A new proposed “anti-conversion” law in India
Christians in India’s Karnataka state have faced increased attacks in recent months after state officials proposed a new anti-conversion law.
This year, Karnataka ranks third among states in India for the highest number of attacks on Christians and churches.
The anti-conversion law will likely pass in the state during its upcoming winter session this month. However, Hindu nationalists are already acting as if the law is in force. Locals often use anti-conversion laws as cover to harass and assault Christians.
New German Chancellor dropped “so help me God” from oath
Olaf Scholz became Germany’s ninth post-World War II chancellor yesterday.
Scholz now heads the European Union’s most populous nation and largest economy. This brings an end to Angela Merkel’s historic 16-year tenure as chancellor.
Scholz was in the mainstream Protestant Evangelical Church in Germany at one point, but later left it. He is reportedly Germany’s first Chancellor to not belong to a church. Scholz took the oath of office without the religious reference “so help me God.” The only other chancellor to do so was Merkel’s predecessor Gerhard Schröder.