Latest news with #Christians
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Amid confusion, KC(M) resolves to stand firm with Left front
Speaking to reporters earlier, Jose asserted KC(M) is extremely satisfied with the LDF. 'There have been no talks (with the UDF) so far. There is no situation prevailing that necessitates a shift in our alliance. Even the UDF does not view the Nilambur results as indicative of a broader trend in the state. That is why it emphasises coalition expansion,' Jose K Mani said. Raising various concerns such as wildlife attacks and the Munambam land dispute, a section in the KC (M) has been demanding the leadership to leave the LDF for quite a while. They argue that continuing with the Left will be a setback for the party as their core vote base - settler farmers and Christians - has increasingly turned against the LDF, owing to various issues including forest department's failure to end wildlife attacks on forest fringes. The implications of the Nilambur bypoll result further exacerbated the situation. 'The party should interpret the Nilambur outcome as a critical indicator. Along with the consolidation of minority votes, anti-incumbency sentiments played a pivotal role in the defeat,' said a leader.
Herald Malaysia
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Cardinal Czerny asks Church to remember seafarers on Sea Sunday
In his message for Sea Sunday, the second Sunday of July, Cardinal Michael Czerny recognizes seafarers as 'pilgrims of hope' and calls on Catholics to shine a light on the global economy and its effects on those who work on ships and in ports. Jun 28, 2025 FILE PHOTO: Container ship crosses the Gulf of Suez towards the Red Sea before entering the Suez Canal By Christopher WellsBasing his reflection on the insight of Vatican II that whatever is genuinely human resonates in the hearts of Christians, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Michael Czerny, assures 'all those who work at sea… that they are in the heart of the Church; they are not alone in their demands for justice, dignity, and joy.'Questioning the global economy In his Message for Sea Sunday—observed each year on the second Sunday of July—Cardinal Czerny insists that the Good News of the Risen Christ demands that Christians question 'even more radically… the existing order, because the Kingdom of God calls us to conversion.' So, he continues, 'the whole Church is called to consider how people work in ports and on ships today, with what rights, under what conditions, with what material and spiritual assistance.' In concrete terms, Cardinal Czerny calls on Catholics 'to shine some light on what lies behind our economies, on those who make them work on a daily basis, often not benefitting from them at all and indeed exposing themselves to discrimination and danger.' Seafarers as 'pilgrims of hope' He goes on to express a desire to recognize seafarers as 'pilgrims of hope' who 'embody the desire of every human being… to live a life of dignity, through work, exchange, encounters.' Hope, the Cardinal explains, 'must always remind us of our goal: we are not wanderers without a destiny, but daughters and sons whose dignity no one and nothing can ever erase.' And because we are all brothers and sisters coming from and returning to the same home, 'we can hope.' 'Already today, solidarity among ourselves and among all living beings can be stronger and more alive', Cardinal Czerny says. The sea calls us to conversion After thanking seafarers and their colleagues, whatever their religious or cultural affiliations, the prefect tells them, for being pilgrims of hope, the prefect invites them 'to be bridges even between enemy countries, prophets of peace'. And at the same time he asks ecclesial communities, and especially dioceses encompassing seas, rivers, or lakes, 'to promote attention to the Sea as a physical and spiritual environment that calls us to conversion.'--Vatican News
South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Bishop of Llandaff joins celebrations for Pride in Wales
The Rt Revd Mary Stallard presided over the Pride Eucharist at this year's event in Cardiff, which also marked a decade of the Faith Space at Pride Cymru—a partnership between Llandaff Diocese and The Gathering Cardiff, an ecumenical church for LGBTQ+ people and allies. Ms Stallard said: "It has been so special to be here at the Pride Eucharist. "Pride is just such a wonderful, welcoming festival, and I feel a great sense of being welcomed myself, as well as having an opportunity as Christians together to offer a welcome to everyone who is here." The Faith Space offers a place for prayer, reflection, and community during Pride, and is supported by volunteers from Anglican, Methodist, URC, Quaker, and other faith backgrounds. It also provides resources for LGBTQ+ people of other faiths. Revd Rosemary Hill from Open Table East Cardiff, Diocese of Monmouth, said: "It was a joy and a privilege to be part of Pride in Cardiff this year. "It was wonderful to be able to demonstrate how far the Church in Wales has come in terms of inclusion in the last 10 years, but also acknowledge how far is left to go and to be a hopeful presence for LGBTQ+ people, both within and outside the Church." The Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Andrew John, also welcomed the church's involvement, stating its commitment to inclusion and learning from past mistakes.
New York Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Who'll end Christian slaughter, grad schools will survive loan caps and other commentary
Foreign desk: Who'll End Christian Slaughter? 'On Friday June 13, over 500 Christians' were murdered by Islamic terrorists in Nigeria, reports The Free Press' Madeleine Kearns. 'The jihadists broke into homes and shelters, murdering people with machetes,' then 'doused their victims' bodies and homes in petrol and set them ablaze.' And, 'though exceptional in scale and barbarity,' it's just 'part of a pattern of persecution that Christians in Nigeria have come to expect.' Consider: 'Since 2009, Islamists' across Nigeria 'have destroyed over 18,000 churches,' 'murdered over 50,000 Christians' and displaced 'a further 5 million Christians.' Yet Western governments and media 'have turned away from the issue.' Will anyone move to stop the carnage? Libertarian: Grad Schools Will Survive Loan Caps Advertisement A provision in the Republican Big Beautiful Bill 'may make considerable inroads to correcting a decades-long student loan policy that has driven expensive programs and large debt burdens for students,' cheers Reason's Emma Camp. The House bill 'eliminates the Graduate PLUS loan program, which allows graduate students to borrow an unlimited sum of money from the government,' instead capping grad-student borrowing at $100,000, 'with a $150,000 limit for professional programs, and a lifetime cap of $200,000 for all students.' These caps could 'force colleges to lower their prices once their students no longer have access to an infinite pile of government money.' Indeed, If we want more affordable medical schools, 'the first step should involve actually incentivizing medical schools to stop overcharging students.' Conservative: Dems' NYC-led Coastal Elitism 'One interesting aspect of the rise of' socialist Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani 'is what it says about New York City's dominance of national Democratic politics at this moment,' muses the Washington Examiner's Byron York. 'The New York contingent essentially is the leadership of the Democratic Party today,' since congressional leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer as well as stars Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders are all current or former New Yorkers. 'After the 2024 election, Democratic pollster Mark Penn wrote that Trump was elected by 'Americans who feel abandoned by the coastal elites and a Democratic Party that moved too far from mainstream America.'' 'There are probably a lot of things Democrats might do to broaden their appeal beyond the coastal areas, but' elevating Mamdani 'is definitely not one of them.' Advertisement Antisemitism beat: 'Kosherizing' Jew-Haters Just before New York's mayoral primary, late-night host Stephen Colbert's guests were Zohran Mamdani and City comptroller Brad Lander, notes Commentary's Seth Mandel. 'All three were there' to 'help elect Zohran Mamdani mayor.' Mamdani — 'the poster child for progressive anti-Zionism's conquest of the mainstream Democratic Party' — had defended the phrase 'globalize the intifada,' which calls for violence against Jews, and 'Colbert can be effective at shielding left-wing anti-Semites from criticism.' Then again, the TV host doesn't 'hold a candle in that department to Brad Lander': Indeed, the comptroller's 'alliance with Mamdani' is the 'culmination of years of Lander's efforts to kosherize anti-Semitism.' He's part of the story of 'the collapse of New York's Jewish-political establishment.' Sen. Chuck Schumer, who kissed 'Mamdani's ring,' is 'the capstone of this project.' From the right: Lefties' Chronic Mental Misery Advertisement Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) 'said last week that Donald Trump supporters are mentally ill,' but 'it's her side that is not well,' snarks the Issues & Insights editorial board. 'Nine in 10 conservatives self-report their mental health to be excellent (51%)' versus only 20% of liberals. Meanwhile, 'only 19% of conservatives say their mental health is poor, while 45% of liberals say they have poor mental health.' 'This is not a new development related to Trump returning to the White House. A decade ago, University of Toronto researchers similarly 'found that conservatives are more emotionally stable than liberals.' 'Democrats, progressives, socialists, anti-capitalists, and the rest who reside under the leftist umbrella are unhappy, and they want everyone else to be just as miserable as they are.' — Compiled by The Post Editorial Board
LeMonde
16 hours ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Four Syrian weddings, a symbol of reconciliation
The floor was strewn with hairpins, and the smell of hair overheated by hairdryers filled the room. Shelves were stacked with faux-diamond crowns. An esthetician danced a few steps to a pop song playing in the background. In early June in this basement beauty salon in an apartment building in Latakia, a city on Syria's northwest coast and former stronghold of the Assad family, four women were preparing to celebrate their respective marriages in a joint ceremony bringing together different religious communities. At the doorway, a man peeked in. In a rush, two of the soon-to-be brides covered their hair and faces in protest. They were Sunni. The other two were Alawite, a branch of Shia Islam with distinct customs and beliefs. "We've been engaged for a year and a half, ever since Achraf's car broke down in front of my house," said Roula Salman, a 27-year-old physics student from Latakia, with a smile. "By marrying this way, we wanted to show that Syria was still united." It was an unprecedented and symbolic choice against a background of tension. On Sunday, June 22, a suicide bombing targeted the Greek Orthodox Mar Elias church in Damascus, killing at least 25 and injuring around 60 Christians gathered there. Precarious calm In March, a wave of massacres mainly targeting the Alawite community – the religious minority to which the Assad clan belongs and which makes up about 10% of Syria's population – left at least 1,700 civilian victims, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Hundreds of videos showing killings and looting flooded social media, implicating extremist armed factions, some of which are affiliated with the new regime led by the interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, a Sunni and former jihadist leader.
