|
AGM
CFT Beliefs
Christian News
Newsletter
Q & A
Actions
Articles
Links
Contact
President
Audio
| |
Christian News
15 January
2003
________________________________________________
Southern Africa:
* GROWING ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT IN SA
– Many Christians are concerned about the anti-American sentiment in South Africa
and the simultaneous support of radical states. Conflicting messages are being sent out by
government. The Guardian newspaper quotes minister of health, Tshabalala-Msimang, as
saying: "South Africa cannot afford drugs to fight HIV and Aids partly because it
needs submarines to deter attacks from nations such as the US." Views, like the
following from an Azapo leader (in a statement published in the Star, January 9 2003), are
increasingly becoming mainstream opinion: "It is Azapo's view that Washington's
foreign policy is responsible for the breeding of the so-called terrorists and strong
anti-American sentiment throughout the world. This is influenced mainly by the US attitude
towards socialist organisations and countries, which include Cuba, Zimbabwe, Libya, Iraq
and North Korea. The only problem with these countries is that they are pushing a
socialist, anti-imperialist agenda... Azapo intends to mobilise our members, communities,
students, youth, labour movements and socialist movements against all Israeli, British and
American citizens in South Africa. This is in response to the possible US attack on
Iraq... We will continue to rally behind the anti-imperialist efforts of the people of
Palestine, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Iraq and other progressive governments in
the new year."
(Ed: Muslims are less than 3% of South Africa’s population, yet their opinions are
becoming mainstream. Why?) ( to
index)
* INCREASING ABORTIONS IN SA – Abortion clinics in
Durban are expecting a 20% increase in abortions from the normal monthly average of 150 to
nearly 180 during January and February. The reason, according to regional manager of
KwaZulu-Natal’s Marie Stopes Clinics, Andy Maduray, is "that young women fall
pregnant during the holiday and want to get rid of their unborn children before the start
of the new term" (as quoted in Daily News, 9 January 2003).
The abortion rate among Cape Town’s youth is climbing rapidly. The department of
health said that nearly 8000 women in the city had abortions last year – almost
double the number performed four years ago. Maduray says Marie Stopes clinics were
introducing less painful and traumatic procedures. "One of the new forms of
termination is a new service called conscious sedation which involves putting the patient
to sleep during the procedure, thereby reducing a lot of fear and pain."
(Ed: Was it just a slip of the tongue to admit that abortions get "rid of their
unborn children." Where’s the old language of "foetus, material, blob,
etc?") ( to index)
International:
* BUSH DECLARES NATIONAL SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE
DAY - (USA) In a move praised by conservatives and criticized by abortion rights
activists, President Bush declared January 19 "National Sanctity of Human Life
Day." The presidential proclamation on 14 January was issued in advance of the
following week's 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which
legalized abortion in the United States. Conservatives have sought for years to overturn
that decision. Bush, who has supported various abortion restrictions, called on all
Americans on Sunday to "reaffirm the value of human life and renew our dedication to
ensuring that every American has access to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." "Every child is a priority and a blessing, and I believe that all
should be welcomed in life and protected by law," Bush's proclamation said. In the
proclamation, Bush cited his administration's efforts to create "compassionate
alternatives to abortion." "My administration has championed compassionate
alternatives to abortion, such as helping women in crisis through maternity group homes,
encouraging adoption, promoting abstinence education, and passing laws requiring parental
notification and waiting periods for minors," Bush said. (CNN, 15 January) ( to index)
* 'A RIGHTS-PROTECTING FUTURE FOR EUROPE?' -
On 10 December 1948 the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was accepted. On its 54th
anniversary, 10 December 2002, Bert Dorenbos, President of Cry for Life (the largest
Pro-life organization of Holland) released a statement on the status of the Convention of
Europe. At the Press Conference Dorenbos said that "Europe is entering a new
era," and that it is time for Europe to reflect on its pristine history of protecting
human rights, and commit itself again to making the protection of all human rights of all
citizens the basis of its new constitutional law. Dorenbos, being involved in the Dutch
'fight for life' battle is giving this clear signal of caution, being very concerned that
"the euthanasia and tolerance virus which are hurting the Dutch society will creep in
the European law system with all the disastrous results." During the press conference
Dorenbos also announced plans for the International Life Conference in Brussels in 2004.
(Schreeuw om Leven, December 2002) ( to index)
* 'DIVERSITY' OVERRIDES PARENTAL VIEWS - (Canada) A public
school system that claims to promote diversity and tolerance should not ban books that
advocate same-sex relationships to kindergartners, Canada's Supreme Court has ruled. The
high court said the Surrey School Board in British Columbia, near Vancouver, must revisit
its ban on three books that also have stirred controversy in the U.S. –"Asha's
Mums," "One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dads, Blue Dads" and "Belinda's
Bouque." The case began in 1997, when an openly gay kindergarten teacher attempted to
have the books approved as a learning resource. The school board's ban drew 5,000 letters
of support from parents and just 1,000 in opposition. However, Chief Justice Beverley
McLachlin wrote in the 7-2 ruling on Dec. 20 that, "Parental views, however
important, cannot override the imperative placed upon the British Columbia public schools
to mirror the diversity of the community and teach tolerance and understanding of
difference." Opponents said the high court essentially is marginalizing parents with
religious convictions... (WorldNetDaily.com, 28 December) ( to index)
* NOXIOUS GAS 'BREAKS UP' WORSHIP SERVICE - (Vietnam) On
December 29, police used noxious gas to break up a worship service in the Dien Bien Dong
district of North Vietnam, according to a report of Voice of the Martyrs. A source told
Assist News Service that of the 40 Hmong people gathered for worship, 20 had been
hospitalized because of the gas. Vietnamese authorities have been systematically attacking
the Hmong people. Listeners to Far East Broadcasting report that Christian villages are
under constant surveillance preventing any Christian meetings and burning any Christian
literature found. (Persecution & Prayer Alert, Voice of the Martyrs Canada, 15
January) ( to index)
* QUESTIONABLE 'RELIGIOUS FREEDOM' IN UKRAINE - A
Pentecostal church in the southern town of Kherson has been ordered closed by a local
court for conducting public services without prior consent from authorities. The Church of
Christ, led by pastor Pavel Kudashev, was told this month to halt its activities, Keston
News Service (KNS) reported. The court ruled that church services "were repeatedly
held in June and July 2002 without permission from and agreement with the local
authorities." Ukrainian law requires permission for public religious events. KNS also
reported that a criminal case has been lodged against the church. At a recent hearing a
government psychiatrist and other witnesses testified that the congregation's religious
rituals caused some members of the community "psychological disorders" and
damaged their health. (Religion Today, 6 January) ( to index)
* 'ETHNIC CLEANSING' IN SUDAN RESUMED - Sudanese government
troops have resumed "ethnic cleansing operations" in the vicinity of Talisman
and Lundin oil installations in western Upper Nile, according to a senior Sudanese People’s
Liberation Movement (SPLM) official. Taban Deng Gai, who is currently in the affected
area, confirmed that the Sudanese Government launched a six-day offensive in Mayom and
Leer Counties on December 31, involving approximately 1,500 ground troops, supported by
helicopter gunships. Among the villages reportedly destroyed are: Rubjich, Rekyoul,
Gottong, Giil (Leer County), and Riak, Wangbith, Lingera, Lowdong, Palwung, Ngopgai and
Lare (Mayom County). In Lare, government troops burnt the facilities of the World Food
Program and MSF-Holland, according to Gai. The most recent attacks took place on January 6
when government troops attacked villages around the town of Tam. Local officials are still
trying to determine the number of killed, wounded and abducted civilians. Some of the
wounded have been evacuated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. (Christian
Solidarity International, Crosswalk.com, 11 January) ( to index)
* OPPOSITION TO "TV SIN" PROGRAM GUIDE - (Wetzlar,
Germany) A new TV guide for adult entertainment has drawn sharp criticism from
evangelicals in Germany. The magazine "TV sin" was launched in December 2002.
Wolfgang Baake, director of the evangelical media association KEP in Wetzlar, protested
against the "insulting" publication, saying: "A central biblical word is
being misused and ridiculed". According to the Bible sin may never be praised, he
said. The media agency "Kress Report" gives the publication only a very limited
chance of success. An opinion poll showed that 89 percent oppose "TV Sin", with
the most widespread recommendation being: "Burn it!" (Idea, December 2002) ( to index)
* CHRISTIAN MEDICAL ASSOCATION WANTS CLONE BAN - (USA) A
bipartisan coalition in Congress introduced legislation on 8 January to enact a permanent
ban on human cloning. Clonaid's claims in December 2002 of having successfully created the
first human clone, motivated Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) to
reintroduce the legislation Opponents of the legislation claim a total ban is unnecessary
and stifles needed scientific research, while the nation's largest organization of
faith-based doctors (Christian Medical Association) urged support for the bipartisan act.
David Stevens, M.D., Executive Director of the 18,000-member Association, said: "It
is foolhardy to think that anything short of a complete ban will stop rogue scientists
from implanting a cloned human embryo". He explained that human cloning must be
banned for medical, ethical and spiritual reasons: "... The historical
Judeo-Christian ethic, founded upon clear biblical principles, holds that human life is
sacred because each individual is made in God's image; that God's design is that each
individual is formed by the union of genetic material from a husband and a wife; and that
the family is the basic social unit designed by God to receive and nurture new human
life." (For the full article, see www.crosswalk.com/news/1180186.html) (CNS News,
Crosswalk.com, 10 January) ( to
index)
* JOURNALIST WANTS SCIENCE TO GET AT CLONE TRUTH - (New
York) The freelance journalist who organized a team to evaluate claims of the birth of the
first human clone suspended his review during the second week of January and said the
announcement of the cloning could be "part of an elaborate hoax." Michael
Guillen, who is also a scientist, told CNN that "from the very beginning, all I
wanted to do was to have my team of independent experts have access to the alleged baby
and the alleged mother. And we have not been given that access. So for the time being, I
have to accept the possibility that this is absolutely an elaborate hoax". He said
furthermore that people who have watched him over the years know that he is willing to go
to great lengths to get at the truth - "North Pole, South Pole, the bottom of the
Atlantic Ocean and so forth". Regarding Clonaid's announcement Guillen said that
while speculation about its truth will get us nowhere, "there are simple scientific
tests that we can apply to find out the truth". " Seeing is believing. I don't
want excuses. I want my independent team to have access to that alleged couple so that we
can get samples," said Guillen. (CNN, 9 January) (to index)
* 'ECONOMIC SLUMP FOLLOWS DISREGARD OF 10 COMMANDMENTS' - (Haiger,
Germany) One of the most successful Protestant businessmen in Germany believes that
disregard of the Ten Commandments is one of the main causes of the country's current
economic slump. In an interview with the evangelical news agency 'idea' Friedhelm Loh -
CEO of a group of corporations with 10,000 employees and an annual turnover of 1.4 billion
Euros - pointed to the increasing corruption. He said that God's rules of conduct are
alien to most Germans. "Increasing selfishness, greed and competitive pressures are
seductive forces to give in to corruption," Loh says. "I am striving to lead
according to Christian values knowing full well that this is a great challenge".
Keeping God's Commandments is no guarantee for economic prosperity, health and wealth, he
says. "But Christians know that they are always in God's hands - success or no
success." (Idea, December 2002) ( to index)
* YEAR STARTS WITH "WEEK OF PRAYER" - For
hundreds of thousands of Christians in Europe the New Year was to start with prayer,
according to a report from the Evangelical News Agency Idea. Evangelicals from different
denominations in 30 European countries were invited to join in the Evangelical Alliance's
Week of Prayer, January 5 - 12. The general theme was "Meeting God" The program
was compiled by the German Evangelical Alliance in Stuttgart. In a joint effort
Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches in Germany are organizing a "Year of the
Bible" in 2003. The week of prayer also emphasized the importance of God's Word. This
annual event has a history of 150 years and is the oldest institutionalized
interdenominational 'prayer meeting'. (Idea, December 2002) ( to index)
* 'EYE-OPENER' - "I long to accomplish a great and noble
task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and
noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by
the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." - Helen Keller (American
author and educator who was blind and deaf, 1880-1968) ( to index)
|
|
