Egypt Copts to mark Christmas under security

By AFP

CAIRO - Egyptian security forces began throwing up a cordon of steel on Thursday as Coptic Christians prepared to mark Christmas after a New Year's Day church bombing killed 21 people in Alexandria.

As police released a sketch of the suspected bomber, security officials said at least 70,000 officers and conscripts would fan out across the country to secure churches as Copts attend Christmas Eve mass.

Drivers would be banned from parking their cars in front of churches, which would be tightly monitored by explosive detection teams and police officers, the official said.

Armoured cars would also be stationed next to churches.

Muslim Nations Dominate Christian Persecution List

Thanks to Persecution Blog and CBS for this video.

The Power of Forgiveness

Pardon one another so that later on you will not remember the injury.

The recollection of an injury is in itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurtures our sin, and hates what is good.

It is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul.

- Francis of Paola

Anti-Christian drumbeat loud before Egypt attack

By MAGGIE MICHAEL,Associated Press

Two Egyptian Copts fighting another Egyptian Muslim - AP

CAIRO – In the weeks before the New Year's Day suicide bombing of an Egyptian church, al-Qaida-linked websites carried a how-to manual on "destroying the cross," complete with videos on how to build a bomb and the locations of churches to target — including the one that was attacked.

They may have found a receptive audience in Alexandria, where increasingly radicalized Islamic hard-liners have been holding weekly anti-Christian demonstrations, filled with venomous slogans against the minority community.

The blast, which struck Saturday as worshippers were leaving midnight Mass at the Mediterranean city's Saints Church, killed 21 people.

President Hosni Mubarak has accused foreign groups of being behind the attack, which has sparked a wave of angry protests by Christians in Egypt.

Attacks such bombing in Egypt intended to frame Muslims -- Mufti

Thanks to JihadWatch.org for this article.

RIYADH, Jan 3 (KUNA) -- The General Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdel Aziz Aziz Bin Abdullah Al-Alsheikh condemned on Monday the blast that had taken place in Alexandria, claiming lives and wounding dozens of Egyptian citizens.

The incidents in Alexandria that have been condemned by the whole world, namely the kingdom, are not related to Islam; nor serve the heavenly religion, said the Mufti in a statement he made at the inauguration of a traditional calligraphy exhibition at King Abdul Aziz Dar.

Enemies of Islam are trying to portray such attacks as orchestrated by Muslims, with the intention to rally hatred against the nation, the Mufti warned.

Such attacks are aimed at weakening the Muslim nation, creating chias among its ranks and paving way for the enemies to score points against the Muslims, Al-Alsheikh added.

These grave incidents bleed the hearts of Muslims, he stressed, urging Muslims to be vigilant vis a vis plots made behind curtains by their enemies.

Egyptian police attack relatives of Copt victims

EGYPT – ISLAM Alexandria, tensions between Copts and Government

Demonstrations in Cairo and Alexandria to demand greater protection, and an end to discrimination. The authors of the massacre could be Egyptian fundamentalists. The Vatican rejects accusations of "interference" by the imam of Al-Azhar against the words of the Pope at the Angelus, January 2.

Cairo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The suicide attack on the Coptic Church of Saints (Al Kiddissine) in Alexandria was carried out by local elements of the Islamic Jihad, according to specialist anti terrorism sources. President Hosni Mubarak immediately after the attack had asked Copts and Muslims to show unity in the face of "an foreign attack." The New Year's Eve suicide bombers who carried out the bombing on the church of Alexandria had, at first, tried to get inside the place of Christian worship to cause the greatest number of victims among the faithful.

A Christian Hater in Facebook sent a nasty message

Below is a message I've got from a Facebook User name Zeko Al Farasi who added me and then sent me nasty words (IM) after learning that I am a Christian. I wonder if being a Christian is a crime that this Facebook user has to hate me for what I believe?

Name: Zeko Al Farasi
Email: zekoooooy_4u@hotmail.com, zekooo_4u_4ever@hotmail.com
Mobile No.: +966 542271022

Egypt minister pelted, fears of unrest

By Christophe de Roquefeuil, AFP

CAIRO - Angry Christian demonstrators pelted an Egyptian minister with stones on Sunday, as fears rose of sectarian unrest after a bombing at a church that killed 21 people.

Hundreds of Coptic Christians gathered inside the gates of Cairo's St Mark's Cathedral where the Coptic pope, Shenouda III, has his headquarters and heckled officials who came to pay condolences.

Demonstrators chased the state minister for economic development, Osman Mohammed Osman, to his car and pelted him with stones after he met Shenouda, while others clashed with police standing outside the gates.

A police official said at least 40 policemen suffered light wounds when the protesters pelted them with stones.

More than a thousand protesters broke through the gates and spilled into nearby streets, stopping cars, banging on their hoods and pelting them with stones.

Earlier, dozens of protesters tried to surround the Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb, Egypt's top Muslim cleric, and banged on his car after he went to see the pope.

Police officials also said more than 1,000 Copts demonstrated outside the foreign ministry and neighbouring state television buildings. Some protesters pelted passing traffic, damaging more cars.

Carnage in Egypt

The Peninsula Qatar - The first day of the New Year has brought shock and sorrow to the people of Egypt and the region as a suicide bomber killed at least 21 people and left more than 70 injured outside a church in Alexandria as worshippers left a new year service. The dastardly attack drew worldwide condemnations and Egyptian officials were struggling to reassure the world that the country was safe for minorities.

The governor of Alexandria, Adel Labib, accused Al Qaeda of planning the bombing. “The Al Qaeda organisation threatened to attack churches inside Egypt. This has nothing to do with sectarianism,” he told state television. His assessment was shared by Kameel Sadeeq of the city’s Coptic Christian council. “People went in to church to pray to God but ended up as scattered limbs,” he told Reuters. “This massacre has Al Qaeda written all over, the same pattern Al Qaeda has adopted in other countries.” President Hosni Mubarak went on state TV and vowed to track down those behind the attack, pledging “we will cut off the hands of terrorists and those plotting against Egypt’s security”. He added that the bombing was an attack on “all Egypt” and that “terrorism does not distinguish between Copt and Muslim”.

Details on incidents involving Egypt's Christians

By Reuters

A suspected suicide bomber attacked a church in Egypt's northern city of Alexandria, killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens more as Christians in the Muslim-majority country marked the New Year.

Although sectarian tensions often flare, analysts said this incident was on a much bigger scale than the kind of communal violence that can erupt over issues such as building churches or relationships between men and women of the two communities.

Below is list of recent developments related to violence involving Christians in Egypt:

Jan. 1, 2011 -- A suspected suicide bomber hits a church in Alexandria, killing at least 17 and prompting Christians to take to the streets in protest. Some Christians and Muslims pelt each other with stones. Police fire tear gas to disperse protesters.

Nov 24, 2010 -- Clashes between riot police and hundreds of Christians protesting after construction of a church is halted in Cairo takes a sectarian turn as dozens of Muslims join the violence. Two Christians are killed by the violence, and more than 150 people are detained.

Nov. 1, 2010 -- The Islamic State of Iraq, the al Qaeda-affiliated group which claimed responsibility for an attack on a Baghdad church, threatens attacks on the Christian church in Egypt over its treatment of women the group said the church was holding after they had converted to Islam.

April 11, 2010 -- Egyptian group the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights issues a report saying the number of cases of sectarian violence rose between 2008 and 2009 and calls for the prosecution of offenders to prevent a further escalation.

Pope leads condemnation of Egypt church attack

Source: cleveland.com

By AFP

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday led condemnation of a New Year's Day bomb attack in a Coptic church in Egypt that claimed 21 lives, urging world leaders to defend Christians against abuse.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church was the first religious leader to react to the bombing which targeted worshippers as they emerged from a midnight mass in Alexandria.

In his homily at New Year's Day mass, the pope spoke of mounting tensions, "especially discrimination, abuse and religious intolerance which are today striking Christians in particular."

"I once again launch a pressing appeal not to give in to discouragement and resignation," he said, calling for the "concrete and constant engagement of leaders of nations" to protect Christians.

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City Virtual Tour

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Happy New Year of the Lord 2011 A. D.

Wishing you a happy, joyous, blessed, prosperous and peaceful New Year of the Lord 2011 A.D.

Iglesia ni Cristo: Oh Yes! We don't have official website, you better gonna see a minister

Plaridel, a pseudonym of an INC blogger Arephenos is a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, once caught cheating just like what many INC bloggers did. Below is his response to an earlier post entitled Iglesia ni Cristo is a CULT! by Fr. Tom Martin.

Catholic Preist [sic] Got this wrong. "I was reading CD2000's blog and there was a post there entitled "Iglesia Ni Cristo -Cult!" The quotes this guy named Tom Martin. I went to the link  wthat CD2000 placed on his blog and it went directly to the post of Tom Martin. Tom Martin Claims to be a Catholic Priest in the last sentence of the first paragraph of his post. He also claims the following:[...] "The Iglesia Ni Cristo Has no official blog or website. The blogs of INC Members are unofficial this cannot be held as references on debates and arguments. What Website did this guy even go to? He dint provide a link so we don't know about what he saw but i say to you that they may be unofficial [...] What kind of god do the INC have by demanding "Still no official site."

OK. Two things Plaridel was most uncomfortable with Tom Martin's post. First, that INC do not demand 10% from its members. Second, they do not have OFFICIAL WEBSITE. Yet one might be wondering, something is smelling fishy here, don't you think?

West Java: Catholics celebrate Christmas Mass in a parking lot

by Mathias Hariyadi
An order by Bogor Regency prohibits members of the Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church from engaging in any public activity, ostensibly because they lack a proper place of worship. Muslim extremist groups increasingly threaten Indonesia’s Christians.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Hundreds of members of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Parung (West Java) celebrated Mass under the sun and in a tent set up in the parking lot of the Marsudirini Elementary School. Bogor Regency chief’s prohibition of Christmas celebration was thus not repealed despite repeated attempts by Tulang Kuning Church leaders to negotiate with local authorities.

The latter justified their decision citing the lack of a permit to build a church. Without it, the local parish is not allowed to perform any public functions even on its own land.

According to Indonesia’s constitution however, no one has the right to prohibit any religious community from practicing its faith and celebrating its rites and services. Yet with the rising influence of Islamic radicals, the constitution has been repeatedly violated as local authorities kowtow to Muslim extremists and show greater hostilities towards Christians.

The Parish of Saint John the Baptist has at least 3,000 members. In April of this year, dozens of Muslim extremists threatened those from the community in Tulang Kuning, preventing them from celebrating Easter Mass.

The World from The Hill: Bipartisan effort pressures Obama to help Iraq's Christians

By Bridget Johnson

Comments can be read at JihadWatch.org

Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill are fervently pressing the White House to stem mounting attacks on Christians in Iraq.

Fearful of fresh violence in Iraq, many of the oldest sects of Christianity in the ancient biblical land are planning low-key Christmas celebrations this year.

Since 2004, 40 Christian churches and institutions have been bombed, according to the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council of America, seven on the eve of Orthodox Christmas alone in 2007.

In a recent letter to President Obama, the group warned that the current situation “promises more innocent Christian blood in Iraq, more turmoil in that country, and more shame for America.”

Lawmakers hope they can steer the attention of the White House to the intensifying violence.

Pope denounces attacks on Christians in Nigeria, Philippines

By AFP

Pope Benedict XVI deplored Sunday the "absurd violence" against Christians after attacks on churches in Nigeria and the Philippines over the Christmas holiday.

"It was with great sadness that I learnt about the attack on a Catholic Church in the Philippines during the celebrations for Christmas and also against Christian churches in Nigeria," the pope.

"The earth is once again stained with blood as we have seen in other parts of the world," Benedict added in his Angelus address at The Vatican, as he offered his condolences to the victims of the "absurd violence".

Christmas and the Iglesia ni Cristo

You might be asking, Do Iglesia ni Cristo members celebrate Christmas? Well, base on my experience, they say they don't but they demand Christmas bonuses from their companies, they visit friends and join Christmas parties, they greet one another Merry Christmas and they even enjoy a Christmas holiday break. And more appalling is what you see below (from Manila Balita):

Photos Taken from Facebook "IGLESIA NI MANALO CHRISTMAS CONTRADICTION"

Here's what we got from their Official Magaine PASUGO about Christmas!

ANG PALAGAY NG IGLESIA NI CRISTO SA PASKO taken from Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa INK-1914 ni Julian Pinzon 1-PASUGO Disyembre 1956, p. 34: (sinulat ni Benjamin T. Villalba) “It strikes people as odd that members of the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) do not celebrate Christmas. (ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay tuwirang hindi nagdiriwang ng Pasko ng kapanganakan ni Cristo).” 2-PASUGO Disyembre 1957, p. 28: (sinulat ni Emeliano I. Agustin) (Patula) “Ang diwa ng Pasko ay kapayapaan; Nang mundong naglunoy sa lusak ng Buhay; Mabuting balita sa kinalulugdan; Pagsilang ni Jesus sa abang sabsaban." Napakagulong talaga ang mga Ministrong ito na inaralan ng Anghel Felix Manalo. Isang taon lamang ang pagitan, ay binago na naman ang kanyang paninindigan tungkol sa Pasko. Kahabag-habag ang anghel nilang ipinaglalaban ng pukpukan. KABUUAN NG PAKSA: •Ayon sa Magasing PASUGO, si Ginoong F. Manalo ay nangaral na hindi siya nagtatangi ng mga tao at hindi sinasarili ang kaligtasan. Ang kanyang turong aral na ito, ay siya rin ang nagpapawalang saysay, sapagkat pinatunayan din ng PASUGO na sinasarili niya ang kaligtasan. •Ipinapangaral ni G. Felix Manalo na ipinagdiriwang ang Paskong kapanganakan ni Cristo, at ipinangaral din na hindi ipinagdiriwang, sapagkat aral daw ng mga Pagano ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko. (Sa gayon ay salu-salungatan ang aral na itinuro). •Ipinangaral din na hindi masamang ipagdiwang ang kapanganakan ninumang tao huwag lamang iuukol sa pagsamba sa Dios. Ngunit ang kanyang kaarawan ay iniuukol sa pagsamba sa Dios at pati ang kaarawan ng kapanganakan ni Erdy Manalo.

At Christmas, Pope urges end to Mideast Christians' pain

File Photo: New York Times

By AFP

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI urged an end Saturday to conflict in the Middle East and support for the region's Christians, saying those living in Iraq needed comfort from their pain after deadly attacks.

In his traditional Christmas Day address delivered at the Vatican, the pope also called for human rights to be respected in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as for an end to the turmoil in African troublespots.

And there was a plea for reconciliation on the Korean peninsula along with a rebuke for the Communist rulers in Beijing over what he said were the limitations placed on Christians living on the Chinese mainland.

Fears for the safety of the Middle East's dwindling numbers of Christians were heightened in late October when Islamist militants laid siege to a church in Baghdad, leaving 44 worshippers and two priests dead.

An Al-Qaeda affiliate group has also issued death threats to Iraqi Christians in recent days, warning them against celebrating Christmas.