Category: ChristianityNonCatholic

Christian conscience in a secular culture

 Reflections of an ecumenical Pentecostal

Daniel Tomberlin*

. . .The Gospel of Christ should inform believers on the political left and right, and convict sinners on the left and right. The Incarnation (God with us) means that Christ is above, in, and with all human endeavors. So yes, Christian theology and ethics should seek to inform and shape public life. That means that individual Christians, and Christian institutions, have an obligation to exercise a Christ-shaped conscience.

So then, how does a Christian exercise conscience in a pagan or secular culture? Should believers bow before the idol of state for the sake of peace?  . . .[Full Text]

 

Catholics, Baptists Come Together Over Conscience-Rights Bill

National Catholic Register

Archbishop William Lori and Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention are  united by the belief that Congress must act to help preserve freedom of religion  and conscience.

WASHINGTON — Catholic and Baptist leaders are collaborating to ask national  legislators to support a bill that would offer conscience protections to  health-care workers across the country.

“While Catholics and Southern Baptists espouse different theological views,  we are united by the belief that Congress must act to help preserve our freedom  of religion and conscience,” Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore and Russell  Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention wrote in a June 21 letter to members of  Congress. . .  [Full story]

Legal Restrictions Affecting Christians / Report 2012

Legal Restrictions Affecting Christians / Report 2012Report Finds Large Number of Cases of Intolerance and Legal Restrictions Effecting Christians in Europe

Vienna / European Union, May 22, 2013. The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians releases 41 examples of national laws with adverse effects on Christians in more than 15 European Countries. Additionally, 169 cases of intolerance against Christians in the EU – area in 2012 are portrayed. The report was presented on May 21 at an OSCE High Level Conference on Tolerance and Non-discrimination held in

Tirana, Albania, in a keynote speech delivered by the Observatory’s director Dr. Gudrun Kugler. [Full news release and documents]

Holy See diplomat strongly denounces intolerance against Christians in Europe

The secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, who represented the Holy See at a recent OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) conference devoted to tolerance,  rued rising intolerance against Christians in Europe.

“Examples of intolerance and discrimination against Christians have not diminished, but rather increased in various parts of the OSCE region despite a number of meetings and conferences on the subject,” said Bishop Mario Toso, SDB.[ Read more – Holy See diplomat strongly denounces intolerance against Christians in Europe : News Headlines – Catholic Culture.]

 

Christian medical practice resented in London

Links Medical Practice in Mottingham, south London, includes some physicians unwilling to prescribe the morning-after pill for reasons of conscience, and has posted a notice so that customers can seek the drug elsewhere.  An anonymous patient reported the practice to the media because she was “outraged” at the ‘religious influence’ on medical practice, and plans to find another physician.  The Family Planning Association has encouraged other women to leave the practice.  [The Independent]