Christian News - 15 Oct 2002

* WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION REJECTS EUTHANASIA - A World Medical Association resolution condemning euthanasia as "unethical" is urging all doctors and medical associations to refrain from the practice, even if national law should allow it. The resolution highlights the Netherlands as the only country where national laws have been passed decriminalising mercy killing under certain conditions. Reports suggest that the Association's council meeting was an "unpleasant experience" for Dr Ruud Hagenouw, the president of the Royal Dutch Medical Association, with Dutch policy being compared to "practices from the Third Reich". According to the resolution voluntary euthanasia is contrary to "basic ethical principles of medical practice" and "must be condemned by the medical profession". (British Medical Journal, 28 September) (to index)

* 'COURT GIVES BROTHELS RED LIGHT' - (South Africa) The Constitutional Court has declared both prostitution and the owning of a brothel illegal. In a narrow decision against the legalisation of prostitution, six of the 11 judges found in favour of declaring sex for reward unconstitutional. Thus last year's Johannesburg High Court ruling that removed a ban on receiving money in exchange for sex, was dismissed. It also upheld the high court's ruling that owning a brothel is unconstitutional. (SABCNews, 9 October)
However, there are already attempts to put pressure on parliament to change the law. Submissions to the debate on how adult prostitution should be treated, can be made to the South African Law Commission before 31 October - lawcom@salawcom.org.za or phone: (012) 322 6440. (to index)

* DOCTORS COMMITTED TO HELP ENSLAVED WOMEN - Doctors For Life International (DFL) has expressed their delight with the judgement of the South African Constitutional Court to declare prostitution illegal. Since 1996 when this case started in the lower courts, DFL has been involved as a witness for the state. In the judgement of the final case before the Constitutional Court, excerpts from DFL's affidavit were quoted. The evidence DFL presented to the court showed clearly that prostitution in itself is degrading to women and is conducive to violent abuse of prostitutes both by customers and pimps. Further evidence was given about prostitution encouraging international trafficking in women; leading to child prostitution; carrying an intensified risk of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS; it's connections with high degrees of drug abuse and crimes such as assault, rape and even murder; and it being a cause of public nuisance. DFL has stated that it remains committed to do everything in its power to continue to attend to the plight of women caught in the modern day slavery of prostitution. These women are to be assisted in developing skills and getting alternative occupation. For this purpose a help-line can be called: 073 - 224 9221. (www.dfl.org.za ) (to index)

* STEGEN THANKED FOR 50 YEARS MINISTRY – "Looking back on the past 50 years, there can be no doubt that Reverend Stegen has left his mark on the communities in South Africa". This was the message by the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr M.G. Buthelezi, for the celebration service held at Kwasizabantu Mission. Erlo Stegen is the director of Kwasizabantu Mission and this year is his 50^th in the ministry. At the same function the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr L. Mtshali, said that: "It is through God's grace that Reverend Erlo Stegen has preached for so many years from Kwasizabantu … (which) was preordained by God as a place wherein His messengers would spread His holy word and offer assistance of all kinds to people." ( www.kwasizabantu.org ) (to index)

* FAMILY-FRIENDLY 'PICK 'N PAY (WC)' TAKES STAND - (South Africa) Early in October, Pick 'n Pay supermarket chain in the Western Cape withdrew all copies of the October edition of the men's magazine, 'GQ', and returned them to the publisher. The edition featured a half-naked woman on the front cover. According to ChristianView, Mr Zahid Mathews, purchasing manager for Pick 'n Pay in the Western Cape, said that he had also asked the magazine in future to send him a copy of the magazine cover before the magazine is sent to the stores. If not appropriate, he would not accept the magazine for any stores. Several years ago Mr Raymond Ackerman made a policy decision that Pick 'n Pay as a family store would not sell anti-family pornography. Because of this stand and other shops making the same decision, several porn magazines went out of business. Pick 'n Pay's stand in Western Cape could serve to discourage magazines such as GQ from using offensive pictures on their covers and thus benefit more than just their own customers. Mr Mathews can be contacted on 021 – 658 1000 or zmathews@pnp.co.za. Pick 'n Pay in the rest of South Africa should be encouraged to follow the Western Cape's example of family-friendliness. For more info contact: editor@christianview.org ( www.ChristianView.org , 2 October) (to index)

* 10^thANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL LIFECHAIN DAY IN SA – Hundreds of pro-lifers met in Durban at ‘The Workshop’, on Saturday, 5 October, to call for the protection of unborn children and their mothers. Assistance and help-line numbers were made available to ladies with crisis pregnancies and to women suffering as a result of past abortions. Many passers-by stopped to listen to direct broadcasts from "Radio Life" and thousands of info brochures on abortion were handed out. The abstinence-promoting campaign, True Love Waits, did much to spread their message of quality of life for today’s youth and unmarried. Hundreds of pamphlets will serve as a reminder that abstinence is the only safe way to preventing unwanted pregnancies and numerous other problems. In Pretoria pro-lifers made their stand on 28 September 2002. They were especially encouraged by the response of a certain woman: "Thank you for speaking to me. I was contemplating an abortion but after seeing and hearing, my decision is against it." In Cape Town, near Waterfront, more than 100 pro-life lobbyists held placard protests on Sunday, 6 October. On the same day in Bloemfontein the pro-life banner was raised outside the nurses’ quarters at the National Hospital. This year’s protests marked South Africans’ tenth year of participation in International Life Chain Day. (CFT News) (to index)

* 'PARENTS' LAST CHANCE TO HAVE A SAY?' (South Africa) Major changes have been proposed for the grade 10 to 12 school curriculum, including the reduction of the current 124 subjects to 35. Kader Asmal, the Education Minister, says the outdated senior certificate would be replaced with the further education and training band... In terms of the new curriculum it will be compulsory for pupils to take the life orientation subject, which covers matters like self-esteem, career guidance and sex education. (SABCNews, 2 October)

Cassius Lubisi, the national curriculum development committee's chairperson, said a detailed national curriculum statement for grades 10 to 12 would be released on October 21 so that all stakeholders could comment and make submissions until the end of January. He said there would be further discussion on a number of subjects that were either redundant in the new global economy or had been selectively designed for a particular category of student. These included Biblical studies... (Sunday Independent, 5 October)
The examinable subject of Biblical studies - not previously compulsory for all pupils - will now be included into Life Orientation. According to ChristianView, it is for parents to decide what their children study, and not for the state. "As for discrimination against other religions, if parents of other religions want their children to study their religion, they should be allowed to do so. That is not discrimination." The Bible is the core of all Christian education. ChristianView also suggested that schools should make Biblical Studies an alternative to a subject other than Mathematics. (www.ChristianView.org, 7 October) (to index)

* "TRUE LOVE IS PURE" - PARENTS PROMISE - "For the first time since the beginning of the [True Love Waits] campaign, parents will be invited to make a promise to sexual fidelity and purity," Jimmy Hester, senior director in TLW Head-Office USA LifeWay's student ministry publishing, said. "We know that in many families, the issue of purity is not just a teen issue. With the proliferation of pornography and divorce, purity has become an issue for a lot of parents." The parent's commitment states: "Believing that true love is pure, I join (insert student's name) in committing to a lifestyle of purity. I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, and my community of faith to abstain from pornography, impure touching and conversations, and sex outside a biblical marriage relationship from this day forward." (Baptists Press, 3 October) (to index)

* DUTCH AD COMMISSION BANS BILLBOARD - In a landslide victory, the Dutch Advertising Code Commission (Reclame Code Commissie) has declared a very large pornographic billboard which stood alongside one of the main highways near the Dutch national airport Schiphol, as indecent and has asked the owner to remove it. In an earlier case, the Council had maintained it’s usual opinion that such a billboard should be allowed and that the advertisement of this kind (a "phone sex"-service depicting a scarcely dressed lady and vulgar text) is nowadays accepted by society. The complainant, Bert Dorenbos from the organization Cry for Life, a major pro-life organization in the Netherlands, said he hopes this will mean a turning point in the often-lax judgments of the self-regulating Advertising Code Commission. (Frans Gunnink - CFT Netherlands www.cftnederland.nl , 10 October) (to index)

* US NAMES COUNTRIES WITH RELIGIOUS REPRESSION - The United States has accused six countries of being prey to totalitarian or authoritarian attempts to control religious belief or worship, as reported by the BBC. The six - China, Cuba, Laos, Burma, North Korea and Vietnam - were named as the worst offenders in the US State Department's annual report into religious freedom. A second group, including Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, were criticised for being hostile to minority religions. But Afghanistan, Egypt, Laos and parts of south-eastern Europe were praised for improvement in religious tolerance. The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said the report "shines a much needed light on governments that flout international law and basic decency," by curbing people's rights to worship. "These inexcusable assaults on individual liberty and personal dignity cannot be justified in the name of any culture, in the name of any creed or in the name of any country," he added. The report has been produced annually since 1999, as required by Congress, although being listed as an offender carries no immediate punishment. (BBCNews, 7 October) (to index)

* WORLDWIDE DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHURCH - Churches around the United States and the world will focus on support of suffering Christians on Sunday, Nov. 10, during the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). On that day thousands of church congregations from all denominations will join in prayer for the Persecuted Church. IDOP has been observed since 1996. A total of 10 Christian agencies collaborate to sponsor the event. "In my many talks with persecuted Christians around the world, I always ask them what can we in the West do most to support them in their walk with the Lord," states Terry Madison, president/CEO of Open Doors USA. "And . . . number one on the list is prayer. They want us to pray with them and for them. But not just one day a year!" (Religion Today, 14 October) (to index)

* 'HELP CHILDREN WATCH MEDIA MORE SENSIBLY' - (USA) The Christian Film & Television Commission ministry (CFTVC) has announced the formation of a MEDIA-WISE FAMILY Speakers Bureau. Experts are now available to present Dr. Ted Baehr's MEDIA-WISE FAMILY program to parents, teachers, clergy - anyone concerned with the welfare of children in a society increasingly dominated by numerous forms of media - in formats ranging from a one-hour presentation to a full-day workshop. This program demonstrates the good and bad aspects of the media, how the media affects children at different stages of their cognitive development; how the entertainment industry works; and, how to use specific tools and practical techniques to help children understand the media and reach discernment. For more information visit http://link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.15.8212.1.1167256. (Assist News, Crosswalk, 30 September) (to index)

* CHINA BARS UNDER-16'S FROM CYBERCAFES - China has barred children under the age of 16 from entering internet cafes, under tough new rules further restricting access to the web. The new rules also prevent the construction of cybercafes within 200 metres (650 feet) of middle and elementary schools, the official Xinhua news agency reports. Offenders risk a fine of up to 15,000 yuan ($1,800) and may have their operating licences cancelled, Xinhua said. The rules, which take effect on 15 November, also ban net surfers from spreading material on "evil cults," as well as superstition, rumours or libel. Gambling, violence and pornography cannot be promoted on the internet, under the regulations. Content deemed to be anti-constitutional or a threat to national unity and China's territorial integrity is also banned. An official hi-tech police group - nicknamed "the great firewall of China" - keeps watch over the internet 24 hours a day. The authorities recently blocked access to the popular search engines Google and AltaVista. (BBC, 11 October) (to index)

* MED. RESEARCH COUNCIL RECLASSIFIES PREGNANCY - (South Africa) The recent statement by the Medical Research Council (MRC) that "an unwanted pregnancy is a health risk" is very shocking, according to Doctors for Life (DFL). In a statement on 3 October, DFL commented: "In an outrageous effort to overturn centuries of scientific medical thinking, the MRC tries to reclassify pregnancy as a pathological condition and appears to suggest that one should help hurting women by killing their babies... It is remarks like these that raise the concern that the MRC is not functioning as an objective scientific body but may be pushing a political agenda". DFL has warned organisations and groups who are trying to pressurise health professionals to take part in abortions, not to continue with this intimidation. The harm that abortions do to both the mother and the child is well documented." DFL pointed out that these health professionals do not refuse to help with abortions for selfish reasons, but out of concern for the patient's wellbeing. "We remind such groups that the clause in the draft abortion law that would have forced a doctor or nurse, unwilling to do an abortion, to refer the patient to another doctor/nurse who would be willing, was scrapped before the bill was voted upon in 1997..." For more information: Contact Dr Jay Mannie, 083 641 4382, www.dfl.org.za (Doctors for Life, 3 October) (to index)

* 'HOW NICOTINE CAUSES COT DEATHS' - Scientists have discovered exactly how smoking during pregnancy can lead directly to cot death, according to a report in International Express. They already knew there was a link - now they have made the breakthrough that explains how nicotine kills babies. According to research published in September, nicotine dulls receptors in the brain that keep sleeping babies breathing, Smoking in pregnancy is now the most important risk linked to cot death, according to the latest research. Leading researcher Dr Claude Gaultier explained that "Until the age of six months a sleeping baby has regular short-breathing pauses lasting three or four seconds which are quite normal. But experiments on mice show that nicotine transmitted in pregnancy alters and diminishes the little motor which orders the waking and breathing reflex in the brain of a baby lacking oxygen". (International Express, 17 September) Professor Hugo Lagercrantz, a paediatrician at the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm) who led the research, told Reuters: "What we have found is that it's the nicotine itself that is dangerous. It doesn't matter if you're using nicotine chewing gum - it's just as bad. "... (BBC, 11 September) (to index)

* SA STATE DROPS CASES AS AIDS HITS COURTS - (South Africa) Terminal illnesses - especially HIV/Aids - are beginning to affect the administration of justice as the State is forced to withdraw scores of court cases. According to The Mercury, the Inspecting Judge of Prisons, Judge Johannes Fagan, said in 1995 there were 186 Aids-related deaths, but that figure had rocketed to 1169 by last year. He said these figures were for both convicted and awaiting-trial prisoners. Many of the awaiting-trail prisoners die in jail, Fagan said, adding that "if a sentenced prisoner is very ill he can be released and we call that consolatory and dignified death at home". Mr Martin Schonteich, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, said that in a few years' time the point will be reached where one crucial person in a trial, the accused, a witness, a magistrate, a prosecutor or a lawyer will die due to HIV/Aids. The impact of the disease in the criminal justice system would cause further backlogs and frustration. (The Mercury, 7 October) (to index)

* RAPE MORE COMMON THAN TB IN SA - Violence against women is one of the most pressing public health problems in South Africa, with rape being more common than tuberculosis, according to Professor Lynette Denny, senior specialist at Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. In 1998 Denny and others in the Western Cape introduced a rape protocol. Describing this as "an idiot-proof guide" for medical practitioners dealing with rape survivors, Denny said the aim was to ensure improved clinical care and better forensic evidence. She said that from rape survivors attended to at Groote Schuur and JG Jooste, about 58% of rapists were known to their victims, though this figure was likely to be higher in the general population as such rapes were less likely to be reported. Denny said the government should be given information on women raped near bus and taxi ranks while travelling to or from work, to ensure that these areas are made safer... (Health24.co.za, 14 October) (to index)

* 'CATHEDRAL HONOURS ANIMALS' - (Paris) With howls and screeches, the American Cathedral in Paris held its 10th annual animal blessing ceremony, with a menagerie worthy of Noah's Ark climbing on the pews and parading down the aisle. According to a News24 report, the poodle barked during the reading from Genesis, and the bald eagle stood impassively for the psalm. Up on the altar, the Siberian tiger cub bared its teeth at worshippers. "The significance is the meaning of animals in people's lives," said organiser Phyllis Morgan, a Boston native who has lived in Paris 21 years. "The devotion they have for us makes us more responsible and more loving people." In the central ceremony, animals and their owners lined up and approached the altar, where Dean Ernest Hunt and two other reverends wet their heads with branches of leaves dipped in holy water. Though such ceremonies are rare in France, the procession was not out of place in a country where animals are generally welcome anywhere - including restaurants and public buses and trains. (Sapa-AP, News24.co.za, 12 October) (to index)