About a dozen nuns held by rebels in Syria for more than three months were released today (March 9, 2014), and are on their way to Damascus via Lebanon, the Reuters website reports.
A Lebanese security source said the nuns had been taken to the Lebanese town of Arsal earlier in the week and were headed to Syria today, accompanied by the head of a Lebanese security agency and a Qatari intelligence official.
After being held in the Greek Orthodox monastery of Mar Thecla in Maaloula, they were reportedly moved to the rebel-held town of Yabroud, about 13 miles to the north, which is now the focus of a government military operation.
Speaking to reporters at the border, Syrian Greek Orthodox Bishop Louka al-Khoury welcomed the news. "What the Syrian army achieved in Yabroud facilitated this process," he said.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Saturday, March 8, 2014
U.S. and France Warn Putin of "New Measures;" Insist Russia Must Withdraw Forces in Crimea
U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande warned Russian President Vladimir Putin today (March 8, 2014) of "new measures" against Russia if it fails to work toward defusing the crisis in Ukraine, according to the Newsmax World website.
In a phone call today, Obama and Hollande insisted on the "need for Russia to withdraw forces it sent to Crimea since the end of February and to do everything to allow the deployment of international observers."
Obama's conversation with Hollande was one of a half-dozen telephone conversations he had with world leaders today about Ukraine, the White House said.
He also spoke with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and held a conference call with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The warnings to Putin come in the wake of armed Russian men trying to seize another Ukrainian military base on the Crimea peninsula.
In a phone call today, Obama and Hollande insisted on the "need for Russia to withdraw forces it sent to Crimea since the end of February and to do everything to allow the deployment of international observers."
Obama's conversation with Hollande was one of a half-dozen telephone conversations he had with world leaders today about Ukraine, the White House said.
He also spoke with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and held a conference call with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The warnings to Putin come in the wake of armed Russian men trying to seize another Ukrainian military base on the Crimea peninsula.
The Dalai Lama Says It's All Right If Gays Marry; Perhaps 1st Time a Rel. Head Backed Gay Marriage
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama this week told an online talk show -- hosted by veteran news broadcaster Larry King -- that consensual gay sex did not bother him, and it is "okay" if such a couple wants to marry, the Big News Network website reports today (March 8, 2014).
This is perhaps the first time any religious head has thrown his moral weight and spoken openly in favor of gay marriage.
The Buddhist monk -- in an interview during his latest trip to the United States -- said gay marriage was up to each government and ultimately "individual business."
"If two people, a couple, really feel that way is more practical, more sort of satisfaction, both sides fully agree, then okay," the Dalai Lama said. But he insisted that people should still follow their own religion's rules on sexuality.
This is perhaps the first time any religious head has thrown his moral weight and spoken openly in favor of gay marriage.
The Buddhist monk -- in an interview during his latest trip to the United States -- said gay marriage was up to each government and ultimately "individual business."
"If two people, a couple, really feel that way is more practical, more sort of satisfaction, both sides fully agree, then okay," the Dalai Lama said. But he insisted that people should still follow their own religion's rules on sexuality.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Orthodox Church Leaders Meet in Constantinople; Visit Ecumenical Patriarch to Discuss Rel. Issues
A three-day meeting of the heads of Autocephalous (self-governing) Orthodox Churches was launched at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul (Constantinople) yesterday, chaired by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Greek Reporter website reports today (March 7, 2014).
The meeting will focus on the Holy Synod of Orthodoxy which has been in the process of preparation for decades. Ecumenical Patriarchate sources said that Bartholomew is working hard to make sure that the synod will take place next year.
In his opening address, the Ecumenical Patriarch underlined that the meeting takes place at a turbulent time for the Orthodox Church, noting that its ability to exercise its mission is being challenged.
Issues the hierarchs plan to discuss include the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, developments in Ukraine, and the European society's growing alienation from Christian principles.
The three-day meeting is being attended by the heads of 13 Autocephalous Orthodox Churches.
The meeting will focus on the Holy Synod of Orthodoxy which has been in the process of preparation for decades. Ecumenical Patriarchate sources said that Bartholomew is working hard to make sure that the synod will take place next year.
In his opening address, the Ecumenical Patriarch underlined that the meeting takes place at a turbulent time for the Orthodox Church, noting that its ability to exercise its mission is being challenged.
Issues the hierarchs plan to discuss include the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, developments in Ukraine, and the European society's growing alienation from Christian principles.
The three-day meeting is being attended by the heads of 13 Autocephalous Orthodox Churches.
PC(USA) in San Francisco to Leave Denomination; Quits Due to Diff. in Identity, Mission, Governance
Members of one of the largest congregations in the Presbyterian Church(USA) have voted to leave the denomination, despite facing an $8.89 million cost of leaving, the Charisma News website reports today (March 7, 2014).
Menlo Park Presbyterian is based in the San Francisco Bay area and led by well-known author and pastor John Ortberg. It is the ninth-largest PCUSA church, with about 4,000 members.
The motion to leave the PCUSA was approved by 93 percent of the church's members who voted, with 2024 ballots in favor of the motion and 158 ballots opposed, according to a letter posted by Ortberg.
The church voted to join a newer denomination called ECO, a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, which has attracted 115 other Presbyterian churches since it started in 2012. In its rationale for leaving, Menlo Park cited differences in identity, mission, governance, and owning its property.
Menlo Park Presbyterian is based in the San Francisco Bay area and led by well-known author and pastor John Ortberg. It is the ninth-largest PCUSA church, with about 4,000 members.
The motion to leave the PCUSA was approved by 93 percent of the church's members who voted, with 2024 ballots in favor of the motion and 158 ballots opposed, according to a letter posted by Ortberg.
The church voted to join a newer denomination called ECO, a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, which has attracted 115 other Presbyterian churches since it started in 2012. In its rationale for leaving, Menlo Park cited differences in identity, mission, governance, and owning its property.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Vandals in Poland Destroy 6 Jewish Tombstones; Famous People Buried in Cemetery Near Krakow
Vandals destroyed six tombstones in a Jewish cemetery in Mislowice, a city in southern Poland, the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) website reports today (March 6, 2014).
The identity of the vandals -- who knocked down the 19th-century gravestones on March 3 -- remains unknown.
Last year, a group of local residents organized a cleanup of the cemetery in Myslowice -- about 35 miles from the city of Krakow -- grubbing trees and bushes and cleaning the gravestones. During their work, they exposed the gravestones of some of the city's prominent historical figures, including author Jacob Lustig and Loebel Danziger, co-founder of the Myslowice coal mine.
"We will inform the police about the damage," Ireneusz Skwirowski -- one of the residents involved in cleaning the cemetery -- said.
The identity of the vandals -- who knocked down the 19th-century gravestones on March 3 -- remains unknown.
Last year, a group of local residents organized a cleanup of the cemetery in Myslowice -- about 35 miles from the city of Krakow -- grubbing trees and bushes and cleaning the gravestones. During their work, they exposed the gravestones of some of the city's prominent historical figures, including author Jacob Lustig and Loebel Danziger, co-founder of the Myslowice coal mine.
"We will inform the police about the damage," Ireneusz Skwirowski -- one of the residents involved in cleaning the cemetery -- said.
Islamic Militants Blackmail Christians in Syria; Must Pay a Tax or Convert to Islam or Face Death
The U.S. State Department has issued a statement deploring what it calls "continued threats against Christians and other minorities in Syria" from militant Islamists at war with both Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and fellow Islamic militants, the Baptist Press News website reports today (March 6, 2014).
According to a March 3 statement from State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant (ISIL) announced last week in Raqqa it will force Christians in the city to "convert to Islam, remain Christian and pay a tax, or face death."
"These outrageous conditions violate universal human rights," Psaki said. "ISIL has demonstrated time and again its disregard for Syrian lives, and it continues to commit atrocities against the Syrian people."
The State Department's condemnation of ISIL comes as the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported the group -- a branch of al-Qaida also known as ISIS -- had given Christians in Raqqa an ultimatum to accept a "dhimma," a protection agreement similar to those between mafia families and businesses. If the agreement was not signed, the villagers would have to convert to Islam or "face the sword."
According to a March 3 statement from State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant (ISIL) announced last week in Raqqa it will force Christians in the city to "convert to Islam, remain Christian and pay a tax, or face death."
"These outrageous conditions violate universal human rights," Psaki said. "ISIL has demonstrated time and again its disregard for Syrian lives, and it continues to commit atrocities against the Syrian people."
The State Department's condemnation of ISIL comes as the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported the group -- a branch of al-Qaida also known as ISIS -- had given Christians in Raqqa an ultimatum to accept a "dhimma," a protection agreement similar to those between mafia families and businesses. If the agreement was not signed, the villagers would have to convert to Islam or "face the sword."
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