Authorities in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province said on Sunday several Christian churches would be shut down this week, just days after a mob burned down a church, killing one person and injuring several others.
Tensions have been high among the ethnically and religiously diverse population of Aceh, raising the risk of further religious violence in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim population.
The vast majority of Indonesians practise a moderate form of Islam and Aceh is the only province to adhere to Islamic Sharia law, putting it at odds with the rest of the country.
Aceh was granted special autonomy as part of a 2005 agreement to end decades of separatist violence, which allowed it to implement Sharia law.
Christian groups in Aceh Singkil district, where the churches stand, had been consulted on the matter, authorities said, and members of as many as six churches had agreed to dismantle their houses of worship after admitting they did not have the required building permits.
"All houses of worship, regardless of the religion, need to be in accordance with the laws of Aceh," Bardan Sahidi, a member of the provincial parliament, told Reuters after attending a meeting of political and religious figures, including representatives from the religious affairs ministry in Jakarta.
Local Christian groups were not immediately available for comment.
The move comes after Muslim residents, including members of the hardline group Islamic Defenders Front, demanded that the local government shut down 10 churches, citing a lack of permits.
A mob of hundreds of people burned down a small church in Aceh Singkil district last week, forcing thousands of Christians to flee to neighbouring villages.
One Muslim member of the mob was killed, police said last week, adding that at least 10 people had been detained on suspicion of inciting violence.
The government has since deployed 1,300 police and military personnel to the area, with hundreds more on standby, to patrol the streets and stand guard outside churches that dot the small palm oil plantations in the district.
Christian residents of the run-down village attended a service on Sunday right next to the charred remains of their church, under the guard of about a dozen armed security personnel.
"At the moment, things are calm but we are on standby for any further incidents," said Saladin, spokesman for Aceh police, adding that evacuees had since returned to their homes.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Pope Francis apologises for Vatican 'scandals'
Pope Francis made the apology at his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square, but did not specify which scandals.
He is thought to be referring to a senior Polish priest who was dismissed from his Vatican post after announcing he was in a gay relationship.
The Pope's spokesman said the pontiff had not been referring to the recent resignation of Rome's mayor.
Federico Lombardi admitted to reporters that the Pope's apology had been "broad and generic" but said it did not refer to "political" situations involving Mayor Ignazio Marino, who resigned earlier this week over an expenses scandal.
Father Lombardi said the Pope was referring to scandals in which there is a "responsibility of men of the Church".
To thousands of people who had gathered for his weekly address, Pope Francis said: "Before I begin the Catechism, in the name of the Church, I want to ask you for forgiveness for the scandals that have occurred recently either in Rome or in the Vatican. I ask you for forgiveness."
He also said: "The word of Jesus is strong today, woe to the world because of scandals. Jesus is a realist. He says it is inevitable that there will be scandals. But woe to the man who causes scandals."
His words left Vatican observers scratching their heads in deciding exactly which scandals he meant, the BBC's David Willey reports from Rome.
Rome's mayor has come under criticism recently for the slow start in the city's preparations for the holy year due to begin in the second week of December. Millions of pilgrims are expected to travel to Rome for a series of Church events, and this will require extra policing and provision of accommodation and food and water, our correspondent notes.
But he was most likely referring to the announcement from Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa - a theologian who had worked in the Vatican's doctrinal office since 2003 - earlier this month that he was a practising homosexual, our correspondent adds.
Msgr Charamsa, 43, said he was in a relationship and was "happy and proud" of his identity, and wanted to challenge the Church's "backwards" attitude to homosexuality.
His revelations came on the eve of a major meeting to define the Catholic Church's teaching on family, which would consider issues of homosexuality and contraception.
The Vatican called his actions "very serious and irresponsible" and stripped him of doctrinal responsibilities.
Rumours, accusations and denials about a so-called Vatican gay lobby circulated during the much-heralded meeting of bishops and cardinals from around the world, our correspondent says.
Psalm 38
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome
because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they scheme and lie.
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait for you;
you will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies without cause[b];
those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil
lodge accusations against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me;
do not be far from me, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
my Lord and my Savior.
He is thought to be referring to a senior Polish priest who was dismissed from his Vatican post after announcing he was in a gay relationship.
The Pope's spokesman said the pontiff had not been referring to the recent resignation of Rome's mayor.
Federico Lombardi admitted to reporters that the Pope's apology had been "broad and generic" but said it did not refer to "political" situations involving Mayor Ignazio Marino, who resigned earlier this week over an expenses scandal.
Father Lombardi said the Pope was referring to scandals in which there is a "responsibility of men of the Church".
To thousands of people who had gathered for his weekly address, Pope Francis said: "Before I begin the Catechism, in the name of the Church, I want to ask you for forgiveness for the scandals that have occurred recently either in Rome or in the Vatican. I ask you for forgiveness."
He also said: "The word of Jesus is strong today, woe to the world because of scandals. Jesus is a realist. He says it is inevitable that there will be scandals. But woe to the man who causes scandals."
His words left Vatican observers scratching their heads in deciding exactly which scandals he meant, the BBC's David Willey reports from Rome.
Rome's mayor has come under criticism recently for the slow start in the city's preparations for the holy year due to begin in the second week of December. Millions of pilgrims are expected to travel to Rome for a series of Church events, and this will require extra policing and provision of accommodation and food and water, our correspondent notes.
But he was most likely referring to the announcement from Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa - a theologian who had worked in the Vatican's doctrinal office since 2003 - earlier this month that he was a practising homosexual, our correspondent adds.
Msgr Charamsa, 43, said he was in a relationship and was "happy and proud" of his identity, and wanted to challenge the Church's "backwards" attitude to homosexuality.
His revelations came on the eve of a major meeting to define the Catholic Church's teaching on family, which would consider issues of homosexuality and contraception.
The Vatican called his actions "very serious and irresponsible" and stripped him of doctrinal responsibilities.
Rumours, accusations and denials about a so-called Vatican gay lobby circulated during the much-heralded meeting of bishops and cardinals from around the world, our correspondent says.
Psalm 38
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome
because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they scheme and lie.
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait for you;
you will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies without cause[b];
those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil
lodge accusations against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me;
do not be far from me, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
my Lord and my Savior.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Sharing love to all
There will now be a residential facility for adults with autism - a first of its kind in Singapore.
The St Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC) has been appointed by the Social and Family Development Ministry (MSF) to co-develop and operate this Adult Disability Home. The announcement was made by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the annual Singapore Anglican Community Services - St Andrew’s Mission Hospital charity dinner on Friday (Oct 2).
He added that this is timely, as a common concern among families of people with autism is the availability of care when the caregivers age.
SAAC and MSF are currently working to design and build the facility that will provide long term residential care for those without alternative options.
"Located at Sengkang, the Adult Disability Home will have the capacity to house 200 residents when it is completed in 2018,” said Dr Tan. “It will also have a co-located Day Activity Centre with a capacity for 50 adult clients."
http://www.samh.org.sg/about-us/news-events/2015/10/05/speech-by-president-tony-tan-keng-yam-at-the-singapore-anglican-community-services---st.-andrew's-mission-hospital-charity-dinner-on-2-october-2015-7.30pm-regent-singapore
The St Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC) has been appointed by the Social and Family Development Ministry (MSF) to co-develop and operate this Adult Disability Home. The announcement was made by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the annual Singapore Anglican Community Services - St Andrew’s Mission Hospital charity dinner on Friday (Oct 2).
He added that this is timely, as a common concern among families of people with autism is the availability of care when the caregivers age.
SAAC and MSF are currently working to design and build the facility that will provide long term residential care for those without alternative options.
http://www.samh.org.sg/about-us/news-events/2015/10/05/speech-by-president-tony-tan-keng-yam-at-the-singapore-anglican-community-services---st.-andrew's-mission-hospital-charity-dinner-on-2-october-2015-7.30pm-regent-singapore
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