Christians in Pakistan are extremely vulnerable for immediate acts of revenge from Muslim extremists for the death of  leader Osama bin Laden.

This was stated in a warning issued by a former head of the Catholic Church in Pakistan recently. However, the statement added that in the long term bin Laden’s death may reap positive results for Christians in that country, The Telegraph said.

Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore said in a statement, “We are a soft target as they cannot attack America. We demand security; the government should control any retaliation,” The Telegraph reported.

Christian schools, institutions closed

Saldanha is echoing a common sentiment in Pakistan, where Christian churches and schools have been closed, and Christian communities are being placed under heavy guard, Fides News Service said.

Strong security measures have been set in place in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan and other cities, Fides News Service reported. Christians are viewed in Taliban propaganda as viable targets along with Westerners and Americans, The Telegraph said.

Bin Laden was killed by American soldiers in a raid on his safe house in Abbottabad, some 60 km from the capital city Islamabad, Fides News Service said.

Paul Bhatti, special adviser to the Pakistani government for religious minorities told Fides News Service, “The situation is tense. There are, in fact, strong reactions of fear, unreasonable, against Christian minorities. The government is paying close attention to preventive measures.”

Fr. Mario Rodrigues, who heads the Pontifical Mission Societies in Pakistan, told Fides News Service, “[Pakistani government officials] have put us on alert, calling for the closure of our institutions and placing more police personnel in front of churches. Christians in Pakistan are innocent victims, even in this situation: any excuse is good to threaten or to attack.”

Rodrigues, however, told Fides News Service that in the long term the death of bin Laden may benefit Christians. “According to some people, in the coming months the persecution against Christians could decrease and the Taliban ideological struggle weaken. We will see. We observe, however, that intolerance and radical Islamic groups are flourishing in the country, and other extremist leaders could establish themselves and continue terrorist actions.”

Rodrigues’ statement was echoed by Archbishop Saldanha who told The Telegraph, “At last we have hope that things will get better gradually. Many looked on bin Laden as a hero of the Islamic revolution. But he was a role-model of extremism and a threat to world peace. His death will change the complexion and decentralize as well as demystify extremism.”

Christians have long been victims of extreme persecution by Muslim extremists in Pakistan. Oftentimes, the notorious blasphemy law has been wielded by Muslims against Christians and other religious minorities not for religious reasons, but to settle personal scores.

Many Christians in Pakistan feel that the West does not pay sufficient heed to their plight, and yet the country continues to benefit from foreign aid, particularly from the U.K., according to The Telegraph.

Hours before Obama broke the news about bin Laden’s death, local police in Gujranwala city had to intervene after a group of Muslims tried to attack and burn a church after hearing rumors that a copy of the Qur’an had been burned, The Telegraph said.

Rodrigues told Fides News Service, “Unfortunately in recent days there have been massive attacks in Christian neighborhoods in the city of Gujranwala. We urgently need a serious policy to combat Islamic extremism by the state at all levels: in culture, education, social level but also on a political and legislative level.”

How much of an atheist was Mark Twain, aka Samuel Langhorne Clemens, really?

Atheist and agnostic websites have found a treasure trove of disparaging quotes against religion by Twain. This is the man who said, “There is one notable thing about our Christianity: bad, bloody, merciless, money-grabbing and predatory…ours is a terrible religion.” This same man mocks the Catholic church in his book, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. And in another book, The Mysterious Stranger, Twain strongly belittles conventional religion, Catholic News Service said.

But Catholic News Service also points out that he writes with reverence, some would say, gushes, about St. Joan of Arc in the biography that he wrote of the French maiden who liberated France from the British in the 15^th century. A website on St. Joan, called Maid of Heaven quotes Twain saying of his book on the saint, “Possibly the book may not sell, but that is nothing—it was written for love.”

The Catholic News Service also claims that there are many facets in Twain’s life that seem to indicate he had a religious side. For example, in his memoirs, Twain “makes frequent uncritical references in his memoirs to his Presbyterian upbringing; his funeral was in a Presbyterian church (the Brick Church in New York); and he counted several clergy among his close friends.”

His own words

Twain’s own words when he wrote about St. Joan of Arc, shows overwhelming admiration. An essay he wrote about the saint is found online at catholic-forum.com. Twain wrote, “There is no blemish in that rounded and beautiful character. She was deeply religious, and believed that she had daily speech with angels; that she saw them face to face, and that they counseled her, comforted and heartened her, and brought commands to her direct from God. She had a childlike faith in the heavenly origin of her apparitions and her Voices, and not any threat of any form of death was able to frighten it out of her loyal heart. She was a beautiful and simple and lovable character.”

The Washington Times said, “[In] the life of Joan of Arc, America’s most convinced cynic found a sunbeam of hope and encouragement amid an otherwise discouraging world.”

Anthony Pucci, English department head of the Elmira Notre Dame High School told Catholic News Service that Twain was not disengaged with the core teachings of Christianity. He did, however, take issue with the hypocrisy of those who didn’t walk their talk. He was most angry about people who used religion to justify oppression of the poor, violence and other social ills.

Catholic News Service said that Twain once wrote, “If Christ were here, there is one thing he would not be—a Christian.” In his novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Pucci noted that Huck rejects religion. Pucci says, “They [Christian families in the novel] come out of church but don’t act very Christian. That’s the basis of Huck’s repudiation of religion—you’re not a better Christian because of your religion.”

While Pucci admits that Twain didn’t believe that heaven and hell were real, and rejected the notion that the soul is immortal and that Jesus Christ is divine, Pucci told Catholic News Service that the Christian message is illustrated in other aspects, such as the way Huckleberry Finn protects a slave, even if, in Huck’s thinking, “he might be damned to hell.”

More critical of religion

Twain scholar Michael Kiskis told Catholic News Service that the pending volumes II and III of the Autobiography of Mark Twain will have even more critical remarks about religion. Kiskis observed, “The notion of compassion is one [Twain] wants to believe in, and the problem he has is sometimes the works of God are not entirely compassionate, not upfront—why do bad things happen to good people?”

The New York Times said of Twain, “The author was a cheerful promoter of himself.” When he retired, he liked to dress up all in white on Sundays and walk past Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches as people were leaving the church, so that heads would turn to look at him, and he could hear the crowd whisper his name.

Kiskis told Catholic News Service said that Twain probably kept his harshest remarks about religion secret so that it wouldn’t affect his sales. His autobiography was released last fall, exactly 100 years after his death. This was done at Twain’s personal request, and Kiskis says, the harsh, anti-religious remarks in Vol. I and the forthcoming Vols. II and III may be the reason why Twain didn’t want the books to be released in his lifetime.

They don’t want to be considered as a religion, and they successfully helped render the National Day of Prayer unlawful. But if you are going to hold an inaugural prayer service, you had better invite the atheists, or they will be mad.

The Secular Coalition for America in Washington DC is outraged because they were not invited to attend Mayor-Elect Vincent Gray’s January inaugural prayer service, The Christian Post said.

The SCA asked D.C. residents to flood Gray’s office with emails saying that discrimination is unacceptable, after they were not included in Gray’s ecumenical service entitled One City…Praying Together slated for 8 a.m. on Jan. 2, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Politics Daily reported.

Politics Daily reported that atheist activists and other groups have posted comments threatening political revenge against Gray. Secular groups are also getting together to determine if they should protest the event, according to God Discussion.

The secular groups in D.C., God Discussion said, include Washington Ethical Society, Washington Area Secular Humanists, Capital Beltway Atheists, DC Atheists, the DC Center of Inquiry and the secular Jewish Machar group.

Amanda Knief, SCA Government Relations Manager said Gray’s team told them it was too late for their inclusion in the interfaith program. In a statement Knief said, “We find it overtly discriminatory when we request to be part of an ecumenical prayer service that is supposed to unite the entire city and are told there is no place for nontheists,” The Christian Post reported.

Gray was upset that no humanist celebrant was invited to participate in the interfaith program, even if they don’t believe in God. She explained that they have humanist celebrants (she is one) who are trained to preside over weddings and funerals, among others, The Christian Post said.

The humanist celebrant, according to the SCA, is “the nonreligious equivalent of a clergyperson,” Politics Daily reported, who can “offer words of encouragement and inspiration without involving a deity.”

God Discussion said that a number of secular groups have programs to train secular and humanist celebrants, such as the American Ethical Union, the Society for Humanistic Judaism and The Humanist Society.

Gray, a Roman Catholic, based his campaign on the twin themes of inclusion and unity. He promised to bring back the Office of Religious Affairs and to form a city prayer breakfast, The Christian Post said.

Humanist groups have long protested public prayer, including the National Day of Prayer this year, which the Freedom From Religion Foundation launched a lawsuit against, leading Federal District Judge Barbara Crabb to rule that it is unlawful. President Obama said he would appeal the decision, The Christian Post reported.

Knief told the God Discussion that it is regretful that a humanist celebrant was not included in the Jan. 2 prayer service saying, “Secular Americans have much to offer their communities if allowed to participate.”

A recently released Pentagon study indicates resistance by some people to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell because they fear it may curtail their freedom of speech and religion.

The report also noted that some feared that a repeal of the policy may mean they would have to change what their personal ideas and their religious beliefs, according to CNN.

The report said, “Some feared repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell might limit their individual freedom of expression and free exercise of religion, or require them to change their personal beliefs about the morality of homosexuality,” CNN reported.

While noting that these concerns cannot be downplayed, the report also specified that “Service members will not be required to change their personal views and religious beliefs; they must, however, continue to respect and serve with others who hold different views and beliefs,” according to CNN.

Of the military chaplain service the report said, “Chaplains, in the context of their religious ministry, are not required to take actions inconsistent with their religious beliefs, but must still care for all service members,” CNN reported.

Some have criticized the report, especially former marine Tony Perkins who heads the Christian conservative Family Research Council. Perkins suggested that Congress hold hearings to closely examine the report before taking action on it, warning against a “radical social agenda,” CNN said.

While chaplains opposed the change primarily based on theological grounds, only three of 145 said they would leave or retire from the armed forces if the law is repealed. Many chaplains’ denominations oppose the homosexual lifestyle, CNN reported.

The report said some churches that send chaplains to the military intimated that “a change in policies resulting in chaplains’ free exercise of religion or free speech rights being curtailed would lead them to withdraw their endorsement,” according to CNN.

The report also cites other chaplains however who felt that while they believe homosexuality is sinful, they also felt “we are all sinners,” and that their duty is to care for all service members, CNN said.

Pew Survey

The report follows a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life which indicated that most American Christians are amenable to openly gay and lesbian military personnel—except for white evangelicals, the AP reported.

Overall, most Americans, at 58 percent of 1,255 surveyed respondents, favored permitting openly gay men and lesbians to serve in the military while 27 percent were opposed, Christianity Today said.

Among those in favor were Catholics and white mainline Protestants at a three-to-one ratio. Black Protestants agreed at a smaller majority. However, 48 percent of white evangelicals opposed lifting the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law, compared to 34 percent who approve. Over half of conservative Republicans also oppose lifting the law, the AP said.

Four Algerian citizens who were formerly Muslim were arrested recently because they converted to Christianity and opened a church without permission.

The defendants, who range in age from 35 to 45 years old, are charged for opening a Christian Protestant church in the town Larbaa Nath Irathen, located 90 miles east of Algiers, the capital city, without permission, Morocco Board News Service said.

One of the defendants is also accused of illegally housing a French pastor who visited the country and who addressed believers from the Christian community, News 24 said.

Prosecutors asked that the Christians be jailed for one year each, according to the AFP. The trial, which was originally set for Oct. 10, was postponed because the court said that witnesses were needed to produce evidence, News 24 said.

Attorney Mohamed BenBelkacem told the AFP that the verdict should be handed down on December 12. He added, “The trial was conducted in good conditions. The prosecutor asked for one year in prison for each of the accused, which is the minimum sentence provided by the law.”

A 2006 law in Algeria states that Muslims and non-Muslims are only allowed to practice their faith if they have the permission of authorities to worship in an agreed-upon place of worship and if they are amenable to the preacher, AFP said.

Clampdown on Christians

However, News 24 cited a seeming clampdown on minorities, largely Christian converts, over the past few months. Several trials have been conducted in this country where Islam is the state religion.

Recently two Christians and eight Muslims were alleged to have broken the daily fast during Ramadan last August. The Christians were acquitted last October, while the Muslims were acquitted just this month, according to the AFP.

In October a youth was handed a two-year prison sentence and a fine, initially for failure to fast during Ramadan. Later, the prosecutor changed the offense, saying the youth was sentenced because he broke a window pane at the police station, News 24 said.

Last month Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahiah, in an address to parliament, said that Algeria would “always guarantee” freedom of religion, the AFP said. The religious affairs ministry claims there are 11,000 Christians in the country, but the Protestant Church says there are 30,000 Christians among the Protestants alone, the Morocco Board News Service said.

Two years after a wave of violent attacks by Hindu extremists against Christians in Orissa, India, which left 120 dead and 50,000 displaced, survivors and their relatives are still experiencing persecution.

The violence occurred on Aug. 23, 2008 after a Hindu leader was killed. Maoists claimed responsibility, but Hindu extremists expressed their rage at Christians. Some 252 churches, 13 educational institutions and 4,640 homes of Christians were destroyed.

(For background, go to http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/08/orissa-one-year-later-fear-persecution-remain-high-10073).

Court cases are still ongoing. One victim, an Indian nun, identified in court recently five attackers who raped her, including the one who stood on her hand while the crime was done, Catholic News Service reported.

Some 19 people were arrested for attacking the nun and forcing her to walk down the streets half naked, according to Catholic News Service.

Worthy News reported that survivors and their relatives in Orissa state are still being pressured to convert to Hinduism. A preliminary report of a fact-finding team said, “Despite the state administration’s claim of normalcy, a state of lawlessness and utter fear and sense of insecurity” prevails.

The fact-finding team visited four villages in Kandhamal district earlier this month. Worthy News reported that a pastor in Tikabali said he was forced to convert to Hinduism so his aged mother, who cannot walk, would not be attacked.

In Bodimunda village Hindu extremists also do not allow any Christians or their belongings to be transported by vehicle, and Christians may not avail of basic needs, Worthy News said.

Christians may not bring in medicines or provisions, cannot purchase from local shops, and have no stores of their own, according to Worthy News. A number of Christians were forced to display pictures of Hindu gods for protection from attacks.

A 2001 census said that out of 648,201 people who live in Kandhamal district, 117,950 are Christians. Most of them are from the Dalit class, formerly known as the “untouchables,” Worthy News reported.

According to Worthy News, Christians said that local administrators are suspected to be collaborating with the Hindu extremists, and they receive no government protection.

The fact-finding team includes attorney Nicholas Barla and human rights activists Jugal Kishore Ranjit and Ajay Kumar Singh, according to Worthy News.

African-American churches in the United States possess an enormous potential to have a huge impact on global evangelism, a Christian minister said recently.

Richard Coleman, a director for The Mission Society said that African-American churches have a potential to spread the gospel that has long been underutilized, Religion News reported.

“When you look at black history, there’s a lot of suffering,” Coleman told Religion News Service. “People around the world have heard that story and have seen the overcoming of struggles. Black churches have a message of encouragement for the world.”

Coleman said another strength of African-American churches is their gospel choirs. He told Religion News Service, “If you look at Poland, Japan, Sweden, black gospel music is very popular and a great tool to share the gospel.”

However, this vast potential remains untapped. A 2007 African American Missions Mobilization Manifesto that was issued by Columbia International University noted that less than one percent of the total 118,600 U.S. missionaries are black, the Christian Post reported.

Coleman told the Christian Post that his own experience reflected the statistics. As a student at Oral Roberts University he first joined missions when he was 19. He noticed that every summer the school would send some 200 to 300 students on missions, only a handful of whom were black, the Christian Post said.

Different concerns

Coleman said that black churches have a different set of concerns, and are living under unique circumstances. For example, church members are burdened with utility bills, food and other needs that most churches do not have to worry about as much. For this reason, church members focus more on helping each other out, Religious News Service said.

Coleman told the Christian Post, “Just think of the number of hurting people at a black church who have lost their jobs or can’t get a job and they usually turn to the church for help, and the church is paying light bills and that kind of stuff. You kind of reason ‘why would I give money to these people overseas who I don’t know when people among me are hurting.’”

Another reason Coleman cites is a lack of understanding of missions. He told Religion News Service, “When some blacks think of missionaries, they think of the older ladies who wear white dresses and visit the sick.”

A third reason Colman mentions is that African-American churches often place extra emphasis on personal wealth and tend to impart a fear of the unknown and a hesitation to leave one’s comfort zone, Religion News Service reported.

Coleman said African-American churches can get more involved in missionary work if they partner with other churches with ongoing mission programs that have a track record of success, Religion News Service said.

They can also spend more time praying about going into missionary work. “Spend time and ask God: ‘In what communities and groups would you have us be involved?’” he told Religion News Service.

Coleman has been with The Mission Society since 2006. The Society has a wide range of programs that include well-drilling, the arts, teaching English and church planting, among others, Religion News Service said.

Before joining the Society, Coleman went on short-term mission trips to many countries including Kenya, Canada, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, Religion News Service said.

The Mission Aviation Fellowship was awarded recently a $1.7 m challenge grant to fund the purchase of a KODIAK, an innovative aircraft that is designed to meet the unique needs of bush flying by missionaries to remote areas.

The grant donor, a longtime MAF supporter, will give the donation on the provision that another grant of equal amount is placed by a new donor before the end of this year, Religion News Service said.

In a separate development, MAF also received a grant of $750,000 to help complete prior funding for the addition of a sixth KODIAK to their existing fleet. By 2012 they hope to purchase seven more KODIAKS, Religion News Service reported.

President and CEO John Boyd said, “MAF is blessed to receive such generous financial support. We trust that others will be moved to contribute so that MAF can realize the full potential of these two valuable grants. The challenge grant essentially will provide two additional KODIAKs, if the challenge is met,” Religion News Service reported.

MAF is a Christian, nonprofit ministry that seeks to share Jesus Christ to people in isolated regions around the world through aviation and technology, according to their website. Boyd said the KODIAK was invaluable in their quick response to areas that were difficult to reach during the earthquake disaster in Haiti, according to Religion News Service.

KODIAK planes are cost effective and easier to operate. They carry a larger payload and operate on jet fuel that is more cost efficient and more easily available. They are invaluable in transporting aid to far-flung areas that are most in need, Religion News Service said.

Last year MAF initiated a move to replace their outdated Cessna 206s with the Quest Aircraft Co.-designed KODIAKs to facilitate their services to some 1,000 Christian humanitarian organizations in 41 countries, Religion News Service reported.

They have operated in countries throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eurasia, helping to nurture churches, lend medical assistance, community development, disaster response, evangelism, indigenous training and development, according to their website.

Founded in 1945, MAF has also conducted thousands of emergency medical evacuations and provided satellite internet access, telecommunications services, electronic mail, high-frequency radios and other types of wireless systems, Religion News Service said.

Finally, a government leader is officially speaking up on behalf of persecuted Christians around the world, and is asking the international community to come together and lend their unified support.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told the AFP recently that Italy will set forth a resolution at the next United Nations general assembly, which will call for the protection of the rights of religious minorities, and particularly, he mentioned the plight of Christians.

Frattini also denounced recently the rash of attacks on Christians that have occurred in Kashmir and Punjab, where rioters burned down a Christian church and a Christian school, AllVoices said.

Jonathan Racho, regional manager for Africa and South Asia, International Christian Concern, said the rioters attacked Christian buildings because of news reports that a Quran was burned in East Lansing, Michigan, AllVoices reported.

Frattini, in a statement, asked the international community to defend religious freedom as a fundamental right in all contexts. Of the incidents in India, he said it is “News that stirs feelings of profound indignation and the utmost censure,” according to AllVoices.

ICC president Jeff King lauded the Jeff KingItalian government’s stand and said that more leaders should follow the foreign minister’s example, noting that most political leaders and media have focused on protecting Muslims’ perceived injustices and have neglected to decry human rights violations against Christians, AllVoices said.

King said, “We believe that people should be free to burn the Bible or the Quran without fear of attack that is their misguided wish. We are shocked that the heart of the cultural debate is not focused on those who resort to violence when offended, especially when the victims have nothing to do with the original offense. More leaders need to follow Italy’s foreign minister’s example,” AllVoices reported.

Pastor decapitated, wife assaulted

In a separate development, Pastor Pangi Papa Rao was decapitated in front of his wife Chittamma, who was also severely beaten by her husband’s murderers in Valam Guve Village in India, BosNewsLife said.

The Christian couple had just left a prayer meeting when the masked communists stopped and questioned them in the afternoon of September 14. In a statement, the Maoist communists claimed responsibility for the crime and said the pastor was a government informant, ASSIST News Service reported.

The statement also warned that others would receive the same kind of punishment. ICC sources who knew Rao described him as a “dedicated Christian” and said he “never worked as an informant of the government,” according to ASSIST News Service.

Communist rebels have been fighting the Indian government for many years. They are strongly supported by tribal groups and landless farmers, ASSIST News Service said.

A Christian artist based in Colorado designed and created the Mother Teresa postage stamp that the U.S. Postal Service will release on Aug. 26, the day that would have been Mother Teresa’s 100^th birthday.

Thomas Blackshear II, designer of the 44-cent stamp, has created artwork for 30 U.S. postal service stamps including  boxer Joe Louise and civil rights activist Rosa Parks, The Catholic Review said.

For him Christian art is a ministry. Blackshear  says, “There have been many times that I’ve heard that a painting that I’ve done has influenced or affected people in ways that are not the norm,” The Catholic Review said.

He started doing Christian themes in the 1980s for DaySpring greeting cards. His first job was called “Forgiven,” and is one of his best known paintings, The Catholic Review said.

Credit: U.S. Postal Service

It shows Jesus Christ embracing a modern man. The man is holding a spike in one hand and a hammer in the other, indicating that though one’s sins nailed Jesus to the cross, God’s mercy never ends, The Catholic Review said.

Other Christian paintings are “Watchers in the Night,” showing an angel guarding a sleeping boy, and “Coat of Many Colors, Lord of All,” showing Christ in a robe made of flags and cloths from around the world, The Catholic Review said.

Blackshear’s design of the Missionaries of Charity founder will be honored on Aug. 26 at an Ecumenical Prayer Service at Queen of Heaven church in Ohio. The U.S. stamp will be unveiled and displayed, The Suburbanite said.

Of Mother Teresa he says “Her humility and compassion, as well as her respect for the innate worth and dignity of humankind, inspired people of all ages and backgrounds to work on behalf of the world’s poorest populations,” The Catholic Review said.

In making the stamp Blackshear said, “Because it’s going to be reduced so much, you have to design it in such a way that it’s instantly recognizable. It has to have that graphic quality,” The Catholic Review said.

After a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago, and later, the Academy of Art, Blackshear’s first job was for Hallmark designing greeting cards, The Catholic Review said.

His commercial art includes the sculpture series “Ebony Visions,” of African American sculptures. Lenox Co. uses much of his work for plates and collections. Now he is working on a series of paintings called “Wings” which focuses on angels. The concept came to him after a 40-day fast, The Catholic Review said.

Protests have arisen from secularists and atheists because Mother Teresa is a religious figure who should not be on a stamp. Blackshear says, “There is nobody in the 20th century that comes close to the kind of life that woman led, and all the people that she helped,” The Catholic Review said.

Mother Teresa, born in Macedonia (formerly Yugoslavia), worked in India since 1948, wearing a sari and sandals and teaching children hygiene (she completed a nursing course), The Suburbanite said.

Her Missionaries of Charity gained international recognition and some awards she received were the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, the 1985 Presidential Medal of Freedom, honorary U.S. citizenship in 1996, and beatification by Pope John Paul II in 2003, The Suburbanite said.