PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
Researcher: Christians face persecution in 46 countries
WASHINGTON (AP) β A professor of global Christianity says 22 percent of the world’s Christians β some 500 million believers β live in countries where Christians face persecution today.
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Professor Todd Johnson says Christians are persecuted in 46 countries, and more than half of those are Muslim countries. He noted the continuing flight of Christians from the Middle East, where their faith was born.
Johnson told an audience at the Family Research Council that Christians today are often persecuted by their neighbors or by society at large instead of by their governments.
He hoped that more American Christians would recognize and become concerned about the plight faced by their fellow believers.
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295-a-09-(Professor Todd Johnson, director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, speaking at the Family Research Council)-“some central government”-Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Professor Todd Johnson says not all persecution is by governments. (19 Mar 2014)
< 297-a-11-(Professor Todd Johnson, director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, speaking at the Family Research Council)-“persecution of Christians”-Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Professor Todd Johnson says no one should be persecuted for his or her religious beliefs. (19 Mar 2014) < 294-a-13-(Professor Todd Johnson, director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, speaking at the Family Research Council)-“of all Christians”-Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Professor Todd Johnson says Christians are being persecuted in dozens of countries. (19 Mar 2014) < 296-a-10-(Professor Todd Johnson, director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, speaking at the Family Research Council)-“good starting place”-Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Professor Todd Johnson says there should be more solidarity among the world’s Christians. (19 Mar 2014) < BIN LADEN SPOKESMAN Ex-al-Qaida spokesman testifies at New York trial NEW YORK (AP) β Al-Qaida’s spokesman after the Sept. 11 attacks has taken the witness stand on his own behalf at his New York trial on charges that he conspired to kill Americans and aid al-Qaida. Sulaiman Abu Ghaith (SOO’-lay-mahn AH’-boo GAYTH’) testified that after he went to Afghanistan for the first time, Osama bin Laden summoned him to meet because bin Laden had heard that Abu Ghaith was a preacher from Kuwait. Abu Ghaith says bin Laden asked if he had heard about the Sept. 11 attacks and said, “We are the ones who did it.” The defense has never disputed that Abu Ghaith associated with bin Laden after 9/11, but they contend that he was recruited as a religious teacher and orator, and had no role in plotting more attacks. Sound: 227-w-32-(AP correspondent Warren Levinson, with Zoe Dolan, defense attorney for Sulaiman Abu Ghaith (SOO’-lay-mahn AH’-boo GAYTH’), former Osama bin Laden spokesman)–In a courtroom surprise, Al-Qaida’s spokesman after the Sept. 11 attacks took the witness stand on his own behalf. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. (19 Mar 2014) < 204-w-36-(AP correspondent Warren Levinson, with Stanley Cohen, defense attorney for (SOO’-lay-mahn AH’-boo GAYTH’))–The man who once spoke for Osama bin Laden has testified in his own defense. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. (19 Mar 2014) < 179-a-16-(Zoe Dolan, defense attorney for Sulaiman Abu Ghaith (SOO’-lay-mahn AH’-boo GAYTH’), former Osama bin Laden spokesman, speaking to reporters)-“did those things”-Defense attorney Zoe Dolan says it was important for jurors to hear her client’s side of the story. (19 Mar 2014) < 180-q-15-(Zoe Dolan, defense attorney for Sulaiman Abu Ghaith (SOO’-lay-mahn AH’-boo GAYTH’), former Osama bin Laden spokesman, speaking to reporters)-“his own defense”-Defense attorney Zoe Dolan was asked by a reporter how Abu Ghaith ranks among alleged al-Qaida members to testify since Sept. 11. (19 Mar 2014) < 172-a-14-(Zoe Dolan, defense attorney for Sulaiman Abu Ghaith (SOO’-lay-mahn AH’-boo GAYTH’), former Osama bin Laden spokesman, speaking to reporters)-“jury to understand”-Defense attorney Zoe Dolan was asked why it’s important that his client testify in his own words. (19 Mar 2014) < 173-a-07-(Zoe Dolan, defense attorney for Sulaiman Abu Ghaith (SOO’-lay-mahn AH’-boo GAYTH’), former Osama bin Laden spokesman, speaking to reporters)-“concerning the allegations”-Defense attorney Zoe Dolan says no one else can describe what really happened when her client met with Osama bin Laden in the mountains of Afghanistan. (19 Mar 2014) < MALAYSIA-PLANE-UNITED IN DESPAIR Missing plane boosts ethnic unity in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) β The imam cups his palms before his face and prays, “Oh Allah, return to us those who are lost. Oh, Allah, grant safe passage to MH370.” Gathered in the courtyard of a shopping mall in a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, the Muslim religious leader was followed by a Christian reading from the Bible, then a Buddhist monk, a Hindu and finally a Taoist priest echoing the imam’s pleas before hundreds of worshippers in a largely Muslim country where religious intolerance has been on the rise. Tuesday night’s interfaith ceremony would have been inconceivable two weeks ago in the country of 28 million people where religious differences and bigotry have often been on open display. But the baffling mystery over the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 with 239 people on March 8 has united Malaysia, a nation of numerous ethnicities, more than any time in recent memory. Sound: 299-a-06-(Muslim cleric, praying at interfaith vigil)-“who are lost”-A Muslim cleric prays for the safe return of those aboard the missing Malaysian airliner. (19 Mar 2014) < 298-a-11-(Reshmonu, co-organizer of the vigil, at interfaith vigil)-“there for you”-Reshmonu, who helped organize the interfaith vigil, says it’s a way to show support for families of the missing. (19 Mar 2014) < VATICAN-NOAH No pope meeting for Russell Crowe, ‘Noah’ makers VATICAN CITY (AP) β Actor Russell Crowe and the makers of the big-budget film “Noah” have attended Pope Francis’ general audience but didn’t meet the pope. Crowe had lobbied hard for an audience and papal thumbs up for his film and the ensuing publicity a Francis photo-op would bring. The film has been banned in much of the Muslim world because it depicts a prophet, while U.S. conservatives have complained it took liberties with the Biblical account of the flood. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Noah’s producers had requested a private audience and were turned down. In an email to The Associated Press, Lombardi said there was similarly no scheduled “meet and greet” after Wednesday’s general audience, when VIPs can often get a quick word with the pope. Francis is generally averse to publicity, but made an exception and greeted Philomena Lee and the makers of the film “Philomena” during a recent general audience. The film is based on Lee’s story of being sent to a Catholic-run boarding house in Ireland where she was forced to give up her son for adoption. ISRAEL-ARCHAEOLOGY Israel building center for ancient artifacts JERUSALEM (AP) β Israel is building a national archaeological center to store and showcase its collection of some two million ancient artifacts, including the world’s largest collection of Dead Sea Scrolls. Most of Israel’s state antiquities collection is currently stored in warehouses that are closed to the public. The new center in Jerusalem is scheduled to open in 2016. It will be the Antiquities Authority’s first public center for exhibiting its hoard of treasures that date back as far as 5,000 years. The new archaeological center is being built next to the Israel Museum, which will keep some of the most complete Dead Sea Scrolls in its Shrine of the Book gallery. Written about 2,000 years ago, the Dead Sea Scrolls are the earliest copies of the Hebrew Bible ever found, and the oldest written evidence of the roots of Judaism and Christianity in the Holy Land. Israel considers the scrolls a national treasure. DIOCESE-HOMELESS SHELTER Sioux Falls to get new homeless shelter SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) β Sioux Falls, S.D., will be getting a new church-run shelter for the homeless despite opposition from several residents. City councilors have upheld the planning commission’s decision to grant a conditional-use permit for the shelter. A business owner in the neighborhood where the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls plans to build the shelter had filed an appeal with the city council after the commission issued the permit. The diocese plans to convert an empty warehouse located near other buildings with programs for the needy into the Bishop Dudley Hospitality Center. It would offer meals, showers, laundry facilities and overnight shelter among other services. Residents say there already are facilities for the needy in their area, and they don’t want more. They also say the proposed center would be near a school. PASTOR-THEFTS Stratford pastor accused of bilking parishioners STRATFORD, Conn. (AP) β A Connecticut pastor has been charged with stealing more than $170,000 from an elderly church member, and police are investigating similar allegations involving other older parishioners. Stratford police charged 67-year-old Robert Genevicz with felony larceny in a case involving a 71-year-old retired teacher and church member. Genevicz posted $50,000 bail. He’s the pastor at Stratford Baptist Church. The Connecticut Post reports that police in Bridgeport and Trumbull are investigating allegations involving thefts from other elderly parishioners totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Police say Genevicz and a female accomplice allegedly bilked victims out of their life savings and used some of the money to buy a Mercedes and a Hummer. CHILD PORN-PASTOR Lutheran pastor charged with child porn possession ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) β Investigators in Saint Charles County, Mo., say a raid of a Lutheran pastor’s home turned up child pornography on his computer. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 36-year-old Matthew Luetke was charged Wednesday with promoting child pornography as part of an undercover investigation that began in December. His cash-only bail was set at $100,000. Luetke is a pastor at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in O’Fallon and previously worked at churches in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The evangelical church has its own daycare center, but police say they don’t suspect Luetke had any improper contact with children there.
