* ATTORNEY SAYS UNBORN’S FATHER HAS RIGHT – (South Africa) An attorney at Brits has revived the debate on the Law of Termination of Pregnancy with the words: "Women claim that they want to be treated in the same way as men, but it seems as if this only happens when it suits women". In the latest edition of the attorney magazine ‘De Rebus’, Mr Lungelo Mdletshe says that it is "obviously unconstitutional" that the law gives women the right to terminate a pregnancy in specific instances, while the right of the child’s father "who plays an important role in the initiation of the pregnancy", is not even considered. "Take the example of a married couple where the woman falls pregnant and then decides on an abortion, for which ever reason. Her husband seemingly has no say in the matter, even if he can care for the child financially and socially," writes Mdletshe. Francis Bosman, South Africa’s first family advocate, said: "…As far as a pregnancy within a marriage is concerned, I agree that the child’s father has a legal right concerning the birth of the child, and that right has to be protected…" (Beeld, 6 February 2003) (to index)

* POLICE FOIL CHURCH ROBBERY – (Johannesburg, SA) A planned robbery of the Rhema church offering plate on 2 February was foiled when police swooped on a gang just before they were about to rob the church in Randburg. A police spokeswoman, Supt Milica Bezuidenhout, said the police had information about the planned robbery, and got approval from the director of public prosecutions to arrest the suspects before they committed a crime. Pastor Ray McCauley, founder of the Rhema Church, said: "I commend the policemen for the swift and professional manner in which they tracked down this gang and arrested them. We were told on Thursday (30 January) about the plans for the robbery. The police worked around the clock to track down the criminals," he said. (The Mercury, 3 February) (to index)

International:

• Vatican fights back against Age of Aquarius
• North Korea remains first on persecution ‘World Watch List’
• Jordan court orders Christian mother jailed
• Christian astronaut widows had good foundation
• CFT Netherlands faces ‘7 Sins’ advertising campaign
• Right-to-know bill re. Abortion risks in West Virginia
• Kenyan doctor blames condoms for African epidemic
• Poll : Abstinence message favoured
• UK to stub out smoke ads
• 2/3 ‘French support reopening of brothels’
• US bill to ban late-term abortion procedure
• Efforts to curb female foeticide in India
• Headmaster bans school valentines
• ‘First cloned sheep euthanazed’

* NORTH KOREA REMAINS FIRST ON PERSECUTION ‘WORLD WATCH LIST’ – The isolated communist nation of North Korea remains atop the Open Doors "World Watch List" of countries where Christians are persecuted. The annual list ranks countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith. Saudi Arabia holds the second spot on the list followed by Vietnam. These three countries are noted as countries where "severe persecution" is taking place. For years, very little information about the church emerged from Kim Il Sung’s harsh North Korea regime, which is now ruled by his son, Kim Jong Il. Some even wondered if the church had survived the decades of severe oppression. Recent years, however, have seen a relative "flood" of information coming from North Korean refugees fleeing to China to escape famine. They report that the church has not only survived, but also even grown, perhaps to 400,000 Christians who worship in secret. To visibly practice the Christian faith in North Korea today can still result in imprisonment and death. Terry Madison, president/CEO of Open Doors USA, says "indications are that the Church in North Korea continues to grow despite the best efforts of the government to destroy the Church. An estimated 200 million Christians worldwide suffer persecution for their faith in Christ, with another 200 to 400 million facing discrimination for being Christian. (Open Doors, 6 February) (to index)

* JORDAN COURT ORDERS CHRISTIAN MOTHER JAILED - (Istanbul) A court in northern Jordan has ordered a Christian widow sent to jail for 30 days if she refuses to hand over her two minor children to be raised as Muslims. Siham Qandah was notified by telephone at her home in Husn (20 January) that a court warrant for her arrest had been issued January 16 by the Irbid Court of First Instance. According to the caller, unless she immediately surrendered custody of her daughter Rawan, 14, and son Fadi, 12, to their court-appointed Muslim guardian, she would be arrested and sent to prison. Qandah was shocked by the court order, since she had received firm assurances from high-placed officials in Amman three months ago that a solution would be found for her to retain custody of her children, who have been raised as Christians. Qandah’s brother (in USA) has offered full support for her and her children, if they are allowed to leave Jordan, but Qandah's children are blacklisted by court order from leaving Jordan, although Qandah herself is not. And so far, Western governments have been unwilling to cause a potential flap with Jordan by offering visas to her and her children. (Compass; Open Doors, 24 January) (to index)

*CHRISTIAN ASTRONAUT WIDOWS HAD GOOD FOUNDATION – (USA) The wives of two Columbia astronauts, Michael Anderson and Rick Husband, talked with their pastor about the tragic loss of the shuttle and how their faith is sustaining them. Prayers of people for them, and their own prayers to God, have been a source of strength to grieving families in the wake of the space shuttle Columbia disaster. Michael Anderson's wife Sandy said, "…It's been hard, but I'm not in despair because I know where Michael is at. I have the assurance that he believed in The Lord Jesus Christ, and he's safe…" Rick Husband's wife Evelyn said, "… It's a very difficult time, obviously, but just to know that Rick is with Jesus is a tremendous relief to me and comfort." She said that for the last couple of years, since they were assigned this flight, they have prayed together for each other for the safety of this mission and for God's glory. "So I have to believe now," Evelyn summed up, "that God's glory has been reached and will continue to be reached through their lives and through our testimony of God's strength." Regarding the promises in the Bible they said: "We are walking them right now. They have been tested to the max for both of us and they are proving to be absolutely and totally true. The foundation needs to be set before you hit a crisis. You can't possibly establish that faith and that trusting-base the day it hits… So now is the time to become right with God." Before leaving on Columbia's mission, Michael Anderson told his minister, "If this thing doesn't come out right, don't worry about me, I'm just going on higher." (CBN.com, February) (to index)

* CFT NETHERLANDS CONFRONTS ‘7 SINS’ ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN – CFT The Netherlands report that Unilever is about to start the ‘Magnum 7 sins’ advertising campaign in the whole of Europe. CFT received pictures of the ‘seven sins’ (each representing a different flavour of ice cream) from a source within the company and took quick action in Holland. (see www.cftnederland.nl/afbeeldingen.htm) In Australia and South Africa CFT and other Christian groups have been actively protesting against the campaign. In South Africa the title "The seven deadly sins" was dropped. CFT Netherlands have been corresponding with Unilever since December, and requested a meeting. Unilever rejected the request at first, but in the last week of January the media got hold of CFT's protests, resulting in Unilever agreeing to a meeting. CFT’s opinion has been aired on national TV and radio, and has received a lot of support. The two main points mentioned are: the seriousness of sin -because of sin the Lord Jesus came and died; the need for norms and values in society, and Unilever is doing the opposite (CFT pointed to their corporate policy http://www.unilever.com/company/ourprinciples/) CFT The Netherlands is hopeful that the campaign will be tuned down or dropped completely. (Unilever has it’s own brand name in every country, eg. like Langnese in Germany, Wall’s in Britain) (to index)

* RIGHT-TO-KNOW BILL ABORTION RISKS IN WEST VIRGINIA - (Charleston, WV.) A state Senate-passed bill that would provide women seeking abortions with information about abortion risks and alternatives 24 hours before having an abortion has been put on a fast track in the House of Delegates to give the Legislature time to override a veto if the governor disapproves it. Speaker Bob Kiss, D-Raleigh, had wanted the bill taken up by the full Judiciary Committee on 13 February, but a request was made by the pro-abortion American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of West Virginia for a public hearing. Andrew Schneider, ACLU executive director, said the bill certainly is an obstruction to women who want to exercise their constitutional right to choose. The bill would require abortion practitioners to provide information about medical risks and about fetal development, and abortion alternatives, at least 24 hours before the abortion. Similar pro-life bills in other states have proven effective in reducing the number of abortions. Karen Cross, director of West Virginians for Life, said the bill is the group's priority because they estimate it could save 400 unborn lives and because a majority of legislators already support it. (Charleston Gazette; 14 February) (to index)

* KENYAN DOCTOR BLAMES CONDOMS FOR AFRICAN EPIDEMIC - Dr. Margaret Ogola, a Kenyan doctor, said during an interview at the World Congress of Families in Geneva Switzerland (November 99) that abstinence is the answer to the de-population of Africa by the AIDS virus. The introduction of condoms to people who a couple of generations ago were tribal, plays a major part in the disintegration of the Kenyan family, says Dr. Ogola. "Unfortunately, the International Organizations, the UN Agencies, the major donors, like USAID, are more interested in prevention as understood to mean massive distribution of condoms to all parts of the population including school children, and this had a very destructive impact because, first of all, no one tells the people that they do have short-comings and that they do have recognized failures and the condoms sent to Africa are not quality tested. Nobody knows their expiration date - they are just there...". She says that among their young people there is no concept of the fact that the condom has a failure rate. Condom distribution "reduces the power of the message of abstinence and continence and control that parents and churches and other people with some sense of responsibility are trying to teach the young people because it looks like there is an "easy way out" and if other people are talking about it, ‘Why shouldn't we use it?’ Therefore, this false sense of security is so dangerous because many young people who would abstain from fear from promiscuity are experimenting in a situation where almost the entire population is infected". Dr Ogola says what is needed is "massive abstinence campaigns among the young people who still have a chance…, instead of simply dishing out the rubbers and thinking that you have done your duty." For the full interview text, send an e-mail request to: mail@cft.org.za (Abstinence_News@Earthlink.net, 2 February) (to index)

* POLL : ABSTINENCE MESSAGE FAVOURED – (Washington, DC) When Americans hear the "exact wording" of sex-education messages, they reject ones that teach safe-sex techniques and support those that promote abstinence and marriage, says a new Zogby International poll released by a coalition of pro-family groups. "When parents are told what 'comprehensive' means, they reject condom-based curricula," Genevieve Wood of the Family Research Council said on 13 February. "Congress should see this poll as unqualified support from parents for the Bush administration's goal to raise funding for abstinence-until-marriage education in this year's budget," said Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America. The Zogby poll of 1,245 parents was taken in January. Parents were read verbatim statements from the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education, which were developed in 1990 by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and others. "Organizations advocating for the promotion of condoms for adolescents are using deception and sleight of hand to advance their agenda," said pro-life Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL). Parents and the public "overwhelmingly embrace" character-based abstinence education, said Weldon, who is also a physician…(Washington Times, 15 February) (to index)

* UK TO STUB OUT SMOKE ADS – (London) Britain will stub out tobacco advertising on 15 February when it becomes illegal to promote cigarettes through advertisements in newspapers and magazines and on billboards. Aimed at cutting down on more than 120 000 smoking-related deaths in Britain a year, the ban also ends a century of clever and artistic advertising. "For many years, advertisers have wrestled with their collective conscience over the tobacco issue," John Tylee, associate editor of advertising magazine Campaign, said. The death knell has been sounding in Britain ever since the 1960s when the Marlboro Man disappeared from television screens. In 1971, health warnings appeared on cigarette packets and ads, culminating in the blunt "smoking kills" message now found on many packs. (IOL, The Mercury, 14 February) (to index)

* 2/3 ‘FRENCH SUPPORT REOPENING OF BROTHELS’ - (Paris) Nearly two-thirds of French people support the reopening of the country's once-notorious brothels, according to a poll published on 9 February in the French newspaper Le Parisien. Of those polled, 63% said they were favourable to the reopening of so-called "maisons closes", while 26% said they were against such a move, as reported by News24.co.za. Eleven percent did not give an opinion. A female centre-right parliamentary deputy, Francoise de Panafieu, relaunched the debate about the legalisation of brothels in June, saying that the sex trade should be regulated "in the interest of public health". Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has made clamping down on prostitution one of the centerpieces of his wide-ranging fight on crime. Late last month, the National Assembly approved a draft that would outlaw all forms of solicitation by prostitutes, making it a crime punishable by up to two months in jail and a fine of 3 750 euros (about $4 000). Prostitution is technically legal in France, but pimping and "active" soliciting, defined as provocative displays of sexual exhibitionism that disturb the peace, are illegal. According to News24 some three-quarters of the 7 000 prostitutes working in Paris are foreigners, mainly from Eastern Europe and Africa. (Sapa-AFP – News24, 9 February) (to index)

* US BILL TO BAN LATE-TERM ABORTION PROCEDURE – (USA) Making good on a November election promise, House Republicans began pushing a bill on 13 February that would ban a controversial late-term abortion procedure. It is the latest effort to ban the so-called partial birth abortion procedure, in which the fetus is partly delivered before its skull is punctured. Congress passed the measure in 1996 and 1997, but President Clinton vetoed it both times. The House passed the measure again last year, but the Senate, then controlled by Democrats, never took up the measure. Now that Republicans have control of both the House and Senate, GOP lawmakers are intent on getting the bill passed. President Bush, who opposes abortion, has vowed to sign it. Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, said the center was prepared to go to court immediately after the bill becomes law. (CNN, 13 February) (to index)

* EFFORTS TO CURB FEMALE `FOETICIDE’ IN INDIA - The Indian Government has formalised legal powers to crack down on the abuse of pre-natal screening techniques as part of increasing efforts to curb female `foeticide’. The cultural preference for sons rather than daughters has skewed sex ratios in India. In some states young men, reaching marriageable age, are finding it hard to find brides. For many years, there have been reports of baby girls being neglected, malnourished or even killed at birth. But the growing availability of pre-natal screening techniques has brought a new dimension to the problem. Anecdotal evidence suggests that sex selection clinics and the abortion of girls are still widespread. But tougher legislation is making it possible for the authorities to crack down, staging raids on pre-natal clinics to check records and look for evidence of illegal sex selection. Pre-natal scans to check for abnormalities are legal and it can be impossible to prove that a doctor has in fact used one to reveal a baby's sex. (BBC, 15 February) (to index)

* HEADMASTER BANS SCHOOL VALENTINES - The head of New Zealand's largest high school has banned couriers from delivering flowers and chocolates to students on Valentine's Day on 14 February. "Youngsters come to school to do English, maths and science, that sort of thing, not to have their attention disrupted," Allan Peachey, of Auckland's Rangitoto College, which has nearly three thousand students, told the New Zealand Herald. He said Valentine's Day roses and other gifts should be delivered to students' homes, not to school. (Sapa; IOL, 12 February) (to index)

* ‘FIRST CLONED SHEEP EUTHANIZED’ – (London) Dolly, the world's ‘first cloned sheep’, has been euthanized after being diagnosed with progressive lung disease, the Roslin Institute has said. Dolly made headlines worldwide in 1996 when it was claimed that she was the first mammal to be cloned with DNA taken from an adult cell from a ewe's udder by a team led by professor Ian Wilmut of the Edinburgh-based Roslin Institute. With Dolly’s death coming only a week after the sudden death of the first sheep cloned in Australia, it is bound to raise fresh fears about the wisdom of cloning. Several domestic animals - including the cow, goat, mouse and cat - have been cloned but many die before birth or are born with severe abnormalities. This had led to concern that even clones that appear healthy may in fact have underlying genetic abnormalities. According to the CNN report, many scientists are hoping that the results of the post-mortem will shed fresh light on the safety of cloning and perhaps deter the handful of experts advocating human cloning. (CNN, 14 February; BBC, 14 February) (to index)