BISHOP: NO REQUIEM FOR MAFIA

A Sicilian bishop has been given armed escorts after he defied the Mafia by refusing to celebrate the funeral of a Mafia boss. Michele Pennisi, 62, Bishop of Piazza Armerina, defied the Cosa Nostra and said he would not allow last rites for Crocefisso Emmanuello, 82, to take place in his cathedral. Within days he was the target of threats and intimidation. "The Lord will protect us and free us from the Mafia and from [protection money payments]," the bishop said Feb. 12. "I have always believed that between the Mafia and Christian values there is no compatibility." 

Matthews appointed to wcg

Photo: Sue Careless  

The Right Rev’d Victoria Matthews, former Bishop of Edmonton, and Bishop-elect of Christchurch, New Zealand, (right) has been appointed to the newly formed Windsor Continuation Group (WCG)On Feb. 12 the Archbishop of Canterbury announced the formation of the WCG as proposed in his Advent Letter. The group will address outstanding questions arising from the Windsor Report and the various formal responses from provinces and instruments of the Anglican Communion.

The Most Rev’d Clive Handford, former Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, will chair the group. Besides Bishop Matthews, other members include: The Most Rev’d John Chew, Primate of South East Asia; The Right Rev’d Gary Lillibridge, Bishop of West Texas; The Very Rev’d John Moses, former dean of St Paul's, London; The Most Rev’d Donald Mtetemela, Primate of Tanzania.

Dame Mary Tanner, Co-president of the World Council of Churches, will act as a consultant while Canon Andrew Norman of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Staff and Canon Gregory Cameron of the Anglican Communion Office will offer staff assistance. 

The group will be working intensively in the period running up to the 2008 Lambeth Conference, where its initial work will contribute to the shared discernment of the bishops in strengthening the life and identity of the Anglican Communion. – Source:  ACNS 

China: Christians to labour camp

Twenty-one of China’s most prominent House Church leaders recently received sentences of re-education through labour ranging from one year and three months to three years by the Linyi City Re-education Through Labour Commission. The pastors from the province of Shandong were accused of “evil cult” activity which is a common ambiguous charge laid against members of non-registered House Churches.

The original arrests took place on December 7, 2007 when 270 Christians were arrested during a prayer meeting in the Hedeng District of Linyi City. A group of approximately 50 policemen arrived and handcuffed the believers two by two and incarcerated the group. Of the 270 Christians arrested, 249 were ordered to pay a fine and released within a few weeks. However, the 21 most senior leaders--17 men and 4 women--were not released and were given sentences of 1 to 3 years. Some of the families of these pastors were not informed of the labour camp sentence as required by Chinese law. 

Despite the Chinese government’s promises to improve its human rights record before this year’s Beijing Summer Olympics, Christians and other religious minorities in China continue to experience high levels of persecution for their faith. Concerned Canadians are writing the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Maxime Bernier at Bernier.M@parl.gc.ca -- China Aid Association, Inc. & The Christian Post