( ) China is moving to bar all missionaries. International Christian Concern reports that new laws going into effect on May 1st will make it a crime for any foreigner to share their faith inside China or establish any kind of “religious organization”. The Communist Party says its ban on missionaries is necessary for preserving state […]
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( ) China is moving to bar all missionaries. International Christian Concern reports that new laws going into effect on May 1st will make it a crime for any foreigner to share their faith inside China or establish any kind of “religious organization”. The Communist Party says its ban on missionaries is necessary for preserving state security. In fact, China is in the midst of a multi-year crackdown on Christianity that is designed to bring the faith under the control of the Communist Party. Despite the persecution, the ranks of Christians in China are growing.
( ) The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is warning that persecution of Christians and other religious minorities is reaching crisis levels in India. A new report by the Commission finds that “vigilante violence, targeted and arbitrary killings and demolition of property and places of worship” are spreading widely. The Commission blames harsh rhetoric by Hindu nationalist leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Religious freedom advocates want the U.S. to formally designate India as a Country of Particular Concern.
( ) The state of Maine is suing the Trump administration in hopes of stopping it from freezing federal money in the wake of a dispute over transgenderism. At issue is the Title Nine anti-discrimination law and Maine’s practice of letting males compete in female sports. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says her department is pausing some funds for Maine educational programs because of the state’s failure to comply with Title Nine. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order preventing the USDA from withholding money until a court is able to hear the case.
( ) Persecution of Christians in Pakistan is on the rise again. A new update from Human Rights Report Pakistan indicates that in the first three months of this year, there has been a surge in murders, beatings, abductions, forced conversions and forced marriages. Jeff King of International Christian Concern says “This is not an aberration — it’s a grotesque culmination of centuries of state-sanctioned brutality and indifference. The world must wake up to this crisis and hold Islamabad accountable for its shameful record.” Christians make up a tiny minority in Pakistan.