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Christian Living

ChurchWatch 01/16/08

Religious Freedom Day -- But Not For Everyone

Today is National Religious Freedom Day in the United States, an event that celebrates one of our most cherished freedoms in America. It was on this day, January 16, in 1786 that the Virginia State Assembly adopted Thomas Jefferson's famous Virginia Stature for Religious Freedom. This landmark legislation became the foundation for the freedom of religion granted under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The freedom of religious expression in the U.S. has remained unshaken for 221 years -- and it has been the inspiration for religious liberty around the globe.

While on a diplomatic tour through the Middle East, President Bush paused today to declare January 16th as "Religious Freedom Day" from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The White House issued this proclamation:

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America:

Thomas Jefferson counted the freedom of worship as one of America's greatest blessings. He said it was "a liberty deemed in other countries incompatible with good government, and yet proved by our experience to be its best support." On Religious Freedom Day, we celebrate the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

The freedom to worship according to one's conscience is one of our Nation's most cherished values. It is the first protection offered in the Bill of Rights: that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In America, people of different faiths can live together united in peace, tolerance, and humility. We are committed to the proposition that as equal citizens of the United States of America, all are free to worship as they choose.

In an era during which an unprecedented number of nations have embraced individual freedom, we have also witnessed the stubborn endurance of religious repression. Religious freedom belongs not to any one nation, but to the world, and my Administration continues to support freedom of worship at home and abroad. On Religious Freedom Day and throughout the year, we recognize the importance of religious freedom and the vital role it plays in spreading liberty and ensuring human dignity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2008, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

While we celebrate the freedom of religion in America, it is a fragile liberty that must be nurtured, protected and defended. 

Sadly, there are dozens of nations in the world where religious freedom hangs by a thin thread -- or it does not exist at all.

Orissa, India Violence "Worst in History"

December's violence against Christians in the East India state of Orissa is the worst in the country's history according to reports by the All India Christian Council (AICC). According to Dibin Samuel of the U.K. Christian Today Web site, the AICC is reporting that the Dalit caste, formerly known as "Untouchables," was the group most affected by the violence.

Christian Today reported that AICC sent four of its leaders to the area on a fact-finding mission. They found that during the violence, more than 95 churches were either vandalized or destroyed, and 730 homes belonging to Christians were burned down.

Christian Today reported that the AICC team found that the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad, meaning the World Hindu Council) instigated the attacks and targeted Christians throughout Kandhamal District, Orissa state.

Dr. Joseph D'Souza, AICC president, issued this statement:

"We are saddened to acknowledge the violence in Orissa will go into the history books as an unprecedented attack on Christians in India. The tragedy is deepened by proof that the violence was avoidable if the authorities had enforced the rule of law."

"Many have expressed outrage with the authorities and Hindutva (Hindu) extremists whose actions hurt innocent people during Christmas - a season of peace across the world," D'Souza added. "But we must express our anger and frustration in a peaceful manner."

Intercessors Network reports that the Founder and President of Bibles for the World, Rochunga Pudaite, has witnessed other atrocities committed in the riots. “Just days ago, four pastors in the state of Orissa were burned alive. And about 200 Christians leaders are now in the forests hiding, fearful for their lives.”
 
“I’m not a prophet," Pudaite said, "but this is just the beginning as far as I’m concerned because they just passed anti-conversion laws, and it’s going to get worse.”

All India Christian Council and other Christians organizations have asked the central government to get involved and protect religious freedom in Orissa, but nothing official has been done to assure that.
 
Pudaite is praying that “the Christians will feel the power of the Holy Spirit working in them and will be willing to go through whatever the persecution they’re facing, because where there’s persecution, there’s also conversion and change of lives.”

Pudiate is also asking people to pray for the conversion of those organizing the attacks on Christians.
 
He says India is ready to hear the Gospel, especially the Dalits of society. It’s already happening. “Every day there are hundreds of people who are turning to Jesus Christ. Some are accusing Christians of ‘buying’ them with food and clothes and jobs. But that’s not the case.”

Since there are so many people coming to Christ in India, Bibles for the World has work to do. “We just made a printing order of 100,000 Bibles in Hindi, which a lot of the people can read in Orissa. And I would very much like to see that we distribute 1-million Gospels of John in their own language, Orya.”

More from All India Christian Council (AICC)

More from Christian Today Web site

More from Bibles for the World

More from CBN's Christian World News

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