Christian

California: Appeals court reverses lower court decision to uphold restrictions on church services

A court of appeals has told a lower court that, in light of recent US Supreme Court rulings, it must reconsider its decision to uphold California’s restrictions on in-person worship services, the Christian Post reported Wednesday. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of Chula Vista’s South Bay United Pentecostal Church, which had argued the pertinent COVID-19 restrictions were discriminatory against houses of worship.

Swiss court pauses ban on religious services in Geneva

Switzerland’s Constitutional Chamber has ordered the suspension of a COVID-19 ban on religious gatherings in the Canton of Geneva, enabling churches in the region to resume in-person services again, Christian Post reports. The court will make a final ruling on the ban in due course but has reportedly indicated that the likelihood it will permanently strike down the ban is “high.”

India: Tribal animists attack and hospitalize Christians at child-dedication gathering

Twenty-one Christians were taken to hospital after a large gang of tribal animists attacked a church hall and adjoining home in Chhattisgarh state, India last week, Morning Star News reports. The attackers accused the believers of influencing and converting people to Christianity. Several Christian families have gone into hiding since the attack.

China: Owner of audio Bible company faces trial for conducting illegal business operations

The owner of a company that produces audio Bible players in China’s Guangdong province is due to appear in court on December 7 to answer charges of conducting “illegal business operations,” Morning Star News reports. Lai Jinqiang, owner of Shenzhen Cedar Electronics, faces trial after being arrested together with his six employees on July 22 last year.

Kentucky AG files motion with SCOTUS to keep religious schools open

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is set to consider a joint request by the Kentucky Attorney General and a local Christian school to set aside Sunday’s federal appeals court ruling which upheld a state COVID-19 executive order banning in-person classes, Fox News reports.

Post-election survey: Vast majority of conservative Christians voted Trump

A new survey conducted after the 2020 presidential election has shown that 97% of politically active conservative Christians voted for Donald Trump, the Christian Post reports. The survey was launched by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University and was conducted from November 3 through November 16, 2020.

Islamic terrorists slaughtered 20 Christians in Democratic Republic of Congo

Terrorists belonging to the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) are believed to be responsible for the deaths of 20 Christians who were murdered in North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between November 20 and November 25, Morning Star News reports. The number of jihadist attacks on civilians has increased since the DRC army launched a large-scale offensive in October 2019.

Nigeria: World stands by as Boko Haram murders at least 110 farmworkers in single attack

At least 110 farmworkers were slaughtered in a single attack in Nigeria’s Borno state Saturday by terrorists believed to be members of Boko Haram, the Christian Post reports. Armed men on some 60 motorbikes gunned down the rice field workers in what a UN official described as “the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year.”

Kentucky federal appeals court upholds COVID-19 order to close religious and private schools

A federal appeals court in Kentucky has upheld a state COVID-19 order issued by Gov. Andy Beshear to close religious and private schools in seeking to contain the spread of the virus, the Washington Examiner reports. In making its ruling, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a restraining order issued previously by the District Court against the closing of religious schools. The lawsuit was originally filed by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and the Danville Christian Academy, who argued that the closure of religious schools is unconstitutional.

Egypt: 100 arrested in riot over Facebook comments “insulting” to Islam

A hundred people were arrested for assault and rioting Wednesday evening after a large group of Islamists attacked Coptic Christian houses and a church in the village of Deir El-Bersha in the Minya governorate, Agenzia Fides reports. The rioting was triggered by Facebook comments made by a young Coptic man that were considered insulting to Islam and the prophet Muhammed.

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