CP World Report: Underwear Bomber, Coptic Christians, Courageous

By World Report, The Christian Post in partnership with Crossroads, Thursday, October 13, 2011

CP World Report: Underwear Bomber Pleads Guilty,Terrorist Suspect Family Speaks Out, Young Christians Display Faith

The notorious Christmas bomber’s trial came to a stunning and abrupt end. Nigarian born Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab pleaded guilty to all 8 terrorism-related charges against him. He failed in his attempt to execute an al Qaeda plot. It was to blow up a Northwestern flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas 2009, with 289 other passengers aboard that plane. Prosecutors described how the 24 year old prepared himself for martyrdom by performing prayers and a ritual in the washroom, just before takeoff . Abdulmutallab was a student of radical al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlawki –recently killed by American forces in Yemen. al-Awlawki was born in America but raised in Yemen to become an Imam and Al Qaeda leader.

Coptic Christians in the U.S. are leading a call for an international investigation into the brutal deaths of 26 Coptic Christians during a peaceful process. Egyptian military forces are said to have ploughed an armored vehicle into a crowd. The ruling military council is temporarily in charge of Egypt while elections are organized following President Hosni Mubarak’s ousting earlier this year. That same council has ordered an inquiry into the Christian deaths, yet U.S. Coptic Christians are guarded. Right now a rally is being planned in downtown LA for this Sunday. It’s to bring awareness to the plight of the persecuted Christians in Egypt, where Christians make up 10 percent of the population.

The American citizen with an Iranian passport…. accused in a terrorist plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the States….has an estranged wife and kids in Texas. She says he is innocent. Take a look…….

MEANWHILE…
New York representative Peter King –who is also Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee spoke to C-N-N about the plot.

"The Iranians are have crossed a red line. If this had been carried out, an act of murder by a foreign government on our soil of a foreign diplomat. This would have been an act of war."

The assassination attempt could lead to more sanctions against Iran. And, the U.S. state department has issued a travel warning for those planning to travel overseas at this time.

The Supreme Court of Canada is hearing a landmark case pitting free speech against anti-hate protections. The Saskatchewan Human Rights commission is defending the gay community against what it says is hate speech. 43-year-old William Whatcott distributed thousands of flyers condemning homosexuality, using the bible as a reference. Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission lawyer Grant Sharstein argued that one can raise issues about lifestyles but arguments must not be stated in a way that promotes hate. The biggest issue was reflected when Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin repeatedly interjected to probe how offensive material may be censored, but without destroying an individual's right to free expression.

Thousands of youth across America gathered to participate in the event: “Fields of Faith”, where students gather in athletic fields and share their faith with peers. The event has grown every year since it started in 2004. Back then, 6,000 students turned out in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. By 2006, over 50,000 people across 35 states participated in the first national event. And last year, it was more than 150,000 people across 41 states. A number of Christian denominations, ministries and organizations now take part. The idea was developed by Fellowship of Christian Athletes staff member Jeff Martin who wanted to help young people deal with spiritual battles they face.

IN HEALTH NEWS…..

A warning to men about vitamin E supplements. It may raise the risk of prostate cancer.
Researchers tracked the health of more than 35-thousand men for more than five years.
Those who took high doses of vitamin E were 17 percent more likely to develop the disease - even after they quit taking the pills. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Entertainment

After a successful opening weekend at the box office, the Christian film “Courageous” proved itself again in the second week. Early estimates show it brought in about $4.6 million, coming in at number 6 in overall earnings . but it must be noted, it was not shown in as many theatres. But despite all of its financial success, the makers of “Courageous” hope that the film will do more than just reach the top of the charts. The movie about Godly manhood--and fatherhood--was directed by Alex Kendrick who told the York Times…. success for the Courageous team means… changed lives.