Rwandans Turn to Islam After Genocide

THE NEW YORK TIMES, April 6 — After approximately 800,000 Rwandans were killed in massacres 10 years ago, many lost faith in their government and their religion, The New York Times reported.

Catholicism has been the majority faith in the country for almost a century. However, more and more Rwandans are converting to Islam. About 500 mosques have sprung up around the country, twice as many as a decade ago.

“People died in my old church, and the pastor helped the killers,” Yakobo Djuma Nzeyimana, 21, who became a Muslim in 1996, told the newspaper. “I couldn't go back and pray there. I had to find something else.”

But despite some estimates that Muslims in Rwanda number about 1 million, or 15% of the population, Catholicism still remains deeply embedded in Rwandan culture, the Times reported.

Many embraced their faith after the massacres in 1994. “God saved me,” one woman said. “He was testing my faith. Since the genocide I've been transformed. I can endure more now. I have more of a connection with God.”

Chinese Government Detains Another Bishop

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, April 7 — Government agents in China on April 5 detained a bishop from the non-government-controlled Catholic Church, according to the U.S.-based Cardinal Kung Foundation, which monitors religious rights in China.

The agents, who said they were acting on orders, took Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo away from his home in northern China. It was not clear where the bishop was taken, the wire service reported.

Bishop Jia has long refused to associate himself with the Communist Party-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association, which rejects the Vatican and its episcopal appointments in China, instead remaining loyal to Rome.

Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls deplored the actions.

“Once again a member of the Catholic hierarchy has been deprived of his personal freedom without any judicial reason given,” he said in a statement.

The government's action follows a similar one in early March when Bishop Wei Jingyi, recognized by the Vatican as the bishop of Qiqihar, was taken into custody. He was released after a week.

Homosexual Man Sues Catholic Church

THE INDEPENDENT (U.K.), April 9 — When Britain's Catholic Apostle-ship of the Sea found out an applicant for a lay chaplaincy position was in a long-term homosexual relationship, it denied his application.

Now the man is suing, arguing he was discriminated against because of his homosexual orientation.

The 27-year-old social worker, who has been described as a “committed Catholic” and who wishes to remain anonymous, is citing Britain's Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, which took effect in December, as the basis for his case. The regulations state it is illegal to deny someone a job based on his or her sexual orientation.

Religious groups, however, have fought the regulations, arguing they have the freedom to reject applicants who do not conform to their churches' teachings. They have won an exemption to the regulations, which has been challenged in court. A decision is pending in that challenge.