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Christian News
15 Aug 2002
________________________________________________
* 'SA
EDUCATION BILL TO GIVE MINISTER EXCESSIVE POWERS' -
According to a press release (14 August) by Africa Christian Action, participants at the
Education Laws Amendment Bill Hearings were unanimous against the changes it proposes, yet
the government does not seem to be paying attention to what they said. "Oral hearings
took place at Parliament yesterday (Tuesday 13th August 2002), on The Education Laws
Amendment Bill. These amendments to existing educational legislation seek to give the
executive (in particular, the Office of the Minister of Education) excessive powers to
regulate schooling in South Africa. These powers extend to all public, independent,
private, faith-based and home schools. Amongst the amendments are changes to: The South
African Schools Act, 1996 (allowing the Minister of Education the power to determine a
national curriculum and means of assessment that will be binding on ALL public and
independent schools).
The Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (allowing the Department of Education to appoint
first time teachers and teachers returning to the system to a school, without consultation
with the school or school governing body. Up until now school governing bodies have
selected teachers specific to their school community’s needs, who are then in turn
employed by the Department of Education)... It was felt by many that forcing new teachers
and those returning to the system (for example teachers returning from a maternity break)
to teach in rural communities could lead to a mass exodus of qualified teachers to
immigrate to greener pastures.
Nearly all presentations expressed alarm and concern over the Ministry of Education having
the powers to write a national curriculum as it implies content and hence the possibility
for indoctrination. Those organisations representing Independent schools expressed concern
over their future. It was pointed out that in Europe, the Americas, Australasia and even
Southern Africa, independent schools have the right to decide their own curriculum and
means of assessment. This Bill seeks to destroy this diversity... (ACA, 14 August) (To index)
* STUDY:
ZAMBIA'S ABSTINENCE PROGRAM WORKING - Results
reported at the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain demonstrate that
urging young people to abstain from sex in Zambia is effective in preventing AIDS. HEART
(Helping Each Other Act Responsibly Together), an AIDS prevention program sponsored by the
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), shows young Zambians crave support for
their decision to abstain and prevent HIV/AIDS. John Hopkins University Center for
Communication Programs (JHU/CCP) and Population Services International (PSI) are
implementing the HEART program in Zambia, where approximately one of every six urban young
people is HIV positive. According to an evaluation of youth surveys conducted in Zambia in
1999 and 2000, girls in particular said they want concrete messages with reasons to stay
virgins or return to abstinence. The decision to abstain was frequently reported as a
direct result of exposure to the HEART program. Respondents were also more likely to say
they chose 'to abstain' rather than to report condom use. (The Abstinence Education
Update, Volume 1, Number 16, July 2002)
(To index)
* ONE THIRD OF
CLERGY NOT BELIEVERS - (UK) A
third of Church of England clergy do not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus
Christ, a survey has revealed. It found that a third of priests doubted the biblical story
that Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion. Only half of the 2 000
clergy polled said they believed in the virgin birth, the survey by Christian Research
found. And only half thought faith in Christ was the only route to salvation. The Rev
Robbie Low, of the Cost of Conscience think-tank which commissioned the study, said:
"There are clearly two churches operating in the Church of England: the believing
church and the disbelieving church, and that is a scandal." Mr Low said doubts over
central Christian tenets were higher among women priests. The Modern Churchpersons' Union
said the Church had to review complex doctrine for more educated congregations. But Mr Low
said: "Positions of authority are increasingly being placed in the hands of people
who believe less and less. It is an intolerable situation where the faithful are being led
by the unfaithful". (International Express, 6 August) (To
index)
* AYUB MASIH ACQUITTED
FROM DEATH ROW - The Pakistani Christian Ayub
Masih has been acquitted by the Supreme Court on 15 August, as reported by Joseph Francis,
leader of CLAAS, a Pakistani human rights organisation, who was present at the court case.
The acquittal came as a surprise for Open Doors, who, together with other human rights
organisations, have been working to get him released. Masih was accused of insulting the
prophet Mohammed, which deserves death penalty in Pakistan. The judge who acquitted
another Christian, Gul Masih (similarly condemned) in high appeal some years ago, was
murdered shortly after that. (Open Doors, 15 August)
(To index)
* CHINESE
MEN WILL HAVE RIGHT TO VETO ABORTIONS -
(Beijing, China) As the battle over a father's role in an abortion continues in the United
States, husbands in China are about to become legally entitled to urge their wives to
desist from taking part in planned abortions. The change comes in the new Chinese
population control law, which takes effect on September 1. The legislation is the nation's
first law on family planning (the policy in the past was enacted as a regulation as
opposed to a law). A husband will, for the first time, be able to seek legal assistance if
his wife has an abortion without notifying him, according to the new law. The law states
that both husband and wife should share same responsibility in family planning, so neither
side should enjoy the sole right on whether to give birth to a baby. This is the first
time that a man's right in relation to a birth has been defined as legislation. The 39th
Article of the law also forbids government staff members from invading citizens'
"personal freedom, possessions and other rights," in carrying out family
planning missions. (China Daily, 7 August) (To
index)
* 130 CHURCHES
COMBINE TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEX SHOP DANGERS -
(South Africa) Approximately 120 inter-denominational Christian leaders and concerned
residents met on 1 August at the Baptist Church in Somerset West to agree to a strategy of
sustained social action that would precipitate the closure of the Adult World pornography
outlet in the area. Inspector Anneka van Vyfer, media officer for the SAPS in Somerset
West gave a disturbing presentation on the threats currently facing children in the area.
These included children purchasing drugs in school uniforms, trading sex for drugs,
dissemination of hard-core sexually explicit material amongst school children and the
devastating results of parental neglect. Dr. Peter Hammond, Chairman of Africa Christian
Action, then presented an hour-long multi-media presentation on the harmful effects of
pornography on society. "Pornography is the theory - rape is the practice." Many
of the statistics of rape and murder cited referred to the perpetrator's use of
pornography before committing the crimes. Those present drafted a final appeal to Mr.
Arthur Calamaras to close the Adult World store. The letter along with the signatures of
thousands of residents will be delivered to Calamaras shortly, after which a period of
sustained social action by participating churches will be implemented. (ACA, 2 August) (To index)
* SURGEONS DEMAND
RIGHT TO TEST PATIENTS FOR HIV - (London)
Responding to calls for compulsory HIV testing of doctors and nurses, British surgeons
have said it is only "fair" that if doctors are tested, patients should be
tested also. The Royal College of Surgeons said that doctors were far more likely to get
HIV from patients than the other way around. The National Health Service is recruiting
thousands of nurses from Africa, where AIDS is epidemic. The Department of Health set up a
special committee on the issue; it recommended HIV tests for all medical workers, but did
not suggest that those who tested positive should be barred automatically from working in
the NHS. There have only been two cases in the world where a medical worker infected a
patient with HIV - neither in Britain - but several medical staff have been infected from
patients. At present surgeons cannot test for HIV without a patient's consent. (Times, 29
July: AEGIS Digest Volume 963 no 1) (To index)
* PERSECUTED
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES FORUM LAUNCHED - Support
for persecuted religious minorities around the world has received new impetus following
the inauguration of a strategic new network of UK Christian agencies. The Christian Forum
in Support of Persecuted Religious Minorities Worldwide was launched at a London
conference on July 20, which attracted nearly 200 participants. Participants at the
conference were left in no doubt as to the reality of these issues in the world today.
Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon of Kaduna, Nigeria, spoke powerfully of the plight of the
Christian community in Muslim-majority North Nigeria, especially with full Islamic
Shari'ah law having been introduced since October 1999. Dr Joseph D'Souza of the All India
Christian Council painted a picture of discrimination, intolerance, violence, death and
destruction in areas of India where Hindu militants have turned on Muslim and Christian
minorities. Support for the Forum comes from Barnabas Fund, Christian Solidarity Worldwide
(CSW), Christians Aware, Church Mission Society (CMS), Churches' Commission on Mission of
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CCOM), International Centre for Reconciliation,
Coventry Cathedral and the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG).
(Religion Today, 7 August) (To index)
* PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL ATTACKED - (Islamabad) A Pakistani
nurse died on 11 August from wounds suffered during a grenade attack on a Christian
hospital on 9 August, hospital officials said. Her death brought to four the number killed
in the attack. One of the assailants also died in the raid on the hospital in Taxila.
Police said they were searching for between 15 and 20 militants who have split into small
groups to attack Western and Christian interests in Pakistan, in response to military
ruler Pervez Musharraf's support for the US war against Afghanistan's Taliban and
Al-Qaeda. On 5 August three men burst through the gates of the Christian School in Murree,
and killed six Pakistanis. Police say the three men blew themselves up with grenades the
following day. Local Christian leaders said they would not let the fear of future attacks
deter them from worship. (The Mercury, 12 August) (To
index)
* DALLAS SCHOOLS SUED
OVER RELIGIOUS E-MAIL - (Dallas, Texas) - A
public interest group sued a suburban Dallas school district on 1 August over a policy
banning employees from sending e-mail containing religious messages. The conservative
American Center for Law and Justice filed suit on behalf of LaDonna DeVore, who sent a
message through the Highland Park Independent School District's e-mail system this spring
about President Bush's proclamation for a national day of prayer. District officials told
DeVore that her April 30 e-mail to friends was inappropriate and threatened to suspend her
e-mail privileges if she used the system again to send religious messages. It was also
stated in the suit that the district allows employees to use the system for both
work-related and private messages, but has a policy prohibiting "religious
worship" or "proselytizing". The policy is unconstitutional because it
unfairly singles out religious messages, said Stuart J. Roth, senior counsel of the
Virginia-based American Center, which was founded by evangelist Pat Robertson. (CNN, 2
August) (To index)
* SUICIDE MAIN CAUSE
OF DEATH AMONG PEOPLE IN THIRTIES - (Den Haag,
Netherlands) Suicide is the main cause of death among people in their thirties, while
being rated as second highest cause of death among those in their twenties, after traffic
accidents. Twice as many men commit suicide as women. These figures covering the year 2000
were published by the 'Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek' in the Netherlands. Of the 140
000 people in the Netherlands who died during 2000, one percent had committed suicide,
which is more than those dying of traffic accidents. (Nederlands Dagblad) (To index)
* 'ISLAM PLANS
EXTERNAL OR CULTURAL INVASION OF WEST' -
According to two Islamic leaders in Great Britain, the West will never "reach the
level of Islam," and Western society will be "transformed" through an
"external or cultural invasion" by Islam. WorldNetDaily reports that in recent
interviews with the London-based daily Al-Hayat, two Islamic leaders, Egyptian-born Sheik
Abu Hamza and Syrian-born Sheik Omar Bakri, predicted that Western civilization and law
would eventually succumb to Islam. (Hanza is imam of the Finsbury Park Mosque and head of
the Ansar Al-Shari'ah organization; and Bakri is the founder and leader of the Islamic
Religious Court in London and head of the Al-Muhajiroun Islamist Organization.) The
interviews, translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, provide insights into
how Islamic leaders attempt to use Western-style freedoms and laws to accomplish their
goal of spreading the Islamic faith. Hamza, for example, said that he does not consider
himself a British citizen: "...I live here and I hold a passport. It is a superficial
identity; real identity is in the heart and in the mind, and this is the [identity] that
drives a man. This [identity] is Islam…". Hamza also hinted that Islamic law
would never tolerate certain types of behavior that are tolerated in the U.S. and
elsewhere throughout the West... Bakri said that the West was guilty of imposing
"man-made law" on Muslims, but that a "[future] Islamic regime will impose
Islamic religious rulings on them." (WorldNetDaily, 13 August) (To index)
* 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF
BABES' - A little girl of five years had been
present at a church meeting where teenagers were given the opportunity to sign True Love
Waits pledge cards, committing themselves to abstinence before marriage. Before going to
sleep that night she told her mother: "Mamma, I am so sad that I couldn't sign a
card". The mother replied "Yes, you have to be thirteen before you can
sign." This didn't satisfy the little girl, who continued: "But I also want to
be pure". The wise mother then suggested that she would design a special card on the
computer for the little girl to sign. The little one thought that it was an excellent idea
and added: "Write on there that I will be pure until death". (CFT News) (To index)
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