Category: News affecting the Church

Threats to Christian Communities in Syria This Christmas

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Syrian church leaders have advised Christians to scale back Christmas celebrations this year, despite assurances from the newly empowered Islamist group that religious freedom will be respected.

On December 18, a Greek Orthodox church in Hama was attacked by unidentified gunmen. The assailants entered the church compound, attempted to destroy a cross, and damaged headstones in a nearby cemetery.

In Damascus, residents of Bab Touma, a predominantly Christian neighbourhood, were unsettled by SUVs driving through the area playing Islamic songs at high volume.

The Iraqi Christian Foundation has reported that Christians in Maaloula, an ancient town in southwestern Syria where Aramaic is still spoken, are being threatened with expulsion by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group. The organization described this as an act of ethnic cleansing.

Rights activists have also raised concerns about the lack of internet access and communication in Maaloula, warning of a potential massacre in this historically significant Christian town.

The Iraqi Christian Foundation, which advocates for Christian rights in West Asia and provides aid to Christian genocide victims in Iraq and Syria, shared this information on social media, calling for prayers for Syrian Christians.

Orthodox Christmas is 7 January, 2025.

Syrian Christians Face Uncertain Christmas Under New Islamist Rulers

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Syrian Christians gathered in Damascus to observe Christmas Eve on Tuesday, marking their first celebration since President Bashar al-Assad was removed from power in early December. The service, held at the Lady of Damascus Church, came under the watchful eye of the nation’s new rulers, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The event served as a test of HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s pledge to protect religious minorities in Syria.

Security was a central concern, with HTS vehicles positioned outside the church to prevent possible violence. Worshippers proceeded with their service, lighting candles and singing traditional hymns, despite the tension surrounding the celebration.

Earlier that day, protests erupted in Damascus in response to the burning of a Christmas tree in northern Hama.

Recent events have heightened the fear among Christians. On December 18, a Greek Orthodox church in Hama was attacked, leading to vandalism of a cross and damage to cemetery headstones. In another incident, vehicles passed through Bab Touma, a historically Christian neighbourhood in Damascus, broadcasting jihadist songs.

HTS, a group with origins in al-Qaeda, has vowed to protect minority groups, including Christians. However, many in the Christian community remain wary, pointing to these recent attacks as evidence of ongoing hostility. The group’s leader, a former jihadist, has promised to avoid acts of retribution against members of Assad’s Alawite-dominated government.

This Christmas season has left Syrian Christians balancing their celebrations with the realities of an uncertain future. While HTS has made public commitments to safeguard minorities, the community awaits concrete actions to ensure their safety and freedoms.

Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime in Arson Case Targeting U.S. Congregation

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Kevin Colantonio, 34, of Rhode Island. has agreed to plead guilty to a hate crime for setting fires at a predominantly Black church earlier this year, federal prosecutors announced. The plea deal includes admitting to arson motivated by racial bias and an additional offence committed while in custody.

Colantonio’s crimes occurred in February, targeting Shiloh Gospel Temple in North Providence. Court documents reveal that he used gasoline to ignite multiple fires around the church’s exterior shortly after midnight on February 11. The North Providence Police and Fire Departments quickly extinguished the flames, preventing significant damage.

As part of the plea deal, Colantonio admitted to selecting the church specifically because of the race, colour, religion, or ethnicity of its congregants, who are predominantly Black. This admission classifies the arson as a hate crime, carrying enhanced penalties under federal law.

While detained at Wyatt Detention Facility in March, Colantonio committed another serious offence. According to prosecutors, he threw a mixture of faeces and urine at a correctional officer delivering his breakfast.

The potential consequences of Colantonio’s actions are significant. He faces a minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 56 years, along with a possible $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. A hearing is scheduled for January 7 at the Rhode Island U.S. District Court in Providence.

U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha highlighted the importance of the case as part of ongoing civil rights enforcement efforts. Cunha stated that the final sentence would be determined by a federal judge, with recommendations from his office and the probation department.

The arson at Shiloh Gospel Temple, which was unoccupied at the time, left the congregation deeply affected. For many Christians, places of worship represent sanctuaries for prayer, community, and spiritual growth. Targeting such spaces for violence not only damages property but also disrupts the sense of security and unity that churches provide to their members.

Atheist Driver’s Attack on Magdeburg Christmas Market Leaves Christians Mourning

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A devastating incident unfolded at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany on 20 December, where a vehicle driven by Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, 50, struck a crowd, resulting in five deaths, including a nine-year-old child, and injuring over 200 others. The attack has raised questions about safety, community unity, and the risks posed by extremism.

Abdulmohsen, a Saudi national and refugee, was previously associated with far-right movements and anti-Muslim rhetoric. He had publicly declared himself an atheist and advocated for Middle Eastern non-believers to migrate to Germany. He spoke of this in a July 2019 BBC documentary. Reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and The Guardian corroborated his background, noting his atheism and open opposition to Islam.

Concerns about Abdulmohsen’s behaviour had been raised long before this tragedy. German publication Der Spiegel reported that the Saudi secret service had warned Germany’s intelligence agency, the BND, about threats he posted online. In one instance, he warned Germany would “pay a price” for its treatment of Saudi refugees.

Abdulmohsen’s history included other troubling incidents. In 2013, a court in Rostock fined him for “disturbing the public peace by threatening to commit crimes.” More recently, in Berlin, he was investigated for “misuse of emergency calls” following a heated exchange with police officers. He had been on medical leave from his job at an addiction clinic near Magdeburg since October. The day before the attack, he missed a court appearance for charges related to the Berlin incident.

The attack deeply impacted Christians celebrating the Advent season. Christmas markets in Germany are cherished traditions, symbolizing hope and togetherness. The violence disrupted the spirit of the season, leaving the Christian community mourning those lost and praying for the injured.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the scene of the attack, accompanied by national and regional leaders, where they laid flowers near Magdeburg’s main church. A memorial service was held at Johanneskirche, providing a space for reflection and grief.

The incident has led to calls for increased vigilance, especially during public events. For Christians, it serves as a reminder of the importance of standing together in faith and compassion during challenging times.

At lest three dead in U.S. Christian school shooting

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A devastating shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin on Monday has left three people dead, including a child and the suspected shooter. Seven others were injured in the incident, which unfolded shortly before 11:00 a.m.

Initial reports described multiple injuries at the nondenominational school, which serves approximately 390 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The scene prompted a swift response from local law enforcement, who have cordoned off the area and are urging the public to stay clear.

The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is assisting in the ongoing investigation. Details surrounding the motive and sequence of events remain unclear as authorities work to piece together what led to the tragedy.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers released a statement expressing his concern for the victims and their families and extending gratitude to the first responders who acted quickly in the aftermath.

The incident has left the Madison community reeling as investigators continue their work to understand what happened at the school on Monday.