Muhammad Ismail, member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party, is claiming the land where thirty christian families have built their homes next to the church. So for the last couple of months they haven’t been able to go home. To protest the illegal occupation they blocked the street and then the muslims shot at them. Two of the Christians were wounded in their legs.
The persecution of Christians are increasing in China and the government are monitoring the “purge on Christians” that they have started. All kinds of religious meetings are banned, but they meet in small groups in each other homes, changing places regularly. The schools investigate if any student are christian and hand over any findings to the government who then show up at the christians home to pressure them to renounce their faith. At work they may loose wages or bonuses. Churches are being destroyed.
USA. Kathleen Lorentzen, a Catholic and licensed clinical social worker who worked as a marriage counselor for more than twenty years and was very appreciated, was fired when she wouldn’t compromise her belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. She has now taken legal actions.
A bishop was taken by the police in the middle of his sermon in Zanzibar-island, Tanzania. When his daughter protested the police slapped her and placed her in the police car too. They were released later that day. The reason for this are complaints from a nearby mosque who say the church make to much noice and want it to be closed. The mosque use loudspeakers to call to prayers, but nobody see them as a problem (or perhaps they doesn’t dare to protest). The district commissioner have now closed and torn down the church and the congregation say it’s a calculated move to do away with christianity in the area.
O Lord God,
Your Son Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In His resurrection He restores life and peace in all creation.
Comfort, we pray, all victims of intolerance and those oppressed by their fellow humans.
Remember in Your Kingdom those who have died.
Lead the oppressors towards compassion and give hope to the suffering.
Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
