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Christian News
15 April 2003
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Southern Africa:
* PRAYER TO BE BANNED IN SA SCHOOLS
- There has been a public outcry at the government's proposal to ban prayer in schools.
Kader Asmal's proposed new `Religion in Education' policy to stop Christian religious
education in schools, Christian public worship in schools and Christian workers in schools
- and replace this with a multi-faith approach. As part of a discussion on SABC radio CFT
responded by saying: "Who really wants to ban prayer in schools? It's not the parents
or learners but the idealogues in the Department of Education. This latest attack on
family values is the culmination of what the Department has said it would do through
`Transormational Outcomes Based Education'. The department wants to use the educational
system to create learners who will think just as the state wants them to think. This is
the new religion which is to be imposed upon schools."
A petition supported by a network of Christian organisations is now circulating. The
`Religious freedom in schools petition' states: We ask the Minister of Education to uphold
our constitutional right to religious freedom in schools by allowing our school governing
bodies to decide the religious ethos of our schools including: religious perspective and
content; public worship; and assistance of outside religious workers during normal school
hours. (to index)
* TEASA
CALLS FOR RE-DRAFTING ‘RELIGION IN EDUCATION POLICY’ – On 11 April
representatives of member organisations of The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa
(TEASA) met to discuss the proposed Religion in Education policy. The Evangelical Alliance
represents 30 national denominations, 30 mission and service agencies and 8 theological
colleges. TEASA is home to altogether 3 million Christians in South Africa. TEASA objects
to the proposed policy on a number of issues and calls for a new ministerial committee and
wider consultation to formulate an acceptable policy. Regarding the Religious Education
subject TEASA said that: "The current compulsory multi-religious ‘religious
education’ syllabus is unacceptable and serves to confuse
children. This works against the intention of the policy, which purports to promote
tolerance while being intolerant and insensitive to the deepest feelings of religiously
inclined parents, learners and teachers. The proposal to make it also compulsory for
independent schools is even more unacceptable. Children should be brought up in the faith
of their parents. Parents, through the governing body, should be allowed to choose the
religious education syllabus for their school." TEASA believes that the current
policy is ill advised, and will cause more problems than it will solve.
(For more information contact the Evangelical Alliance at 011-4031228.) (to index)
* PROJECT TARGETS
DRINKING AND DRUGS AMONG CHILDREN - Police in Durban have vowed to purge the city
of night clubs that serve as fronts for unscrupulous drug lords. During a raid on the
Liquid night Club in Bayview, Chatsworth, on 28 March, police found more than 700 school
children packed in the club designed to hold 500. A number of them were under the
influence of alcohol and in some cases drugs. Among the patrons in the crowded club was a
9-year-old child. Overcrowding at night clubs and the selling of liquor and drugs to
children was becoming a norm in Durban, said Supt Willie Louw, commander of Project West -
a joint operation between the SAPS Organised Crime Unit and Durban Metro Police. (Daily
News, 31 March) (to index)
* ‘AIDS
IS GOD’S CHALLENGE’ SAYS S.A. HEALTH MINISTER - HIV/Aids is, perhaps,
God's way of challenging people to provide care and support, and appreciate the gift of
life, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on 31 March. "Aids need not be a
crisis, and people living with HIV/Aids need not die," Tshabalala-Msimang said in
Johannesburg. The minister was addressing religious leaders at the launch of the Faith In
Action - A United Response to HIV/Aids initiative in Johannesburg. "Aids could be a
God-given opportunity for moral and spiritual growth, a time to review our assumption
about sin and morality," said Tshabalala-Msimang. (Independent Online, 31 March) (to index)
* SA AIDS RATE SEEN PEAKING AT 7.7M -
The number of South Africans infected with HIV or Aids will peak at 7.7 million in the
next three years, creating the potential for an economic disaster, a report said on 2
April. The annual report on labour relations and employee benefits in South Africa said
that as a result of the pandemic, the decline of the working-age population would
translate into a severe shortfall of available labour and the likelihood of declining
productivity. The report estimated one million people in the 20 to 59 age group would
develop Aids in the next seven years, while the number of economic dependants, those under
20 and over 60, would increase by 1.6 million. It said with the decline in the
economically active population, expenditure on sickness and related benefits and pensions
for surviving dependants would increase dramatically. At the same time, tax revenues would
decrease and the government would have fewer resources available for economic
development... (Iafrica.com, 3 April) (to index)
* ANGLICAN CHURCH TO DISCUSS
SAME-SEX MARRIAGES - The Anglican Church in Southern Africa has released what it
calls a "preliminary report" on same-sex marriages, a union it currently refuses
to recognise. Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane said on 3 April that the document, which
makes no specific recommendations, was meant to stimulate discussion on the
issue. Its release follows last month's Constitutional Court ruling that twins born by
artificial insemination to a lesbian couple were legitimate, a term traditionally used for
children born in wedlock. The report says local church workshops should be held to enable
members to "participate in discerning God's word to the Church" on homosexuality
and same-sex unions." Njongonkulu said the fundamental teaching of the church was
that marriage was between a husband and a wife. "The view is that same sex unions are
against that kind of fundamental teaching that the church has on this issue," he
said. (Lifeskills Education, 4 April) (to index)
* NO RULES RE.
GAYS AT STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY RESIDENCES - (Stellenbosch) The University of
Stellenbosch says there are no plans to draw up a policy about sex in residences or about
gays living in residence. A statement released on 2 April followed a report earlier that
week that the university had followed a consultation process and a policy would be
completed early next term. Professor Chris Brink, the rector, said "We do not have
rules in residences regarding gays or about the sexual activities of students…"
Brink was asked if he knew about an investigation to consider adjusting rules at
residences. "My information was that some students had questions about how to handle
'gayness' in residences. Those questions have been forwarded." Brink says the privacy
of students in residences is respected. "There are, of course, instances where
students share rooms and then people have to show respect." (Die Burger, 4 April) (to index)
* ABORTION FACILITIES SPREAD
THROUGHOUT S.A. - African Christian Democratic Party MP Cheryllyn Dudley has
expressed alarm at the direction of the Department of Health's abortion policy is going,
after the department's decision to increase the number of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP)
facilities throughout South Africa… According to Dudley, over 30% of abortions in
South Africa are performed after 12 weeks, although health workers in hospitals report
that the figure is closer to 60%. "There have been calls by lobbyists and MPs for the
12-week limit for legal abortion on demand to be increased to 15 weeks, which indicates
that this is the possible direction the government is going," Dudley said. "The
Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill is currently in the pipeline, which the
ACDP plans to monitor." For more information call ACDP Media Liaison Charmaine Horne
at 084 370 3550 or 021 403 3307. (ACDP, 9 April) (to index)
* TOUGHER TOBACCO LAW ON WAY FOR S.A.
- Health ministry proposals for tougher anti-smoking legislation, including a dramatic
increase in fines, could be released for public comment within weeks. The ministry is also
seeking to ban cigarette vending machines, to raise the age for tobacco sales from 16 to
18, and to make graphic pictures of smoking diseases part of packet health warnings.
Patricia Lambert, special adviser to Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, said this
week that she hoped a draft bill would be published before the end of May, and that it
would be law by the end of the year. She said the bill would tighten up the existing
Tobacco Products Control Act's provision on smoking in public places. (Sapa - Iafrica.com,
7 April) (to index)
* TWIN’S PRAYERFUL
VIGIL WITH DYING BROTHER - Twelve-year-old twin brothers Philip and Charl Cilliers
encouraged each other with hymns and prayers after Philip was crushed by a rock during a
climbing outing in the Eastern Cape. Philip died on the way to hospital. The twins, from
Welgedacht farm near Burgersdorp, went climbing on Sunday afternoon (30 March) with two
friends, Rohan Greyling and Benton Davis, to look at rock art in the Kram Berg…
Phillip fell and was pinned in a stream by a rock weighing several tons. It crushed his
hip and severed a main artery. Rohan and Benton immediately went for help, but had to
climb out of the canyon and run about 6km to the farmstead. Charl said his brother was
conscious all the time. "He said he loved me and wanted to pray for me. I also prayed
for him and we sang some hymns. Then I just sat and held his hand..." (News24, 30
March) (to index)
International:
* DON
RICHARDSON: "WESTERN WORLD OBLIVIOUS OF ISLAMIC STRATEGY" - "The
West is on a clear collision course with Islam", says Don Richardson, who spent
fifteen years in Indonesia (the world’s most populous Muslim country) and studied
Islam for thirty years. "Mating political cunning and incredible wealth with
religious zeal, Islam has a chance to succeed and will, unless major parts of the Western
world unite to take appropriate countermeasures," says Richardson. In his latest
book, Secrets of the Koran (Regal, February 2003), Richardson painstakingly identifies the
objectives of Islam throughout the world today. Richardson identifies 109 Koranic verses,
which encourage war, violence, and destruction. Instead of branding Islam as a
"peace-loving religion" hijacked by fanatics, he believes we need to see this
with suicide bombings in the Middle East and other recent atrocities as a by-product of
its belief system. (Assist News service, 24 March) (to index)
* MISSIONARY RETURNS TO
PERSECUTION VILLAGE / PERSECUTION TURNS INTO HUNGER FOR GOSPEL – (Jharkhand,
India) In February this year Titus, a native missionary of Gospel For Asia, was severely
beaten and nearly strangled for trying to show a film on the life of Jesus to an unreached
village in Jharkhand. Just a few days later Titus bravely returned so he could try to get
back the confiscated film equipment, says an e-mail report received by ASSIST News Service
(ANS). After several meetings, the village committee returned the film equipment
unconditionally and in good shape. "The very men who said they wanted to crush Titus
into powder are now eager to see the film on the life of Jesus," wrote a GFA field
leader. Though Titus still suffers bodily pain from his beatings and is unable to ride his
bicycle for long distances, he is joyfully continuing his ministry to the unreached.
(Assist News Service www.assistnews.net, 26
March) (to index)
* ERITREA JAILS 170 PROTESTANT
CHRISTIANS - A total of 170 Protestant Christians have been jailed, beaten and
threatened with death by Eritrean security forces in a harsh crackdown during February and
March, according to reports by Crosswalk. Since the Asmara government closed 12
Pentecostal and charismatic churches last May, the tiny nation along the eastern tip of
Africa has stalled official registration status for all of these young Protestant
churches, now containing more than 20,000 believers. In five separate incidents in four
cities over the past two months, Eritrean security police barged into worship services and
even a wedding ceremony to jail men, women and children for practicing what government
officials called "a new religion." In one instance church members detained at
Adi Abito Military Prison outside Asmara were told that their pastor, detained separately,
had denied his beliefs and promised to return to the Orthodox Church. The congregation all
refused to believe it. "Anyway, Jesus is our Savior too, not just our
pastor’s," they reportedly told the guards. "We will not deny Him."
After eight days in jail, the pastor and most of his congregation were released on bail...
(Compass Direct; Maranatha Christian News Service, 9 April) (to index)
* MUSLIM REBELS
ATTACK PHILIPPINE ‘CHRISTIAN’ TOWN - An army spokesman, Major Julieto
Ando, said guerrillas from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fired rocket-propelled
grenades into houses in the predominantly Christian town of M'Lang. He said soldiers later
killed five rebels in a gun battle. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu admitted attacking the town,
but said the target had been a military detachment and that civilians might have been
caught in crossfire. The renewed violence came as government negotiators left Manila to
try and revive peace talks with the MILF. The 12,500-strong group has fought a 25-year
campaign for an Islamic state in the southern third of the largely Christian Philippines.
(BBC, 26 March) (to index)
* CHAPLAIN SAYS GOD, NOT
RELIGION, BECOMES FOCUS - U.S. Army Chaplain Mark E. Thompson says many of the
rules he's developed as a Christian minister with the troops in Iraq are pretty
straightforward. "Every day is Sunday"; "Adapt and make do";
"God, not religion, becomes the focus." Guarded by chaplain assistants, unarmed
chaplains have jumped out of airplanes and trekked across the desert with military units,
providing counsel, prayer and opportunities for worship. Hundreds of teams of chaplains
and assistants are currently serving in the Balkans, Asia and the Middle East. "You
offer services, prayer, Scripture reading, Communion, whenever and wherever you can,"
Thompson told Religion News Service in an interview conducted via e-mail. "We do not
know if tomorrow will come. I do not mean that in a negative sense, but that is the
reality we live with." Chaplains are preparing for the traditional holidays of Easter
and Passover in a most nontraditional atmosphere. (Crosswalk.com, 11 April) (to index)
* RUSSIAN
ISLAMIC LEADER CALLS FOR ‘JIHAD’ IN IRAQ - One of Russia's top Muslim
leaders called for a jihad late last week against the United States for its attack on Iraq
but was quickly threatened on 4 April by government officials to keep quiet or risk
prosecution. "We will collect donations and then use that money to buy weapons for
the struggle against America and to buy supplies for the Iraqi people," Russia's
Supreme Mufti Talgat Tadjuddin was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. Tadjuddin
did not specify precisely on 3 April how the country's 20 million Muslims could take part
in the jihad - holy war - but said in a March 29 interview with the Izvestia newspaper
that those believers not satisfied with prayer could go "quickly and quietly to
Baghdad and take weapons in your hands, and if you have no weapons, strangle the
aggressors with your hands." The next day, the local prosecutor's office issued an
official warning to Tadjuddin not to break the Russian law that forbids inciting ethnic or
religious hatred, the ITAR-TASS agency reported. (Religion Today, 7 April) (to index)
* PARENTS WANT
MORE SAY IN TEENS’ REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH - Two thirds of parents are unaware
that teens can give consent for sexually transmitted disease treatment, and nearly half do
not know their children can obtain contraception without parental involvement, according
to a survey conducted in Minnesota and Wisconsin. What's more, 71 percent of parents would
not object to a mandatory parental notification policy, which includes a five-day delay
for access to
contraception. During the study, a phone survey was conducted with more than a thousand
parents of teenagers aged 13 to 17 in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The survey, which was
conducted in 2002, was presented this week at the Society for Adolescent Medicine in
Seattle.
When parents were asked about potential consequences of changing the laws, some mentioned
their belief that more teens might decide to not have sex, and requiring parental consent
would encourage more discussion between parents and their teens. (Reuters; Abstinence
Education Update, 27 March) (to index)
* DAGGA USE CAUSE MENTAL PROBLEMS IN
UK – (London) The increasing use of dagga can lead to a great problem with
mental health, British learned said on 7 April, predicting an increase in schizophrenia
and depression as a result. The physical consequences of smoking dagga is similar to that
of cigarettes, including diseases like cancer and coronary disease. The use of dagga can
however cause a four-fold increase in schizophrenia and depression, said prof. John Henry
of the Imperial College in London. He says that schizophrenia costs the British
government’s health services about 1.5 milliard pounds (about R12 milliard) per year
– comprising 8% of the institution’s annual budget. Brittain is however planning
to reclassify dagga as a class C drug (it’s class B at present), due to it being less
harmful than other drugs. This will imply that punishment for possession thereof will be
lighter. (Beeld, 8 April) (to index)
* AUSTRIAN INTERNET
SUICIDE PACT – (Vienna) A 17-year-old Austrian girl and a 40-year-old Italian
man, who committed suicide together near Vianne, had planned the act in an internet
suicide chatroom where they met, police said on 9 April. A police spokesman said the
incident was under investigation. This incident was the third time a couple planned on the
internet how to kill themselves in Austria. (The Mercury, 10 April)(to index)
* BRITISH
FATHER CONDEMNS ASSISTED SUICIDE WEB SITES AFTER SON DIES – (London) A
Grieving father has attacked websites offering advice on suicide after his teenage son
trawled the internet for information on the best way to kill himself. Tim Piper, a bright
A-Level student, was found hanged in a closet in his bedroom by his horrified mother. The
17-year-old from Chippenham, England had left a handwritten suicide note which read:
"I love you Mum and Dad. I always will." But his parents only discovered later
that Tim had been logging on to internet sites filled with information on the easiest way
to commit suicide. Tim's devastated parents Hazel and Martyn and their Member of
Parliament James Gray have called for the horrific sites to be shut down. One such site,
calling itself Church of Euthanasia, even tells people to "do a good job" when
they commit suicide. (The Bath Chronicle – England, 7 April) (to index)
* TEEN SACRIFICES BOY TO GODDESS -
(New Delhi) A 19-year-old boy was arrested for sacrificing his friend to a Hindu goddess
in the central Indian state of Chattisgarh, a news report said on 2 April. Superintendent
of Police M P Chaudhury told the United News of India (UNI) news agency the teenager had
been charged with the murder of his 10-year-old friend. Police said the boy's head was
severed and offered to the Hindu goddess Kali. The teenager said Kali appeared to him in a
dream and told him to present her with a human head. He told the police that he was only
obeying the orders of the goddess, the UNI report said. (Independent Online, 2 April) (to index)
* HUMAN CLONING FLAWED DUE TO
FLUKE OF BIOLOGY - Recent evidence on human cloning brings a new dimension to an
upcoming National Conference on Medical Ethics, said Doctors for Life (DFL) in a press
statement on 12 April. Scientists in the United States say hundreds of attempts to clone
monkeys have ended in failure. Their research concludes that the biological make-up of the
oocyte (egg cell) of primates, including humans, makes cloning practically impossible. Dr.
Gerald Schatten, who led the study, said "This adds yet another nail in the coffin to
never ever attempt reproductive cloning of humans," he told Reuters Health. As DFL
has noted before, human cloning is morally corrupt, manipulative and dangerous as all
clones to date face a shortened lifetime of suffering and premature aging.
(For more information contact: Prof. Hennie Cronje at (051) 405-3444. [Doctors for
Life, 12 April]) (to index)
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