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July 25, 2008 12:19:28 AM CDT

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Zimbabwe Police Wage War on Anglican Church

Posted May 16, 08 12:29 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Zimbabwe riot police stormed an Anglican service this week, swinging batons to clear the pews, even striking a grandmother who bent to retrieve a fallen Bible. It wasn’t the first time, the New York Times reports. For three straight Sundays, Zimbabwe’s rulers have sent police to break up services, an escalation of its violent voter intimidation campaign and part of a greater fight over who will control the nation's churches.

Only the churches of renegade bishop Nolbert Kunonga have been spared. Kunonga is a staunch ruling party ally who once called Robert Mugabe “a prophet of God" and has been rewarded with a sprawling estate. Zimbabwe’s other churches profess political neutrality. “As a theologian who has read a lot about the persecution of the early Christians, I’m really feeling connected to that history,” said one bishop. “We are being persecuted.”

Source New York Times

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Anglican opposition Movement for Democratic Change worshipers leave a Sunday mass which was allegedly disrupted by riot police in Harare, Zimbabwe Sunday, May 4, 2008.   (AP Photo)
In this Dec. 28, 2007 file photo, riot police protect ballot boxes after violence broke out over reported election fraud in Ngong, just outside Nairobi.   (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo, file)
Armed military police officers stand guard near the entrance of Harare Central police station, Tuesday April 15, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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Zimbabwe  • Robert Mugabe  • Zimbabwe elections  • Zanu-PF  • Anglican Church  • Anglican  • religious persecution


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