Religion

25, December 2016

Christians have celebrated the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ ⁰

Christians around the world have celebrated the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, with a solemn mood presiding over many ceremonies, as war, terror and discord continue to plague many nations across the globe. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists converged on the city of Bethlehemin the Israeli-occupied territory of the West Bank for the occasion.

Crowds of worshipers gathered in the Church of Nativity, the biblical birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem, where a midnight mass was led by the Latin Patriarch of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The ceremony was attended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah as well as other dignitaries.

In his homily, Archbishop Pizzaballa expressed his sympathy for asylum seekers and pleaded for measures to stop the spiral of violence in the Middle East which has destroyed many countries across the region and taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians, especially children.

“Closed doors, defended borders before personal and political choices are a metaphor for the fear that inevitably breeds the violent dynamics of the present time,” he warned.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulates Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa (R), the apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, during the Christmas Midnight Mass in Saint Catherine’s Church in Bethlehem December 25, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Meanwhile in Vatican City, head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis marked the birth of Jesus Christ. During his address, he called on the world to open their eyes to the plight of those in need, including Middle Eastern refugees, especially those from Syria and Iraq who fled to Europe, as well as those who are in war-torn countries.

In his Christmas message delivered at Saint Peter’s Basilica, the pontiff urged all worshipers to ponder on the situation of children “hiding underground to escape bombardment.” In Europe, people are celebrating Christmas amid fears of the repeat of the terror attacks they have witnessed in recent months, especially the latest truck attack which took place in the German capital Berlin on Monday.

Security has been tight in various parts of Europe as the holiday season reaches its peak. In Germany, authorities have worked through the Christmas to ensure public safety especially in Berlin where Tunisian national and Daesh sympathizer, Anis Amri, killed 12 people after crashing a truck into a crowded Christmas market. Many locals have visited the market, lit candles and laid flowers for the victims.

Also in Italy, security remains tight. Milan’s Cathedral has been highly secured by Italian police with concrete barricades set around the historic Piazza del Duomo. Also, in the Vatican people were on high alert following the shooting dead of the man believed to be behind the Berlin market attack.

Not far from Italy, France has deployed around 100,000 police forces and soldiers to guard public spaces including churches and markets.

Police carry out searches on visitors as they access a security perimeter in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, December 24, 2016, ahead of Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. (Photo by AFP)

Christmas has also been observed elsewhere in the world including in Muslim countries.

In Iran, Christians have gathered in churches to celebrate the occasion.

Iranian Christians sing during Christmas Eve Mass at the St Joseph Armenian Catholic Church in Tehran on December 24, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Also, Christians in Iraq held a Christmas Eve service in the town of Bartella, near Mosul for the first time since it was captured from Daesh terrorists in 2014. Iraqi forces were deployed there to provide maximum security.

Volunteers prepared the church for the service which had been destroyed and set ablaze by the terrorists. Meanwhile, in Syria’s northwestern city of Aleppo, Christian residents prepared for celebrations just days after the army liberated the city from the clutch of militants. The celebrations in Syria’s second largest city came amid army operations against the terrorists in the suburbs of Aleppo.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East John X Yazigi leads prayers during Christmas Mass at the Elias Orthodox Church in Aleppo on December 24, 2016. (Photo By AFP)

Culled from Presstv

11, December 2016

Nigeria: Scores dead in church collapse ⁰

A church collapse in southern Nigeria has taken the lives of a large number of worshipers who had gathered there for a service. Medical officials have so far confirmed 160 people dead, predicting that the final death toll could be much higher. Rescue operations are still underway to find potential survivors. Hundreds of people were inside the church in Uyo in Akwa Ibom state when metal girders crashed onto worshipers and the corrugated iron roof caved in.

The church was under construction and workers had to finish the job hastily for the service. The government is now set to launch an inquiry to find out if anyone compromised building standards. The state governor Udom Emmanuel was attending the ceremony in the church when the incident happened, but he was able to escape.

In a statement, he described the collapse as “an unfortunate incident” and said he “shared in the agony of the moment.” President Muhammadu Buhari has also offered his condolences. “I asked the Governor to convey to the people of Akwa Ibom the deep sorrow felt by me, and by the entire country, over this tragedy,” he said.

The president added, “I pray that the souls of the deceased will rest in peace, and that the injured will experience quick recovery.” Incidents as such are fairly common in Nigeria owing to the corruption of contractors and the use of substandard materials. Some are said to even bribe inspectors to ignore the risks. In 2014, 116 people lost their lives when a multi-story guesthouse of a church collapsed in Lagos, the country’s largest city.

Presstv

27, October 2016

Cardinal Tumi honoured in Yaounde ⁰

Cardinal Christian Tumi, the former Archbishop Emeritus of Douala, age 86, has been made doctor honoris causa of the Catholic University of Yaoundé Central Africa (AFU).

The ceremony was held on Wednesday October the 26^th 2016 at the campus of the institution located in Nkolbisson neighbourhood in Yaounde.

The honorary doctorate is the third award for the famous retired Roman Catholic Cardinal, after the Integrity Award five years ago by Transparency International and the Cardinal Von Galen prize received in 2008 from Human Life International in recognition of nearly half a century of pastoral care for the family.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

12, October 2016

Kaduna: Nigerian troops open fire at Shia mourners killing 9 ⁰

Nigerian forces open fire at Shia mourners taking part in Ashura processions, killing at least nine people in the cities of Kaduna and Funtua, Press TV correspondent from the capital Abuja reports.

The killings on Wednesday came as mourners defied a state ban, holding processions in several cities to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (Peace Be Upon Him), the third Shia Imam.

Tensions were already running high between the regime and Nigeria’s Shia Muslims who have been demanding the release of prominent cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky from prison.

People carry pictures of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky as they rally in Kaduna, Oct. 12, 2016.

Heavily-armed troops in a convoy of 18 armored vehicles surrounded a gathering of mourners in Kaduna as an ambulance waited nearby, UK-based Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said in a statement.

A local newspaper said the standoff was at the residence of senior Shia leader Muhtar Sahabi. It said armed soldiers and mobile police officers surrounded the compound and were waiting for those gathered inside to leave.

According to the Press TV correspondent, troops fired tear gas and live bullets at mourners in Funtua and Kaduna.

A protester is seen standing as Nigerian troops fire tear gas in Funtua, Oct. 12, 2016.

The confrontations follow a spate of arrests over recent days of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), the mainstream Shia group led by Sheikh Zakzaky.

The government has imposed a ban to prevent the movement’s supporters from attending ceremonies commemorating the month of Muharram during which Imam Hussein (PBUH) and his 72 companions were martyred 14 centuries ago.

The killings on Wednesday revive the memory of the run-up to the massacre last December of hundreds of IMN supporters by the army and the arrest of Sheikh Zakzaky.

Presstv

8, October 2016

Nigeria: State of Kaduna bans Shia group led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky ⁰

The Nigerian state of Kaduna has declared a mainstream Shia group led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky as illegal as a state crackdown against the Muslim community continues. The Kaduna state government warned on Friday that those convicted of being a member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) could be imprisoned for seven years, fined or both.

It further claimed that the Shia group had “overtly continued with unlawful processions” and “obstruction of public highways” since last December when the Army forces clashed with the IMN members. “These acts, if allowed to go unchecked will constitute danger to the peace, tranquility, harmonious coexistence and good governance of Kaduna state,” the Nigerian state added.

On December 12, 2015, Nigerian soldiers attacked Shia Muslims attending a ceremony at a religious center in the city of Zaria in Kaduna, accusing them of blocking the convoy of the army’s chief of staff and attempting to assassinate him.

The following day, Nigerian forces also raided the home of the IMN leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, and arrested the prominent cleric after reportedly killing those attempting to protect him. A judicial inquiry concluded in August that the Nigerian army killed 348 members of the religious community during the two-day raids.

Presstv

2, October 2016

Pope Francis holds mass in a largely empty stadium in Georgia ⁰

Pope Francis has held a mass in a largely empty stadium in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, as the majority of officials with the Orthodox Christian Church in the country had allegedly asked followers not to attend the event.

The pontiff visited Georgia on Saturday as part of a three-day tour in the Caucasus region. Only a few thousand people participated in the open-air mass at the Meshki stadium with a capacity of 25,000.

According to reports, the event hosted one of the smallest crowds ever seen at an outdoor papal mass during foreign visits.

Pope Francis celebrates a holy mass at the Meshki stadium in Georgia’s Tbilisi, October 1, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

“As long as there are dogmatic differences between our churches, Orthodox believers will not participate in their prayers,” the Orthodox patriarchate said on its website, referring to the Catholics.

A Georgian priest was quoted as saying that the low attendance at the event was as a protest against Catholic attempts to convert Orthodox Christians. Pope Francis, during the ceremony, also called for peaceful “coexistence” in the volatile region.

After Georgia, the Pope arrived in neighboring Azerbaijan, which has fewer than 300 Catholics in its overwhelmingly Muslim population.

Presstv

13, September 2016

Cameroon: Muslims celebrate the Feast of Tabaski ⁰

Muslims in Cameroon celebrated on the 12^th of September 2016, the Feast of Tabaski. In Yaounde, the Imam of Essos, Modibo Halibou Ibrahima and the Imam of the Tsinga Mosque, Aboubakar Oummar called for sharing while praying for peace in Cameroon. Preaching at the Yaounde Sports Complex, El Hadj Mefire highlighted the importance of paying tithes and shunning extremism.

In Ngaoundere, Sheikh Mamouy Ali told all Muslims to shun immorality. While Imam Modibo Jafairo of Garoua said the faithful should be sincere when praying. Prisoners were part of the Tabaski Feast in Maroua as the Imam; Ousman Oumar called on them to be submissive and patient. The scene was slightly different in Bamenda where prayers for peace in Cameroon and Gabon were said.

For their part, Imams Arouna Abdoulaye and Loumgam Abdoulaye of Bafoussam emphasized the importance of education especially of the girl child. In Douala, Sheikh Mohamat Malik Farout prayed for peace and unity in Cameroon and told the faithful to put spirituality at the centre of all they do.

Ebolowa was also dominated by prayers for peace as Imam El Hadj Mohammadou Oummaroy observed that the youth should be patriotic and respectful.

CRTV

11, September 2016

The Hajj: Pilgrims celebrate Day of Arafat ⁰

About 1.5 million Muslims from across the world have started to observe the Day of Arafat, an occasion for repentance and supplication considered as the pinnacle of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. On Sunday, the worshipers began day-long prayers and recitals of the holy book of Qur’an on a rocky hill known as Mount Arafat, east of the Saudi city of Mecca, where Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) gave his last Hajj sermon.

The Day of Arafat falls on Dhu al-Hijjah 9, the final month in the Islamic calendar. It comes one day before Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice). After preliminary rituals this week at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the pilgrims moved eastwards on Saturday to Mina neighborhood and then several kilometers further to Mount Arafat. The worshipers are following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad, who performed the same rituals about 1,400 years ago. Muslim pilgrims mark the Day of Arafat on Mount Arafat, east of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, September 11, 2016.

For the first time in more than three decades, Saudi Arabia’s radical Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh will not be delivering this year’s Hajj sermon. He preaches Wahhabism, a radical “ideology” that inspires Takfiri terrorists across the world.

Iranians are not attending the Hajj pilgrimage this year because of the failure of Saudi authorities to ensure the pilgrims’ safety following last year’s human crush during the rituals in Mina. The tragic incident took place when two large masses of pilgrims converged at a crossroads during the symbolic ceremony of the stoning of Satan in Jamarat in September 2015.

Saudi Arabia claims that nearly 770 people were killed in the incident; however, Iran, which had the greatest number of deaths among foreign nationals, has put the death toll at about 4,700. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of the holy faith of Islam that every able-bodied and financially able Muslim is obliged to undertake during their lifetime.

Presstv

2, September 2016

Bishop Bushu of the Buea Diocese says most priests are forced into the seminary by their parents and not a call to serve ¹

The Bishop of the Buea diocese, His Lordship Immanuel Balanga Bushu has revealed that some seminarians who end up as priests are often victims of pressure from parents and not a call to serve. The Roman Catholic Bishop was speaking recently on the side-lines of the 2016 conclave of Bishops in the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province that held on August 16-19 2016 in Buea, South West region under the chairmanship of the president of Bamenda Episcopal Conference, His Lordship Bishop George Nkuo.

Bishop Immanuel Bushu, observed that the seminary is a nursery for future priests and nothing else. He regretted that most minor seminarians who enroll into the seminary are under the influence of their parents and not necessary their call. The man of God noted that it was neither late nor bad for such candidates to quit the seminary and continue with what life holds for them. “What matters is not the number of candidates but the quality”, he added.

The attendance of rectors of Minor seminarians was glaring and provided a unique opportunity for them to express worries and shortcomings encountered in the molding of would be seminarians and priests. According to Rev Fr Killian Ndukong, Rector of the Kumbo minor seminary, some of the challenges the candidates face in the course of their stay in the seminary includes the scarcity of mentors to follow up the spiritual growth of the candidates which as of now approximately 200 candidates can be entitle to just 3 mentors, he cited.

Another major difficulty Fr. Ndukong revealed was on the serious and dedicated nature of the candidates. Here, he explained that getting proper candidates into the Minor Seminary is challenging as most come and portray a different image of what they think about priesthood which is unholy. Father Ndukong added that some parents say the enrollment fees are huge and not affordable. But Rev. Father Ndukong stressed that it takes sacrifice to mold and build a religious mind to be able to transform the world. He however emphasized that only Catholic Christians who are baptized and have received the sacrament of first Holy Communion are eligible to be seminarians. Interested candidates can gain admission upon the recommendation of the Bishop during which they are taught the Catholic Doctrine and administered the sacrament of baptism.

The president of the Bamenda Episcopal Conference, Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo, explained in a soul-searching address that “all the five bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Bamenda, have come together to review our pastoral life, we began with reports from the council of education with all education secretaries and financial secretaries and all our collaborators in education. We reviewed the academic year that just finished and to plan and prepare for the new academic year. Within the week we had meetings on our houses of formation, the seminaries, Minor and Major seminaries. We equally had the opportunity to look at other aspects, the different commissions that are functioning at the provincial level. We have various commissions including health, education, social welfare, justice and peace. We also give instructions and directives on how the Church should operate in the years to come,” he added.

The meeting was attended by several Catholic priests and Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda, Father Marcel Sang the rector of the Minor Seminary in Mamfe, Father Killian Ndukong the rector of the Minor seminary in Kumbo and Father Isaac Alnuchem the rector of Bishop Rogan College Buea.

By Cham Victor Bama

6, August 2016

South African man of God dies trying to imitate Jesus Christ ⁰

A popular South African pastor died after attempting dry fasting which the Prince of Peace did for 40 days. The South African pastor reportedly told his followers that he would match Jesus Christ by depriving himself of food and water in the bush for 40 days.

Pastor Alfred Ndlovu, aged 44 in an attempt to break the record of Jesus Christ who fasted for 40 days, left home for the bush on June the 17, 2016.

Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered he starved himself just for 30 days and traveled to the land of his ancestors. His body was found by a passer-by who informed the police.

By Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Intelligence Report)