Global Religious News . . .
Evidence Grows of Russian Orthodox Clergy’s Aiding Ukraine Rebels
The Russian Orthodox Church, like the Kremlin, has strenuously denied any role in stirring up or aiding separatist turmoil in Ukraine. But as Slovyansk and other towns seized by pro-Russian rebels have fallen over the summer to a since-stalled Ukrainian government offensive in the east, evidence has begun to accumulate of close ties between the church, or at least individual Orthodox priests, and the pro-Russian cause.
Since they began their drive to grab chunks of territory back in April, pro-Russian insurgents have repeatedly shifted their political agenda, undecided over whether they want eastern Ukraine to become part of Russia, an independent country or an autonomous region of Ukraine in a loose federal state.
The Moscow church has avoided giving explicit support for separatist gunmen but made no effort to rein in pro-Russian fighters who, claiming to serve the Russian Orthodox Church, imposed a reign of terror on Slovyansk marked by murders, kidnappings and general thuggery.
Read Entire Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/world/europe/evidence-grows-of-russian-orthodox-clergys-aiding-ukraine-rebels.html
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As Iraqi Christians in U.S. Watch ISIS Advance – They See ‘Slow-Motion Genocide’
For the last decade, the Chaldean Catholics of Iraq — members of an Eastern Rite church that is affiliated with Roman Catholicism while retaining its own customs and rites — have been suffering at the hands of the same kind of terrorists who killed Mr. Sotloff and Mr. Foley. During that period, the total Christian population of Iraq, the largest share of which is composed of Chaldean Catholics, has dropped to about 400,000 while as many as a million, by some estimates, have fled.
Churches have been destroyed, monasteries attacked, entire cities purged. Congregations have been bombed during worship. The bishop of Mosul, Paulos Faraj Rahho, was abducted and executed by Al Qaeda in Iraq six years ago. So the recent atrocities visited upon Iraqi Christians by ISIS are nothing remotely new. All that is new is an awareness of them outside the Chaldean-American enclaves of San Diego and metropolitan Detroit.
Both clergy and lay leaders have met with officials in the White House, Congress and the United Nations. Congregants have donated several hundred thousand dollars for humanitarian aid. There have been prayer vigils, rallies, the announcement of scholarship funds and an “Adopt a Refugee” program.
The Chaldeans here have been pushing for practical, realistic forms of American involvement: creation of a protected zone and safe-passage corridors for Christians still in Iraq; an increased number of refugee visas and streamlined approval by State Department and Homeland Security screeners for Christians trying to reach America. Yet it seems to have taken the videos of two journalists being decapitated for much of the nation to finally heed the warning cries from places like the Mother of God Church.
Read Entire Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/06/us/as-iraqi-christians-in-us-watch-isis-advance-they-see-a-slow-motion-genocide.html
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Changes to Germany’s ‘Church Tax’ Prompts Exodus
Hundreds of thousands of German tax-payers are leaving their officially designated religions to avoid paying a ‘church tax’ levy on capital gains.
In 2010 officials estimates that 70% of church revenues come from ‘church tax’, which has until now been applied directly on top of German citizen’s income tax – where they are members of ‘church tax’-collecting denomination.
When registering for a German Tax ID, applicants need to specify if they belong to one of the ‘church tax’-collecting denominations. In the case of some nationalities or if they have been baptised, the Finanzamt (federal tax office) will assume an individual’s religion and deduct the tax unless they opt-out. The tax takes the form of a levy (typically 9%) of any tax paid.
Read The Entire Article: http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2014/09/changes-to-germanys-church-tax-prompts-exodus
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Church School Allocation Angers Non-religious Parents In UK
Non-religious parents in St Albans have been told by the local authority that the only state education they can offer their children is at a faith school.
Hertfordshire County Council failed to offer five children any of their preferred schools – and instead allocated a Church of England school.
Despite informing Hertfordshire of their philosophical objections to the school, the parents’ appeals against the allocations were unsuccessful and they now face the choice of either sending their children to the school or home schooling.
The children have all been offered places at Townsend Church of England School. The school says it is “genuinely open to all”, but says religious education is “an integral part of each student’s day” to help them “explore their understanding of God and to reflect on their relationship with him”. Every morning begins with an act of collective worship.
Read The Entire Article: http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2014/08/church-school-allocation-angers-non-religious-parents
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