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Pakistan Pays Thousands To Christians After Riots Destroyed Homes

MULTAN, Pakistan | August 21, 2023 | On Monday, Pakistani officials distributed significant monetary aid to approximately 100 Christian families affected by recent disturbances due to claims of the Quran’s desecration.

The interim government, led by Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, announced that each affected family would receive 2 million rupees ($6,800). Additionally, ongoing police operations have resulted in the arrest of numerous individuals involved in the unrest in Jaranwala, with the total detainees now reaching 160.

Last Wednesday, an uproar ensued following accusations that a Christian individual, alongside a companion, had disrespected the Quran. Those Christians who escaped the upheaval returned to devastated homes. Many remain displaced, cautious of unstable structures that endured damage.

This incident, marked as one of Pakistan’s most damaging, has been met with widespread national disapproval. Kakar, after visiting the affected region and overseeing the aid distribution, assured in a broadcasted address that the government is committed to safeguarding all minorities, which encompasses Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Ahmadis.

Kakar declared that all involved in the rioting will face consequences, labeling the attackers as “adversaries of mankind.”

Earlier, Mohsin Naqvi, the senior authority in Punjab province where Jaranwala is situated, communicated the compensation details on X, previously referred to as Twitter. Naqvi, after touring the city on Sunday, convened with local representatives at an affected church.

Priest Khalid Mukhtar expressed the distress of the local Christian community, emphasizing their concerns for their children who have been deeply affected. He noted that all 26 churches in the city suffered attacks, with many being set aflame or damaged.

It was alleged by the rioters that a Christian resident and his associate desecrated pages of the Quran and wrote derogatory comments on others. The police have since detained the duo.

Authorities indicate that hard-line Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party members may have stirred the unrest, citing a previous incident where the party rallied violently in Pakistan over disrespect towards the Quran in foreign nations.

Naqvi promised that the compensations would be dispensed within two days and announced restoration efforts for the churches.

Contrarily, Mukhtar refuted Naqvi’s assertions regarding the church repairs, pointing out that a mere paint job was done on two churches instead of structural repair.

Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws dictate that any disrespect towards Islam can lead to a death sentence. Although no executions for blasphemy have been conducted, mere allegations can provoke public outbursts and vigilantism.

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Christian Reformed Church Lists Its US Grand Rapids HQ For Sale

Photo credit Google Maps

The office in Grand Rapids has been the denomination’s hub for over six and a half decades.

Grand Rapids, Michigan — Last week, the North American Christian Reformed Church made a decision to put its Grand Rapids office up for sale.

Having its U.S. main office at the intersection of 28th and Kalamazoo for over six decades, the church has supported over 1,000 congregations throughout the continent, with many located in West Michigan.

The deteriorating state of the building, coupled with the aspiration for a “smaller, more decentralized and flexible ministry structure”, led to the selling decision, as shared in an announcement.

“Its ongoing maintenance is becoming financially unsustainable,” Dan DeKam, director of U.S. Ministry Operations, said in a statement. “It is time for a new shape.”

The challenges of the 2020 COVID-19 crisis “pushed the staff to adopt varied work methods,” said Zachary King, the CRCNA’s general secretary.

This operational change underscored that the vast space of the current office was no longer a necessity.

Currently, in their pursuit of “flexibility for the future”, the church is on the lookout for a more compact and versatile office environment.

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Entrepreneurial Catholic Nun Engages Young People Via Film-Making

Sister Josefina Albuquerque, a Catholic nun from Mumbai’s western region, combined her love for movies and learning. She crafted a 7-minute narrative film using just a mobile device in a span of two days, aiming to unite today’s youth through her faith-inspired cinematic work.

In Mumbai’s western region, Sister Josefina Albuquerque, a Catholic nun, embarked on a cinematic journey targeting contemporary youth.

Her talent is showcased in a compelling seven-minute narrative film, crafted using only a mobile device over a mere two-day period.

A member of the Religious of Jesus and Mary Congregation, Sister Josefina serves as the principal of St. Agnes High School in Byculla, Mumbai. While she excels in the education field, her heart also beats for cinema. While her strength wasn’t in scriptwriting, she had an eye for the visual storytelling.

The enforced quiet of the Covid-19 lockdown allowed her to hone filmmaking and editing techniques.

Her fascination grew with the tribal communities of Aarey forest during a visit. This inspired her to film the documentary, “Under the Banyan Tree: A Journey to Inner Truth.” The documentary narrates the tale of an engineer who forgoes urban luxuries to reside in Mumbai’s Aarey forest, teaching locals to pursue their true purpose by advocating for their rights.

For her portrayal of tribal life in the Aarey forest, Sr. Josefina earned high praise for her directorial prowess.

“As someone in charge of youth ministry in my religious community, I observed that our youth invest most of their time on social media. I believed I would only reach them by fortifying oneself with media and digital studies. That’s the moment I decided that I needed to enroll in a professional filmmaking course,” said Sr. Josefina, in an interview with Vatican News.

Besides her role as a principal, she is now attending the Filmmaking Program at St. Paul’s Communication Centre in Bandra, Mumbai. This venture ignited her desire to create a cinematic portrayal of children’s lives.

She crafted a film titled “D for Dumbo” with a modest budget at St. John the Evangelist School in Marol, Andheri, Mumbai. The story revolves around Sam, a young fourth-grader ridiculed for his slower math recall. Yet, when faced with a creative challenge by a different teacher, the boy, often labelled the ‘class dumbo’, surpasses his peers.

The film earned top honors from St. Paul’s Institute in Bandra, Mumbai. Bollywood legend Naseeruddin Shah presented the award to Sr. Josefina. Currently, “D for Dumbo” is set to feature in the upcoming ALP International Film Festival online.

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The Pope Lands In Mongolia, Paying Tribute To Its Deep Cultural Roots

The flight of ITA Airways, bearing Pope Francis to Mongolia, touched down a little before 10 am local time. Onboard, the Pope described Mongolia as a vast “land of silence,” emphasizing the deep sensory experience it offers, during a conversation with journalists post-departure on Thursday evening.

Upon landing at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, he was greeted by Monsignor Fernando Duarte Barros Reis, the acting head of Mongolia’s Apostolic Nunciature. Additionally, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the Holy See, Ms. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, alongside representatives from both the Church and the state, met him on the airstrip.

The State Honour Guard of Mongolia, dressed in their traditional red, blue, and yellow uniforms with metal helmets reminiscent of historic Mongolian warriors, stood in formation to honor his arrival.