Human Rights

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Burma on Wednesday in the first visit by a secretary of state to the country in more than half century.

In a visit that could lead to a breakthrough in U.S.-Burma relations, Clinton will be going to the Southeast Asian nation to gauge the government’s commitment to reform.

Burma has been ruled by a totalitarian military junta for 49 years, which has recently begun loosening its reigns on power and establishing new reforms and more political freedom with a 2010 transition to civilian rule. more >>

Nigeria is poised to ban and criminalize gay marriage in a bill that is gaining widespread support in the country’s legislature.

The bill would prohibit gay couples from marrying and punish offenders with up to five years in prison. Witnesses of gay marriage are also subject to up to five years of jail time.

"I am so confident because Nigeria is a society that is very, very godly," Sen. Domingo Obende, who sponsored the bill, told the AP. more >>

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that proponents of Proposition 8 – the 2008 voter-approved ballot initiative that defined marriage as between a man and a woman – have legal standing to defend the amendment in federal court.

The appeals case by Prop. 8 supporters was in danger of being derailed when a district court in August 2010 struck down Prop. 8 and named defendants – then Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and then Attorney General Jerry Brown – refused to appeal the ruling.

But the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday that the ProtectMarriage.com legal team, including Alliance Defense Fund attorneys, have the right under state law to defend the amendment. more >>

Burmese authorities have detained the owner of an orphanage in connection to a bombing that killed 10 people and injured 27 on Sunday.

The state-sponsored media has reported Dayaung Tangoon engaged in a grenade-bombing campaign, which included targeting his orphanage located in Kachin State, a Christian minority stronghold in northern Burma.

But residents in Kachin State claim the arrest and official news reports are more persecution aimed at Christians in Kachin State, which has been fighting the Burmese government for independence. more >>

Correction Appended

Millions of Christians in thousands of churches around the world will be participating in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Sunday, said a spokesman for Open Doors International.

Paul Estabrooks, senior communications specialist for Open Doors International, told The Christian Post that the day is a time to focus on intercessory prayer on behalf of Christians worldwide who are experiencing an increasing amount of persecution. more >>

After the riots at Penn State University, in which students protested the firing of the school's legendary head football coach Joe Paterno, who is accused of not taking proper action in a child sex abuse case, those very familiar with the issue of sexual abuse say they are in shock and find the whole incident troubling.

After school administrators announced Paterno's firing Wednesday night, Penn State students took to the streets, chanting their beloved coach's name.

An estimated 2,200 students started rioting Wednesday night and continued through Thursday, moving into the downtown area of Penn State, known as Beaver Canyon, yelling slogans like "We love Joe," "We want Joe," and "We are Penn State." more >>