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Russian
roulette performed on British TV
London, October 13th, 2003.
A British magician apparently
played Russian roulette on a television programme despite warnings
that this might encourage others to imitate him.
Darren Brown, who calls himself a 'psychological illusionist',
had his show broadcast on Channel 4. Although technically 'live',
the programme was shown slightly behind real time so that the
transmission could be interrupted if Brown blew his brains out
during the game. Brown performed his trick in an unnamed foreign
country as the possession of firearms is illegal in the UK.
A volunteer, chosen by Brown out of 12,000 people, put a bullet
in one of the gun's six chambers. Brown then said he was going
to read the volunteer's mind to find out where the bullet was
before putting the gun to his forehead. Twice, Brown put the
pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. The third time Brown
pointed away from him and fired. The chamber was empty. After
several minutes' silence, Brown fired at his own head once more
and immediately fired again at a wall of sandbags. This time
a bullet came out.
British police had condemned the gimic as "deplorable"
and asked that the show not be broadcast, saying they were afraid
someone might try and emulate Brown. Britain has suffered several
gun attacks in recent days, including the fatal shooting of
a jeweller at his family business. Channel 4 denied that showing
the broadcast was irresponsible, whilst Brown himself said he
was trying to show how dangerous guns were.
Source: 20M. Editing: ACPress
Pope warns Archbishop of
Canterbury about homosexual priests
Rome, October 14th, 2003.
At a meeting affected
by deep divisions over the issue of homosexuality, Pope John
Paul II warned the Archbishop of Canterbury of "new and
serious difficulties" facing the two churches in their
efforts to unite.
The visit by Rowan Williams was his first to the Vatican since
taking over the primacy of the Anglican Communion in February,
and comes soon after the decision by the American Episcopal
Church to elect as bishop a man living openly in a homosexual
relationship. In a classic example of ecumenical diplomacy,
neither the Pope nor the Archbishop referred to the incident
specifically, but it was clear what the Catholic leader had
in mind during their 15-minute conversation in the Vatican library.
"While we give thanks for the progress made, we also recognise
that there are new and serious obstacles on the path towards
unity", observed John Paul. "Some of these difficulties
are not simply issues of discipline. Some touch essential matters
of faith and morality." He who has hears to hear, let him
hear.
Williams has called an emergency meeting of the 38 Primates
of the Anglican Communion to discuss the issue of homosexuality
among the clergy. Later at a press conference he said the Pope's
views on the risks to Anglo-Catholic relations would hold great
weight in the forthcoming meeting. Cardinal Walter Kasper, the
man in charge of the Vatican's relations with other Christian
groups said the issue of accepting homosexual priests could
have reprecussions in their links with Anglicans.
For once the Pope appears to hold the moral high ground. What
a shame that the Archbishop of Canterbury appears only concerned
about the Pope's views for the sake of a potential church merger
rather than the issue at stake: the scandal of homosexual clergy.
Source: Associated Press. Editing: ACPress
The next Pope's voters are
in place
Rome, October 14th, 2003.
The Pope has appointed
31 new cardinals among whom are found Carlos Amigo, a Spanish
member of the Vatican's governing body, and a member of Opus
Dei, Julián Herranz. The appointments completes the Consistory
(College of Cardinals) which will name John Paul II's successor
as Pope on his death.
This week sees the 25th anniversary of the current incumbent's
tenure and makes it the third longest Pontificate in history.
The Consistory, which is chaired by the Pope except when it
has to appoint a new one, discusses Catholic policy and finances
and is the highest organ within the Roman church.
There are currently 164 cardinals but only 109 of them are aged
under 80, the maximum age at which a cardinal is allowed to
vote for a new Pope, though one may stand for the post at any
age. John Paul II had announced his intention of enlarging the
Consistory with new appointments, probably in February or March
next year, but the naming has been brought forward, perhaps
due to the Pope's frail health.
The new appointments certainly bring the average age down within
the Consistory. Hungarian Peter Erdo, for instance, is a mere
51. The number of voting cardinals is temporarily above the
desired maximum of 120, but next year several reach the age
of 80 so the electorate will be reduced once more.
Spain now has nine cardinals, six of voting age and three octogenarians,
which places it third in the 'purple league table', behind Italy
(40) and the USA (14). Brazil and Germany are tied in fifth
place with eight cardinals each, followed by Poland and France
with seven apiece.
Source: El País. Editing: ACPress
A
hundred million charismatic Catholics worldwide
Castel Gandolfo, Italy. October 14th, 2003.
According to Raniero
Cantalamesa, an accredited Catholic preacher at the Vatican,
baptism in the Spirit is recognised by Rome as a means to revitalise
Christian life. The announcement comes when it is calculated
that there are around 100 million charismatic Roman Catholics
around the world.
In 1967, thirty lecturers and students at Duquesne University
in the USA went on a spiritual retreat to study the work of
the Holy Spirit in the Early Church. The results spread in time
to all five continents through charismatic renewal groups within
the Catholic Church. 35 years on from that retreat, the so-called
'Renewal' is present in more than 200 countries. More than 1,000
Catholic charismatic renewal delegates from 73 countries met
recently in the Italian town of Castel Gandolfo to discuss the
subject of holiness.
The main speaker was Cantalamesa and he assured sceptics that
"there is no need to be frightened of the charismatic renewal."
He referred to the Catholic authorities in Brazil who have discovered
that the renewal movement is not a problem, but rather helps
stop people leaving the church because they do not find the
living Word or the Bible lived out there. He added that the
renewal movement is a formidable means the Lord has put in the
Church so that believers can have a pentecostal-type experience
of the Spirit without having to leave the church to find it.
Source: La Razón. Editing: ACPress
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Ecuador
church leaders blast Franklin Graham over Bush support
Quito, October 13th, 2003.
The gulf between Christians
(mainly American) who supported the war against Iraq, and those
(mainly non-Americans) who did not, is as wide as ever. It was
shown clearly in a recent question put to Billy Graham's son,
Franklin, by church leaders in Ecuador.
"Have you explained to the Ecuadorian people, and especially
to the evangelical churches and their pastors, your role in
giving pastoral support to President Bush during his invasion
of Iraq, and in presenting this aggression as an evangelical
crusade?" The somewhat loaded question, more of an accusation,
is put in an open letter to the President of the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association. The immediate cause is the fact that
Graham is due to attend a national evangelistic Congress in
Riobamba, Ecuador, at the end of this month.
The letter goes over the old ground that America and Britain
paid no heed to world opinion, including that of many churches
in America, and without U.N. consent attacked without doing
enough to find another way of resolving the crisis. The letter
attacks Graham's role as a spiritual advisor to someone who
"was revelling in his military power" and for "offering
him (Bush) religious justification" for his actions. Rather,
continues the letter, Graham "should be fighting unequivocally
in favour of peaceful solutions inspired by the powerful message
of the Gospel."
The church leaders cannot comprehend how the President of an
evangelistic association could pray for and support the war.
"The Gospel says one cannot serve two masters. God is a
God of peace. Christ is the Prince of Peace. Mr. Graham, you
had the chance to use your influence to save the world from
many ills in the name of your faith in Jesus Christ." Finally,
the letter compares evangelical support for the war in Iraq
to that of the Catholic Church for the Spanish conquerors of
South America. "Yesterday the Catholics, today the evangelicals.
But the Gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be preached in the shadow
of swords or guns, because it is a Gospel of love."
The church leaders who sign the letter have called on the Evangelical
Council of Churches in Ecuador and the Billy Graham Association
to explain Graham´s role with President Bush and the "irreconcilable
contradictions" they believe exist with Christian mission.
Otherwise, Graham's presence in Ecuador is unwelcome to them.
The price of peace for pacifists seems to be having to agree
with them.
Source: Prensa Ecuménica.
Editing: ACPress
Globalisation serving Mammon,
concludes Consultation
Querétaro, Mexico.
October 13th, 2003.
The 'II World Consultation
on the Impact of Globalisation on the Poor' concluded that the
heart of globalisation is the idolatrous service of Mammon,
and its links to materialism and consumerism.
Organised by the 'Micah Network', the event was held in central
Mexico and attended by 185 leaders from Christian organisations
in 50 countries. In a communiqué, the Consultation said
that "those in power often abuse their power to accumulate
excess at the expense of the disadvantaged. For Christians,
resistance to the consumerist society is not optional. The problems
posed by global capitalism are not...mainly economic or technical,
but moral and spiritual."
The declaration reminded the world that more than 1,200 million
people live in abject poverty and that 30,000 children die daily
from hunger and easily curable illnesses. The Consultation claimed
that the worldwide Church had done very little to alleviate
the grave situation of the poor, which is a slap in the face
for the many groups who are doing sterling social work around
the world in the name of Christ.
The Consultation considers globalisation to be an ideological
policy driven by the so-called 'Washington consensus', the free
market ideals of the G-8 countries, the World Bank, International
Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation. It suggested
in globalisation's place, to "redirect the global economy
towards the kingdom of God." In revolutionary mood, the
declaration said the only way to force the rich nations to distribute
wealth more equally around the world was the "mobilisation
of trans-national social movements from below." It called
on the churches to grab the historic opportunity to help the
poor afforded them by the fact that governments were listening
to public opinion, and appreciated faith-based initiatives.
Source: ALC. Editing: ACPress
Persecution goes on in Mexico
Hidalgo, Mexico. October 13th,
2003.
It is not easy to be
an evangelical Christian in Hidalgo, Mexico. Pastor Gregorio
González Nava, who heads up a group of 25 churches (FCVA)
in different areas of the country says there is a building in
Cuatecometl but that noone attends services there. Why not?
Because believers are banned, nor are they 'allowed' to visit
churches in other towns.
In June this year, three Christians were imprisoned and tortured
for their faith. After 72 hours and legal battles by the FCVA
they were freed under the threat that if they "relapsed"
they would be expelled from their homes and land. Pastor Francisco
Hernández Sánchez has received death threats from
the local authorities and is banned from visiting Cuatecometl
or the villages nearby.
Nava says "it is all incited by the Catholic priests in
Santa Cruz in league with the local authorities." The problems
go back four years since the first people in the area - five
or six families - believed in the Gospel. The state and federal
governments have tried to intervene but without success. In
August, a Christian lawyer visited the area and said the situation
violated the Mexican Constitution.
The FCVA faces similar problems in Guadalupe Cote where the
pastor, Aurelio Monroy, has been trying to get permission to
build a church on his own land. The number of Christians do
not fit into the room of a house where they are currently meeting
but the authorities, together with the Catholic priest, will
not allow them to. In this case, the state "respects"
the local decision because they are the majority. Some are more
equal than others, it seems.
Source: Milamex. Editing:
ACPress
The price of the Gospel
in Peru and Colombia
Bogota, October 13th, 2003.
The 15-year-old niece
of pastor Teofani Sobrado Morales, 52, used to enter the small
church in Trujillo, Peru, each morning to greet him. But one
day in August she was met with a horrific sight: her uncle's
dead body.
The local police say he was killed in an attack on the church,
though no motive was given. Then on September 7th, the Rev.
Olmedo Adrada, pastor of an evangelical church in Pueblo Nuevo,
Colombia, was murdered, apparently by revolutionary forces.
In that area, the churches have been shut since November 2002
on the orders of the guerrillas, but Adrada continued preaching
and sharing the Gospel in people's homes. He was only 36, and
leaves a wife and two small children.
Source: Milamex. Editing:
ACPress
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Churches
condemn Mugabe's violence in Zimbabwe
Harare, October 14th, 2003.
Churches in Zimbabwe
have condemned the "violent methods" being used by
the Mugabe regime. Criticised in the past for being silent about
social injustice, the churches of this beleagured nation have
launched a campaign to denounce and combat the excesses of the
government run by President Mugabe.
They say the government is ignoring the law and using violence
to intimidate any opposition. Church leaders say that if the
government continues to act like this, it will become like the
'beast' of Revelation chapter 13 which usurped power and terrorised
the followers of God, by promoting anarchy and violence on Earth.
Source: Eni. Editing: ACPress
Luther hits the big screen
Washington D.C., USA. October
14th, 2003.
The world premiere of
a film about the Reformer, Martin Luther, was shown to a selected
audience in the American capital, Washington D.C., which included
an ex-National Security Advisor to the American government,
Zbigniew Brezinski.
The opening scenes of the film portray the young Luther beneath
a violent sky, and show how he became a monk who could not find
peace with God. Luther is played by Ralph Fiennes - star of
'Shakespeare in Love' and 'Elizabeth' - and is joined in the
cast by Peter Ustinov, Jonathan Firth, Alfred Molina and Claire
Cox. The film was directed by Eric Till and cost around 10 million
euros.
The screenplay was written by Camille Thomasson and Bart Gavigan,
and it shows how Luther, in his personal struggle with God and
the devil, came to stand up to the political and religious authorities
of his day. "I am sure theologians will complain",
says Till, who adds that the film does not contain complex theological
content or religious disputes, but "tries to do justice
to one of the greatest men in history."
The director said he had wanted to make a film which appealed
to the public at large, but also to capture Luther's personality,
who achieved what he did thanks to an unbreakable faith. He
revolutionised the world with his translation of the Bible into
German, thus making the Gospel available to the people.
Source: Mercado Cristiano.
Editing: ACPress
Christian singer promotes
sexual purity
Montreal, October 15th, 2003.
In an interview with
'Interim' magazine, Christian pop singer Rebecca St. James,
spoke clearly about her commitment to remain a virgin until
she gets married, and of the importance of encouraging chastity
among today's youth.
St. James, who is not ashamed to mention chastity at her sell-out
concerts, has just written a song on the subject entitled 'Wait
for me', and has written a book with the same title. So successful
has it been at Christian bookshops that a comic strip version
has been published to make it more accessible for children.
Source: Art&cel. Editing:
ACPress
The Bible in vogue, or 'Vogue'
in the Bible?
Washington D.C, USA. October 15th, 2003.
The old adage 'it could
only happen in America' would be sad enough if it were true,
but the even sadder truth is that it does indeed happen in America,
but then we import it over here to Europe. So be warned: a new
version of the Bible in the format of a women's glossy magazine,
complete with beauty tips, is on its way, having already sold
40,000 copies in the USA.
Entitled 'Revolve', the mag-Bible is produced in Nashville,
Tennessee, in the southern and Bible-belt part of the USA, and
published by Thomas Nelson. One of the leaders of the project,
Laurie Whaley, attempted to defend the concept thus: "The
message we want to get across in 'Revolve' is that God is fun,
passionate, attractive. The fact that you read the Bible does
not make you a boring person."
Three tanned girls with hair loose and bare shoulders adorn
the cover with uninhibited smiles. The magazine is full colour,
pleasant presentation, even little hearts printed on the pages...
The glossy paper reminds one of a women's magazine, as does
much of the content: articles include 'Beauty secrets', 'Have
you found the man of your life?', and 'This is what boys talk
about.'
Short pieces accompany the New Testament text covering subjects
such as love, pregnancy or rape. They were written by the editors,
all aged under 30. The success of the magazine has encouraged
the publisher to bring out a version for men, more oriented
towards sex, sport and music.
Source: AFP. Editing: ACPress
A woman murders her mother,
her pastor and herself
Atlanta, October 15th, 2003.
Three people died when
a woman armed with a pistol burst into a church in Atlanta,
USA, and opened fire. The victims were the pastor of the church
and the woman's own mother. The woman then shot herself.
The tragedy occurred at a Sunday morning service at Kirkwood
Church in Atlanta, the state capital of Georgia, in southern
USA. The church is located in a majority-black neighbourhood,
according to local police.
Atlanta was also the scene for one of the worst mass murders
in America when a bankrupt stockbroker killed his wife and two
children, then nine other people before committing sucide when
surrounded by police.
Source: El Mundo. Editing:
ACPress
62 Christian conscripts
tortured in Eritrea
Eritrea, October 15th, 2003.
Hundreds of teenagers
who finished their schooling this year had to do military service
over the summer at a camp in Sawa. Some of them quite naturally
took a Bible with them.
However, their commanders hate the Bible. They ordered a search
of the soldiers' personal belongings and on August 18th, 35
of the youngsters were singled out and "submitted to severe
torture". The following day, another 27 suffered the same
treatment. About a third of those tortured were girls.
Their suffering did not end there, though. The 62 conscripts
who possessed Bibles have been shut in metal containers ever
since with no light, little oxygen, extreme heat, insufficient
food and no medical assistance. Most of those who had Bibles
belong to independent Protestant churches in Eritrea. These
churches have been persecuted by the government over the last
15 months and they have been ordered not to hold services.
A week after their arrest, five of the youngsters agreed to
renounce their evangelical faith and join the ranks of the Orthodox
Church. The remaining 57 have stood firm. As far as is known,
213 Christians are currently imprisoned in Eritrea, including
16 women soldiers and 63 men who were arrested in March 2002
for refusing to renounce their Christian faith and 'return'
to the dominant Orthodox Church. Two others of the prisoners
are Christians who tried to collect food and clothing for those
in prison, plus the pastor and 11 members of one church.
Persecution watchdog 'Freedom House' consideras that Eritrea
has one of the most repressive regimes in the world. Yet astonishingly,
on May 1st, its government issued a statement saying there was
no religious persecution in their country.
Source: Compass Direct. Editing:
ACPress
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