Christian News - 15 May 2003

Christian News

15 May 2003
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Southern Africa:

Role for abstinence in global Aids Bill

Christian lawyers to protect interests of pregnant minor and parents

Cancel Christmas in S.A.?

Leaders fear atheists may teach religion

Democratic Alliance objects inteference with religion at schools

Pan-African Family Life Int. Conference in SA

Lesbian couple appeal for marriage

Home-based carers help protect Lesotho’s orphans

* ROLE FOR ABSTINENCE IN GLOBAL AIDS BILL - Republicans have secured a prominent role for sexual abstinence in a $15 billion House bill to combat global AIDS. Today's House vote on the five-year package comes three months after President Bush outlined the initiative in his State of the Union Address. Bush summoned lawmakers and activists to the White House to urge swift action, saying AIDS was "leaving graves and orphans across a continent." Reps. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) and Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) wrote the bill to avoid crippling disputes over such issues as abstinence and condom use, but in the end, even Democrats had to accept a vote on two amendments pushed by conservative groups and backed by the White House. One, offered by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), would strengthen "conscience" language already in the bill to assure that religious groups are not denied funds because they object to certain aspects of prevention programs, such as the distribution of condoms. Another amendment, offered by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), states that one-third of the money targeted for prevention go to promoting abstinence. (Associated Press, 1 May)
…And in news just in, the US Senate has passed the pro-abstinence legislation 16 May 2003. The bill states that "one-third of all funding for prevention programs go to promoting abstinence, and that no religious or other group be deprived of funding because it objects to distributing condoms." Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California., tried without success to remove the one-third guarantee for abstinence programs." (USA Today, 16 May) (to index)

* CHRISTIAN LAWYERS TO PROTECT INTERESTS OF PREGNANT MINOR AND PARENTS – In a letter to The Sunday Independent on April 27 the Christian Lawyers Association (CLA) commented on the action by CLA that was heard in the Pretoria High Court on April 29 and 30. The leading defendant was the Minister of health, and other parties heard included the Reproductive Rights Alliance and the Women’s Legal Centre. "…Given that it is illegal for a minor to receive an injection, or have a tooth pulled, without parental consent, is it constitutional for a pregnant girl to have the right to an abortion without parental knowledge, parental consent, or even the assistance of a counsellor?", asks John Smythe, CLA National Director. "The CLA believes that it is undoubtedly ‘in the best interests of the child’ (the test provided by section 28 of the constitution) that counselling either from a parent or professional, or both, should be mandatory in order to ensure that the pregnant girl gives her "informed" consent…". John Smyth told Christian News that the opposition over-emphasized hard cases, which is not applicable to the vast majority of pregnant minors. In many states in the USA consent from one parent is required. Judgement was reserved at the end of the hearing. (to index)

* CANCEL CHRISTMAS IN S.A.? The National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) said on Tuesday, 13 May that the government should review all public holidays of a religious nature. It made the call at a media briefing in Cape Town, hosted by the Congress of South African Trade Unions, on the controversy over religion in schools. The briefing followed demands by Christian groups, the New National party and some educationists for the retention of religious observance in schools. NAGSB deputy general secretary Martin Jansen said his organisation believed the state should review all religious public holidays, such as Good Friday, to ensure fairness and equity in religion for the general population. He said that even though Christians formed a clear majority in South Africa, there was no reason why Christmas should be recognised as a public holiday when Jewish or Muslim holy days were not. Two Christian holy days - Christmas and Good Friday - are official public holidays in South Africa. The council of education ministers is scheduled to meet on June 9 to finalise a policy on religion in education. (News24, 14 May 2003)

ED:The `other religions’, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, amount to less than 5% of the population. (to index)

* LEADERS FEAR ATHEISTS MAY TEACH RELIGION – (South Africa) Religious leaders in South Africa are concerned that atheists and agnostics might teach religious education in an "antagonistic" way in schools. According to the Cape Argus on 7 May, this is the latest twist in the controversy surrounding the government's revised policy on religion in education. The fuss over the teaching of religion in schools resurfaced after Education Minister Kader Asmal announced that the consultation process had come to an end and that the policy would be finalised at the next council of provincial education ministers meeting in June. There have been protests and complaints from the political and religious sectors. John Oliver of the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative however said that they were happy at the interfaith approach of the new policy to religious education. Nevertheless all expressed concern about who would be responsible for teaching religious studies under the new policy, which would seek to expose students to all the various religions in South African society without nurturing any one specific religious teaching. (Cape Argus, 7 May) (to index)

* DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE OBJECTS INTEFERENCE WITH RELIGION AT SCHOOLS - The Democratic Alliance said in a statement on 2 May that they have had some strong words to say on Minister Kader Asmal's proposed interference with religious practice at schools. Motions that were adopted included, among others, that: The Constitution of the Republic is clear on freedom of religion and freedom of association; furthermore permission is granted for religious practices at state or state-aided schools, subject to certain conditions; Section 7 of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 supports the same principle, but adds that governing bodies may determine rules, and that such assemblies should take place on a voluntary basis; Surveys conducted in 1996 and 1997 made it clear that the vast majority of religious communities prefer a specific model, and also that children should receive instruction on a specific faith according to their parents' choice. The DA has welcomed "the protests at schools by parents, governing bodies and teachers against Minister Asmal's interference in communities' freedom of religion..." For more info: Willem Doman 083 400 2134 (Christianview, 5 May) (to index)

* PAN-AFRICAN FAMILY LIFE INT. CONFERENCE IN SA - The first Pan-African Family Life International Conference will be held from 5 - 7 June 2003 in Amanzimtoti with its theme : "Building a Culture of Life and Family'. Speakers will gather from Canada, USA and several African countries. The National Alliance for Life is (NAL) hosting this conference to address the many problems facing African families today. The conference will also focus on the unique role of African women in today's world and promote education in parenting, relationships and sexual purity and integrity amongst young people. With the current epidemic of sexual promiscuity, abortion, STD's and HIV/AIDS, this conference could not be more timely. The conference will be held at Abundant Life Ministries, Commercial Rd & Brosjeth Avenue, Amanzimtoti (above Bears); 5 - 7 June 2003 from 08h00 to 15h00. On Saturday evening, 7 June an "African Banquet Evening" will be held with local artists and musicians performing. For more information contact Gail Schreiner at 031-9036093 / 082 824 6756 or Ronell at 031-7640443 (to index)

* LESBIAN COUPLE APPEAL FOR MARRIAGE – (South Africa) A lesbian couple was granted leave to appeal on 12 May to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein against the Pretoria High Court's refusal to legalise their marriage. Marie Fourie, a carpet technologist, and her same-sex partner, local nurse Cecilia Bonthuys, lost their groundbreaking application against the Minister of Home Affairs when Judge Pierre Roux dismissed it with costs in October last year. Fourie and Bonthuys, who have been living together in an exclusive relationship since 1994, claimed in court papers they were unfairly discriminated against because a marriage between them would have no legal power. Counsel for the couple, Pieter Oosthuizen, submitted before Judge SJ Mynhardt on Monday that the common law should be developed to promote the spirit, tenor and aim of the Constitution, including the recognition of lesbian and gay marriages as legally binding. (iafrica.com, 13 May) (to index)

* HOME-BASED CARERS HELP PROTECT LESOTHO’S ORPHANS – In Southern Africa 3.2 million children orphaned by AIDS bring a new definition to the term "most vulnerable". As well as the trauma and poverty the loss of parents brings, abuse and exploitation are increasingly disturbing problems. Red Cross National Societies report that without the protection of parents, cruelty, food for sex, cheap or forced child labour, child rape and even coerced commercial sex are blighting the lives of more and more young people. The Lesotho Red Cross already provides food, clothing and school fees for some needy children, but come August it will start an integrated community home-based care programme providing structured support for orphans. Backed by the German Red Cross, the International Federation and the European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO), the programme will aim to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS or chronic illness, and those affected by it, families, carers and orphans in the western districts o Berea, Leribe and Mafeteng. ([AEGiS] Digest Volume 1099 number 2, 8 May) (to index)

International:

Shiite Muslims threaten true religions freedom in Iraq

Danger does not deter missionaries

2 Christians face deportation from Saudi Arabia

Jordanian Christian killed in Lebanon attack

Four Christians murdered in Colombia

Yemeni sentenced to die for killing missionaries

Sudan jails Episcopal priest

First blow-up church unveiled in Britain

‘Right to know ALL about abortion’ in Texas

Mothers’ Day’s origin in civil war as day of love

Abortion a ‘poor choice’ for women

‘Child abuse reporting laws subverted by abortion facilities’

Mexican clergy upset with safe sex message

‘Parents do little about kids’ faith training’

Romanian astronomers claim to pinpoint time of crucifixion

* SHIITE MUSLIMS THREATEN TRUE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN IRAQ – (Baghdad) For Christians in Iraq, this is an odd time; they are suspended between hope that they might gain true religious freedom and fear that they may lose what rights they had. When Hussein was in power, Christians were not permitted to run religious schools or proselytize outside their churches. But they could hold services regularly, church officials said. The Los Angeles Times reports that Christians say they are being harassed and threatened by members of Shiite Muslim groups who are grabbing power and who appear eager to transform Iraq into an Islamic republic. Monsignor Ishlemon Warduni, auxiliary bishop of the Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq reportedly said in a letter to retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, who has been heading up the postwar reconstruction efforts in Iraq: "We want to tell the Americans that we have a 2,000-year history in this country. We want to tell them that we want our religious freedom and our cultural rights ....Security is the main problem we want America to think about." (latimes.com, 9 May) (to index)

* DANGER DOES NOT DETER MISSIONARIES - Danger comes with the territory for Christian missionaries working abroad, but legions of them still appear eager to serve in foreign countries. Against the backdrop of increasing anti-Americanism across the globe, at least six U.S. missionaries working overseas are known to have been killed since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. At least four of them died at the hands of suspected Muslim extremists in Yemen, Lebanon and the Philippines. But some missionary organizations find little reason to adjust their game plans. "We've been sending missionaries out since 1845" said Mark Kelly, spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board. The International Mission Board, based in Richmond, Va., had more than 32,000 workers serving overseas during 2002. "We have some people coming and saying that the increase in terrorism only makes them more convinced that people need to hear about God's love and forgiveness and peace in Jesus," Kelly said. (Religion News Service, May 2003) (to index)

* 2 CHRISTIANS FACE DEPORTATION FROM SAUDI ARABIA – (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) Two Christians are facing deportation from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. According to Middle East Concern (MEC), Mr. Girmaye, from Eritrea, was arrested in mid-March and transferred to Terhil deportation centre where he has remained ever since. Pastor Endashaw Adane Yizengaw, from Ethiopia, was arrested on April 26 or 27 after the authorities cancelled his residency permit. Other members of the church have been warned not to attend any more. MEC is a co-operative effort by concerned Christians in the Middle East focusing on the need for Middle Eastern authorities to ensure the rights of all who choose to call themselves Christian. The two Christians have been jailed ever since at the Bremen deportation center at Terhil, in the old sector of Jeddah. Both were active in the ministry of Jeddah’s Ethiopian-Eritrean Christian congregation until their residence permits were revoked by the Saudi police, who then hunted them down and put them under arrest. "The reason they are sending us back is that we are Christians," Yizengaw said. "We have been serving Jesus Christ here in Saudi Arabia." (Assist News Service; Maranatha Christian News Service, 14 May) (to index)

* JORDANIAN CHRISTIAN KILLED IN LEBANON ATTACK - (Istanbul) An Arab convert to Christianity was killed in a bomb blast on 6 May outside his Tripoli apartment, adjacent to the home of a European missionary family thought to have been targeted in the attack. Jamil Ahmed al-Rifai, 28, died instantly when a 4.5-pound bomb exploded just before midnight in the Qubba suburb of Tripoli, Lebanon’s northern port city. Despite reports on the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television network that al-Rifai had himself planted the bomb, eyewitnesses confirmed that the Jordanian Christian was an innocent victim of the attack. According to Dutch missionary Gerrit "Joep" Griffioen, who survived the attack, his wife had spotted an intruder in the garden next to their ground-floor apartment about 11:30 last night. When Griffioen and al-Rifai investigated, the intruder fled, leaving an object that flickered in the dark. Though Griffioen smothered the lit fuse and thought that the bomb was extinguished, it exploded later on. Griffioen told the Dutch Associated Press (ANP) today that he had been "repeatedly threatened" during his 20 years of ministry in Lebanon, but he had never taken the threats seriously. (Compass Direct, 7 May) (to index)

* FOUR CHRISTIANS MURDERED IN COLOMBIA - (Compass) Twenty-five armed men entered a rural church in northern Colombia during the second week of May and murdered its 80-year-old evangelical pastor and three other believers, confirmed the head of the nation's evangelical alliance. Hector Pardo, head of the Colombian evangelical alliance CEDECOL, told Compass that he had not been able to confirm details of the murders or a motive for them. The Cali newspaper El Pais reported that armed men called the victims by name and attacked them in the doorway of the church in front of other parishioners. El Pais, citing police sources, said that the men slashed the throats of two victims with a knife and shot two others with rifles, then fled into a wooded area. No group has claimed responsibility, reported El Pais, but Pardo said that paramilitaries are believed to be responsible. (Religion Today, 12 May) (to index)

* YEMENI SENTENCED TO DIE FOR KILLING MISSIONARIES - A Yemeni court sentenced a suspected al-Qa'ida militant to death May 10 for killing three U.S. missionaries, according to his lawyer. An Associated Press (AP) article by Ahmed Al-Haj reports that Abed Abdul Razak Kamel, 30, was sentenced in the Dec. 30 incident of shooting and causing the deaths of Kathleen A. Gariety of Wauwatosa, Wis., Martha C. Myers of Montgomery, Ala., and William E. Koehn of Kan., according to Kamel's lawyer, Mahrous Oqba. Donald W. Caswell, of Levelland, Texas, was wounded in the attack, the AP said. The verdict was handed down in Jibla, 125 miles south of the Yemeni capital of San'a, where the killings took place at the Southern Baptist-run hospital, the AP reported. Kamel’s lawyer told the AP that Kamel (who pleaded not guilty) will appeal the verdict, saying it violated Islamic law. In an April 20 court hearing that he planned the attack for 18 months, and that he killed the missionaries "out of a religious duty...and in revenge from those who converted Muslims from their religion and made them unbelievers.'' Jibla residents have said the Americans never discussed religion. (Assist News Service, 11 May) (to index)

* SUDAN JAILS EPISCOPAL PRIEST - A Sudanese court jailed an Episcopal priest "indefinitely" on April 7 for refusing to demolish a church he had built himself 11 years ago on the outskirts of Khartoum North. Judge Kamal Abd-Rahaman Alli ordered the Rev. Samuel Dobai Amum to tear down St. Matthew's Parish in Takamol and surrender the land on which it was built to the "rightful owner." Amum said he would not resist court-sanctioned destruction of the modest chapel he built in 1987 to serve war refugees, but could not personally tear down a structure devoted to God. The judge declared Amum "rude before the law" and sentenced him to be "imprisoned indefinitely" until he either tears down the building or pays 7,000,000 Sudanese dinars (nearly $3,000) to secure the land in the name of the church. "Is [this] not religious discrimination?" a columnist from the Khartoum Monitor asked. "I am sure that if the church was a mosque, it shouldn't have been touched." (Compass; Religion today, 13 May) (to index)

* FIRST BLOW-UP CHURCH UNVEILED IN BRITAIN – The world’s first inflatable church has opened its Gothic arches to worshippers to reveal a blow-up organ, a plyvinyl pulpit, an air-filled altar and faked stained-glass windows. The church was the brain-child of British entrepreneur Michael Gill, who said on 13 May that it could breathe new life into Christianity by letting preachers take their message into their communities. A priest could carry it around on the back of a truck and set it up on patches of grass or in village squares for impromptu services, he said. "Churches used to be at the centre of our communities, and sadly that’s not the case anymore," Gill said. The church can be inflated in about three hours and can house around 60 people at a time. (The Star, 14 May) (to index)

* ‘RIGHT TO KNOW ALL ABOUT ABORTION’ IN TEXAS – (Austin, TX) A bill that would help women receive all of the information they need about abortion, abortion's risks and alternatives has enough support to win approval in the Texas Senate, a lawmaker from The Woodlands said on 12 May. Republican Sen. Tommy Williams said he decided to sponsor House Bill 15 in the Senate because he believes a woman should be fully informed before deciding whether to have an abortion. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 7-0 on Monday to approve the bill, which the House approved last month. The bill would require that some information and materials, including full-color pictures of fetal development stages, and abortion options, such as adoption services, be offered to a woman seeking an abortion. She would then be required to wait 24 hours before seeking an abortion. Similar pro-life bills in other states have been credited with successfully reducing the number of abortions and abortion rate and the Supreme Court has upheld similar laws. (Houston (Chronicle, Pro-Life Infonet, 13 May) (to index)

* MOTHERS’ DAY’S ORIGIN IN CIVIL WAR AS DAY OF LOVE - In his proclamation on 9 May the US President, W. Bush said that: "Mother's Day began as a day of love and friendship, designed to help heal families divided across battle lines during the Civil War. On Mother's Day, we honor the dedicated and caring women who are devoted to their families and committed to improving the world their children will inherit." In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution officially establishing Mother's Day to honor the role of women in the family. The first US President, George Washington, said that his mother was "the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother." President Bush said that mothers instill important values in children and help provide the tools they need to make the right choices and grow up to be responsible, compassionate, and successful members of society. "We remember the lessons our mothers have taught us: That it is better to give than to receive, that we must love our neighbors as ourselves, and that service to others brings joy." (The White House News, Weekly Review, 7-9 May) (to index)

* ABORTION A ‘POOR CHOICE’ FOR WOMEN - The American Psychological Association (APA), which has consistently lobbied in favor of abortion rights, has frequently insisted that abortion is a benign experience that predominately brings relief to most women. But a new study published in the latest issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) shows that evidence of abortion contributing to emotional problems does exist. A review of the medical records of 56,741 California medicaid patients revealed that women who had abortions were 160 % more likely than delivering women to be hospitalized for psychiatric treatment in the first 90 days following abortion or delivery. Rates of psychiatric treatment remained significantly higher for at least four years. According to the CMAJ study's lead author, David Reardon, Ph.D., a common complaint among participants in post-abortion recovery programs is that when they raised the issue of their past abortions while seeking mental health care, their therapists dismissed abortion as irrelevant. For more info: www.PoorChoice.org.
(Reardon recently co-authored a book, Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion. "This study, based on objective medical records, validates the claims of tens of thousands of women in post-abortion recovery programs.") (Pro-life Infonet, 12 May) (to index)

* ‘CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAWS SUBVERTED BY ABORTION FACILITIES’ - (Concord, New Hampshire) Supporters of a pro-life bill to require parental notification before an abortion can be performed on a teen girl said early May that state abortion facilities are "subverting" state child abuse reporting laws. "The abortion industry is saying one thing and doing another," said Roger Stenson, referring to information abortion facilities say they give girls calling about possible abortions. Stenson is executive director of New Hampshire Citizens for Life. "Family planning clinics, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and abortion providers have demonstrated their ability to subvert New Hampshire mandatory reporting laws designed to protect girls from sexual predators," said Steve Cable, president of the Center for American Cultural Renewal. To prove the point, he played four tapes of calls to New Hampshire clinics recorded by a Texas pro-life group, which said it called 900 abortion facilities around the country during the winter of 2002. (Associated Press, 9 May) (to index)

* MEXICAN CLERGY UPSET WITH SAFE SEX MESSAGE – (Mexico City) Leading Mexican clergymen have attacked the country's first lady, Marta Sahagun, for advocating the use of condoms as protection against AIDS, the Reforma newspaper reported on 9 May. In response to Sahagun's call on 7 May for people to have the moral courage to fight AIDS through educating people about safe sex, two Catholic bishops told the newspaper it was "depraved" to legitimise sexual liberty by advocating condom use. "In fact, many millions of people are infected with AIDS because of the propoganda surrounding condoms," said the Bishop of Tlaxcala, Jacinto Guerrero. Despite Sahagun's position, the political party headed by her husband, Mexican President Vicente Fox, has dropped the word "condom" from its manifesto for legislative elections in July. (Agence France-Presse, 9 May) (to index)

* ‘PARENTS DO LITTLE ABOUT KIDS’ FAITH TRAINING’ - Most parents believe that they are primarily responsible for the spiritual development of their children, but few of them spend time interacting with their youngsters on religious matters. According to the latest study from the Barna Research Group (BRG), close to nine of 10 parents of children under 13 - 85 percent - believe they have the primary responsibility for teaching their children about religious beliefs and spiritual issues. But related research revealed that a majority of parents do not spend any time during a typical week discussing spiritual matters or studying religious materials with their children. Although about two out of three parents of children under 12 attend religious services at least once a month and generally take their children with them, most are willing to let their church provide all of their youngsters' spiritual training. BRG president George Barna said that "Churches could help more by being increasingly proactive in preparing parents to handle that responsibility wisely." (Charisma News, 9 May) (to index)

* ROMANIAN ASTRONOMERS CLAIM TO PINPOINT TIME OF CRUCIFIXION - Two Romanian astronomers claim to have pinpointed the exact time and date of the Crucifixion of Jesus, the Internet news service Ananova has reported. According to Liviu Mircea and Tiberiu Oproiu of the Astronomic Observatory Institute in Cluj, Romania, Jesus died at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. According to their reading of the New Testament data, Jesus was crucified on the day after the first night with a full moon after the vernal equinox. If the Crucifixion took place some time between the years 26 and 35, this could mean either Friday, April 7, 30AD, or Friday, April 3, 33AD. But it was only in the latter year that records show a solar eclipse as having occurred in Jerusalem. (Real News Service, 9 May) (to index)