Faith of the Fathers

Monday, September 10, 2012

The following excerpts are from CNSNews.com:

(CNSNews.com) – Supporters of Youcef Nadarkhani are celebrating the news that the Iranian pastor who was sentenced to hang for embracing Christianity has been acquitted and freed.
They are urging prayers for his safety in the aftermath of a case that has raised greater awareness of shari’a-based apostasy laws in Iran and other Islamic countries. They also note that many other religious minority Iranians face discrimination and mistreatment for their beliefs.
Nadarkhani, in his early 30s, walked free after almost three years behind bars, following a six-hour court appearance Saturday ended with his acquittal on apostasy charges, according to reports reaching organizations that have publicized his plight, including the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).
CSW cited sources as saying that Nadarkhani was found guilty of an alternative offense, evangelizing Muslims, and given a three-year sentence – but with that time already having been served, he was released.

The following excerpt is from Fox News.com:

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was originally sentenced to death in his native country for his Christian faith, was acquitted of apostasy charges and released from custody.
Nadarkhani, 32, was imprisoned for three years and waiting execution for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His charges were lowered to evangelizing to Muslims, which carried a three-year sentence. He was released with time served, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, a Washington-based watchdog group that had been campaigning for the pastor's release.
"Today our sources in Iran reported that Pastor Youcef was acquitted of apostasy and released from prison. After languishing in prison for almost three years, he has been reunited with his family," Jordan Sekulow, executive director of ACLJ said in a statement to FoxNews.com.

The following excerpts are from The Diocese of Charlotte's Catholic News Herald:

CHARLOTTE — A solemn Holy Hour concluded three days – 80 hours – of continuous Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick Cathedral to coincide with the Democratic National Convention Sept. 3-6. More than 100 people from Charlotte-area parishes participated in the "Vigil for Liberty," held to pray for religious freedom, protection of the right to life, and an increase in vocations.
Each day of the vigil, worshippers prayed the Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Holy Rosary.
In his Holy Hour homily, Father Christopher Roux, pastor and rector of the cathedral parish, called out Catholics who are apathetic about their faith and encouraged all of us to embrace the Cross like we really mean it.
"Either be hot or cold. Be one or the other. Don't be apathetic. Don't be wishy-washy," Father Roux said.