USCIRF publishes annual report

According to the 2013 Annual Report on the State of International Religious Freedom by The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), released Tuesday April 30th: 

“The state of international religious freedom is increasingly dire due to the presence of forces that fuel instability. These forces include the rise of violent religious extremism coupled with the actions and inactions of governments. Extremists target religious minorities and dissenters from majority religious communities for violence, including physical assaults and even murder. Authoritarian governments also repress religious freedom through intricate webs of discriminatory rules, arbitrary requirements and draconian edicts,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, USCIRF’s Chair.

Countries remaining of (particular) concern or CPCs include: Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan.  Seven other countries meeting the CPC threshold (also deserving the CPC designation) this year include: Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.

Of peacocks, hawks, doves and dodos

A parody from Saturday Night Live (SNL) is causing a commotion (publicity/marketing ploy) as Academy Award Sunday approaches, coinciding (this year) with the beginning of the solemn Christian period of observance known as Lent.

One of the movies up this year for multiple awards is "Django Unchained" by Quentin Tarantino.

Someone over at SNL thought it a clever play on words, etc., in the context of the Hollywood "scene" which; strangely enough, is not for everyone.

Such reckless, careless disregard (goofiness) has, sadly, become common place.

Our friend, Dr. Frank Kaufmann writes more on that, including essential reflections and a recent disturbing revelation regarding double standards here.

Christianity, particularly among the liberal elite (self-described) of Hollywood would seem to be an easy target these days, particularly when one looks closely at what its own adherents (or proponents) have brought forth in the last few years.

Standing alone (oddly) or perhaps most notably in that category, affiliation or label ("Christian") is Mel Gibson - AND - his "Passion of the Christ."

As a self-proclaimed proponent of religious freedom, I thought it might be worth looking at Hollywood, Christianity and certain themes intertwining (not always or necessarily entertaining) and ask a few new questions, upon brief reflection:

1. Why has "Passion of the Christ" apparently become a joke (at least) in Hollywood?

2. What exactly defines a "religion of peace" in our modern world? And will "one size" ever fit all?

3. Why (or how) is cinema relevant to "true" religion?  Is it?

4. When is freedom of expression more important than freedom of religion? Or is it?

A certain recent event at the Libyan embassy comes to mind.

And so it goes.

Roelant Savery - Landscape with Birds

Embracing a religiously diverse future

The National Interest had an article the other day (December 18) regarding current religious freedom challenges in Western Europe.

Authored jointly by Mary Ann Glendon who serves as vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and Azizah al-Hibri who serves as a USCIRF Commissioner, of possible, particular note might be their concluding statement (bracketed comments added by yours truly):

"If the lamp of liberty is to remain lit, Western Europeans [Everyone everywhere] must accept that the age of conformity to an official monoculture—secular or religious—is at an end. In the coming year, their countries [Everyone everywhere] should embrace their [Our common and/or universal] religiously diverse future and accord religious freedom to all."

"Conscience protection" part of new agenda

Roman Catholic U.S. bishops yesterday announced a five-part pastoral strategy aimed at creating a movement dedicated to penance and prayer for "a renewed culture of life, marriage and religious freedom."

According to Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, while "not meant to be another program but rather part of a movement for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty," the movement "engages the New Evangelization."

Archbishop Cordileone chairs the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.

Further it was stated that, this second campaign (a first was instituted/dedicated during the fourteen days of June 21—July 4, 2012) was "prompted by the rapid social movements and policy changes currently underway."

The so named "Fortnight of Freedom," will "emphasize faith and marriage in a particular way in the face of the potential Supreme Court rulings during this time," according to the bishops' conference, referencing, in particular, the approaching Aug. 1, 2013 deadline for religious organization compliance with federal contraception mandates, as well as "other threats to religious liberty in the realms of immigration, adoption and humanitarian aid."

In addition, emphasis will be placed upon "the need for conscience protection."

Follow@ www.usccb.org and here.

Even in America?

A controversial new study by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that restrictions on religion have risen throughout the world between mid-2009 and mid-2010 - including in the United States.

The U.S., among 16 countries examined (out of 197), including Switzerland, was included in the "hostilities jumped" category during that time period.

Brazil and Japan were ranked best (meaning; having the least) in the "government restrictions" category among the 25 most populous countries examined.

Russia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and India were included in the worst countries in both categories.

The ranking of the United States, according to researcher Brian Grim, was influenced by a spike in religion-related terror attacks in the U.S.

Examples used included the December 2009 Nigerian Islamist attempt to blow up an airliner arriving in Detroit, Michigan; the Times Square attempted bombing in New York by a Pakistani-American Islamist as well as the 2009 killings at Fort Hood by radical Islamist convert Major Nidal Hassan.

Moreover, the alleged killer of the Fort Hood incident was recently forced to shave his beard to appear in a military court.

Also in 2010, Oklahoma banned Islam's Sharia law in a statewide vote. Thankfully, a federal appeals court struck down the amendment in January 2012, saying it violated the First Amendment.

Reported religion-related workplace discrimination complaints filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rose from 3,386 in the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2009, to 3,790 in the year ending on September 30, 2010. Cases determined by EEOC to have had "reasonable cause" rose from 136 to 314 during that period.

The 2009-2010 time-frame doesn't account for recent events including the August killings at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin or the Amish beard cutting incidents (verdict reached yesterday).

Is there perhaps a pattern in the above, somewhere?

Thank you, Reverend Moon

Official Note from Daniel G. Fefferman (ICRF President):

Let me first express our feelings of deep gratitude for the life work of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, without whom the International Coalition for Religious Freedom would not exist. In addition to his work as the founder and spiritual leader of the Unification Church, Reverend Moon was a tireless campaigner for religious freedom and human rights. He has passed on to the next life now, but we at ICRF are strongly committed to carrying on his legacy.

Without religious freedom, God cannot fulfill His ideal… If you do not have religious freedom, you have no freedom at all.

–Testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, June 26, 1984

Fervent Prayers for Reverend Moon

Dr. Joon Ho Seuk
International Vice-President
Unification Church
President of the Korean Church

Excerpts from a letter to Unification Church members worldwide today:

"Heaven's providence does not always move according to human will.

"For a while it appeared that True Father's [Reverend Moon's] condition was improving;
however, during the last few days, the doctors reported that he has entered an irreversible stage of his condition . . . "

"Soon [he] will be transferred, while receiving care by the doctors from the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, to the Cheongpyeong area where True Parents' Cheon Jeong Palace [Unification Church Holy Ground for All People) is located.

"It is my wish that a miracle from Heaven occurs in relation to True Father's
condition amid the prayers and holy songs of our many members . . . "

Reverend and Mrs. Moon in prayer

Jews in Iran

Few may know or recall that under the Ayatollah Khomeini, Jews in Iran were afforded a respect unknown virtually anywhere else within the Muslim world.

Of course, the paradox or contradiction within that edict (revised, though continuing) is great.

Worth reading.

Majority of Muslims prefer a secular state

A study by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) analyzing constitutions in the “Muslim world” concludes that the majority of Muslims in the world by sheer numbers, at least, prefer living within a nation where a secular constitution is dominant.

According to the study (an update of one done in 2005), approximately 44% of the world’s Muslim population live in 23 majority Muslim countries that have declared Islam to be the state religion.

However, the remaining 56% live in countries that either proclaim the state to be secular or make no pronouncements concerning an official state religion.

The USCIRF 2012 study can be read here.

Internal affairs

Is religious freedom solely or primarily an "internal affair" not to be interfered with?

The People's Republic of China would like to have the world know that it answers that in the affirmative.

But who is interfering with the "internal affairs" of the world's most populous nation (and the United States largest trading partner), if not the PRC itself?

If vested as well as interested partners cannot speak up (and heavens, point to weaknesses that may effect current as well as future relationships) then who can?

Does the PRC seriously believe that it can bully the world just as it continues to bully its own people?

The U.S. State Department's most recent report on the declining state of religious freedom worldwide can be found here.

For informational purposes only.


The fine print:

Your agenda is your own affair unless it interferes with mine.

Please pray, spout, pontificate, gripe, complain, meditate as you will and as often as you like.

But let us be loving, most often, as well as ultimately.

Chen Guangcheng in the US

Chinese Dissident escapes house arrest

After escaping from house arrest, blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng issued a dramatic video message calling on Premier Wen Jiabao to protect his family, punish the people who had attacked them and combat corruption, recounting alleged abuses he and his family suffered at the hands of police.

"Premier Wen, so many people do not know whether such illegal acts are the acts of corrupt local officials or commanded by the central authority. I think you must thoroughly investigate the truth and give your people a clear answer," Chen said. "If you continue to ignore this and do nothing, what will the people think?"

Chen, a 41-year-old lawyer, was jailed for four years after exposing forced sterilization and other abuses carried out by Chinese family-planning authorities, then placed under house arrest once his prison term was over. He escaped last weekend in a rescue operation mounted by his supporters.

"I finally escaped," Chen began his Friday video message to Wen.

Chen asked Wen to investigate and punish police officers who he said had repeatedly attacked his home, robbing and assaulting his family. In one instance, more than 10 men had pinned him to the ground, and beat and kicked him for four hours, Chen said.

His wife was beaten so badly that her eye socket bone was broken, but she was never allowed to call for medical treatment, he said. Chen said his child was followed to school every day by three officers. He said his mother was grabbed by the arm and thrown to the ground on her birthday, her head hitting a door.

"She accused them of the shame of hurting the old. And they actually said back to her: 'Yes, this is true! ... You old ones can’t beat the young.'" Chen said. "This is evil. Inhuman. Intolerable.

"You must see to the bottom of this," the activist said. "Even though I am free, my family ... are still in their grasp. While I was there, they were repeatedly harmed. Now that I'm gone, I can only imagine how it has blown up."

Chen's rescue appears to have been timed to coincide with U.S.-China discussions on human rights this week. His case has attracted global attention.

Source: LA Times

To Japan and Beyond

The MacArthur Legacy lives according to this Religion News Service report posted Friday:

"Persecuted Christians [or any religious minority, technically] now can hold an entire seminary library on a fingertip.

Bible League International is working with the Digital Bible Society to carry the thumbnail-sized chips to Christians in countries such as China or Saudi Arabia, where possessing unapproved religious materials can result in prosecution or even death.

"It's like a miniature Christian bookstore," said Robert Frank, global CEO of Bible League International, an Illinois-based nonprofit evangelical ministry dedicated to training church leaders using the Bible.

The digital ministry continues the historic work of the Bible League, which went international after World War II when Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur asked U.S. Christian groups to send Bibles to Japan.

"In addition to several versions of the Bible, each of the Digital Bible libraries include worship music, movies, Bible commentaries, a study library, a copy of Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life and other landmark books about discipleship, ministry and history, as well as more than 1,200 images that can be used for a pastor's study and for teaching others.

The digital era brings religious freedom to the teaming electronic hordes.

Read more >>>>>

When Apostates Attack!

A Christian pastor who [may have] converted from Islam may be put to death for [allegedly] leaving Islam following the recent ruling of an Iranian court.

Youcef Nadarkhani, 34, was arrested more than two years ago on charges of apostasy, and has now been sentenced to death by an Iranian court for refusing to renounce his Christianity, according to the pastor's legal team.

The father-of-two had defied a request by the Gilan provincial court, in Rasht, Iran, to repent, and now faces death by hanging.

Religious freedom advocates everywhere continue to desperately attempt to save the life of a man who is guilty of nothing more than adhering to a personal belief system.

Read more here.

Latest update(s) here.

Sign the petition created by The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) here.

Kyrgyzstan Bans Unification Church

Considering the Kyrgyz Republic's history of enforced atheism [Soviet period] followed by efforts to go secular within a predominantly (Sunni/Hanafi) Muslim milieu topped by an ever continuing, abysmal record on human rights, the decision is not surprising.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty posted this brief note on the subject today.

However, the Religious Law of Kyrgyzstan, (signed January 2009) and reaction to it, may be instructive:

Sergei Lysov, a pastor and head of Kyrgyzstan's chapter of Bible League, a non-profit Christian group, [noted at that time that he saw] the bill as yet another challenge to religious freedom in Kyrgyzstan and worries it will curtail his organization's activities. "We prayed this law would not be passed," Lysov said. But "I think it will only strengthen religious communities. For a true believer, it is important to have tests, because it only makes him stronger." 

Must torture, imprisonment, etc., ever be "tests"?

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) concerns have been lost within the political shuffle.

Last years' Jehovah Witnesses court victory offers a glimmer of hope, though "pretrial detention" is still imprisonment.

Continuing . . .

Comedian Offends Sikhs with "Political" Joke

Freedom of speech crosses into perilous territory when it attempts to veil political humor with religious tones as Jay Leno (and his writers) might have known already.

But the subject was Mitt Romney, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), so what can we expect?

Miit Romney's summer home?

Amritsar Golden Temple

Or:

Salt Lake temple baptismal font

Religious Freedom: The Bedrock

As an old year ends and a new year begins, a friendly reminder from the best friend of religious freedom:

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

An Act for establishing religious Freedom.

Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free;

That all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens [sic], or by civil incapacitations tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and therefore are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, who being Lord, both of body and mind yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in his Almighty power to do,

That the impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavouring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world and through all time;
That to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical;

That even the forcing him to support this or that teacher of his own religious persuasion is depriving him of the comfortable liberty of giving his contributions to the particular pastor, whose morals he would make his pattern, and whose powers he feels most persuasive to righteousness, and is withdrawing from the Ministry those temporary rewards, which, proceeding from an approbation of their personal conduct are an additional incitement to earnest and unremitting labours for the instruction of mankind;

That our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions any more than our opinions in physics or geometry,

That therefore the proscribing any citizen as unworthy the public confidence, by laying upon him an incapacity of being called to offices of trust and emolument, unless he profess or renounce this or that religious opinion, is depriving him injuriously of those privileges and advantages, to which, in common with his fellow citizens, he has a natural right,

That it tends only to corrupt the principles of that very Religion it is meant to encourage, by bribing with a monopoly of worldly honours and emoluments those who will externally profess and conform to it;
That though indeed, these are criminal who do not withstand such temptation, yet neither are those innocent who lay the bait in their way;

That to suffer the civil magistrate to intrude his powers into the field of opinion and to restrain the profession or propagation of principles on supposition of their ill tendency is a dangerous fallacy which at once destroys all religious liberty because he being of course judge of that tendency will make his opinions the rule of judgment and approve or condemn the sentiments of others only as they shall square with or differ from his own;

That it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order;

And finally, that Truth is great, and will prevail if left to herself, that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them:

Be it enacted by General Assembly that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities. And though we well know that this Assembly elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of Legislation only, have no power to restrain the acts of succeeding Assemblies constituted with powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this act irrevocable would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare that the rights hereby asserted, are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural right.

~Thomas Jefferson (1777)

Last minute reprieve for commission

A last-minute vote on Friday (Dec. 16) has reauthorized the 13 year old USCIRF for 3 years.

The USCIRF was created by Congress when it passed the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA).  Established as an independent, bipartisan, federal government entity, USCIRF monitors the status of freedom of religion or belief abroad and provides policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

With nine commissioners, a staff of 17 and a $4 million annual budget, the bill had been held up in the Senate for almost four months before passing with an amendment on Tuesday, culminating with the reauthorizing resolution by voice vote on Friday.

Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who had reportedly held the bill as leverage in a dispute over federal funding for a prison in his state, proposed several tweaks to the re-authorization bill.

Durbin's amendment will limit the appointment of USCIRF's commissioners to a maximum of two, two-year terms. The term of any current commissioner who has served at least two full terms will expire 90 days after the legislation is enacted, virtually eliminating almost all of the current commissioners.

Leaders from both parties in Congress and the president appoint members to the commission.

The bill cuts the USCIRF’s budget from $4 million to $3 million and also places the commissioners under the same travel restrictions as State Department employees, which could possibly limit their ability to travel to certain areas where religious freedom abuses are acute.

The amendment also authorizes USCIRF employees who have filed a discrimination complaint against the commission to complete the proceedings.

This last measure may be a nod to a former agency policy analyst, Safiya Ghori-Ahmad, who filed a complaint against USCIRF with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in fall 2009. She charged that her contract was cancelled because of her Muslim faith and her affiliation with the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Source: Huffington Post and Christian Post

Dick Durbin stands alone for American Muslims

As noted here and elsewhere over the course of the last few months, the future of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) remains tenuous at best.

The commission's governing mandate originally expired in September, only to be renewed in an overall federal budget resolution that expired November 18th.

The stalemate over USCIRF's future occurred as it was part of an omnibus Senate bill on the 2012 fiscal year's budget appropriations and it is a lone Senator, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) who halted that vote.

While Christians, in particular, are leading the outcry, the senator's reasoning seems to be firmly rooted here.

Mr. Durbin's entire opening statement from that March 29, 2011 hearing is worth reading (again), but here's the gist of it:

"I had my differences with President George W. Bush, but he showed real
leadership after 9/11, when he made it clear that our war was with the terrorists
who perverted the teachings of Islam, not with Muslims who were faithful to
what he called, quote, “a faith based upon love, not hate.”

Congress too spoke with a clear voice. I cosponsored a resolution with John
Sununu, who was then the only Arab-American in the Senate, that condemned
anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry and said that American Muslims “are vibrant,
peaceful, and law-abiding, and have greatly contributed to American society.” Our
resolution passed both chambers of Congress unanimously.

Today, President Obama continues to speak out as forcefully as President Bush,
even though President Obama is challenged by a chorus of harsh voices:

• A leading member of Congress states bluntly, quote, “There are too many
mosques in this country.”

• A former Speaker of the House falsely claims, quote, “America is
experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine
and destroy our civilization.”

• And a prominent religious leader says Islam is, quote, “wicked” and “evil."

Still, should such compassion for American Muslims really be the point when it comes to the much bigger picture; that of religious freedom worldwide? 

Senator Durbin, you've clearly stated your reasoning on your support for American (and non-radical) Muslims as well as your generally bipartisan approach on the matter and are hence to be congratulated.

Of all the items within any of the budget debates today,  surely you might agree that freedom itself remains uniquely priceless. Further, the principle of upholding freedom, particularly religious freedom, as it infuses the dangerous and fragile world arena currently, overrides all such considerations of either partisan or even deeply personal convictions regarding civil or societal liberties.

Therefore, please seriously reconsider your support for the omnibus bill that includes funding for the USCIRF.

This is no time for silence.

The Chinese Jack-o'-lantern

(Red) Chinese origins?

Three representatives of China's house church movement in exile and Chuck Colson's musings on recent tricks amidst the treat of an exhibition of Bibles currently touring the U.S., reinforces the idea that Red China remains a land of contradiction, deception and foreboding, particularly for Christians (and other faiths, too).

Sadly, it also adds fire to those who would seek nothing better than to deter, downgrade and ultimately destroy any and all American moral stature on that most fundamental and essential freedom; that of religion.

Have we come so far as to yet be so deceived?

As ever, make up your own mind.

Read of the tour's "background," here and of its inexorable, ripening conclusion here.