Christians busted in Iran for using wine in communion

[Photo The US Report]Eleven members of the Church of Iran have been busted for a key element in their faith—using wine for communion. Additional charges were filed against the members for “their involvement in a house church” and six other members have had their trials for charges of blasphemy postponed after serving time for “crimes against the Islamic order.”

Iran is 98 percent Muslim according to the CIA World Fact Book—89 percent Shia and 9 percent Sunni. The remaining 2 percent of the population practice faiths that include Judaism, Christianity and Baha’i among others.

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Obama’s decision on UN Human Rights Council his worst yet

Pop and mass media have reported President Barack Obama’s desire for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, and even wire services are running interference for what many Americans perceive as Obama’s worst decision to date. The Associated Press said (Apr. 1): “The Obama administration's announcement Tuesday that it would seek a seat reverses former President George W. Bush's policy of disengagement with the Geneva body over its criticism of Israel.” The AP did what many aforesaid media do—they used Israel and George Bush as a smokescreen. Every American who values freedom should send a letter to Washington or at the least, get on the phone. A mass protest—peaceful, of course—would be appropriate. Because the UN Human Rights Council is an absolute insult to human rights, and as an example, I offer you tidbits from Resolution 7/19 adopted March 27, 2009, starting with some troubling numbers.

I met refugees from Somalia when I covered a story for a daily newspaper. The US State Dept. said unpredictable armed conflicts among rival militias are prevalent in southern Somalia, particularly in and around Mogadishu. This has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Somali nationals and the displacement of nearly one million people.The refugees were attending World Refugee Day in Jacksonville; a social services agency worker is shown in the photo as well.

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