Persecution & Prayer Alert

"Lord, these men [may] take
away my life full of misery, but You
will give me life everlasting."
~ Maurice Blanc
(Martyred in 1547)

Update: Violence Subsiding

The violence following the death of Sudanese Vice-President John Garang (click here for details) appears to have subsided in recent days. While the official death toll stands at approximately 130, some reports say as many as 400 were killed. The death toll climbed as mobs of Arab Muslims raided Christian areas of Khartoum in retaliation for riots by southern Sudanese youth. Pray that the violence will completely cease and that Dr. Garang's dream of peace for Sudan will be realized.

Update: Talisman Accused of Cover-Up

^{Ian Taylor, Former Talisman Employee}

The lawsuit by the Presbyterian Church of Sudan against Talisman Energy, a Canadian oil company, has taken a further twist. A sworn statement of a former Talisman employee claims that the oil company deliberately destroyed evidence of human rights abuses, allowed its airfields to be used by the Sudanese military in attacks against the south. The statement also claims that the company masqueraded security advisers as community development officers. Ian Taylor, Talisman's former manager of community development in Sudan, gave the sworn statement in September 2001. Tragically, he died of a heart attack last fall. In his statement, he wrote "I feel a deep sense of shame for not realizing Talisman's true objective earlier than I did and I experience daily nightmares based on fear for my eternal soul for the role I have played in the murder, starvation and displacement of the southern Sudanese people."

An Ontario Superior Court justice has also ordered Taylor's family to turn over all of Ian's correspondence and documents that might shed light on the case. While the lawsuit has been filed in New York, the Taylors live in Canada, which is why the church requested the involvement of the Ontario judge. The family only hesitated to release the documents until receiving a court order due to concerns of retribution from Talisman. The ruling can be viewed online.

UPDATE: New Life Church

^{Image from}^{www.newlife.by}

For several months, The Voice of the Martyrs has been following the plight of the New Life Church in Minsk. According to the church's website (www.newlife.by) the city is again attempting to prevent the church from using a converted cow shed for a church. The city council is intending to insist that the building be used by the church for its original purpose, breeding cattle. However, commercial breeding of animals, however, is forbidden within the city limits of Minsk, thus causing a dilemma for the city council. The church intends to continue fighting for the right to use the building for meeting.

For more information on persecution in Belarus, click here.

Catholic Mass Raided in China, Priest and Ten Others Arrested

Chinese authorities have arrested a Roman Catholic priest, a seminarian and nine parishioners who were celebrating mass in a private home in Pingtan, Fujian Province on July 25. According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, approximately fifty people had gathered to pray for a parishioner suffering with cancer when officials interrupted the service. Parishioners who attempted to stop the arrests of Father Lin Daixian and the others were beaten and suffered broken bones and teeth as well as brain injuries. The house was also severely damaged.

^{Bishop Jia Zhiguo (L) and Bishop Anthony Dang Mingyan (R)
Background: St. Bridget Catholic Church, GuongZhou, China}

This is the fourth time Father Lin has been arrested since October 2000. He is part of the underground Catholic Church that remains loyal to Rome. This arrest contrasts with the appointment of Anthony Dang Mingyan as an auxiliary bishop of Xian by the Chinese government and approved by the Vatican. Such joint approval has been seen as a step in improved relations between China and the Vatican.

The Persecution and Prayer Alert reported last week on the arrest of Bishop Jia Zhiguo for the seventh time. Later that day it was confirmed that Bishop Jia had been released. Pray for Father Lin, Bishop Jia and others facing arrest and harassment from Chinese officials. Pray that the Chinese government will allow its citizens the freedom to worship and practice their faith.

For more information on the continued persecution of Christians in China, click here. A fascinating DVD set on the turbulent history of the Church in China, "The Cross: Jesus in China," is available through our online catalogue.

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