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Church in the WorldFresh crackdown on ChristiansEritrea Ellen Teague - 3 February 2007In a continuing clampdown on Christians in Eritrea, at least 68 Protestant evangelicals and Orthodox renewal movement church members were detained last month in three round-up operations, according to US-based Compass Direct News, writes Ellen Teague. In the northern town of Keren, eight government workers were taken in what is thought to be the first arrest of government staff solely for their religious beliefs. Interrogations have reportedly focused on securing names of leading members of Medhane Alem, a renewal movement within the Coptic Orthodox Church. In the southern city of Assab, 25 Christians were arrested. At the national Sawa Military Centre, 35 student conscripts were jailed and Bibles burned publicly after Christian material was found. Eritrea's population is roughly equally divided between Christianity and Islam. In 2002 the Government ordered the closure of churches not affiliated with the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran denominations, rendering other Christian activity illegal. Independent Protestant churches and the renewal movement of the Orthodox Church cannot operate openly. About 2,000 Christians are currently imprisoned without trial. |
 In this week’s issueFaith and unity through diversity Holy hearts that know how to adore Lifetimes of service For the halt and the lame Tablet Education A heart-warming tail Is the Church too slow in recognising that academies are the future for Catholic schools? Christopher Lamb Goodwin the scapegoat Elena Curti The pain of being a coeliac Catholic Sr M, guest contributor Why the Benedictine family will survive Christopher Lamb Sexual abuse: a multi-faceted response Cardinal Levada addresses Rome conference "Toward Healing and Renewal" is the title given to this Symposium for Catholic Bishops and Religious Superiors on the Sexual Abuse of Minors. For leaders in the Church for whom this ... Prayer for Queen's Diamond Jubilee Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral issue text The Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral has written a prayer for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee which will be used at the cathedral's service of thanksgiving on 5 June. The Archbishops of ...
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