Christian leaders have responded to the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by issuing statements and through Twitter.

Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy said, “All persons of good will can be grateful that the U.S. military, helped by U.S. intelligence agencies, has successfully ended Osama bin Laden’s career of terror.”

He continued, “Sadly, since 9-11, many church voices have insisted that Christianity mandates pacifism. Hopefully there will now be greater appreciation for the Church’s historic stance that God ordained the state to punish evildoers who attack the innocent.

“The Church does not rejoice to see anyone perish. It always seeks repentance and offers God’s grace, even while recognizing the state’s duty to punish. As Christians we would have preferred to see bin Laden renounce terror. But he died, as he lived, by the sword. The Church has always understood that government has a distinct responsibility to execute justice, sometimes employing lethal force,” Christian Newswire reported.

The Vatican also released a public statement which said that bin Laden must answer to God for the killing of so many and for abusing religion as an excuse to spread hate, Reuters reported.

Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman told Reuters that Christians “do not rejoice” when a man is killed, but the death of Obama is a reminder of “each person’s responsibility before God and men.”

Lombardi told Reuters, “Osama bin Laden, as everyone knows, had the grave responsibility of having spread division and hate among people, causing the deaths of an innumerable number of people and exploiting religion for these purposes.”

Lombardi also told Reuters that he hoped that bin Laden’s death “would not be an occasion for more hate, but for peace.”

Meanwhile, Muslim extremist websites have drawn up bin Laden as a martyr who fought for Allah. One post said, “We won’t cry today, but we will revenge. Men and women in America will cry,” according to CNN.

Many Christians chose to respond to the news of bin Laden’s death by sending out Bible verses through Twitter.

The third most popular bible verse that was re-tweeted was started by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, who quoted Prov. 21:15. The verse is, “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous, but terror to evildoers.”

The second most popular Bible verse re-tweeted was sent out by Rev. Run of Run DMC fame. Rev. Run tweeted Psalm 138:8 which says, “The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.”

The number one most popularly re-tweeted Bible verse is Prov. 24:17. However, it is not known who started it. The verse says, “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”

A Christian human rights group is seeking justice on behalf of an Ethiopian Christian evangelist who was beaten to death and his pregnant wife who was injured and left unconscious by a group of Muslim attackers.

International Christian Concern asked government officials in Ethiopia to arrest and prosecute the murderers of Abraham Abera. The group of men also beat and injured Abera’s pregnant wife, Birtukan, whom they left unconscious on the road, OneNewsNow said.

Birtukan, who was hospitalized, said when she regained consciousness that she knew two of the assailants, OneNewsNow said. The incident occurred in south-central Worabe, an Ethiopian village with a 97 percent Muslim-majority population, according to Worthy News.

Jonathan Racho, ICC regional manager of Africa, said it is possible that the attackers will not face prosecution. He told OneNewsNow, “Most of the local officials in the area are Muslims, and we are afraid that they may not bring any charges against the attackers.”

Racho also expressed concern about growing radicalization of Muslims in the area. “Most of the time, the moderate Muslims in Ethiopia are more violent, and they entice them to kill Christians [and] destroy churches. In Ethiopia, we have seen the recent radicalization of the Muslims,” OneNewsNow reported.

Lured from home

The incident occurred when a group of Muslims lured Abera and his wife Birtukan away from Kale Hiwot Church, which is both the ministry and home of the Christians. Abera was told that a friend of theirs was ill and needed help badly, Worthy News said.

Once Abera and Birtukan were out of range of the church, the men began to beat the male evangelist to death with rods. They told the couple that the Christian population is growing in the area, and because of this, believers will be destroyed, OneNewsNow said.

When Birtukan tried to intervene they attacked her and inflicted her with an acute head injury which rendered her unconscious on the street. She was left alone on the road, Worthy News reported.

Others found Birtukan and brought her to a hospital in Butajira, a nearby town. When she regained consciousness she recalled the details of the attack and said she could identify two of the assailants, OneNewsNow reported.

Birtukan recalled being told by the attackers, “You [Christians] are growing in number in our area. You are spreading your message [the gospel]. We will destroy you,” according to Worthy News.

Birtukan also sustained injuries to her midsection. However, she was told by hospital medics that her baby will survive, according to Worthy News.

A Christian leader (unidentified) told Worthy News, “Christians in Worabe and its surrounding areas are persecuted at the hands of Muslim radicals, and the local government officials, who are Muslims, don’t protect Christians. We urge the higher government authorities [state and federal officials] to intervene and protect us.”

Racho of the ICC told Worthy News, “The brutal killing of Evangelist Abraham and the beating of his wife, Birtukan, is deeply troubling. We urge the federal government authorities to investigate this latest attack as well as reports of persecution against Christians in the Silte zone, [where Worabe is located].”

Racho also is asking Christians around the world to contact the Ethiopian embassy within their vicinity and to urge officials to prosecute the assailants and render justice for Abera and Birtukan, according to OneNewsNow.

Some Philippine Catholic bishops issued recently their support for live media coverage of the trial of the infamous Maguindanao massacre case, which has drawn worldwide condemnation.

President Benigno S. Aquino, media organizations, academics and relatives of the victims have already issued a similar call to the Supreme Court. Some 57 civilians, including 30 media members, were shot dead by armed men in the massacre, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

The politically powerful Ampatuan clan allegedly ordered the bloodbath because the wife of their political rival, from the Mangudadatu clan, was on her way to file the candidacy of her husband in last year’s elections, accompanied by supporters and the media, GMANews.TV reported.

One year later, the wheels of justice at the Quezon City (in Metro Manila) Regional Trial Court move slowly. Charges were filed against 197 suspects led by the former Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., GMANews.TV reported.

The PDI said that although 197 are accused, “only a number, including the primary suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr., are in custody.”

The bishops who stated their support include Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles who last Friday said on the Catholic-run Radio Veritas, “What I ask is transparency … This trial must not be kept from the public and, for this [massacre] to be resolved, everything must be brought to light. If you keep it in the dark, it must mean something else,” according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of Cotabato, Mindanao said, “[Live coverage is imperative] so the public may know, so the truth will [come] out,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said the trial is taking too long. “We ask the Department of Justice to focus on the case, use extraordinary (effort) if necessary and apply the full force of the law so the case would have an early resolution,” the Manila Bulletin reported.

The Church in Mindanao organized a “Seek for Peace” bike campaign from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 where some 200 bikers will go from Cotabato City to the massacre site, ending with an interfaith prayer rally for justice, peace and unity, the Manila Bulletin said.

Setback by death

The case was seriously set back recently when senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera, one of the government lawyers for the victims, died of a heart attack. Dacera also handled the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program, which is underfunded and unpopular in some political circles, GMANews.TV reported.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, which is based in New York, said in a statement, “While there is no evidence to suggest that he died from anything other than natural causes, given the sensitivity of his position a thorough and transparent investigation should be carried out,” GMANews.TV reported.

Mass petition

A mass petition was submitted to the Supreme Court for live coverage signed by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, television network giants ABS-CBN and GMA-7, faculty from the UP College of Mass Communications, 31 journalists and relatives of the victims, the PDI said.

Jose Midas Marquez, Supreme Court spokesman said, “We value the opinion of the President, but then again there is existing jurisprudence … That’s why the petition should be sufficient in form and in substance, which would give the court the opportunity to revisit this doctrine. And in deciding this case, the opinions of the head executive and other opinions of VIPs can be considered,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

Escalating terror

Bagaforo said the Maguindanao massacre must be prioritized as terror is escalating in the province. After the Ampatuan clan was ousted, “self-styled terror groups” were spawned. Fr. Eduardo Vazquez, who witnessed the massacre, is being targeted by a hit squad, the Manila Bulletin reported.

Vazquez confirmed on Radio Veritas that he has been receiving death threats, the Manila Bulletin said.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said recently that Egypt’s recent focus on conducting reconciliation sessions between Muslims and Christians is ineffective and promotes further assaults against Christians with impunity.

The Voice of the Copts said that in recent years the Egyptian government has tried to resolve tensions between Christians and Muslims through reconciliation sessions. However, this has taken away focus from bringing perpetrators of abuse of Christians to the courts.

In its recent yearly report on religious human rights in Egypt which the USCIRF submitted to the U.S. Department of State, they said that reconciliation sessions have “prevented the prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against Copts,” according to Voice of the Copts.

The sessions have also ruled out the option of seeking restitution from the judiciary. Because they know they will not be penalized, this has added to further assaults against Christians, Voice of the Copts said.

The USCIRF has urged the U.S. to pressure the Egyptian government to take legal action against those responsible for violence and human rights violations. They also would like to take away supervision of religious affairs from the state security services, except when cases involve violence or its advocacy, Voice of the Copts reported.

For example, they cite the case of three Muslim men who were charged with the murder last January 6 of six Christians and one Muslim security guard during Coptic Christmas eve in Naga Hammadi, southern Egypt, Voice of the Copts said.

The trial of the three Muslim men began in February in a state security court but up until now, court hearings have been delayed and postponed continually and there is no clear view that there will be an ending, and that the guilty will be brought to justice, according to Voice of the Copts.

The trial is expected to resume tomorrow at the Qena governorate. The USCIRF has asked that the trial definitely push through tomorrow, voicing concern that parliamentary elections which are slated in November may shift government’s focus away from the trial, Voice of the Copts reported.

Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair said, “The government knows well that accountability could serve as a deterrent, and would demonstrate that the government is interested in addressing the issue through application of the rule of law and not just reconciliation sessions,” according to Voice of the Copts.

He added, “Justice delayed is justice denied. Is it possible for Coptic Orthodox Christians to get justice in the Egyptian court system?” Leo noted that initially they were encouraged that Egypt would bring the case to trial quickly but eight months have passed with no convictions, and no indication that an end is near, Voice of the Copts reported.

Leo said, “this only encourages further violence and is reminiscent of so many past trials where justice was never served.” Egypt has been on USCIRF’s Watch List since 2002 because of continual and serious violations of religious freedom, Voice of the Copts said.

A Catholic prelate, in a mass held at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila, called on the Philippine government to conduct an honest investigation of the violent hostage-taking incident where eight tourists from Hongkong died.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, in a concelebrated mass for the victims from Hongkong, said in his homily that Filipinos also demand justice for the victims of the August 23 hostage-taking incident, where an ex-policeman held 25 people hostage in a tourist bus and resulted in the death of eight Chinese nationals.

The hostage taker demanded that he get his job back, the Manila Bulletin said.

Pabillo said, “Not only the Chinese are calling for a just and swift investigation of this case. We, Filipinos, demand the same from our officials. Bring out the truth; let those responsible, whoever they may be, be held accountable. No whitewash! No scapegoats! Let there be new life now for our justice system,” the Manila Bulletin said.

China’s anger at the incident caused some 80,000 to rally in anger along the streets of Hongkong, and thousands of Chinese have canceled trips to the Philippines, sharply affecting the country’s tourism industry to the tune of half a million dollars, the AP said.

Last year trade between the Philippines and China reached $6.7 billion. After the U.S. and Japan, China is the country’s third largest trading partner, the AP said.

The other prelates who concelebrated the mass were Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, and other Manila priests.

Prior to the service, some Buddhist monks also prayed for the victims, the Manila Bulletin said.

Pabillo expressed hope that the Aquino government will prove to be different from its predecessor.

He said, “We want an investigation with credibility and that is the kind of change in the system that we are asking,” the Manila Bulletin said.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, “We respect the sensitivities of the Chinese. We understand we are now in a situation wherein they are demanding some measure of justice,” the AP said.

Pabillo said the tragic incident could be a means bring about new life to the government, the armed forces, police, politicians, the media, the Church and the populace, the Manila Bulletin said.

Of the police and the army Pabillo said, “Let them be true keepers of peace. They should respect life and human rights to the utmost.” Of politicians, “Let not this issue be politicized, that is, let it not be dealt with in a self-seeking or self-protecting way. Let real service and real concern be given,” the Manila Bulletin said.

Pabillo asked the media to look beyond getting an exclusive where respect for life and the protection of basic rights of others are concerned. He also asked the church to work harder for peace, forgiveness, and justice, the Manila Bulletin said.

Pabillo added, “May those who have suffered and died not been so in vain. May their sacrifice, made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, bring healing and new life to us. So in this nightmare, we continue to dream,” the Manila Bulletin said.

A number of government officials attended the mass including Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao, The Manila Bulletin said.

Jianchao, in a separate interview, thanked the government and the Church for organizing the Mass for the victims, the Manila Bulletin said.

Faithful America claims that Fox News commentator Glenn Beck preaches a false, piecemeal gospel and has sponsored a radio ad to counter some of the claims Beck has claims made by about Christianity.

The ad says “Would you support a leader who said Jesus’ teachings can lead to Nazi

Glenn Beck / yournews.com

sm? Or who attacks Christian pastors for preaching the full gospel? Then why do so many Christians tune into Glenn Beck? By deriding pastors who preach the justice taught by Jesus and the prophets, Glenn Beck has urged listeners to follow his piecemeal gospel. Scripture teaches that the tongue can be like a small fire that sets a whole forest ablaze, and Christians are cautioned not to praise God in one breath while cursing those made in God’s likeness in the next,” The Atlantic reported.

Beck has spoken out against social justice ideology that is based on faith, urging his viewers to leave churches that preach liberal social justice views.

According to Beck social justice is akin to wealth redistribution and is not in the Bible. Beck said that such ideology is founded on communism and Naziism and dramatically raised up a hammer and sickle and a swastika to further enhance his point, The Atlantic said.

By contrast, Faithful America’s Beth Dahlman cites the prophets and Jesus saying, Beck “has gone after what’s at the heart of what we believe our faith tradition says. For people in our community there is just no way to read scripture and not think about social justice. It’s our obligation as people of faith to take that seriously and to do all we can to make that good news a reality,” Time reported.

The ad launches the organization’s “Driven by Faith, Not by Fear” campaign, according to Time.

The ad will be aired on local Christian radio stations and is scheduled to coincide with Beck’s scheduled appearances in South Carolina, New Jersey, New York and Washington DC.

Faithful America is connected to Faith in the Public Life, an advocacy group that often takes positions on issues such as poverty, health care and immigration.

Hundreds of nurses in Pakistan took to the streets recently to demand justice for a Christian nursing student who was allegedly raped and thrown from the fourth floor of a Pakistan hospital by the Muslim doctor who raped her.

Some 200 nurses, both male and female from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre said they would not end their strike until the victim, 23-year-old Magdalene Ashraf, gets the justice that is due.

They suspended work for five hours in condemnation of the act, The Nation said.

Foremost among the strikers was the Pakistan Nursing Association who decried the act as “brutal” and demanded that action is taken against the accused, Dr. Abdul Jabbar Memon who allegedly tried to rape Ashraf, The Nation said.

Ashraf, a third year nursing student of the JPMC, was found unconscious with an injury to her head near the scene of the alleged rape.

Jabbar was found near her, sustaining a fractured hip bone. Initial reports confirmed that Ashraf was raped, Pakistan Criminal Records said.

Ashraf was found by the hospital’s security after witnesses alerted them saying they saw a girl wearing a nurse’s uniform being thrown from the hospital’s fourth floor by a person wearing a white coat, The Pakistan Christian Post said.

Jabbar, who is in police custody, had been suspended from tenure seven times and was known to drink during work hours. It is believed that he was drunk when he allegedly raped her, The Nation said.

Ashraf’s father, a poor Christian man named Ashraf Masih rushed to the hospital when he learned of the incident and found his daughter unconscious. He called on Christian leaders to help him, the Pakistan Christian Post said.

JPMC is a teaching hospital. Formerly the nurses were all Christian, but in 1980 the public college began to take in more Muslim nurses.  All the doctors in the hospital are Muslim, the Pakistan Christian Post said.

Christian leaders Michael Javeed and Saleem Khokihar became involved amid protests that a case had not been lodged against Jabbar.

Hundreds of rape cases by Muslim doctors of Christian nurses are not reported, especially when the rapist comes from an influential family, the Pakistan Christian Post said. Most often victims are silent in fear of their own and their families’ safety.

Due to agitation from concerned citizens, a case was lodged against Jabbar under section 324 PPC in Saddar Police Station Karachi. However the striking nurses are concerned that the hospital and the police are colluding to delay the case and are sheltering Jabbar, The Nation said.