CFT's bi-weekly CHRISTIAN NEWS

15 June 1998

* CHRISTIAN ZULU WOMEN PERSECUTED BY CULT - The Shembe religion is becoming increasingly aggressive in their attempts to force family members into the cult. General Secretary of CFT Rev Alpheus Mdlalose says that Christian women find themselves in extremely difficult situations and need much prayer. Zulu husbands who are followers of Shembe often use coercion to force their Christian wives to leave their church and join their religion. If she refuses, the husband is encouraged to take another wife.

The Shembe religion is one of a number of rapidly growing syncretistic religions based on the belief that their leader is the messiah. There have recently been a number of court cases over who would be the new messiah when two relatives contested the position after Shembe died. The Shembe religion claims about 500,000 followers and Shembe is worshipped as equal to Christ Himself. Some of the Shembe beliefs include: worship of ancestral spirits, polygamy, and belief in Shembe miracles. Their most recent bumper sticker states: "Shembe is the Way".

* CONDEMNED TO DIE BECAUSE OF AGE - In an effort to curtail costs the South African Health Department has refused their services to certain categories of treatable diseases. This new policy was highlighted by a letter to the press from Rev E. H. Stegen:

"A dear friend of mine, Rev Samuel Dlamini, was given the death sentence last week by the Health Department. A new Health directive has refused him kidney dialysis treatment because he is over 60 years of age. This has effectively condemned him to die because age is now a basis for discrimination by the public hospital authorities. Doctors at King Edward hospital agree that Rev Dlamini can be helped by dialysis three times a week but their willingness to help has been prevented by the Department of Health. His condition is rapidly deteriorating and he is likely to die soon if the authorities refuse to grant him permission to use the dialysis facilities. Rev Samuel Dlamini has been a very active member in his church and Umlazi community and was the chairman of a number of boards for many years. It is tragic that this man who gave his life to community upliftment is condemned to die by the new health dispensation. The Bill of Rights declares that no person shall be discriminated against on the grounds of age. The Health Department's discrimination against Rev Samuel Dlamini will not just cause hurt and offense - as with racial discrimination - but the negation of all his rights as a citizen of South Africa because his right to life has been violated by the State. Is this perhaps the beginning of FORCED EUTHANASIA based on age?"

* PROTECTION FOR UNBORN BABIES OF ALCOHOLIC PREGNANT MOTHERS - (USA) A pregnant woman with bad drinking habits can, according to a US court, be detained and kept away from alcohol till after her birth. This new ruling will take effect in South Dakota from 1 July. The state of Wisconsin has already passed similar legislation and 12 other states want to do the same. The previous month saw the Supreme Court ruling that South Carolina could continue prosecuting pregnant women who use drugs such as cocaine, for child maltreatment. This is seen as a victory for pro-life pressure groups. In practice there is no distinction between the rights of a foetus and that of a baby and this may lead to new legal disputes over which the Supreme Court will eventually have to decide. (Beeld, 2 June)

* UZBEKISTAN'S ANTI CHRISTIAN LAW - Uzbekistan's new religion law is among the harshest in the former Soviet republics. Passed on the first of May, it prohibits religious activity by unregistered groups and sets stringent registration standards for religious organisations, Keston News Service said. To become registered, a religious organization must be present in at least eight of the country's 14 districts and have 100 members over the age of 18. All proselytism is forbidden, and imported religious literature is banned. The law requires that religious teachers be certified by the government and have permission to teach from a registered religious organization, Keston said. (BP)

* MOROCCAN CHRISTIANS SENTENCED FOR BIBLES - Four Christians accused of illegally importing Bibles to Morocco have been sentenced to two months in prison. In addition, the four were fined 420,000 dirhams ($42,000) and a yacht and a motorcycle were confiscated. The two-month prison terms were suspended. (Compass)

* ABSTINENCE FOR SOUTH AFRICA - The following press statement was issued by True Love Waits for South Africa's 16th June Youth Day (a national holiday):

True Love Waits - 142 000 strong - is the most successful abstinence campaign in the country. The trend of abstinence has become a fashionable lifestyle for single young people. In view of the AIDS crisis, the Health Department's stated philosophy is two-pronged - abstinence and protection. It is alarming however, that they refuse to put their money where their mouth is, by failing to support and implement abstinence programmes. With the constant and growing failure to stem AIDS through condoms - the department refuses to admit the obvious - abstinence should be given priority A recent survey commissioned by the Sunday Times and conducted by the SABS revealed that none of the four brands of condoms sold in South Africa passed all tests performed on them. Although condoms were not failproof, the department said they provided sexually active individuals with the only means of protection against STDs including HIV infection. To support the growing demand for the message of abstinence, the TLW Campaign is promoted by a team of volunteers. They give their time and money to inform the South African youth of the dangers of premarital sex and advantages of abstinence. Thousands have signed up and their pledge cards are available for perusal by the media at TLW's Durban office. So contrary to the 'just do it' philosophy - don't do it!

(TLW South Africa can be contacted at: TrueLoveWaits@usa.net)

* The Salvation Army will forgo $3.5 million in funding rather than comply with a pro-homosexual policy in San Francisco, the organization announced June 4. The cuts come because of a city policy requiring organizations which do business with the city to treat homosexual couples the same as legally married couples. (News Watch)

* UPDATE ON SA ABORTION CASE - The highly publicised case of 3 Christian organisations challenging the South African abortion law is still undecided. Judge McCreath is still to hand down his opinion which will decide whether the case can continue to a full trial and a possible Constitutional Court ruling. Advocate Reg Joubert of the Christian Lawyers Association told Christian News that it is normal procedure for the judge who handles cases of such a controversial nature to reserve judgment so that he can write a carefully considered report. He was thankful that all the pro-abortionist legal arguments were well answered in court because they had been anticipated prior to the case. He said that the Lord provided one of the best legal teams for the job - a team of advocates and Paul Linton, a lawyer who headed the a USA pro-life organisation. Mr Linton, who is experienced with USA media partiality described the South African Broadcasting Corporation as of the most biased and one-sided that he had ever seen.

Meanwhile, Nobel Peace prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu says he believes that women have the right to choose whether they want an abortion. Tutu gave his views when interviewed by two Ladysmith schoolgirls working on a human rights project for an international charity organisation. Clarifying his stance and the standpoint of the Anglican church on abortion, Tutu said: "Like war which is not good but which may be the right thing at a particular time, abortion also has its place. (and)...may be the lesser of two evils."

* BRITISH METHODISTS CONSIDER SELLING BOOZE - The Methodist Church in Britain is to decide this month whether to break with traditional teaching and apply for a liquor licence for conferences and receptions. They hope the lure of wine and beer will boost party bookings and help pay R70-million for new boilers, lifts and lavatories at the hall, a landmark opposite Westminster Abbey. (Sunday Times, 31 May)