Some doubt has been cast on the claim that ISIS militants in
northern Iraq have been beheading children. The claims were originally reported
to be from a Chaldean archbishop but were in fact made by a Chaldean-American
in the USA who acts as a spokesperson for the Chaldean church. Journalists are
now suspicious of the claim because there has been no verification from other
sources. Also, a horrific picture of a decapitated girl that is alleged to be
from Iraq was apparently taken in Syria in 2013 (she was killed by a bomb or
artillery shell). However, many other reports of atrocities as reported by the
archbishop himself, Canon Andrew White in Baghdad and others appear to be true on
the basis of available evidence.
There was an unexpected response to a pro-Gaza demonstration
in New York City. Similar demonstrations in other cities have focussed on
commemorating the Palestinian dead and calling for peace, but this
demonstration had a more violent tone; there were chants for a “free Palestine
from the river to the sea” (i.e. replacing the whole of modern Israel) and also
some chants of “Intifada” and “Allahu Akhbar.” The march also deliberately
targeted the Diamond District of New York City where there are many Jewish
businesses. The response was a spontaneous counter-demonstration with many
local business owners closing their shops to join in; their chants and songs in
support of Israel eventually drowned out those of the original demonstrators.
In the last bulletin, I reported how a legal case in Nevada
to force an abortion on a pregnant mentally handicapped mother was rejected. A
near-identical law is now to go before the Russian parliament; that if the
mother is “unable to express her will,” abortion will be legalised right up to
birth. Furthermore, if the Bill is passed, any statements made by the mother
before she was incapacitated will be ignored; the decision will be solely in
the hands of her legal representative. Pro-life groups in Russia are
petitioning their state deputies to reject the Bill.
The American missionary doctor who contracted Ebola in
Liberia has recovered sufficiently to speak about his ordeal. “When I started
feeling ill, I immediately isolated myself until the test confirmed my
diagnosis three days later,” he said. “I remember feeling a deep sense of peace that was beyond all
understanding… God was reminding me that he will give me everything I need to
be faithful to Him.” He also said, “I held the hand of countless individuals as
this terrible disease took their lives away from them. I can still remember every
face and name.”
The pastor of a mega-church in Singapore has gone on trial
accused of mis-using almost $20 million in church finances to support the pop
star career of his wife. Pastor Kong Hee is not denying the payments, but his defence
rests on two arguments; firstly, that he was out of the country for much of the
time when the donations were made, and trusted his chief auditor to notify him
of issues; and secondly, that his wife’s pop concerts were a key outreach strategy
for the church. Her concerts generally consisted of 75 minutes of secular
music, followed by her giving her testimony and then singing one Gospel song.
In sport, Mo Farah has revealed that he withdrew from the
Commonwealth Games after collapsing in his bathroom and spending four days in
hospital, less than a week before the start of the Games. He feared it was due
to heart problems but it was eventually traced to an infection in a recently
removed tooth. “I didn’t want to disappoint those who had tickets,” he said, “but
I was nowhere near ready.”
And finally, a village parish church in Wales was amazed
last month to learn that they had received a bequest from woman who left the
village 23 years ago – of ₤2.6 million. No one had any idea she was that
wealthy; it is thought that her wealth may derive from having outlived two
husbands. The money is intended for the whole diocese; half of it will be
invested in youth projects, and in training for clergy and lay ministers.
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