Magic Statistics

Catholic bishops in India describe the campaign of violence and intimidation that Hindu extremists have inflicted on Christians in Orissa state as an “authentic Calvary”.

The Bishops Conference announce 8 days of prayer following the Christmas attacks. Numerous fugitives still seek refuge in the forests living without food and shelter. A memorandum from the National Commission for Human Rights sent to the State Governor lists the loss and damage done to Christians and demands action against police who stood by and watched.

Many Christians are still missing and unaccounted for.  It is also reported that local police have prevented an investigative team from entering the area to assess damages and arrange for delivery of aid.

The team also noted that no Church group has been allowed to visit the area, and therefore Christian leaders were unable even to "provide psychological support to the traumatized victims." Senior Christian leaders who had reached Phulbani, the district headquarters, were "expelled under police escort and prevented from talking to victims," the report asserted.

The government reportedly began distributing relief material, but in many villages, officials reportedly were not giving relief to women. "The women are asked to come back with their husbands or sons. We fear it may be a ruse to arrest the men folk," the fact-finding team said in the state capital.

A statement from the Global Council of Indian Christians briefly summarises the events of the past ten days and refers to a campaign of “ethnic cleansing against Christians in Orissa”.

Although overt violence seems to have subsided, tensions remain very high and thousands of Christians have been left homeless and without food.

Previous related posts:

• Hundreds of Christians flee to jungle to escape violence
• Anti-Christian violence in India enters third day
• “Worst ever Christmas” for Christians in Orissa, India

These two items from today's LifeSite News reveal a fascinating contrast.

• Chief Rabbis of Israel Rule Abortion "a Grave Sin"
• Top Islamic Council Declares Victims of Rape Must Abort Child

Fish oil provides an omega-3 fatty acid that is known to destroy a protein associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Many Alzheimer's researchers have long touted fish oil, by pill or diet, as an accessible and inexpensive "weapon" that may delay or prevent this debilitating disease. Now, UCLA scientists have confirmed that fish oil is indeed a deterrent against Alzheimer's, and they have identified the reasons why.

Greg Cole, professor of medicine and neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and associate director of UCLA's Alzheimer Disease Research Center, and his colleagues report that the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish oil increases the production of LR11, a protein that is found at reduced levels in Alzheimer's patients and which is known to destroy the protein that forms the "plaques" associated with the disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids have previously been linked with reduced risk of heart disease and slower cognitive decline in some Alzheimer’s patients.

Imran and Yasmine Hafiz, two Muslim teenagers in Phoenix, have written The American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook, a popular book aimed at helping their Muslim peers understand Islam in the American context and showing other teens that “we are normal Americans like anyone else”.  In the report in today’s Christian Science Monitor, the young authors display much common sense.

Asked about the hijab (Muslim head scarf), Yasmine indicates that she thinks it unimportant.

"I think God probably cares more about what's in your head than what's on your head," Yasmine says.

In view of that sentiment, it seems a little incongruous that the story is illustrated with a photograph of a teacher and a large group of young female students at Muslim American Youth Academy in Dearborn, Michigan, all of whom are wearing, not just hijabs, but blindingly white robes.