After Norway Seizes Pentecostal Family's 5 Kids, Top European Court Will Hear Case

The European Court of Human Rights has agreed to hear the case of a Pentecostal family after Norway seized their children.

Barnevernet—Norway's child-welfare agency—took the children in 2015 under claims that the parents were using spanking as a form of discipline, which is illegal in that nation. The agency took action after a school principal expressed concern that parents Ruth and Marius Bodnariu were indoctrinating their children with their Christian beliefs.

Village Church staffer axed from design conference after group protests over his religious views

David Roark, the communications and resources director for The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, was recently axed as a speaker at an annual design conference after the Dallas Fort Worth arm of the American Institute of Graphic Arts protested his religious views.

The annual Circles Conference, a three-day design and development conference that brings together designers and makers from around the globe is set to take place Sept. 18-20 in Richardson, Texas, this year, but the local AIGA announced it wouldn’t partner with the conference this year because of Roark’s inclusion as a speaker.

Authorities investigating criminal reports of men buying kids in Mexico before crossing US border

Authorities are investigating claims that migrant men in Tijuana, Mexico, are attempting to buy children from poor, single mothers living at shelters so they increase their chances of being released from border detention centers sooner and gaining asylum in the U.S.

The San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that women staying at Tijuana shelters fear their children will be kidnapped after seeing groups of men approaching mothers offering to purchase their children to expedite their process of seeking asylum.

Here's the Spiritual Connection to Your Emotional Eating

My emotions used to be very well-hidden, buried under more than 250 pounds of flesh. I never wanted them to raise their ugly heads or be noticeable in public. I just wanted them to stay put and act nice, not get all in a wad where I'd have to deal with them. I've learned, though, that life is messy so we might as well feel it. But that lesson was a long time coming.

I have always valued what I know much more than what I feel. Many times though, actually most of the time, my behaviors ruled me. For years, my emotions were partnering with the evil one to end my physical existence on this earth.

Chinese officials crack down on religious funerals, weddings

As the Communist Party of China continues to tighten its grip on the regulation of religion and religious activity, a human rights group is reporting that officials are disrupting religious rites and ceremonies such as funerals and weddings that take place outside of church buildings.

Bitter Winter, a magazine documenting human rights and religious freedom abuses in China, reported that attendees of such ceremonies have been threatened with investigation and jail, and in some cases have been arrested and detained for more than two weeks at a time.

Egypt Legalizes 127 Churches in Sweeping Approval

A committee set up by the Egyptian government has approved the legalization of 127 churches that were previously being run in an illegal capacity.

A law passed in 2016 hoped to speed up the process of legalization, with thousands of churches being built without a permit and operating in fear of government reprisals.

Prior to the law being passed, it was notoriously difficult to attain state approval and, therefore, congregations could find themselves at risk of prosecution.