Congress will launch an investigation, to determine whether a recently-discovered hidden application in some models of Apple iPhones, iPads and Androids that track a user’s movements and private information over the past year, is a violation of Americans’ privacy.

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Privacy, Technology and the Law scheduled a hearing on May 10 called Protecting Mobile Privacy: Your Smartphones, Tablets, Cell Phones and Your Privacy, according to Bank Info Security.

The application was discovered by researchers Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden, who identified the unencrypted file as “consolidated.db.” It records where the owner had been, on what date and at what time, along with other vital personal information, without the knowledge of the owner of the device, GMA News said.

In a blog post, Allen and Warden noted, “What makes this issue worse is that the file is unencrypted and unprotected, and it’s on any machine you’ve synced with your iOS device. It can also be easily accessed on the device itself if it falls into the wrong hands. Anybody with access to this file knows where you’ve been over the last year, since iOS 4 was released,” GMA News reported.

Allan and Warden told the Telegraph, “At first we weren’t sure how much data was there, but after we dug further and visualized the extracted data, it became clear that there was a scary amount of detail on our movements.”  Warden formerly worked at Apple for five years in an unrelated department, and left on good terms, GMA News said.

The two men put up a website to detail these findings. It also enables people with these products to test the tracking system and to visualize it on a web-based mapping system on the website, the Telegraph said.

It is not uncommon for network operators to store records of the movements of users, which can be legally accessed by intelligence agencies and the police, the Telegraph said. However, this information is usually kept behind a firewall and a court order is needed to access the information, GMA News said.

In this case however the data is not password or encryption protected. This makes the information of the user accessible by anybody who gains possession of either the user’s phone and to any computer that it is linked to, the Telegraph reported.

Franken inquired about Apple’s iOS 4 and its function in secretly tracking down the location and information of a user on iPhones and 3G iPads, and any computer that is synchronized with the device, Bank Info Security reported.

In a statement, Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash) said, “I’m deeply disturbed by this report. I have been concerned that current law fails to ensure consumers are protected from privacy violations. Consumers are often left to learn of these breaches of privacy from hackers and security experts because companies fail to disclose what data they are collecting and for what purpose,” Fierce Mobile Content reported.

Franken, in his letter to Jobs wrote, “There are numerous ways in which this information could be abused by criminals and bad actors. Furthermore, there is no indication that this file is any different for underage iPhone or iPad users, meaning that the millions of children and teenagers who use iPhone or iPad devices also risk having their location collected and compromised.”

Dr. Ian Brown, senior research fellow of Oxford Internet Institute told The Telegraph, “I certainly think it’s something they should have brought much more to the attention of the user, and that it should only be switched on after an explicit user decision.”

Daniel Hamilton, director of Big Brother Watch told the Telegraph, “iPhone users will rightly be concerned that their movements are being covertly monitored in this way. Apple has a duty to immediately provide their customers with details about how to disable this invasive software.”

Apple has sold some 15 million iPads and over 100 million iPhones. Its iOS apps can be synchronized with any Windows or Mac computer that runs its iTunes software, GMA News reported.

Concern has been raised over the whereabouts of three Christians in Iran who were arrested and detained after government forces raided a house church last March 17, especially amid news of secret prison executions.

During the March 17 raid, 10 Christians were arrested in a house church in Kermanshah city, some 375 miles from the capital city, Tehran, according to Worthy News.

The arrests were conducted with “extremely excessive force,” Worthy News reported, and Iran’s Intelligence Ministry agents seized bibles, DVDs, Christian art, identity documents and a computer case.

Seven of those arrested were released the following day after they were coerced into signing a document stating that they would never worship in a house church again, Worthy News said.

The three remaining in detention are Meghdad Babakarami, and the married couple Nahid Shirazi and Masoud Delijani. The families of the three have not been given any information as to their whereabouts nor their state of health, Worthy News reported.

Family members tried to get information from judicial authorities, but were simply told that the authorities had no knowledge “regarding these individuals,” according to Worthy News.

Secret executions

Concerns are particularly worrisome after it was learned recently that five people were secretly executed in Iran prisons, BosNewsLife reported.

Those who were secretly executed are Varoujan Petrosian, an Armenian Iranian Christian, and his Jewish Iranian wife Adiva Mirza Soleiman Kalimi. The couple was killed in the country’s infamous Evin Prison, BosNewsLife said.

Three others—a woman and two men—were also killed, but their identities have not been revealed. All executions were confirmed by Iran’s Revolutionary Court branch in Evin prison, according to BosNewsLife.

It is believed that they were killed between March 13 and March 14. Iranian officials did not say what charges they were executed for, nor did they give further details, BosNewsLife said.

The families of the deceased asked for the bodies of their relatives so they could bury them. However, the bodies were not returned, and the family members were threatened with arrest by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence agents, according to BosNewsLife.

Christians believe Iran has stepped up pressure on house churches to curb the spread of Christianity among Muslims, Worthy News said.

Other Christians

Concern was also raised about Wilson Issavi, an elderly pastor in Kermanshah who was arrested in February last year but was released on bail 54 days later. His church, the Assyrian Pentecostal Church was closed down on charges of proselytizing, and he is awaiting a summons from the Revolutionary Court, Worthy News reported.

International concern was also raised about five Christians who have been charged with blasphemy, which carries the death penalty, Worthy News said.

The five Christians, Pastor Behrouz Sadegh-Khandjani, Mohammad Beliad, Mehdi Furutan, Nazly Beliad and Parviz Khalaj are from the evangelical Church of Iran, Worthy News reported.

They had already served one year in jail for “crimes against the Islamic Order.” Next month they will be tried for blasphemy, according to Worthy News.

A new panel was formed by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability to lead an independent, nationwide effort to study ways by which policies can be set in place for churches to have more accountability of its finances.

The panel was formed at the request of US Senate Finance Committee member Charles Grassley of Iowa, after he had completed his report on six media-based Christian ministries, the ECFA website said.

The report is a product of three years’ work and listed areas of concern that they wanted ECFA to address. ECFA is a 1,487 national accreditation organization for churches and other religious groups, according to Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Grassley’s report investigated, among others, Rev. Creflo Dollar and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International/Creflo Dollar Ministries, and Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, AJC said.

In a statement, Long said he was “relieved that after more than three years of intense investigation and countless untrue allegations that Sen. Charles Grassley’s review has found no evidence of wrongdoing,” AJC reported.

Only two ministries, AJC said, namely those of Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church and Joyce Meyer Ministries, answered all questions and were shown to have made significant internal reforms.

Three of the six ministries that were investigated gave partial information, AJC said, namely Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church/Eddie L. Long Ministries, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, and Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church.

The “least cooperative,” AJC said, was World Changers which did not provide the names of its board members nor information regarding compensation. Information came from public sources, watchdog groups, current and former members, and former officers in the church, among others.

The Grassley report mentions travelling by private jets, luxury homes, Rolls Royces and other luxury cars, and expensive gifts, among others, AJC said.

The new panel, called the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations will study tax and policy issues with regard to religious organizations, ECFA website said.

The website said that among the issues they will study are,

1) Whether churches should file form 990 which would contain the same, highly-detailed annual information return that is required of other nonprofit organizations.

2) Whether legislation is called for to curb clergy abuses of housing allowance.

3) Whether a repeal or amendment is needed on existing legislation that disallows churches and other nonprofits to engage in a political campaign intervention.

4) Whether legislation would be called for on tax rules for “love offerings.”

The commission will be headed by Michael Batts, who owns Batts Morrison Wales & Lee, PA, an accounting firm exclusively servicing nonprofit organizations. Batts told AJC that he hopes solutions can be reached without involving “burdensome legislation.”

Batts told AJC, “I would not say categorically that legislation would be bad, but certainly harsh, adverse or burdensome legislation would not be welcome.” He said he hopes the problems can be addressed through self-regulation and improved enforcement of rules for churches and nonprofits.

A newly released report says that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world, and violence against Christians continues to rise.

The 2010 report on religious freedom by Aid to the Church in Need said that religious freedom has declined globally and faces greater threat today than two years before—especially for Christians, according to Rome Reports.

The ACN, a Catholic organization, publishes a religious freedom report every two years. Its 2010 report said seven out of ten people, or some 200 million, are affected, Rome Reports said.

Social, political persecution

The ACN report includes information from 195 dossiers covering 194 countries, 21 of which have hardly any freedom of religion at all. Two kinds of religious persecution were noted: First, social persecution by members of other religions, and second, persecution by political policy, Rome Reports said.

Peter Sefton Williams, CAN chairman said social persecution is acute in some Muslim majority countries, mentioning “Places like Saudi Arabia where it’s impossible for any Christian or any non-Muslim group to organize and to have open public prayer. We think of places like Somalia, or we think of Sudan,” according to Rome Reports.

Williams said political discrimination and oppression of Christianity and other minority faiths prevails in China, North Korea, Vietnam and Cuba, all communist countries, to name a few, according to Rome Reports.

Asia

The report cited a 2009 rise in both ethnic and religious violence in India. There is greater discrimination however in Pakistan, where the blasphemy law is used by Muslim fundamentalists against Christians and other minorities AsiaNews said.

Under the blasphemy law it is illegal to speak against the Quran or Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. Most of those charged with blasphemy are poor and cannot pay for their defense. Penalty can range from imprisonment to death, according to Rome Reports.

So far Pakistan’s government has not executed anyone for blasphemy, although radicals have killed defendants extra-legally. But the case of Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi, who was recently sentenced to death, may set dangerous precedence, AsiaNews said.

In Afghanistan, the government cannot effectively promote freedom of religion. In Bangladesh Islam is the state religion and minority attacks have been plentifully recorded with no action taken by local security, according to AsiaNews.

The report said that in officially atheist China, “religious freedom is denied in all its facets,” and information is limited and hard to get. Of record is the arrest and detention in a concentration camp of Mgr. Julius Jia Zhiguo, an underground bishop from Hebei, for 15 months, AsiaNews reported.

Middle East

In Iraq, escalating ethnic cleansing of Christians and their systematic persecution was noted. Other countries mentioned were Lebanon, and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, AsiaNews said.

Africa

Northern Africa was noted for both political and social persecution, particularly in Somalia citing this “both in the legislation of the majority of them and in the widespread mentality among the majority of the population,” The Way reported.

In Somalia Islam is the main religion and minority faiths undergo persecution and social marginalization. Another country mentioned for persecution of Christians and faith minorities is Egypt, despite its being a tourist destination, AsiaNews said.

Europe, the U.S.

The report also cited a decline in religious freedom in the U.S. and Europe due to secularism, especially in Spain where religious symbols are not allowed in public places, Rome Reports said.

According to Rome Reports, in France Islamic communities are discriminated against. In Germany, Catholics are discriminated against because of family issues including their prolife stance.

Question: “What does the Bible say about ghosts / hauntings?”

Answer:Is there such a thing as ghosts? The answer to this question depends on what precisely is meant by the term ghosts. If the term means spirit beings, the answer is a qualified yes. If the term means spirits of people who have died, the answer is no. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are spirit beings, both good and evil. But the Bible negates the idea that the spirits of deceased human beings can remain on earth and haunt the living.

Hebrews 9:27 declares, Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. That is what happens to a persons soul-spirit after deathjudgment. The result of this judgment is heaven for the believer (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23) and hell for the unbeliever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:22-24). There is no in-between. There is no possibility of remaining on earth in spirit form as a ghost. If there are such things as ghosts, according to the Bible, they absolutely cannot be the disembodied spirits of deceased human beings.

The Bible teaches very clearly that there are indeed spirit beings who can connect with and appear in our physical world. The Bible identifies these beings as angels and demons. Angels are spirit beings who are faithful in serving God. Angels are righteous, good, and holy. Demons are fallen angels, angels who rebelled against God. Demons are evil, deceptive, and destructive. According to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, demons masquerade as angels of light and as servants of righteousness. Appearing as a ghost and impersonating a deceased human being definitely seem to be within the power and abilities that demons possess.

The closest biblical example of a haunting is found in Mark 5:1-20. A legion of demons possessed a man and used the man to haunt a graveyard. There were no ghosts involved. It was a case of a normal person being controlled by demons to terrorize the people of that area. Demons only seek to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). They will do anything within their power to deceive people, to lead people away from God. This is very likely the explanation of ghostly activity today. Whether it is called a ghost, a ghoul, or a poltergeist, if there is genuine evil spiritual activity occurring, it is the work of demons.

What about instances in which ghosts act in positive ways? What about psychics who claim to summon the deceased and gain true and useful information from them? Again, it is crucial to remember that the goal of demons is to deceive. If the result is that people trust in a psychic instead of God, a demon will be more than willing to reveal true information. Even good and true information, if from a source with evil motives, can be used to mislead, corrupt, and destroy.

Interest in the paranormal is becoming increasingly common. There are individuals and businesses that claim to be ghost-hunters, who for a price will rid your home of ghosts. Psychics, sances, tarot cards, and mediums are increasingly considered normal. Human beings are innately aware of the spiritual world. Sadly, instead of seeking the truth about the spirit world by communing with God and studying His Word, many people allow themselves to be led astray by the spirit world. The demons surely laugh at the spiritual mass-deception that exists in the world today.

Recommended Resource:
The Truth Behind Ghosts, Mediums, and Psychic Phenomena by Ron Rhodes.

The Oklahoma Senate overrode recently a veto by Governor Brad Henry and set into law restrictions on abortion, setting off a string of protests by pro-abortion clinics and advocates.
According to the Christian Telegraph, pro-life bills HB2780 and HB2656 were passed by the Oklahoma senate.
HB 2780 states that one hour before their abortion, all women must undergo an ultrasound so that the sonographer can give a detailed explanation of the results.
Earlier, Governor Henry vetoed the bill calling it a violation of privacy which could cause physical and mental trauma to the patient, the Christian Telegraph said.
Linda Meek, manager of Reproductive Services, an abortion clinic, said patients have shed tears in the ultrasound room but still went through with an abortion, the Associated Press said.
Pro-life advocates say the law gives women access to all information about their choice.
Rep. Lisa Billy, who sponsored the bill, said women should have the choice to see the image and added that complete information will empower them, the Christian Telegraph said.
The same report said that recently, studies by Live Action discovered that oftentimes some abortion clinics give women incomplete or wrong information about the stages of development of the unborn fetus.
Others who support the bill say it is one way to protect the life of the unborn child and to prevent psychological trauma to pregnant women.
The second bill, HB2656, prohibits “wrongful life” lawsuits.
These are suits which women file against their doctors if they give birth to children with abnormalities. The basis of such claims is that the doctor did not inform them in advance, which would have allowed them to abort their child, according to MercuryNews.com.
The Christian Telegraph said other pro-life bills recently passed in Oklahoma and signed by Governor Henry are:
• SB1891 or the Freedom of Conscience Act for health care workers who do not want to perform or participate in abortions.
• SB1902 which says only doctors can give patients the abortion drug RU-486.
• HB3075, which protects women from forced abortions.
• SB1890 which bans abortions based on the baby’s sex.

Charisa Coulter, left, and Laura Silsby are two of 10 missionaries accused of trying to take children after the Haiti earthquake. Photo Source: Getty Images

On Monday, the Haitian judge involved in the case of the 10 American Baptist missionaries who attempted to transport orphaned children out of the country declared that all charges still stand, according to several international news reports.

Although rumors had been circulating that the volunteers would soon be exonerated, Judge Bernard Saint-Vil denied ever suggesting he would drop charges against the group.

Last Friday, Haiti’s top prosecutor in the case, Attorney General Joseph Manes, said that any information suggesting dropped charges was “absolutely incorrect,” according to a report from CNN.

Under Haitian law, the charges are required to stand until Judge Saint-Vil “renders his decision.”

Missionary group leader Laura Silsby is still being held in Port-au-Prince, nearly two months after eight of her fellow volunteers were released on the condition that they would return if there was a need for future questioning.

The ninth missionary was released in March.

Interestingly, Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho said via a spokesperson last week that the State Department had informed him that all charges had been dropped against nine of the 10 missionaries (excluding Silsby). Saint-Vil’s statement to the media, however, suggested the opposite.

Reverend Clint Henry of Central Valley Baptist Church in Idaho, where the missionaries hail from, said he received an e-mail from the State Department informing him that all the charges had indeed been dropped.

Manes, however, said on Friday that, based on the confidential documents his office received from Saint-Vil’s investigation, it remains to be seen whether the case will be dismissed or move to trial.

Right now, Saint-Vil has until May to decide if he will release Silsby or arrange a trial.