* "THE VALUE OF LIFE" IN SWITZERLAND - On 2 June a special vote (Abstimmung) will be held in Switzerland to decide whether to liberalise abortion or to protect the "Mother and Child". Addressing the annual general meeting of Christians for Truth in Switzerland, the founder of "Mutter & Kind", Dr Nicole Stern said that present abortion-on-demand suggestions put forward by the Swiss government means that "either the unborn are not human or some people's rights are not equal to others". Kjell Olsen of CFT South Africa told the meeting (held at the Zürich Business School on 27 April) that God's value of life, as clearly defined in the Bible, will not be changed by the vote on 2 June, "whatever the outcome". Dr Guido Zäch, who runs a paraplegic organisation, spoke about euthanasia. He said that of the 14,000 paraplegics who have passed through his hands only 9 expressed the wish to die. (CFT)

* REPORT ON MORAL REGENERATION SUMMIT - SOUTH AFRICA - The SA Moral Regeneration Summit was held on 18 April at the South African Airforce Waterkloof base. Christian News received the following personal report from an anonymous friend who had attended the launch: "What a pity that our government had nothing better to say than that they want to promote their value system - the constitution. Jacob Zuma complained that parents are losing control of their children - but his government wants to take away parents' right to reasonable corporal punishment. He complained that TV was corrupting the youth - but didn't mention that his government subsidises the SABC and isn't attempting to exercise control. He wanted to see the family strengthened - neglecting to mention that his government is undermining and redefining the family."
Blade Nzimande, admitting his communistic stance, said during a discussion with Bishop Darling (of the Catholic Church) and a Hindu advocate that the moral problem was a material problem - and would be solved by economic equity, "organising" every sector, and taking pride in the country's public institutions. An international "Ba'hai" dance group entertained the delegates. Dr Brenda Lieberwitz reported back on the Saamtrek conference, and stressed how schools can make a difference to moral regeneration, by involving parents, and addressing local thugs, and using poetry, as well as art and history to promote tolerance. A celebration of values is planned for September 2002, as well as a promotion thereof in the new curriculum. There was a "minute of silence" at the beginning and the singing of the national anthem at the end, but neither can be counted as acknowledgement or thanks to Almighty God. Prof Ntuli spoke about the equilibrium between spirit and nature. A lady from the African Renaissance Chapter (Machilo Motsehi) spoke mostly in Sotho, but made it clear that she was not alone, but had been accompanied by her ancestors."

* REFUSAL OF ASSISTED SUICIDE FOR DIANE PRETTY - The European Court of Human Rights ruled on 29 April that the refusal of the British courts to allow Diane Pretty's husband to help her to die did not contravene her human rights. The ruling marks the end of the legal road for 43-year-old Mrs Pretty, who is in the advanced stages of motor neuron disease. The verdict came just hours before it was announced that another woman - known as Miss B - had died after she had won her right to have medical treatment withdrawn. The seven judges of the European Court ruled unanimously that the refusal of the government to allow Mrs Pretty's husband to help her to die did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights. In their verdict, the judges said: "The Court could not but be sympathetic to the applicant's apprehension that without the possibility of ending her life she faced the prospect of a distressing death." But they added: "No right to die, whether at the hands of a third person or with the assistance of a public authority could be derived." The Medical Ethics Alliance welcomed the verdict saying a "right-to-die" ruling would have put many disabled and elderly people at risk. (BBC, 29 April)

* TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF NEW "TRUE LOVE WAITS" MAGAZINE - A new magazine on the True Love Waits campaign has sparked off a lot of reaction and enquiry, according to Michael Muller (Germany), spokesperson for the campaign in Germany. The publication has had an initial circulation of 25 000. For the past nine years the movement, which originated in the USA, has been promoting a lifestyle of sexual abstinence before marriage. According to Müller the interest shown in the organisation's website (www.wahreliebewartet.de) is quite overwhelming. Since 12 February over 70 000 hits have been registered. Müller considers the action's clear message as being its greatest success factor. "That is what young people want, a public understanding that sex is not an obligation." Müller says: "We want to convey the beauty of sexuality, unadulterated and pure. That is only possible when we take God's precepts into account." He would like preachers to have more courage in speaking about this in their sermons. The 36-page brochure includes, amongst other things, contributions from Philip Prinz of Preuß, great great grandson of the last German emperor, singers Rebecca St. James and Anja Lehmann, as well as football star Edmilson (France). (Idea, 25 April - translated)

* SA PARENTS AND TEACHERS MAY REVISE CONTENT OF SEX AND RELIGIOUS ED - (South Africa) Cheryllyn Dudley MP for the African Christian Democratic Party said on 23 April that it has just come to her attention that "although the offensive material, content and organisation who won the tender for the sex education in schools, has not been changed, concerned citizens who protested these issues have clearly succeeded". Minister Kader Asmal is quoted by SAPA on the 15 April 2002 saying: "There is no sex education, although we encourage an awareness of sexuality, which in the context of sexual abuse and HIV/Aids is essential." "There is no religious indoctrination, but we encourage children to be aware of the full diversity of South African society: the rich array of races, ethnic and language groups, and the many religious belief systems which make up this country," he said. "...We do not, in fact, prescribe any content; our aim is just to ensure that children are well prepared for further education, imbued with the values which we as a nation treasure, and respectful towards other people." Teachers would determine the content. "If any of this content is offensive to parents, they should take this up with the school itself, which has the full authority to revise a particular programme." Cheryllyn said, "The ACDP will continue to encourage parents and teachers to be alert and to have the courage of their convictions when choosing whether or not to use the material provided by government-sponsored organisations like Planned Parenthood and Lovelife". (ACDP, 23 April)

* CONTINUED FUNDING FOR ABSTINENCE-ONLY PROGRAMMES - (USA) An Ohio educator dedicated to teaching children that sexual activity should be saved for marriage says the House committee vote to continue funding for abstinence programmes could have long-lasting ramifications. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 35-17 on 24 April to continue funding the federal Sexual Abstinence Program for another five years. This means the money will only go to schools that stick strictly to promoting the idea that sex outside of marriage has harmful consequences. Committee chairman Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, in a statement before the vote, cited statistics that show a dramatic increase in sexually transmitted diseases among America's youth. "The statistics are terrifying," Tauzin said. "They show that the 'safe sex' paradigm has not solved the problem, despite more than 20 years of a variety of education programs designed to promote condom and contraceptive use." He said the nation should not be sending messages that confuse young people. "We don't relay the mixed message to our teens not to smoke - but if they do smoke, make sure to smoke filtered cigarettes. We don't say don't drink and drive - but if you are planning to drink and drive, then make sure you wear a seatbelt," he said. "We give clear messages to stop other behavioral health risks, so why should sexual activity be any different?" (Agapepress, 26 April)

* 14 INDONESIAN CHRISTIANS MURDERED - (Jakarta, Indonesia) Assailants in black masks hacked, shot and burned to death 14 Christians, including a six-month-old baby, in the religiously divided capital of Indonesia's Maluku province on 28 April, threatening a fragile peace pact. Carrying automatic rifles, grenades and daggers, about a dozen men yelling "kill them all" stormed the mainly Christian village of Soya on Ambon's outskirts, 1600 miles east of Jakarta, witnesses said. They set 30 homes and a Protestant church on fire, and went from house to house, shooting into those that were occupied. Six Christians, including the baby, were stabbed to death and six others were killed in fires. Two more were believed to be shot to death. The killings came two days after a militant Islamic group, Laskar Jihad, rejected the February peace deal, which was meant to end the three years of fighting between Muslims and Christians that has left 9000 dead. According to a report in Nando Times, Laskar Jihad share Osama bin Laden's anti-Western stance but its commander, Jafar Umar Thalib, has denied any links to international terror. (Nando Times, 29 April)

* IMAM CALLS ON ALLAH TO 'ANNIHILATE JEWS' - A Muslim imam, calling on Allah to "annihilate the Jews and their supporters," envisioned a day when all the lands of the earth will be "owned by the Muslim nation," in his Friday sermon, 12 April, broadcast live on Palestinian Authority television. According to a report in WorldNetDaily, Sheikh Ibrahim Madhi's sermon at the Sheikh 'Ijlin Mosque in Gaza City was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, an independent group based in Washington, D.C. Madhi said:..."We are convinced of the [future] victory of Allah; we believe that one of these days, we will enter Jerusalem as conquerors, enter Jaffa as conquerors, enter Haifa as conquerors, enter Ramle and Lod as conquerors, the [villages of] Hirbiya and Dir Jerjis and all of Palestine as conquerors, as Allah has decreed… They will enter Al-Aqsa Mosque as they have entered it the first time. …'' "Anyone who does not attain martyrdom in these days should wake in the middle of the night and say: 'My God, why have you deprived me of martyrdom for your sake? For the martyr lives next to Allah'. …" (WorldNetDaily, 18 April)

* 'CHILDREN ADOPTED BY HOMOSEXUALS SUFFER' - The founder of a non-profit educational and scientific corporation which studies families says homosexual adoption does not benefit children and, in fact, has an adverse affect on them. The recent announcement by Rosie O'Donnell that she is a lesbian has put the spotlight on homosexual adoptions. During an interview on ABC in March, the entertainer admitted that her "coming out" announcement was a strategic decision to help promote a political cause: forcing the State of Florida to change its laws to allow homosexuals to adopt children. Dr. Paul Cameron, founder of the Colorado Springs-based Family Research Institute, says homosexuals who adopt are not thinking about the welfare of the children. Cameron says there have been numerous studies showing that children adopted by homosexuals are more likely to battle depression than those adopted by traditional families. "Children are especially concerned that not only are their parents 'hyper-sexualizing' their environment, but their parents are also constantly changing partners," he says. (Agapepress, 25 April)

* TV TURN-OFF WEEK - When Edward Bello committed his most recent crime, he did not go to prison. Instead the judge sentenced him to nine months with no television. He said he wanted "to create a condition of silent introspection" in order to induce Bello to change his behavior. Bello's lawyers are appealing on the grounds that making Bello keep his seven TV sets turned off is "cruel and unusual punishment" - and thus violates the Constitution. According to Charles Colson " equating a ban on TV with torture is a sad sign that television has become far too important in our culture - important and destructive." TV critic Michael Medved says the problem with TV isn't just the programming, but the medium itself. He argues that television encourages attributes that are "deadly to the survival of marriages and families."

April 22-28 is national TV Turnoff Week, in which Americans are encouraged to hide the remote and find other things to do. More info: www.tvturnoff.org ("Breakpoint" with C.Colson)

* SUICIDE PACT - (Seoul) Two teenage girls and a 34-year-old man leaped 28 floors to their deaths on 19 April, in the South Korean capital, after making an Internet suicide pact, police said. South Korean authorities have attempted to clamp down on Internet sites that aid suicide, but more than 20 people are now known to have killed themselves over the past 18 months after making plans on the web. The two girls, aged 15 and 16, were found in an embrace with the man. The 15-year-old left a note saying: "Cremation. Take care everybody. Goodbye, sorry." Investigators said another man had planned to join the trio after making contact through the suicide website, but changed his mind at the last minute. (Natal Witness, 22 April)

* BIBLE QUIZ WINNER DEFIED ALL ODDS - Doctors told Avihai Sheli's parents their son would never talk after he lost his hearing at age two, following an illness. Until age four, they believed he was mute. As he grew older, Sheli also lost his sight. His mother ignored the doctors and taught him to speak. His parents insisted that he study in regular classes and not be put in a special class. On 17 April Sheli, of Netivot, now 18, thanked his parents for their love and support after he tied for first place, with Meir Ben-Admon, 17, from the Ohel Moshe Yeshiva in Beersheba, in the 39th International Bible Quiz, held at the Jerusalem Theater. They were competing against 53 counterparts from 25 countries. Both teens also won the National Bible Quiz this year. Sheli, from the Bnei Akiva yeshiva in Kfar Maimon, spent four years studying for the competition, reading the Bible in Braille. He also competed in Braille. Aside from Bible studies, he also enjoys sports, music, and math. (The Jerusalem Post, 18 April)

* ON A LIGHTER NOTE - A priest and pastor from the local parishes are standing by the side of the road holding up a sign that reads, "The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it's too late!" They planned to hold up the sign to each passing car. "Leave us alone you religious nuts!" yelled the first driver as he sped by. From around the curve they heard screeching tires and a big splash. "Do you think," said one clergy to the other, "we should just put up a sign that says 'Bridge Out' instead?" (Dave's Daily Chuckle, 8 April)