Authorities in Belgium are treating Monday’s blast near a synagogue in the eastern city of Liege as an anti-Semitic attack, prompting federal prosecutors to launch an investigation while European nations boost security measures.
The explosion occurred during the early morning hours on Monday, causing no injuries but shattering windows in a building facing the synagogue. Belgian officials released a statement condemning the incident: “The explosion was a despicable act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium. Security around similar sites will continue to be strengthened.” Belgium’s Jewish population numbers approximately 40,000.
Meanwhile, the Congressional Executive Committee on China is calling on Congress and the president to address China’s persecution of Chinese Christians residing in the United States. The committee reports that Beijing employs verbal and digital harassment tactics to intimidate believers in America, sometimes escalating to physical threats from Communist operatives. This effort is part of China’s broader multi-year campaign against religious believers, aimed at ensuring all Chinese citizens pledge primary allegiance to the state.
In California, Pope Leo announced the resignation of a Catholic bishop following his arrest on charges of stealing $270,000 from his parish near San Diego. Bishop Emanuel Shaleta faces felony charges including money laundering after being detained at San Diego International Airport while attempting to depart the country. Shaleta has entered a not guilty plea. Sheriff’s officials report receiving documentation from someone at Shaleta’s church “showing potential embezzlement from the church.” Shaleta serves as a leader in the Chaldean Catholic Church, which ministers to over one million Aramaic-speaking faithful.
International Christian Concern warns of a global assault on Bible access, noting that merely possessing scripture can result in execution in North Korea, Yemen, and Afghanistan. Nations including Somalia and Mauritania prohibit the printing, translation, sale, or importation of Bibles. Iranian officials have banned scripture translation into Farsi, the primary language of Iran’s population. The organization reports that Tehran’s government has “printed a number of counterfeit Bibles with the intention of purposefully misleading individuals seeking to learn more about Christ.”
