Save the Churches

Attempts to Close Churches Continue

June 2, 2005 - Sri Lanka. On May 15th 2005, a mob surrounded an independent church in the Colombo district threatening to close it down. Some members of the mob also threatened another local church with the same demands.

On May 27th local police in another district served summons on the pastoral worker, to appear at a magistrates court on Monday 30th May, on a charge of breach of the peace. The case has been filed against the church by the Police.

On May 30th in yet another district, a local pastor was asked to come for a discussion with a monk and community leaders from the village. The pastor was asked to explain the ministry of the church. The monk and the leaders stated that they did not wish to resort to violence. They asked that a church should not be built in the village and the pastor should not engage in evangelism.

The police requested the pastor to confine his activities to the church and not to introduce Christianity to anyone other than the existing five Christian families in the village.

He was made to understand that if he complied with these conditions, he is welcome to stay in the area.

July 4 2005, Churches in England are closing down because of lack of patronage and dwindling member patronage. One of the most affected is the Church of England Anglican Parishes. It has also been reported that some Catholic Dioceses are merging together in the East Midlands because of lack of Priests and Sisters to carry on the missionary and support work within the Parishes.