Sudanese Christians Flogged and Imprisoned

FIDES, April 20 — The leaders of 10 Christian denominations have protested to the Sudanese premier for the treatment of Christians during Eastertide, the missionary news service reported.

According to Fides, 100 men, women and children were arrested and given harsh sentences –– including lashing, flogging and prison time –– following unrest sparked by the cancellation of an inter-denominational open-air Easter service in Khartoum. Then, on Easter Monday, an airplane carrying El Obeid Bishop Macram Max Gassis was caught in an attack on an airfield in the Nuba mountain region by government bombers.

The bishop and his entourage were unhurt but a militiaman was killed and two civilians were injured. According to Fides, the Khartoum regime has long seen the bishop as an obstacle to their efforts to depopulate and demoralize the people of the Nuba region, which is rich in resources.

Converts Trouble Myanmar Leadership

AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED, April 20 –– Fearing a loss of control in the face of an ever-increasing number of converts, the government of Myanmar is implementing tighter control over the activities of Christians, the international charitable organization said in a press release.

Some 1.4 million Christians, 600,000 of whom are Catholic, face daily scrutiny in the Southeast Asian country, which is better known as Burma.

Various dioceses throughout Myanmar are facing restrictions on the number of foreign visitors who may stay in Church-owned buildings. In some dioceses of the country, the press release said, authorities are demanding detailed reports of all visits.

Most French Still Praying, Survey Finds

PELLERIN, April 15 –– In an era of widespread consumerism, prayer continues to be of value for most Frenchmen, a survey published in the Catholic weekly indicated.

The survey, which was carried out by the public opinion enterprise Sofres, revealed that prayer continues to inspire 67% of Frenchmen. Only 2% regard prayer as something ridiculous or old-fashioned.

Half of those surveyed said they pray and meditate, although only 42% said they pray in the strict sense of the term; 22% pray regularly, at least once a week.

Women are more pious (54%) than men (46%). Personal prayer at home is preferred by 79%, as opposed to prayer in a church (48%).

To the question “To whom do the French address their prayer?” the answers are: 65% pray to God; 35% to the Virgin Mary; and 25% to Christ.

Among the other of the survey's findings were that 45% of Frenchmen offer prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 43% pray for personal healing or success for others; and 39% pray for the problems of the world. Among the prayer intentions for personal reasons, 49% pray on important occasions, 35% for courage to face life and 23% to overcome stress.

The Sofres survey was carried out from March 22-24, and included interviews with 953 individuals, representing Frenchmen older than 18.