India: Hindu extremists victimize pastors
In India, Hindu extremists have continued to victimize pastors by using anti-conversion laws as an excuse to attack Christians, thereby limiting church activities. UK based Release International (RI) said in a recent report www.releaseinternational.org that pastors were beaten and cars burnt amid accusations of forced conversion. The RI report stated that on June 23, two pastors from Bethel Assembly of God Church were seriously injured when men attacked them with iron bars in Chandapura, Karnataka state, accusing them of converting people to Christianity by force. Before that attack some extremists burnt at least seven vehicles belonging to the Jesus with Us Pentecostal Church in Mathikere, Tamil Nadu. This attack followed efforts by Hindu extremists to prevent the church holding a four-day convention and that in the event, the gathering went ahead in a different location, under police protection. Eight Indian states have introduced anti-conversion laws however Tamil Nadu has since repealed them. Pray: that the church in India will remain steadfast in their faith and pray that politicians and law enforcers will take a tougher line on extremist elements. (2Th.1:4) More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2010/s10070026.htm
EU and bank supervision
Plans to set up new European supervisors which would see Brussels have more influence over the way banking is carried out have stalled. MEPs accused EU member states of ‘dragging their feet’ on a series of reforms that would allow Brussels-based supervisors to oversee, and in some cases overrule, their national counterparts. The European Parliament has agreed to postpone the planned vote on a package of reforms to establish the new EU supervisors until September as question marks hang over whether member states and MEPs will be able to broker a workable compromise. The disagreement on financial supervision spans a number of reforms but in short they all present member states with the same question: more or less EU intervention for Europe's banks? ‘The body taking decisions should be the national supervisor,’an EU diplomat argued. His argument is shared by at least seven member states including several Central and Eastern European countries as well as the UK. Pray: that enhanced EU bureaucratic oversight will not hamper countries’ efforts to reduce their national deficits. (Mk.12:17)
EU and bank supervision
Plans to set up new European supervisors which would see Brussels have more influence over the way banking is carried out have stalled. MEPs accused EU member states of ‘dragging their feet’ on a series of reforms that would allow Brussels-based supervisors to oversee, and in some cases overrule, their national counterparts. The European Parliament has agreed to postpone the planned vote on a package of reforms to establish the new EU supervisors until September as question marks hang over whether member states and MEPs will be able to broker a workable compromise. The disagreement on financial supervision spans a number of reforms but in short they all present member states with the same question: more or less EU intervention for Europe's banks? ‘The body taking decisions should be the national supervisor,’an EU diplomat argued. His argument is shared by at least seven member states including several Central and Eastern European countries as well as the UK. Pray: that enhanced EU bureaucratic oversight will not hamper countries’ efforts to reduce their national deficits. (Mk.12:17)
Labour leadership candidates compete for Christian support
The Methodist Central Hall in Westminster last week saw hustings where every candidate presented themselves as motivated by firm convictions. David Miliband explained, ‘I'm not a religious person but actually I'm a person of faith’ and that the Labour Party can learn from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. His brother Ed said hehad learnt ‘not a religious faith but a simple faith’ that ‘if you saw an injustice then you had to do something about it’. Andy Burnham, a Roman Catholic, emphasised the Christian origins of his politics insisting that ‘the basic tenets of the Labour Party and socialism are one and the same with those of Christianity’. Ed Balls had positive early memories of his parents' Anglican church and that his father's commitment to Labour had grown out of Christianity. Diane Abbott emphasised the values with which she had been brought up, saying ‘We could do worse than return to those values of faith, community and family’. Pray: for these candidates that they might gain a true understanding of Christian faith. (Jas.2:14)
