Child traffickers in Ghana to be resettled
THE diocese of Accra, in Ghana, is to open a community shelter for trafficked child refugees next year, the Bishop of Accra, Dr Daniel Mensah, announced last week. Hope Community Centre, funded by the diocese in partnership with the United States embassy to Ghana, is to resettle and educate the children as part of a five-year anti-trafficking programme. The Anglican Communion News Service reported that 35 priests had taken part in training workshops across the country. The US ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson, urged the Ghanaian government to remain vigilant, and “fully implement” the new national plan of action against trafficking.
Pope condemns persecution of Christian in Nigeria and CAR
POPE FRANCIS has condemned recent violence against Christians in Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR), and called for an end to “every form of hatred and violence” — particularly those targeting places of worship, Vatican Radio reported this week. At least 13 people were killed and 26 others injured when gunmen opened fire on Roman Catholic worshippers attending Sunday mass at St Philip’s, Ozubulu, in southern Nigeria. Speaking at his General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope said that he was “deeply saddened” by the attack, and the news of violent homicides against the Christian community in the CAR.
Church of South India urged to embrace a greener future
DELEGATES from each of the 24 dioceses of the Church of Southern India have issued a declaration calling on their Church to embed environmental sustainability in its life and ministry. Having participated in a two-day workshop, the delegates said that it was vital to make a difference between the “luxury emissions of the rich and the survival emissions of the poor”, noting that the developed world was responsible for 90 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Besides a prophetically speaking out against countries and nations which damage God’s creation, the Church must also become more sustainable itself. It must recycle more, reduce car travel, and reject large, “luxurious”, and non-sustainable church buildings.
Release human rights advocate now, CSW tells Vietnam
A HUMAN rights lawyer and advocate for religious freedom detained without trial in Vietnam since 2015 must be released immediately, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has said. Nguyen Van Dai, a Christian, was arrested and imprisoned on charges of spreading propaganda and seeking to overthrow the state in December 2015, and has been held incommunicado since then, CSW said in a statement marking his 600th day in jail. CSW’s East Asia team leader, Benedict Rogers, said that Mr Dai was a champion of freedom and justice for all, not a criminal. The Vietnamese authorities should release him immediately and guarantee the right to freedom of belief, Mr Rogers said.