Scripture for meditation: Corinthians 5:6-10
Brothers and sisters: we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each my receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
ASIA/LAOS - Converted
to Christianity? Two soldiers discharged
Savannakhet (Agenzia Fides) - At the end of May 2012,
Khamsorn and Tonglai, two members of the security forces in the village of
Alowmai in the district of Phin, part of the province of Savannakhet, converted
to Christianity. Soon after, their families followed them. The choice was not
appreciated by the village chief, who reported their conversion to the police
chief of the sub-district of Chudsume. They reaffirmed their right to do so, as
all Laotian citizens enjoy freedom of worship. Dissatisfied, the village chief
reported the story to the military command of the District of Phin, head of the
security forces in the district. On 14
June 2012, the command of the military district decided to permanently discharge
Khamsorm and Tonglai from active service in the security forces, by withdrawing
uniforms and weapons. The dismissal took place as a result of their decision to embrace the Christian
faith. "Kahmsorn and Tonglai faithfully served the nation and the citizens
who reside in their village: now they are punished and disgraced because of
their Christian faith," said the NGO "Human Rights Watch for Lao
Religious Freedom" (HRWLRF) in a note sent to Fides. The NGO appeals to
the government of Laos to respect the human rights and religious freedom of the
citizens of Laos, guaranteed by the Loatian constitution, and demands the
reinstatement of Khamsorn and Tonglai in active service among the security
forces. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/6/2012)Prayer: Prayer for Religious Liberty
Almighty God, Father of all nations, for freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus. We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty, the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good. Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties; by your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land. We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness, and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with whom you live and reign, one God, forever and ever. Amen (The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC)
My thoughts:
Religious freedom is worth fighting for. When it is gone, the consequences are
enormous. Fast and pray and speak up so that what is happening in Laos will
stop, and those types of punishments will cease in all nations of the world.
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