By Congressman Chris Smith
Mihrigul Tursun said she pleaded with God to end her life as her Chinese jailers increased the electrical currents coursing through her body. Tursun, a Muslim Uighur whose escape led her to the United States in September, broke down weeping at a Nov. 28 congressional hearing as she recounted her experience in one of China’s infamous political “ re-education centers.”
It is an appalling story but one that is all too familiar as existential threats to religious freedom rise in President Xi Jinping’s China. The world can’t ignore what’s happening there. We must all stand up and oppose these human rights violations.
The ruling Chinese Communist Party has undertaken the most comprehensive attempt to manipulate and control — or destroy — religious communities since Chairman Mao Zedong made the eradication of religion a goal of his disastrous Cultural Revolution half a century ago. Now Xi, apparently fearing the power of independent religious belief as a challenge the Communist Party’s legitimacy, is trying to radically transform religion into the party’s servant, employing a draconian policy known as sinicization.
Under sinicization, all religions and believers must comport with and aggressively promote communist ideology — or else.
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Posted: December 28th, 2018 | Author: admin | Filed under: Chris Smith, Opinion | Tags: China, China's War on Religion, Congressman Chris Smith, Global Magnitsky Act, Op-Ed, Opinion, President Xi Jinping, Religion, Senator Marco Rubio, sinicization | 1 Comment »
TRENTON — In his announcement Tuesday that he’s seeking the Republican nomination for president, Gov. Chris Christie didn’t make any mention of faith in God or religion — something presidential historians and GOP campaign managers say reveals much about his 2016 campaign strategy. Unlike other conservative 2016 candidates, such as U.S. Sen Ted Cruz of Texas… Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: July 2nd, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: 2016 Presidential Politics, Chris Christie | Tags: 2016 Presidential politics, Chris Christie, Iowa, Ken Langone, New Hampshire, Religion, South Carolina | Comments Off on At Christie 2016 campaign launch, religion was off the table
Rob and Linda Robertson did what they believed was expected of them as good Christians. When their 12-year-old son Ryan said he was gay, they told him they loved him, but he had to change. He entered “reparative therapy,” met regularly with his pastor and immersed himself in Bible study and his church youth group. After…
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By Bader George Qarmont
As New Jersey became the 14th state in the Union to license gay marriage, I am left wondering why and what is next. Will this judicial activism have any impact on churches? Some may think I am over reacting, but I fear that the church is 15-25 years away from being forced to perform same sex marriage or risk losing tax exemption for discrimination. A Pastor threating to close his church doors before doing so, is no threat at all.
If a church wants to continue to practice the Biblical definition of marriage, it needs to protect itself. I see a potential for litigation to force a church to marry same sex couples, as is already happening in England. Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, The gay plaintiff in the legal challenge in England said “The only way forward for us now is to make a challenge in the courts against the church.” It is a matter of time before American churches are also legally challenged.
Currently most churches will marry non-members in a religious ceremony at the church, this practice must end immediately and new policy implemented as soon as possible. I believe churches should have a policy to only marry members. In order to be a member each person must sign a statement of faith that includes acceptance of the Biblical definition of marriage. Anyone can attend the church but only members can be married in the church.
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Posted: November 10th, 2013 | Author: admin | Filed under: Bader George Qarmout, Gay Marriage, marriage, Marriage Equality, Opinion, Religion, Same Sex Marriage | Tags: Bader George Qarmout, Gay Marriage, Marriage Equality, Religion, Same Sex Marriage | 8 Comments »
Mihrigul Tursun said she pleaded with God to end her life as her Chinese jailers increased the electrical currents coursing through her body. Tursun, a Muslim Uighur whose escape led her to the United States in September, broke down weeping at a Nov. 28 congressional hearing as she recounted her experience in one of China’s infamous political “ re-education centers.”