Religion Archives - SocietyGazette.com

Lutheran Church of Norway apologises to gay community for past discrimination

The Lutheran Church of Norway on Thursday apologised to the country’s LGBTQ community, at a gay pub in Oslo, for the discrimination and harassment it subjected them to in the past.

“The Church of Norway inflicted shame, serious harm and pain on gay people,” said Olav Fykse Tveit, presiding bishop of the Church of Norway, in a speech at the London Pub, a prominent venue for the gay community.

“It should never have happened and to them I say today: I’m sorry,” he said, acknowledging that the “discrimination, unequal treatment and harassment” caused some to lose their faith.

In the 1950s, the church said gay people were a “global social danger” and qualified their acts as “perverse and despicable.”

Over time, the Church of Norway — which has 3.4 million members, representing over 60 percent of the Norwegian population — has adopted a more liberal approach.

It has allowed gay pastors since 2007 and religious unions for same-sex couples since 2017.

Thursday’s apology was “strong and important” but comes “too late for those of us who died of AIDS … with hearts filled with anguish because the church considered the epidemic to be God’s punishment,” said Stephen Adom, leader of Norway’s Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity.

“We are seeing a populist and conservative Christian wave sweeping across country after country. In the United States, in Hungary, but also in Norway, it is becoming increasingly accepted among religious and political leaders to denigrate the human diversity of identities and bodies,” he lamented.

The London Pub was one of two bars targeted in a shooting that left two dead and nine injured during Oslo’s Pride parade on June 25, 2022.

The perpetrator, Zaniar Matapour, a Norwegian of Iranian origin who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, was sentenced to the maximum penalty, 30 years in prison which can be extended indefinitely, for committing an “aggravated terrorist act.”

In 2023, Tveit himself participated in the Pride parade, a first for a Church of Norway presiding bishop.

According to a survey conducted by the Opinion Institute for the Church of Norway, 65 percent of respondents said it was “high time” for the institution to apologise to gay people.

Other Protestant churches in England and Canada have issued similar apologies in recent years.

AFP

Confront false narratives on religious conflict, Islamic council urges FG

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has called on the Federal Government to take a firmer stance against what it described as false and misleading claims of religious persecution in Nigeria, urging authorities to identify and address the sources of such narratives.

In a statement signed by its Deputy National Legal Adviser, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze on Friday, the Council said it had observed “the avalanche of refutations by many agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria, well-meaning Nigerians across religious divides and the National Assembly of the recent false allegation circulating on some international platforms and the social media that there is a systematic genocidal campaign against Christians in Nigeria.”

The NSCIA commended the Federal Government and other stakeholders who had publicly rejected the claims but expressed concern that their responses did not go far enough.

It said, “Council wondered why the government could not, at least for once, go the whole hog by calling a spade a spade, by speaking the whole truth.”

The Council maintained that insecurity in Nigeria affects citizens of all faiths and should not be portrayed as targeted at any single group.

It cited the US State Department’s 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, noting that “terrorists, bandits and armed criminal groups target mosques and churches indiscriminately in Nigeria.”

The statement added, “In the first half of 2025 alone, terrorists and bandits are reported to have killed at least 2,266 civilians across Northern Nigeria, where Muslims are predominant, leaving over 2 million people displaced and over 7.8 million others in need of urgent aid.”

It also referenced findings by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom 2025 Annual Report, which acknowledged that both Muslims and Christians had been victims of attacks, stressing that the situation “does not take any pattern.”

The council said its decision to remain restrained in the face of allegations and misrepresentations was motivated by its commitment to national unity.

“Council wishes to place on record that its decision to be quiet in the face of all the attacks, innuendos and insults being hurled at Muslims in this country is as a result of the necessity of protecting the corporate existence of this nation,” it stated.

The NSCIA also referred to a comment by the Director of National Issues and Social Welfare of the Christian Association of Nigeria, who observed that insecurity affects all Nigerians, saying: “If they open fire in a marketplace, the bullets don’t look for a Christian or spare a Muslim or even spare a baby.”

Expressing concern about policies it believes could deepen divisions, the Council drew attention to a recent circular by the National Insurance Commission restricting co-insurance between conventional insurers and Takaful operators.

It stated, “This circular of exclusivity, which clearly violates the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA 2025), is intended to further create a divide between the Muslims and the non-Muslims in the country.”

Reaffirming its commitment to peace and coexistence, the council said, “Council strongly believes in one and indivisible Nigeria, and it shall continue to work to preserve this ideal even in the face of the greatest provocation.”

It urged the Federal Government to strengthen public communication and ensure that misinformation capable of fuelling religious tension is swiftly addressed through accurate, evidence-based engagement.

The NSCIA’s statement comes amid growing international attention on religious freedom in Nigeria. Western advocacy groups and international media outlets have accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christians from attacks, allegations which the Federal Government and local religious leaders have repeatedly dismissed as exaggerated and politically motivated.

In September, US Senator Ted Cruz introduced S.2747 — the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, a proposed law seeking to compel the US Secretary of State to list Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for alleged breaches of religious freedom and to impose sanctions on certain Nigerian officials.

The bill builds on long-standing recommendations from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which has consistently urged Washington to apply the CPC designation to Nigeria, citing what it describes as federal and state-level shortcomings in safeguarding religious minorities.

In a plenary debate on Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio warned against the framing of Nigeria’s security challenges in strictly religious terms, cautioning that doing so could distort the reality on the ground and deepen sectarian tension. https://punchng.com/akpabio-warns-against-framing-insecurity-along-religious-lines/

He urged that foreign narratives—particularly from Western media and legislators—should not be allowed to define Nigeria’s security discourse.

Akpabio insisted that terrorists and bandits do not discriminate by faith when launching attacks.

He emphasized that attacks in states like Borno, Kaduna, Benue, and elsewhere have victimized both Christians and Muslims alike, and thus must be approached as national security issues, not religious conflicts.

Olubadan, Oba Olakulehin dies at 90

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has passed away.

Olakulehin died at the age of 90.

The PUNCH Online learnt that the monarch died in the early hours of Monday.

Olakulehin died during the ongoing 90th birthday and first anniversary coronation celebrations.

He succeeded the late Oba Lekan Balogun.

A source close to the Olubadan-In-Council confided in our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, that “we received the message that the paramount ruler passed away this morning. He has joined his forefathers. Though it has to be officially announced by the state government.”

Another palace source, who confirmed the news, said the Otun Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who is the next in line to become Olubadan, is currently out of the country and he is expected back.

“We are expecting a former Governor of the State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who is currently out of the country, to come back home.

“He must have been briefed,” he said.

How Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s Death Led Me to Christ

By Apostle Raphael Adebayo

It’s often in our greatest moments of pain that God reveals our deepest purpose. For me, it all began on July 7, 1998, in a small apartment in Arlington, Texas, when I received the heartbreaking news of the death of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola—a man I admired and desired to be like.

That moment shook my faith to its foundation and set me on a spiritual journey I never expected.

—

From Devotion to Disillusionment

Before that day, I was a committed Muslim. I had grown up in Yoruba traditional and Islamic practices and was active in the Muslim Students Society at Obafemi Awolowo University, serving on its Jihad Committee from 1983 to 1988.

M.K.O. Abiola was a beacon of hope to many Nigerians. His death in detention felt like the death of a dream.

> “I was devastated and lost hope in the power of love and solidarity in Islam. I said to myself, ‘I will never pray as a Muslim again unless I can receive clarity on this tragic end of a man I desired to be like.’”

I couldn’t understand how fellow Muslims—friends and allies of M.K.O.—could allow him to die alone. That disillusionment opened my heart to seek a deeper, truer encounter with God.

—

A Radical Encounter with Christ

On December 2, 1998, while en route to Lagos after three years in America, I surrendered my life to Jesus.

> “I gave myself only six months to try Jesus—just six months to see if He really had the power and love attributed to Him. Now, 27 years later, I am still walking in that power and love.”

Encouraged by my then-fiancée (now wife), I joined The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in February 1999. I immersed myself in the Word, served passionately, and was appointed head of the Men’s Fellowship and later the Prayer Department.

I took inspiration from 1 John 3:8, which says:

> “For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

I knew in my spirit—I was called to do the same.

—

A Burden for the Homeless in America

Back in America, I was shocked by what I saw: extreme poverty and homelessness in one of the world’s richest nations.

> “I saw people living in America as poor as those living on the train lines of Agege and Oshodi in Lagos. It was beyond what my mind could handle.”

This spiritual burden drove me to act.

—

Ministry Begins on the Streets

On December 25, 2003—my 41st birthday—my family and a few friends gathered on a street corner in Dallas, Texas to hold a service for the homeless. That day, 18 people gave their lives to Jesus.

> “That moment confirmed it: this wasn’t just an outreach—it was a calling.”

We began weekly Tuesday outreach at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. Four weeks later, a Nigerian chicken franchise owner offered to supply fried chicken for free. He has done so faithfully for over 21 years.

—

A Funeral Home Becomes a Church

As our ministry grew, we felt led to start a Sunday service. But where could we meet?

One Tuesday, a visiting minister, Mrs. Cynthia Chase, made a suggestion:

> “Why not try a funeral home? They’re usually available on Sundays.”

That divine idea led us to Eternal Rest Funeral Home, where we held our first Sunday service on May 30, 2004.

By August 1, 2004, we moved into a rented space at 1705 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, which became our permanent church building in 2014.

> “We have watched God transform what was once labeled a ghetto into an extension of Downtown Dallas.”

—

From Exodus to Empowerment

This journey has been more than just a ministry. It’s a calling to serve the poor, homeless, and rejected—those society has forgotten.

My story, and the lessons God has taught me through this mission, are captured in my new book:

Moses, David, Jesus: Pastors to the Poor, Homeless, and the Needy

> “Just as God sent Moses to deliver Israel, and David to lead the distressed, and Jesus to set captives free—He sent me to serve the homeless and needy in America.”

It is my hope that this story inspires people in positions of privilege to start asking:

> “What can I do to make a difference in my community?”

Because true ministry begins not on the platform—but in the streets.

Segun Oluwayomi: Pioneering AlujoHymn Fusion, the New Sound of African Worship

Segun Oluwayomi: Pioneering AlujoHymn Fusion, the New Sound of African Worshi

Award-winning gospel saxophonist Segun Oluwayomi is the creative force behind AlujoHymn Fusion—a powerful new genre where the pulse of African rhythms meets the sacred soul of Christian hymns. A native of Ilorin, Nigeria, and an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Oluwayomi has turned his saxophone into a prophetic tool for worship and healing.

His musical journey spans over two decades, three landmark albums (Arugbo Ojo Series I–III), and multiple international tours across Europe, the UK, the U.S., and East Africa. His recent singles—Bethlehem, Prophetic Declaration on Nigeria, and Praise of the Prophets II—continue to reinforce his position as a spiritual voice in African jazz and Christian music.

Oluwayomi’s ministry is deeply rooted in Colossians 3:16, calling people into deeper worship. Whether through live concerts, social media, or broadcast ministry, testimonies of divine encounters and miraculous healings have followed his music.

Described as “the face of traditional Christian music,” Segun Oluwayomi is a cultural bridge between heritage and holiness, carrying the sound of heaven with Africa’s heartbeat.

Pray for our leaders, NAHCON chair urges Nigerian pilgrims

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Professor Abdullahi Usman, has urged Nigerian pilgrims to pray for the nation and seek divine guidance for leaders to deliver good governance.

Usman gave the advice during his visit to Nigerian pilgrims from North-West states’ tents in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

According to him, Allah’s divine guidance is essential for effective governance and national progress.

The NAHCON chairman urged Nigerians to borrow a leaf from Saudi Arabia, where clerics consistently pray for their leaders.

He said that such spiritual support played a role in the country’s development.

“The success of our leaders is tied to our nation’s success. We must pray for them, and if you wish them good or bad, it befalls the nation,” he said.

Usman said that the visit was aimed at assessing the welfare of pilgrims, gathering firsthand feedback, and making necessary interventions.

He also urged pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria by obeying the host country’s laws, adding that they should always be with their identification cards.

He commended the 2025 Hajj operations, attributing the success to collaboration among stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Amirul Hajj of Katsina State and Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal, praised NAHCON’s efforts.

Lawal, however, called for a unified visa process to reduce the delay and improve efficiency.

The NAHCON Commissioner for Operations, Inspectorate, and Licensing, Anofiu Elegushi, advised pilgrims to avoid excess luggage.

Elegushi said that each pilgrim would receive five litres of Zamzam water, adding that they had no need to carry it with their luggage.

Speaking on the recent fire incident in a pilgrims’ hotel in Makkah, he confirmed that no casualties were recorded and all affected pilgrims had been relocated to new accommodations.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Layode, pledged continued collaboration with NAHCON and encouraged pilgrims to maintain tolerance and unity during and after the pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia turns back over 269,000 unauthorised pilgrims from Mecca

Saudi authorities have prevented more than 269,000 individuals without official permits from entering Mecca ahead of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, officials announced on Sunday as reported by AlArabiya and AP.

The move came as part of a broader effort to control overcrowding and ensure safety during the annual Islamic ritual.

The Interior Ministry stated that the measure targets both foreign nationals and Saudi residents attempting to perform Hajj without authorisation.

Fines of up to $5,000 and possible deportation have been imposed on violators.

In addition, authorities have penalised over 23,000 residents for breaking Hajj regulations and revoked the licences of 400 Hajj service providers.

At a press conference in Mecca, officials said they had stopped 269,678 people without permits from entering the city.

According to the rules, only those with permits are allowed to perform the pilgrimage, even if they live in the city year-round.

Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Omari told the media, “The pilgrim is in our sight, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands.”

The strict enforcement came amid growing concerns about the impact of unauthorised pilgrims on public safety.

Last year, many of those who died during extreme summer heat were found to be unregistered participants, according to government sources.

Currently, approximately 1.4 million pilgrims with permits are in Mecca, with more expected to arrive in the coming days.

In a sign of increased surveillance and technological intervention, Saudi Civil Defence has deployed drones for the first time during the Hajj.

These drones will assist in crowd monitoring, surveillance, and even firefighting, officials said.

The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey at least once in their lifetime.

This year’s pilgrimage is being held under high temperatures, raising further concerns for health and safety.

2025 Hajj: Saudi Arabia deports Sheikh Gumi 26th May

Saudi authorities have barred and deported prominent Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, despite initially granting him a visa.

Sheikh Gumi confirmed the development on Monday, May 26, 2025, by posting on his official Facebook page. He explained that although he received a visa for Hajj, he was denied entry into Medina, where he was scheduled to commence his religious rites.

According to findings, Gumi was among a group of clerics sponsored by the Nigerian Hajj Commission to offer religious support during the pilgrimage.

“Due to some reasons related to my views on world politics, the authorities in Saudi Arabia do not want me to be present at Hajj even though they have granted me a visa,” Gumi stated on Facebook.

Click the link for more

2025 Hajj: Saudi Arabia bars, deports Sheikh Gumi

Police seal church over alleged killing of LASU graduate

The Police Command in Lagos State has sealed a church over the alleged killing of a 28-year-old graduate of Lagos State University, Adedamola Ogunbode.

The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Monday.

Hundeyin said that the church where some people alleged that the missing boy was killed and buried had been sealed to prevent it from being burned.

“The church was sealed following intelligence reports that some people planned to burn it down out of vengeance and we do not want that to happen.

“It is still a suspected crime scene, we still need to go over it, we may need to revisit that scene multiple times for us to gather evidential value.

“The church has been sealed for now to prevent it from being burned. And we assure the public that updates will be given about the investigation and the progress we have made as soon as we get new updates,” he said.

The PPRO said that three suspects have been detained so far.

“We have three suspects, the pastor and two others in custody, and the case is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department,” he said.

According to him, efforts are underway to apprehend five other suspects, two of the five suspects are outside the country in Benin Republic.

Hundeyin in a statement on Friday said that the matter was no longer a case of missing person but suspected murder.

“Investigation has been intensified to locate the body of the deceased and uncover the circumstances surrounding his death.

“Among the five suspects into whose accounts money was moved from the victim’s account, three suspects had been apprehended and in police custody,” he said.

Hundeyin said that the State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, assured intensive investigation.

“CP Jimoh has assured the public that the command is fully committed to resolving the matter and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

CP Jimoh calls for restraint from actions that could potentially hinder or interfere with the ongoing investigative efforts,” he stated.

El-Rufai condoles Ecwa Church as gunmen kill one, injure others During Church Service

Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai has condoled the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) as gunmen on Sunday morning attacked worshippers during the church service, killing one and leaving others injured.

The incident occurred at the ECWA Church, Gabaciwa in Kachia local government area.

Confirming the incident, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said El-Rufai condemned the attack in the strongest term, describing it as a divisive intent of the criminals leveraging religious sensitivity.

According to him: “Security agencies reported to the Government that the attack occurred at ECWA Church, Gabaciwa in Kachia local government. According to the report, a life was lost and some worshippers were seriously injured, who have been rushed to a medical facility.

“The security agencies are obtaining further details, on which the government will update the public in due course.

“The Governor, who expressed sadness over the incident, described it as an evil act targeting innocent citizens exercising their constitutional and universal rights to religious freedom.

“The Governor added that the attack on the worshippers was a divisive intent of the criminals leveraging religious sensitivity.

“The Governor condoled the ECWA Church and the family of the deceased in particular, and prayed for the repose of the soul of the worshipper.

“The Governor who is awaiting further reports on the incident has directed the Kaduna State State Emergency Management Agency to assess the area and provide succor to the victims receiving medical attention.

“Similarly, the Governor has condoled the family of one Nasiru Abdullahi of Gobirawan Kamacha in Bina general area of Igabi local government who was killed by armed bandits. The Governor also prayed for the repose of his soul.

“As of the time of this update, government is awaiting other situation reports from security agencies.”

Source: The Nation