eni-summary list Ecumenical News International News Highlights 27 March 2003

Iraq war ‘morally and legally justifiable’, says dissenting Anglican bishop

London (ENI). A senior Anglican bishop, Peter Forster, has broken ranks with most of his colleagues and with the archbishop of Canterbury to voice support for the US-led military action in Iraq. Forster, who is the bishop of Chester, in north-western England, described the military action as “both morally and legally justifiable. Although there were and are risks in taking this action, I believe that there were greater risks in permitting the regime of Saddam Hussein to remain in power.” [395 words, ENI-03-0135]

Indian Christians distressed by passage of anti-conversion law in Gujarat

New Delhi (ENI). Churches in India have expressed shock over the enactment of a controversial law curbing religious conversion that passed without debate on Wednesday in the legislative assembly of the state of Gujarat. Called the Freedom of Religious Conversion Bill, the legislation provides for three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50 000 rupees (US$1045) for religious conversion by “force or by lure”. Even a conversion recognised as not having been coerced could bring a one-year prison sentence and a fine, if it did not receive prior approval from the head of the district. [412 words, ENI-03-0137]

Slain Irish cleric remembered by Philippines in peace award

Manila (ENI). Filipinos are remembering the life’s work of a slain Roman Catholic priest by awarding a peace prize posthumously to the Irish cleric who strove for Christian-Muslim understanding in a strife-torn part of the southern Philippines. The priest, Michael Anthony Rufus Halley, was 57 when he was gunned down by unidentified men who tried to kidnap him on 28 August 2001, near his parish in the town of Malabang, Lanao del Sur Province, Mindanao island in the southern Philippines. He was named a co-recipient of the prestigious Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Awards. [388 words, ENI-03-0136]

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