Tag: Latin America

The potential impact of US elections on the Church in Cuba

October 26, 2016 Cuba Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Elections, Havana, Hilary Clinton, Latin America, Raúl Castro

It’s been a year since the US embassy in Havana was opened, followed by the historic visit by President Barack Obama. Since then, collaboration between the two countries has increased. “Direct flights are due to begin this month, travel restrictions have been eased for US citizens and bilateral cooperation increased . . . Read More

FARC: ‘Colombia wins, death loses’ in peace deal, but not everyone is convinced

August 25, 2016 Colombia ELN, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Trauma

An anti-FARC march in 2008. The conflict has raged for over 50 years, claiming over 250,000 lives and creating the world’s largest population of internally displaced people – nearly 7 million.AlCortes / Flickr / CC The deal is done. The war, at least on paper, is over. After more . . . Read More

Colombia: How will FARC deal impact the Church?

July 4, 2016 Colombia ELN, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Russ Stendal

Colombians are celebrating after more than half a century of civil war was brought to an end on 23 June with the signing of a ceasefire between the government and the largest rebel group – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. But what will the anticipated confirmation of . . . Read More

Argentinian pastor’s fight for religious freedom goes on

September 28, 2015 Argentina Argentina, Córdoba, Latin America, Marcelo Nieva, Río Tercero

Marcelo Nieva, pastor of the Pueblo Grande Baptist Church.World Watch Monitor It has been almost 12 months since Argentinian pastor Marcelo Nieva survived an assassination attempt. World Watch Monitor first met Nieva, 36, five months earlier, in May 2014, when he said that the introduction of a state law . . . Read More

Analysis: Latin American Christians need protection from organized crime

September 24, 2015 Colombia, Corruption, El Salvador, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Los Zetas, Mexico, Michoacán, Organised crime

For three days last month, El Salvador was the deadliest country in the world. The 125 people killed in gang-related violence from 16-18 Aug. could not be matched even by the horrors in Syria and Iraq. Violence related to organized crime is perhaps the most significant threat to Latin America’s . . . Read More

Colombian priest dies after mugging

March 25, 2015 Colombia Colombia, Latin America, Organised crime, Sincelejo

A Colombian priest has died of his injuries after being shot during a mugging on March 21 in the northern city of Sincelejo. The funeral for Fernando Meza Luna, who led the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima church, was held yesterday (March 24) in the city’s cathedral. “I am . . . Read More

Among the FARC, a growing Christian presence

February 26, 2015 Colombia Arauca, Communism, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Missionaries, Russ Stendal

FARC Commander Ivan Marquez gives a press conference, on Nov. 19, 2014 in Havana to commemorate the second anniversary of the beginning of the peace talks with the Colombian government.ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images After a half-century of continuous civil war in Colombia, a new story is beginning to emerge: Guerrillas in . . . Read More

Organised crime is making life worse for Latin America Christians

February 8, 2015 Bolivia, Central America, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, ELN, Evo Morales, FARC, Guatemala, Honduras, Latin America, Mexico, Nicaragua, Organised crime, Pentecostals, Venezuela

About one-quarter of the world’s Christians live in Latin America and, apart from in Colombia, most have enjoyed wide freedom to live out their faith. Christian life in Latin America is getting a bit more difficult, however, according to Open Doors International, creator of the World Watch List. The annual . . . Read More

2014: A year of rising hostility toward Christians

January 7, 2015 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Asia, Boko Haram, Buddhist nationalism, Central African Republic, China, Communism, Converts, East Africa, Fulani herdsmen, Hindu nationalism, India, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Latin America, Malaysia, Mexico, Middle Belt, Middle East, Narendra Modi, Nigeria, North Korea, Religious freedom, Sri Lanka, Sub-Saharan Africa, Syria

While the world’s eyes were riveted to Syria and Iraq in 2014, life for Christians worsened even more profoundly in Africa, according to an annual report on religious freedom. The situation deteriorated most rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa, in countries where Islamic extremism is the main source of pressure upon Christians, . . . Read More

Book review: ‘The Global War on Christians’

November 19, 2013 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Asia, Buddhist nationalism, Burundi, Colombia, Eastern Europe, Eritrea, Hindu nationalism, Islamic extremism, Kenya, Latin America, Middle East, Organised crime, Philippines

It has been an astonishing last 12 months for books on the persecution of Christians when there has been such silence on the issue for so long. First came ‘Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack’ in late 2012; then the more simply titled, ‘Persecuted: the Global Assault on Christians’ in March . . . Read More

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