Stories tagged with: religious freedom

• Trump praises India amid religious persecution

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, February 25, 2020 (4 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from White House video

  NEW DELHI (BP) -- As religious liberty advocates point out India's religious persecution, U.S. President Trump praised India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday (Feb. 25) ending a two-day visit there.

  "We did talk about religious freedom, and I will say that the prime minister was incredible on what he told me. He wants people to have religious freedom, and very strongly," Trump said Tuesday while announcing a $3 billion trade deal with India at a press conference in New Delhi. "And he (Modi) said that in India they have worked very hard to have great and open religious freedom." Read More

• High court urged to rectify religious freedom ruling

  by Tom Strode, posted Friday, August 23, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Convention's church-state entity has joined other religious organizations in urging the Supreme Court to reconsider a nearly 30-year-old decision they say subverted the free exercise of religion.

  The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and five other groups are asking in a friend-of-the-court brief for the justices to accept an appeal by an Idaho construction worker who has a work-related religious objection to correct "an unwelcome revolution" in its decision-making regarding the First Amendment protection for religious free exercise. Read More

• Pew: Christian, Muslim persecution most widespread

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, July 16, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  Pew Research Center graphic

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Christians and Muslims are persecuted in more countries than any other religious group, Pew Research Center said in a decade-long study showing high levels of persecution in 42 percent of countries studied.

  Christians and Muslims, the largest and most widespread globally of any group, experienced government and/or social religious persecution in 143 and 140 countries respectively, Pew said in the latest installment of its study on religious restrictions around the world. But persecution levels varied among countries. Read More

• Brownback: Christian media key to religious freedom

  by Tom Strode, posted Wednesday, March 27, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  NRB photo

  ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP) -- Christian communicators play a key role in combatting persecution in foreign countries and defending religious freedom in the United States, speakers said in a public policy session Tuesday (March 26) during the National Religious Broadcasters' International Christian Media Convention, Proclaim 19.

  Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom, said a movement fueled by NRB members is required. Read More

• Dean resigns after college blocks Chick-fil-A

  by Diana Chandler, posted Thursday, March 07, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (BP) -- A dean has resigned from Rider University because the school used Chick-fil-A's Christian views of LGBT lifestyles to block the restaurant from locating on campus.

  The Lawrenceville, N.J., university's decision is an affront to her Christianity and violates her conscience, Cynthia Newman said in resigning as dean of the College of Business Administration, a post she had held since June 2017. Read More

• Int'l Religious Freedom Act marks 20 years of impact

  by Tom Strode, posted Tuesday, November 06, 2018 (5 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The International Religious Freedom Act addressed a serious shortcoming in American foreign policy, the law's advocates said at the 20-year mark of its stand against religious persecution.

  The legislation, promoted by many evangelical Christian and other religious leaders, became law with President Clinton's signature on Oct. 27, 1998, and its effect has been widespread. The International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) established mechanisms within the State Department and an independent commission that have raised the visibility of freedom of belief and conscience in U.S. relationships with other countries. Read More

• Bibles, joy visible in schools across U.S. Oct. 4

  by Diana Chandler, posted Friday, October 05, 2018 (5 years ago)

  

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BP) -- Students rallied behind the Bible and the joy of Scripture in social media posts Oct. 4, as a projected half-million or more students participated in Bring Your Bible to School Day.

  Focus on the Family's (FOTF) fifth annual event drew smiles and encouragement from students and parents in a diversity of grade levels, schools and Christian communities on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, including public, private, parochial and trade schools as well as homeschool communities.

  -- "We shared goody bags with the class filled with bookmarks, Scripture and candy. So thankful for the freedom we have to share our faith! This was our 4th year participating in this ministry by sharing the love of Jesus," a member of First Baptist Church of Somerville, Tenn., said on Facebook of a local school. Read More

• U.S. students urged to take Bibles to school Oct. 4

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, October 02, 2018 (5 years ago)

  

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BP) -- The freedom to distribute Bibles in schools and discuss Scripture openly with fellow students is being celebrated nationwide Oct. 4 at the fifth annual Bring Your Bible to School Day.

  The Focus on the Family (FOTF) event founded in 2014 is on track for its largest participation to date, founder Candi Cushman told Baptist Press today (Oct. 2).

  "We'll definitely exceed half a million participants, but it's hard to measure and predict exact numbers because lots of kids wait until the last moment to sign up and join the movement," said Cushman, FOTF director of education issues. "In addition to public school students in every state in the nation, we also have involvement from many kids in private schools and homeschooling communities who choose to do special events or distribute Bibles in their communities as a way of showing support. We welcome all of them." Read More

• UN accuses Myanmar military of Rohingya genocide

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, August 28, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Photo by Roger Arnold/UNHCR

  GENEVA (BP) -- Murder, rape, enslavement and other crimes against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims necessitate the country's military leaders be charged with genocide, the United Nations said Aug. 27.

  "Criminal investigation and prosecution is warranted, focusing on the top Tatmadaw generals, in relation to the three categories of crimes under international law," the U.N. said in a special report, accusing the generals of "genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes." Read More

• Army chaplain Squires cleared of all charges

  by Brandon Elrod, posted Friday, August 24, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  NAMB Photo

  FORT BRAGG, N.C. (BP) -- The U.S. Army has dropped its investigation against Southern Baptist chaplain Jerry Scott Squires, fully exonerating the major of all charges today (Aug. 24).

  Squires, who had been charged with discrimination against a lesbian soldier who wanted to attend a marriage retreat, handled the situation in accordance with military policy and followed the guidelines of his denominational authority, the Army said.

  "This is great news for both Chaplain Squires and all of the military chaplains who are serving our men and women the U.S. Armed Services," said Gen. Douglas Carver, executive director of chaplaincy at the North American Mission Board (NAMB). "It is a significant victory for all who support and defend the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, especially regarding the freedom of religion." Read More