In an interview with Baptist Press, Yu Jie a leader in the Ark Church in Beijing spoke out about the Olympics and the continuation of persecution of Christians in China. He was placed under house arrest just before and during the Olympic games in Beijing.

He talks about his own conversion to Christianity and the state of the church in China.

Yu Jie asks for Christians to remember and pray for their brothers and sister in China. Here are three specific requests that he made according to the article:

"First, he asked that other Christians pray that Christians in China will be allowed full freedom of religion, so that they can worship as they see fit.

Secondly, he asked for prayer for the 2,000 persecuted Christians who are sitting in Chinese prisons and labor camps.

Thirdly, he requested prayer for the increased education of Chinese Christians, and that they would practice pure Christianity from the Bible. Because so many churches are still underground, Yu said they don’t always have access to educational material like books and other literature. Because of this lack of access, problems often arise in churches as they stray from biblical doctrine. Chinese Christians desperately need more books about the Bible to be translated into their language, so they can be faithful to Scripture and be holy in their living."

Response: This is really a very fine article to read in order to understand some of the problems facing Christians in China. We should also remember to pray for Yu– He risks a lot to be openly interviewed and quoted in this way.            *Top

A Christian orphanage has been destroyed and at least 18 Christians have been killed as violence continues against Christians in the state of Orissa.

The latest round of trouble,which includes 92 incidents of violence against Christians, began with the murder of Hindu leader Swamiji Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others on Saturday (Aug. 23). The Hindu extremists blamed Christians for the deaths though there is proof that Maoists were probably responsible. For a detailed story of the violence read the account by Compass Direct.

Response: We really need to be praying for the Christians in Orissa. The state is controlled by the radical Hindu party and violence against Christians continues to be ignored or even encouraged by the local authorities. An appeal to the National government in New Delhi seems to have resulted in little or no actual help other than a statement that they are opposed to the violence.           *Top

Here’s an article by Daniel Pipes:  "Barack Obama through Muslim Eyes". Daniel Pipes documents here how the Muslim press has responded to the religious background and Christian affiliation of Presidential candidate Barack Obama.

<<Read the rest posted on my Apologetica page>>            *Top

In a speech on Friday at Oakland University in Michigan, Sen. John McCain proclaimed that ‘Freedom of Religion’ would be a key component of his foreign policy if elected as President of the United States:

“There is no right more fundamental to a free society than the free practice of religion. Behind walls of prisons and persecuted before our very eyes in places like China, Iran, Burma, Sudan, North Korea and Saudi Arabia are tens of thousands of people whose only crime is to worship God in their own way.

As president, I intend to make religious freedom a subject of great importance for the United States in our relations with other nations. I will work in close concert with democratic allies to raise the prominence of religious freedom in every available forum. Whether in bilateral negotiations, or in various multinational organizations to which America belongs, I will make respect for the basic principle of religious freedom a priority in international relations."

According to McCain, no society:

“that denies religious freedom can ever rightly claim to be good in some other way. And no person can ever be true to any faith that believes in the dignity of all human life if they do not act out of concern for those whose dignity is assailed because of their faith.”

In the same speech, Sen. McCain also promised to promised to do all that he can do to eliminate all forms of human trafficking and modern forms of slavery.

Response: This is one of those issues that refuses to go away. Freedom of religion and religious persecution continues to be a problem in many countries including China who just tried to put its best face forward for the Olympics while trying to eliminate house church worship.

Also, nearly every Muslim majority country has some form of persecution against other religions, particularly Christianity. We are committed on this blog to point out obvious instances of persecution that come to light.

It is good to see Sen. McCain weight in on this issue. President Bush and his administration has been sensitive and vocal on this issue–though it is hard to know what diplomatic steps they have really taken to make ‘religious life and freedom’  better around the world.

The California Supreme Court has now ruled that the state can force healthcare professionals to provide services that may be against their religion. In an unanimous decision on Monday, California’s Supreme Court ruled that Christian doctors may not refuse to perform services like artificial insemination for homosexual patients.

This was a case where Christian doctors refused to perform artificial insemination on a lesbian patient, but they did refer her to another doctor who did perform the elective treatment. It wasn’t a case where the patient wasn’t able to get treatment.

Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, reacted to the ruling:

"This is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of individuals to live and practice their faith. Forcing doctors to have to choose between being a doctor and being a Christian in the State of California is an outrageous violation of the fundamental rights of every American to be able to practice their faith and not to have to leave their occupation because of it."

"This is not about denying people services, this is, instead, about the ‘thought police’ attempting to censor Christian beliefs and Christian perspectives that don’t agree with homosexuality. We’re talking…about individuals being able to force doctors or other professionals to violate their faith in order to keep their job."

The case is going to be appealed for sure, but in the mean time it calls into question a number of different professions that might be affected by this ruling according to Mr. Dacus:

"For example, lawyers who are engaging in marriage and family law can now be forced to [execute] documents for homosexuals adopting children, and individual with a wedding service, despite their Christian faith to the contrary, can now be forced to conduct wedding services and wedding preparations for lesbian or homosexual male couples."

Response: Another case of judicial activism and a court out of control. This same California Supreme court recently ruled that the state must provide for same-sex marriages.

Now it seems that in California, homosexuality is deemed to have greater legal rights in the state than freedom of religion–even though religion is a right that is actually named in the constitution.

Here’s another one of those fascinating stories that seem almost surreal to most Westerners–stories that can’t possibly be true! Saudi Arabia has given us a lot of them lately.

Like the American lady executive who was arrested and went to jail for being at ‘Starbucks’ with a business associate–or the Saudi woman who was raped and sentenced to prison for being in the company of strange men—or making Valentine’s Day and red flowers illegal, or worse yet–the Saudi religious leader who said it was ok for 1 year old baby girls to marry. You just can’t make up stories like this and have any credibility.

Yet, here it is–the Saudi religious police have actually outlawed selling dogs and cats and even walking them in public—because they say that men make passes at woman in the process. LOL–and some people think we live in a ‘nanny state? See what you’re missing without sharia!             *Top

Now comes the report that Christian house churches were forced by the government to close during the Olympics. Many house church leaders were apparently forced to sign a document–an agreement to:

“refrain from organising and joining illegal gatherings and refrain from receiving donations, sermons and preaching from overseas religious organisations and groups".

The leaders were warned that they would be subject to disciplinary action if they failed to adhere to the agreement. Not only that, the agreement is said to continue for several months after the end of the games.

Response: Another revelation about the hypocrisy of China which is trying to put forward its best face to the world during the Olympics. Meanwhile, behind the scenes they continue to curtail the religious rights of their own citizens and in this case actually persecute the underground church and it’s leaders.

This confirms some of the reports that we have read, heard, and reported on previously.

Open Doors, Release International, and VOM have asked for Christians to remember to pray for members of the Christian house churches during the Olympics.            *Top

In preparation for a trip to Turkey, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave the press another anti Israel rant:

"Western countries should not support them (Israel) so much. The life of this regime has come to an end."

"Our position is clear on this issue. A referendum should take place in Palestine. If they withdraw from invaded lands it would be a good step."

The message was obviously intended for the Turks, since they have consistently been a supporter of Israel. Also, the Turkish government has been criticized for inviting Ahmadinejad to visit in the first place.

However, Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan have said that his visit was necessary given the current standoff between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear enrichment program. The Turks hope to mediate some kind of settlement on this issue.

Response: There are concerns about Turkey turning away from the West and becoming more Islamic rather than the secular state they have been since WWI.

When Ahmadinejad says that- "The life of the regime (Israel) has come to an end"-one wonders if he is really declaring that he will participate in the destruction of Israel when he has the nuclear power he so craves. Especially since he has said in the past that soon Israel would be ‘wiped off the map’.

Also, he has indicated in past rants that he considers ‘all’ of Israel to be occupied lands–he has suggested in the past that all the Jews should go back to Europe or that maybe USA could give them some land. 

This of course is the real concern of those opposing Iran’s nuclear program. Rants like this just add fuel to the fire. You can bet that the Israelis are watching him very closely and preparing for some kind of response just in case.            *Top

  President Bush is keeping the pressure on the Olympic hosts while he is in China when it comes to political and especially religious freedom in the country. The President had spoken earlier on this subject the day before his arrival in China.

The Bush’s began their day with a Sunday worship service at Beijing’s Kuanjie church, an official Protestant church. A children’s choir sang "Amazing Grace" in English and Chinese during the service.

President Bush spoke to reporters after leaving the worship and pointed out that millions of Chinese brave harassment and arrest to worship at unregistered "house" churches in China:

"Laura and I just had the great joy and privilege of worshiping here in Beijing, China. You know, it just goes to show that God is universal, and God is love, and no state, man or woman should fear the influence of loving religion.’

Bush also had talked earlier with Chinese President Hu Jintao in a meeting about religious and political freedom while reporters were present. He is quoted as telling president Jintao:

"As you know, I feel very strongly about religion, the Chinese can expect that any future American president will also make it an important aspect."

Response: It is good to see President Bush keep up the pressure on the Chinese government even while he is there for the Olympics. Their record on religious freedom over the years is not very good, including recently when they have tried to silence and eliminate Christian house-church leaders from the Beijing area as a preparation for the international games.

I would imagine that the State Dept. ‘crats’ are probably unhappy with his diatribes against the Chinese who are very conscious about good appearances and ’saving face’. They are particularly sensitive to criticism from guests which is considered ‘bad form’. Undoubtedly Bush is aware of this and has chosen to speak out on these important issues anyway–thank you President Bush.            *Top

A state appellate court ruled Friday that parents in California could continue to legally home school their children even if they don’t have teaching credentials.

The ruling reverses an earlier court decision in February by the 2nd District Court of Appeal which had ruled that those teaching in home schools needed to be credentialed. This earlier ruling had put some 166,000 students being home-schooled in California in legal jeopardy.

Gov. Schwarzenegger was happy with the decision. He was in the process of providing legislation to remedy the situation:

"This is a victory for California’s students, parents and education community. This decision confirms the right every California child has to a quality education and the right parents have to decide what is best for their children. I hope the ruling settles this matter for parents and home-schooled children once and for all in California, but assure them that we, as elected officials, will continue to defend parents’ rights."

Response: This is a relief to thousands of California parents and children involved in home-schooling. Many Christian families are home-schooling their children in association with church organizations in order to teach a Christian ‘world view’ to their children. Typically, home-schooled children in California achieve higher average scores on state tests than those in public schools.