6, June 2021
Nigeria’s TB Joshua dies of Covid-19 0
The Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Temitope Joshua, better known as Prophet TB Joshua, died on the way to the hospital, SaharaReporters has gathered.
“He conducted a service yesterday evening. He had been sick for two days. He decided to go to the hospital after the evening programme. He died on the way to the hospital,” a source told Saharareporters.
The church and his family have not officially announced his death. He was 57. Joshua was born on June 12, 1963, in Arigidi, Akoko axis of Ondo State. Plans were underway for his 58th birthday, which is six days away.
News of his demise became a trend on social media in the early hours of Sunday as many Nigerians took turns to mourn the late prophet.
The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed, but sources told Saharareporters he fell ill two days ago. His body is believed to have been deposited at General Hospital in Isolo, Lagos.
TB Joshua’s megachurch runs the popular Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos, followed by many Christians worldwide.
Joshua is famous across Africa, Europe and America. His YouTube channel, Emmanuel TV, had over 1,000,000 subscribers and was the world’s most viewed Christian ministry on the platform before it was suspended.
A rights group had filed a complaint after reviewing videos showing the preacher conducting prayers to “cure” gay people.
He is well known for his controversial prophecies such as the Ghana terror attack, US presidential election, coronavirus and his influence in African politics. He recently predicted Nigeria would remain one despite instability in different parts of the country.
He recently wrote on his Facebook page about plans to celebrate his 58th birthday.
He said, “As things stand, you may have realised it will not be easy for me to celebrate my birthday under the present circumstances. Some of the people who want to come are troubled by the situation all over the world. We see their fear and their worry. I feel their pain; I feel their worry.
“Therefore, let us dedicate this day to prayer and fasting. Don’t forget the needy. By the grace of God, more birthdays are ahead. God bless you! Emmanuel. Jesus is Lord! Happy Birthday.”
Source: Sahara Reporters
6, June 2021
The Holy Father’s ‘pain’ over bodies found at Canadian indigenous school 0
Pope Francis expressed his “pain” Sunday over the discovery of the remains of 215 children in a mass grave at a former indigenous boarding school in Canada run by the Church.
But he did not go so far as to offer the apology that many people have been calling for over the unfolding scandal.
“I follow with pain the news coming from Canada about the shocking discovery of the remains of 215 children,” he said, following Sunday prayers at Saint Peter’s Square.
The discovery of the remains of the children last month sent shockwaves through Canadian society.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday called on the Catholic Church to take responsibility for its role in the deaths at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia.
He has already promised “concrete action” from the government and urged his fellow Catholics in Canada to make it clear to the Church that they expected its full cooperation too.
“Before we have to start taking the Catholic Church to court, I am very hopeful that religious leaders will understand that this is something they need to participate in,” he added.
In his speech Sunday, Pope Francis said: “I unite with the Canadian bishops and the entire Catholic Church in Canada in expressing my solidarity with the Canadian people traumatised by this shocking news.
“The sad discovery further increases awareness of the pain and suffering of the past,” he added.
– ‘Reconciliation and healing’ –
The pope called for Canada’s political and religious leaders to work together to “shed light on this sad matter” and begin the process of “reconciliation and healing”.
But in his comments Friday, Trudeau stressed: “We need to have truth before we can talk about justice, healing and reconciliation.”
UN rights experts on Friday urged both Ottawa and the Vatican to hold swift and thorough investigations into the affair.
On Wednesday, Vancouver Archbishop J Michael Miller offered an apology on behalf of the Church in a statement.
But there have been growing calls for an apology from the pope himself — including from some Canadian government ministers.
The Kamloops Indian Residential School was the largest of 139 boarding schools set up in the late 19th century to assimilate Canada’s indigenous peoples, with up to 500 students registered and attending at any one time.
Only 50 deaths were ever officially recorded at the institution, where a principal once pleaded for more funds to properly feed students.
It was operated by the Catholic church on behalf of the Canadian government from 1890 to 1969, before Ottawa took over its administration and closed it a decade later.
Source: AFP