments from JihadWatch.org)

Raymond Ibrahim -The mainstream media (MSM) has just provided another example of how it ostracizes those who fail to tout its party-line. Context: the Washington Post's On Faith blog posted an article dealing with Muslim-Christian relations, in light of recent attacks on Christians in the Muslim world. Regular contributors were invited to respond. The response of one of these, Willis E. Eliot, a retired dean of exploratory programs, New York Seminary, was rejected (Pajamas Media published it here). Up till then, for over three years, Eliot had been publishing almost weekly on that blog; this is his first contribution to be rejected in all that time.

What about it caused the Washington Post to jettison it? You see, the nonagenarian Eliot decided to make black and white—as opposed to postmodern, "there-are-no-truths"—observations. Consider some of his comments on the differences between Christianity and Islam:

Jesus said, "Love your enemies." Islam, to the contrary, is essentially hostile to "the infidels"… Jesus was anti-violent, Muhammad was violent… Muslims become violent, or threaten violence, when they feel offended: when we Christians feel offended, almost never do we become violent, and almost always we suffer the disrespect in silence."

In Nairobi, cloistered Carmelites give themselves to God in prayer

Sr. Bernadette, a Carmelite Sister

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) -- For several of the cloistered Carmelite Sisters at Mount Carmel Convent, their life of prayer began in their families, when they were children. "My dad taught me to pray for others," said Sister Bernadette, one of the younger sisters. She said her father told her he knew sisters who prayed for everyone, and she asked if they could pray for her, too. She said she began corresponding with the sisters and was drawn to their life of prayer. Sister Constanza, who professed her final vows in January, said she attended Mass each morning because she did not live far from the local church.

Each evening, her family gathered to pray the rosary and other evening prayers. "I decided to give myself to the Lord for myself and for the salvation of souls," and the best way seemed to be contemplative life, she said. In an interview with Catholic News Service Feb. 16, several of the sisters talked about the path that led them to nearly continuous prayer each day. "I never dreamed of becoming a nun," said Sister Monica, who now serves as novice mistress for the order. In college, she met some Catholic students who began praying the rosary together, then attending daily Mass. One of the students wanted to become a Franciscan priest, and as he talked more about the saints, her interest grew. She said she was filled with "a desire to belong to Christ."

A miraculous escape for the little girl the Pope blessed

Power of prayer ... Peter and Sue Hill with their daughter Claire. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

The Sydney Morning Paper - PETER HILL'S life has been peppered with signs.

Years ago, all four tyres blew out one after the other when he suggested to his future wife in the car that God created all things and therefore must be responsible for evil.

More recently, Pope Benedict XVI kissed his baby daughter, Claire, at Randwick in Sydney while in the midst of a throng of devotees.

Claire being blessed by Pope Benedict XVI at Randwick in 2008. Photo: Getty Images

Risa Hontiveros, one of the noisiest ladies promoting the deadly RH Bill in the House of Representatives wrote a letter to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines expressing her opposition to the Bishops unmovable stand against the RH Bill. Thanks to The PinoyCatholic

Dear Bishop Odchimar,

Peace!

I will not respond to all the points raised in the Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines which you sent us, your Filipino brothers and sisters, last 30 January. Most of them are old points that have been raised and clarified repeatedly in so many debates and too few dialogues in the past decade, though it drives me almost to tears that it seems the good Bishops have not been listening intently or understanding with empathy. 

I would like to respond to just two points. 

Afghan father is scheduled to die because he believed in Jesus Christ as his Savior!

I Am In Awe of Such Faith

By Matthew Archbold from National Catholic Register

An Afghanistan Christian and father of six, is imprisoned and scheduled to die. His crime? He believes Christ is his Savior. And he is scheduled to die because of it. No defense lawyer will take his case for fear of retribution. And he has been told that if he renounces Christ things would go easier. But he doesn’t. He won’t.

Said Musa, who lost his leg from a landmine in the 1990’s and has worked since then as a medical worker for the Red Cross fitting children with prosthetics, has been in jail for eight months. According to a public letter written by him and addressed to our President and the world community, he has been brutally tortured and abused in every way possible, both by guards and inmates.

As of yet the media and the world seem to have taken little notice of Said Musa. There are currently less than 100 mentions of Musa in the news and most of them are not considered part of the mainstream media, other than the Wall Street Journal.

Vatican officials express hopes for Egypt's future

Photo Source: OnPoint

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican's ambassador to Egypt said he hoped the country's future would include greater social justice and greater freedom for all of the country's people.

In an interview with Vatican Radio Feb. 11, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald said he hoped the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which is running Egypt, would follow the direction of constitutional reform and "will also respond to the other demands of the population with regard to social justice and with regard to political liberties as well."

Archbishop Fitzgerald, the Vatican nuncio in Cairo, said that even before President Hosni Mubarak resigned Feb. 11, the Egyptian leader had given his vice president the task of studying various articles of the constitution with a view of amending them in response to protesters' demands for greater democracy.

Mubarak's promises of reform were not enough for protesters, and he was forced to hand over power to the military and step down.

NUNCIO IN EGYPT: NATION'S FUTURE IN HANDS OF THE PEOPLE

Photo Source: Putting & Politics

ROME, FEB. 11, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The future of Egypt is now in the hands of its people, says the apostolic nuncio in the country.

Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, who has held the post of nuncio in Egypt since 2006, told ZENIT that "it is for Egyptians to find the right solution to the present crisis."

After 18 days of protests that left some 300 dead, President Hosni Mubarak stepped down earlier today. Mubarak, 82, had ruled the country for 30 years.

The archbishop recalled that last Sunday, Benedict XVI "prayed that Egypt and the people of Egypt may find once more harmony and peace," and added that "apart from that, there has been no specific statement from the Holy See."

Hindus call Pope's Roma gesture "a step in the right direction"

Sify News - Hindus have described call of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for solidarity towards Roma (Gypsies) "a step in the right direction".

In his Sunday appearance in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope Benedict reportedly issued an appeal for more solidarity towards Roma people in the presence of parents of Roma children who were killed in blaze in Rome while asleep on Monday.

Lila Rose Becomes Catholic

Lila Rose Becomes Catholic from OneBillionStories.com on Vimeo.

In Egypt, young people are changing Islam, separating religion and politics

by Husani Massri

The demonstrations do not stop after Mubarak's speech and the declaration of the Supreme Council of the army. The international community is guided only by their own interests, but does not understand the needs of the Egyptian people. Should be supporting the youth of Tahrir Square. The transition in Egypt is a symbol that can change the Arab world and the planet.

Cairo (AsiaNews) - Tahrir Square is not only about social demands (wages, jobs, bread, etc. ..), but implementing change in Islam. Young people reject both the military dictatorship and the Islamic republic, they want a modern state that guarantees full citizenship to all, Christians or Muslims. Proof of this is that since 25 January, when the demonstrations began, police have removed security details from Christian churches and there have been no attacks. This is why, what is happening these days in Cairo has the power to change the Arab world and the entire planet. Here we publish the considerations of an illustrious figure from the Egyptian Christian world, who wanted to share them with AsiaNews readers. The name used is a pseudonym.

Still today, Tahrir Square is overflowing with hundreds of thousands of young and old, men and women, disappointed and unhappy about Mubarak's speech yesterday. Last night, the Rais, in a televised address categorically ruled out his abandonment of power, which the crowds continue to demand. Mubarak has only promised to cede some powers to his deputy Omar Suleiman, but insists on remaining in power until presidential elections next September.

Central Java Police Chief: Temanggung Riot Not Related to Religion

A statue of Jesus Christ is left smashed on the floor of a

church that was attacked by Muslim hardliners in Temanggung,

Central Java, on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)

Jakarta Globe -Temanggung, Central Java. The Central Java Police claimed on Wednesday that the attack a day earlier on two churches and a Christian school by Islamic hard-liners was not a religious conflict.

Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang said the attack, which also saw two other buildings vandalized, was “purely an act of criminal vandalism.”

He added the fact that the mob had targeted Christian buildings did not prove that they were hostile to the religion.

Pope: All Christians must help vocations in this time when God's voice seems stifled

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Particularly in these times, when the voice of the Lord seems to be drowned out by "other voices" and his invitation to follow him by the gift of one’s own life may seem too difficult, every Christian community, every member of the Church, needs consciously to feel responsibility for promoting vocations" and “especially missionary vocations”. The call to the responsibility for the whole Christian community to foster and support vocations to characterizes the message of Benedict XVI for World Day of Prayer for Vocations, celebrated May 15, released today.

Pope: Religious freedom attacked by terrorism and marginalisation

Pope Benedict XVI speaks to United Nations staff in the U.N. General Assembly hall after he addressed delegates at the U.N. headquarters in New York April 18, 2008. Source: (daylife)

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Christians in Iraq, Egypt and Nigeria have been killed in churches, in Pakistan a blasphemy law has become an "excuse to cause injustice and violence”, in China they are experiencing a "moment of difficulty and trial," in the West they are object of a "growing marginalization" which evens demands the rejection of any "reference to religious and moral convictions." The list of violations and attacks on religious freedom delivered today by Benedict XI to the representatives of 180 countries and international organizations that have diplomatic relations with the Holy See, touches hundreds of millions of people around the world.

40,000 Extremist Muslims Defend Blasphemy Law, Oppose Pope

Shouting 'we shall sacrifice our loves for the prophet', they told the government to reject Western influence

Pope Benedict XVI was accused of joining western propaganda against the Islamic state as demonstrators pledged to sacrifice their lives for Muhammad. The new governor of Punjab is told to express solidarity with Salman Taseer's murderer. Two attacks in the north-west leave 5 dead and 19 wounded. -Catholic Online

Shouting "we shall sacrifice our loves for the prophet", they told the government to reject Western influence and slammed Pope Benedict XVI for "joining Western propaganda against the Islamic state".

LAHORE, Pakistan (AsiaNews) - At least 40,000 people took to the streets of Lahore on Sunday to protest against any possible changes to the blasphemy law. The demonstration in Punjab's capital city was called by Jamat-e-Islami, the main Islamist opposition party, which was joined by other seven parties, as well as the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and the Jamat-ud-dawa.

At the same time, extremists continue their attacks throughout the country against sensitive sites. Five people were killed and 19 wounded in two suicide attacks today in the country's north-west.

Thousands of people gathered at Mall Road, Lahore, to celebrate Tehreek Namoos-e-Risalat, the holiness of the Prophet Muhammad, and express their opposition to possible changes to the 'black law'.

Fate of Coptic Christians in post-Mubarak Egypt worries some

(Reactions can be read @ JihadWatch.org)

DailyCaller.com - Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton warns Egypt’s ancient Coptic Christian minority could become increasingly endangered should the protests against Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak drive him from power.

The rioting against the Mubarak regime began on Jan. 25, in the wake of the Jan. 15 overthrow of Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, with the publicly stated goals of ousting Mubarak from power and protesting Egypt’s high unemployment and rampant corruption, among other issues.

The rioting claimed the ruling party headquarters Friday and pushed the Mubarak regime to shut down Internet and cell phone communications in an effort to clamp down on opponents, and the regime sent the army into the streets Saturday to confront demonstrators as Cairo fell into near anarchy.