03/17/2010 17:42
PALESTINE
Palestinian Authority shuts down the only Christian TV broadcaster in the Territories
After 14 years on the air, the government shuts down the only Palestinian Christian TV station. Located about 350 metres from Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, the station broadcast shows with social, religious, economic and cultural content. Its general manager tells AsiaNews the order is unfair, stressing the high regard in which viewers held the station.
Bethlehem (AsiaNews) – The Palestinian National Authority has shut down Al-Mahed “Nativity” TV for operating without a licence. Samir Qumsieh, owner and general manager of the Christian broadcaster, slammed the decision. After 14 years on the air and despite a long list of “thank you letters” by grateful viewers, Palestinian police raided the broadcaster’s offices yesterday at 2 pm. Waving an order by the Interior Ministry, they put the station off the air.
Contacted by AsiaNews, Mr Qumsieh said he was baffled by the order, which for him was “unjustified”.
Located on high ground at about 350 metres from the Church of Nativity, in Bethlehem, Al-Mahed “Nativity” TV was for years the “only Christian voice” among Palestinian media.
It broadcast programmes in all sorts of domains, from education to the environment, from politics to local culture and society, as well as programmes with a religious content: masses, prayers and the most important celebrations on the liturgical calendar. Its audience was not limited to Christians but included Muslims as well.
According to unconfirmed reports that reached AsiaNews, the closure appears to be financially motivated. Palestinian authorities demanded money, a “licence” that was not paid.
In a letter addressed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Mr Qumsieh slammed the unjustified closure of the Christian TV station because of the “lack of a licence”.
He said that 14 years of broadcasting earned the station the gratitude of viewers as demonstrated by the many thank you letters and e-mails, worthy of a “Guinness world record”.
In his letter to the authorities, he said that he “would not beg” to have the station re-opened. The “ingratitude” shown to him is “unacceptable by any religion, logic or conscience”.
US Catholic population rises by nearly 1 million; Mormons 4th-largest religious body March 17, 2010
CWN: The Catholic population of the United States rose from 67,117,016 to 68,115,001 between the beginning and end of 2008-- an increase of 1.49%, according to the recently published 2010 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. In 2007, the Catholic population had fallen by nearly 400,000.
Also reporting increases in 2008 were the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (ranked 4th), Assemblies of God (9th), Jehovah’s Witnesses (22nd), and the Tennessee-based Church of God (24th).
The reference book offers a statistical survey of Catholics, Protestants, and groups such as the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses but does not rank Jews and Muslims. Mainline Protestant communities such as the Presbyterian Church (USA) (10th) and the Episcopal Church (15th) continued to suffer steep declines. More conservative Protestant bodies such as the Southern Baptist Convention (2nd) and the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod (14th) lost members as well.
Queen Elizabeth II, U.K. Government Welcome Papal Visit
ROME, MARCH 16, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom announced today that Benedict XVI will be visiting September 16-19. Government and Church leaders are welcoming the upcoming event.
In a joint press conference, the state leaders together with representatives from the bishops' conferences of Scotland, England and Wales, underlined the Pope's visit as "an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen ties between the United Kingdom and the Holy See on global initiatives, as well as the important role of faith in creating strong communities."
A press release from the British embassy to the Holy See reported that this is the first ever official Papal visit to that state, as the previous trip of Pope John Paul II in 1982 was a pastoral visit.
The Pontiff will be received by the queen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and will address the British civil society at Westminster Hall.
He will also preside over the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman at a public Mass in Coventry.
The visit will include another public Mass in Glasgow, Scotland, a prayer vigil in London and an event focused on education.
The Holy Father plans to visit the Archbishop of Canterbury and hold a prayer service with other Church leaders at Westminster Abbey. The communiqué noted that the visit will highlight relations between Christian Churches and interfaith relations.
Historic
Parliament Member Jim Murphy, Scotland's secretary of state, who is the government minister in charge of the event preparations, stated that "this is an historic visit at an important time."
"The Pope will receive a very warm welcome from Catholics and people of all faiths," he said.
"As well as providing spiritual leadership to over a billion Catholics around the world, including six million in the United Kingdom, the Pope and the Holy See have great influence on global policy in areas such as international development, sustainability and the relationships between religions," Murphy affirmed.
"The Papal visit represents an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen ties between the United Kingdom and the Holy See on local and global action to tackle poverty and climate change as well as the important role of faith in creating strong and cohesive communities," he said. "We aim to build further on the positive relationship we have developed in recent years."
Cardinal Keith O'Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, president of the Scottish bishops' conference, stated that he is "thrilled" about the upcoming visit.
He noted that "a defining feature of Pope Benedict's teaching has been to remind Europe of its Christian roots and culture and to give us guidance on the great moral issues of our day and it is my hope that we all open our hearts to his words."
The president of the bishops' conference of England and Wales, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, affirmed that the U.K. Catholics are "delighted" to welcome Benedict XVI.
He expressed gratitude toward Queen Elizabeth II and her government for extending "this historic invitation" to the Pope.
"We are confident that the presence and message of Pope Benedict will encourage everyone to aspire again to a vision of life in our society marked by mutual trust, compassion and truth," the archbishop affirmed.
He added: "The great Christian tradition of faith and life, which has so shaped our culture, has so much more to offer.
"This gentle yet profound teacher of his faith will encourage and strengthen all who receive his words."