Tibetans giving their lives in protest; Fierce clashes on Sudan borders; Malawi president rejects calls from faith leaders to resign; Church growing in Iran despite repression; Unification Church faces change; WCC Churches seek renewed commitment to evangelism; Church leaders stress partnership as Christianity grows in global South; Australian Priests call for abuse inquiry
Tibetans giving their lives in protest
Irish Examiner – Tibetans are setting themselves on fire to demonstrate against Chinese rule, write Tim Sullivan and Gillian Wong. For more than a year the deadly protests have swept the Tibetan plateau, waves of people burning themselves alive in a widening challenge to Chinese rule.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/giving-their-lives-in-protest-188569.html
Fierce clashes on Sudan borders
BBC – Clashes break out between Sudan and South Sudan in what is described as the biggest confrontation since the South’s independence last July.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17515209
Malawi president rejects calls from faith leaders to resign
ENInews – Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika on 22 March rejected calls from faith groups that he resign following a political and economic crisis that has rocked the southern African nation.
A delegation of civil society organizations meeting at a national conference organized by the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) on 15 March demanded that Mutharika “resign honorably within 90 days or if he thinks he is still popular, he should call for a referendum within the 90 days. Failure to follow this will call for mass action.” Last year, the government cracked down on protesters demanding economic changes that would ease fuel and foreign-currency shortages.
However, speaking during a World Water Day Commemoration in Mangochi, 220 km (137 miles) south of the commercial capital of Blantyre, Mutharika said he is still popular.
http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5556
Church growing in Iran despite repression
Christian Today – Despite the Iranian government’s ongoing crackdown on Christians living in the primarily Islamic country, the number of Muslims converting to Christianity is growing at an explosive rate in Iran, says Open Doors USA.
There is even talk of witnessing a Christian revival, especially among young people living in the country, say Open Doors ministry workers in the Middle East.
A house church movement within Iran is part of that revival and has triggered “many secret meetings”. The growth in the number of Christians is reportedly happening in all regions, but mostly in larger cities.
Iran is ranked 5th on the Open Doors 2012 World Watch List of the top 50 worst persecutors of Christians.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.growing.in.iran.despite.repression/29533.htm
Unification Church faces change
BBC – As the Unification Church celebrates a series of mass weddings in South Korea, the BBC’s Robert Pigott asks what next for the Moonies?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17497603
WCC Churches seek renewed commitment to evangelism
ACNS – On 24 March, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism pre-assembly event invoked renewed thinking and commitment on evangelism, disassociated from the forces of oppression, and grounded in humility and respect for all. The event currently taking place in Manila, Philippines is addressing the topic “Water of life: Speaking the truth in love” while debating evangelism among other themes. More than 200 participants in the event contributed to the discussions and developed a draft of the proposed WCC statement on “mission and evangelism” to be presented at the WCC upcoming 10th Assembly in Busan, Korea in 2013.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/3/26/Churches-seek-renewed-commitment-to-evangelism
Church leaders stress partnership as Christianity grows in global South
ENI news – As delegates to a World Council of Churches (WCC) gathering noted Christianity’s growth in the global South, church leaders from Africa and Asia stressed that partnership in mission and evangelism is needed more than ever.
http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5558
Australian Priests call for abuse inquiry
The Age – More than 60 Melbourne Catholic clergy and members of religious orders have been convicted of sexual abuse since 1993. The abuse issue is intensifying worldwide. It started in Boston in the US, spread to Ireland and is now surfacing in Europe and South …
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/priests-call-for-abuse-inquiry-20120328-1vytj.html