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Smoke rising from Lambeth
Palace
London, October 29th, 2003 (ACPress.net).
Anglican leaders meeting
in London to discuss the crisis caused by the appointment of
a homosexual bishop in the American Episcopal Church have decided....to
put off making a decision.
In a classic case of Anglican-speak, they came as close as they
possibly could to condemning the American move, without actually
condemning it. They agreed to appoint a committee to study the
subject of homosexuality and come up with some conclusions in
a year's time. They said they "deeply regretted" *
the decision of an American diocese to elect a homosexual bishop
which endangers the future of the Anglican Church, according
to a statement put out at the end of the recent meeting.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, showed his great
concern by calling the meeting of bishops so soon after the
appointment of Gene Robinson in New Hampshire, USA. The decision
broke the consensus previously agreed within Anglicanism, and
has been made worse by the decision of a Canadian diocese to
bless same-sex couples. A similar appointment in England was
prevented by fierce opposition.
The London meeting, behind closed doors at Lambeth Palace, convened
37 of the 38 Primates from Anglicanism around the world, and
each one said how the news from America had been received in
their region. The Bishops expressed their "great desire
to preserve the Anglican Communion, a place of brotherhood,
cooperation and common faith", in the words of Robin Eames,
the Irish Primate. The Communion has more than 70 million members
in 160 countries round the world and although the Archbishop
of Canterbury presides, each diocese is autonomous, and he has
no executive power over them.
The only Anglican leader not to subscribe wholly to the decision
was, unsurprisingly, the American Bishop, Frank Griswold, who
said he accepted the statement reflected the views of the majority,
but not necessarily his own convictions. He said he would attend
Robinson's induction in early November.
* 'deeply regretted ' = 'fuming'
Source: AFP. Editing: ACPress.net
Vatican accuses BBC of hostility
Rome, October 29th, 2003 (ACPress.net).
Well, well, all change.
Having exasperated evangelicals for years at its negative and
often non-existent coverage of biblical Protestant Christianity,
the BBC is now under fire from the Vatican for a series of programmes
which allegedly attack the Catholic Church.
Roman Catholics have long had a disproportionate influence in
the corridors of power in Britain, so it comes as a major surprise
to hear that two programmes broadcast during the week in which
Pope John Paul II celebrated 25 years as Pontiff and in which
the life of Mother Teresa was remembered, "offended many
Catholics", in the words of an official Vatican statement.
The first was a Panorama programme entitled 'Sex and the holy
city', which assured its viewers that "while the Pope preaches
in favour of peace and life, his teachings and the actions of
the Catholic Church (against abortion and contraception) cause
the spread of poverty and mortality." Just a moment, how
can being against abortion increase mortality? Abortion is mortality.
The second programme, called 'Kenyon confronts', looked at child
abuse by Catholic priests, but not to the satisfaction of the
Catholic powers-that-be, who accused the programme of putting
out "biased and debatable" information. Catholic Bishops
are on safer ground when they say the BBC is simply hostile
to religious belief and any sense of the sacred. This is undoubtedly
true. Finally, they accused the BBC of insensitivity for broadcasting
the programmes during a week of Catholic celebration.
Source: ACI. Editing: ACPress.net
Catholic bishops attack
British same-sex proposals
London, October 29th, 2003 (ACPress.net).
The British government's
proposals to create civil partnerships for same-sex couples
have been strongly opposed by the Roman Catholic bishops of
England and Wales.
Instead, the bishops said, the government should concentrate
on the "very much bigger issue" of the lack of rights
enjoyed by cohabiting heterosexual couples and their children.
The proposals have, however, been welcomed by the Roman Catholic
Caucus of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. The caucus
said the new proposals begin to move the country away from seeing
a stable same-sex relationship as merely a private contract
toward giving it a public status. But the bishops said the government's
proposals would not promote the public good because "they
would in the long term serve to undermine marriage and the family."
What is proposed for same-sex couples would send the signal
that "marriage as husband and wife, and a same-sex relationship,
are equally valid options, and an equally valid context for
the upbringing of children." The bishops concluded by stressing
that the church's teaching is that homosexual people were to
be "accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity."
It will be interesting to see if the Anglican committee set
up to study the issue of homosexuality among the clergy can
come up with such a clear condemnation as their Catholic counterparts.
Source: Religion today. Editing: ACPress.net
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The 'gospel' of business
and marketing strategy
Buenos Aires, October 28th,
2003 (ACPress.net).
Leonildo Silveira, an
evangelical journalist in Brazil, has published an extensive
study under the provocative title: 'Theatre, church and market:
the organisation and marketing of a neo-Pentecostal business.'
Silveira's thesis is that the recent religious phenomenon in
South America is closely connected to the methods and aims of
the business world. Sometimes it appears that money-making has
taken over. The so-called 'Universal Church of the Kingdom of
God' (UCKG) - the clearest example of what Silveira means -
is "a significant religious business phenomenon, which
reflects the spirit of the age", claims Silveira. He believes
that while their spectacular meetings and political and economic
activities are often scandalous, what is worse is the way they
distort the Christian message.
The condition of 'sinner' who needs grace and forgiveness becomes
that of an 'unfortunate' person who has been oppressed by the
devil. The UCKG believes the human tragedy does not begin with
Adam or Cain, but with the fall of Lucifer and the appearance
of demons. Therefore, the Gospel is no longer one of free forgiveness
but a transaction - for which one has to pay - to get out of
the clutches of sin, which is conveniently blamed on the demons.
God's call to put our faith in Jesus Christ becomes a 'sure
promise' of prosperity and success. Whatever happened to self-denial?
The founder and leader of UCKG, Edir Macedo, promises material
wealth quoting John 10:10 - "I have come to give you life
in abundance" - followed rapidly by Malachi 3:10 on the
importance of tithing. Macedo calls tithing "a kind of
tax (God) charges His creatures", so it is not surprising
the church becomes a kind of Inland Revenue office with this
kind of teaching, which rather forgets that the first thing
Jesus did upon entering the temple was to eject the money-changers.
---In a society desperate for material well-being, the UCKG
strikes a chord but at the cost of completely distorting the
Gospel of grace. The Lord save us from turning the Church into
a business.
Source: Prensa Global. Editing:
ACPress.net
Baptist Church re-opens
in Costa Rica after summary shutdown
San José, October 28th,
2003 (ACPress.net).
San Pedro Baptist Church,
closed last month by an arbitrary and unwarranted decision of
the Health and Safety authorities, on the order of the Constitutional
Court, which accepted a complaint made on behalf of the Church.
The appeal was presented by eight evangelical institutions after
the Baptist building was forced to close on the alleged grounds
that it did not meet sanitary standards, and that some neighbours
had lodged complaints about the church. Evangelicals in Costa
Rica were sure this was a case of religious persecution and
discrimination against them for being Christians. Now the building
has been re-opened, but the Court will take its definitive decision
on the future use of the building, in a few months' time.
Source: ALC. Editing: ACPress.net
A rape every 2 minutes in
Mexico City
Cuernavaca, Mexico. October
28th, 2003 (ACPress.net).
An interdenominational
meeting of 32 evangelical leaders met in the Mexican capital
and agreed to press the government for more effective legislation
to defend women from violence - a problem which has reached
almost endemic proportions in this Central American country.
Organised by the Women's Department of the Latin American Council
of Churches (CLAI) under the motto of 'Health is freedom' with
reference to 'a context of violence', the meeting denounced
the fact that there is a rape every 2 minutes in the Mexican
capital. In Juárez, a town on the border with the United
States, more than 400 women have been kidnapped, raped and have
then disappeared, in the last 10 years. Such is the situation
that a group of American MPs visited the town recently to show
concern at the violence.
Evangelical women criticise the indifference of the government
machine as well as what they call 'the complicity of church
leaders', and express their solidarity with the plight of indigenous
Mexican women. The meeting, attended by a psychologist and a
doctor among others, discussed aspects such as abortion, sexual
health and the eradication of violence within the family. The
meeting, part of a Latin American initiative within the 'Decade
to overcome domestic violence', called on churches to do more
to help.
Source: ALC. Editing: ACPress.net
Prayer protest against forthcoming
Manson concert
Monterrey, Mexico. October
28th, 2003 (ACPress.net).
Armed with Bibles, about
a hundred Christians prayed publicly on October 16th against
the forthcoming concert by controversial rock singer Marilyn
Manson (a man with a woman's name), who usually invokes Satan.
He is due to perform in this industrial and conservative Mexican
city on November 5th.
A Christian young people's movement called 'Youth challenge'
opposes the concert and has mobilised opposition to it. They
organised the public prayer session opposite the buildings of
the local authority and called on them to cancel the show. Sonia
Ruiz, a housewife who joined the peaceful prayer time, said:
"Lord, we ask you to give wisdom to the authorities and
bless the community so as to avoid all evil."
'Youth challenge' had simply requested the authorities to withdraw
the permits allowing the 33-year-old Manson to come and sing
in Monterrey. However, when the mayor refused to do so, the
group turned to prayer. There were no shouts or banners but
prayers for God to change Manson. After an incident-free hour
of prayer, the Christians dispersed, agreeing to return the
following week. There were also prayer meetings being held at
the same time in various churches throughout the city.
A local pastor, Jaime Garza, told a television station: "It
is obvious that Manson is harmful to youngsters, his music,
his clothing, his videos." The group of Christians is collecting
signatures against Manson's visit, but they know there is little
more they can do to get the concert cancelled. Manson is also
due to perform in Mexico City on November 7th.
Source. 40.COM. Editing: ACPress.net
Christians pray for peace
in Bolivia
La Paz, October 29th, 2003
(ACPress.net).
The crisis in Bolivia
has already claimed more than 50 lives and evangelical churches
there are praying for God to guide the government, the political
parties and the people in general to find a solution.
The Latin American Council of Churches has sent the Bolivian
churches a message of encouragement to the effect that "when
everything seems uncertain, you may be sure that God does not
abandon His own." The President has said he will not resign
and will use the security forces to restore public order. Meanwhile,
the country has ground to a virtual standstill. Roads are blocked,
the political parties allied with the government have withdrawn
their Ministers and the opposition says it will respond to repression
by taking over the oil wells.
Christians prayed in a central square in the south-eastern town
of Santa Cruz, and the Lutheran Church in Bolivia has called
on its members to pray for peace in their country, and an end
to the loss of life and the climate of uncertainty. The Catholic
Church has joined calls for peace in Bolivia.
Source: ALC. Editing: ACPress.net
25,000 Christians
ring city in Argentina in prayer cordon
Rosario, Argentina. October
29th, 2003 (ACPress.net).
More than 25,000 evangelical
Christians from about 400 churches joined hands and encircled
the city of Rosario in a circumference of almost 30 miles, to
the north of the capital, Buenos Aires.
The human cordon was the initiative of the Pastors' Fraternal
in Rosario and its purpose to pray "for the urgent needs
of these times" in Argentina: peace, employment, family
stability, the youth and children. The coordinator of the event,
Baptist minister Aldo Martín, said the believers met
in 444 different places along the city's ring road and from
there fanned out to form a human chain. The event was broadcast
on three radio stations and the press gave wide coverage.
Participants held hands for 5 minutes, from 16.30 to 16.35 local
time, during which the city of Rosario was surrounded by a "cordon
of faith and prayer." Traffic was obviously prevented from
moving down the side streets blocked by the cordon. The centre
of the cordon was situated by the Flag Monument where a special
platform was erected, and civic and governmental representatives
were present. There were prayers and then they sang the national
anthem.
Rosario's Mayor, Hermes Binner, congratulated the organisers
on the event and made a personal invitation for them to repeat
it next year. Rubén Proietti, Chairman of the Alliance
of Evangelical Churches in Argentina said the initiative of
the churches in Rosario was worth copying. Together with multitudinous
activities that have taken place in Buenos Aires, he said they
show that we move with one spirit, a sure sign that the Evangelical
Church has a spiritual and social commitment to what is happening
in Argentina.
Source: ALC. Editing: ACPress.net
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Satellite data suggests
universe is finite
Madrid, October 29th, 2003
(ACPress.net).
The immensity of space
has long caused the scientific establishment much scratching
of heads. For years scientists have insisted the universe is
infinite. Yet the latest North American Space Agency (NASA)
studies in conjunction with Cape Town University suggest the
opposite may be true. Could NASA be closing in on biblical truth
without realising it?
Data sent by a satellite show the universe could be finite and
shaped like a dodecagon (12-sided polygon). The information
comes from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe which identifies
the base radiation supposedly left behind by the Big Bang. It
shows that on the largest scale, temperature fluctuation observed
in the sky is smaller than those which would be produced by
an infinite universe.
The researchers analysing this data say that perhaps space is
not big enough to accomodate these radiation waves. On the other
hand, a finite universe, made up of curved, united pentagons
in a sphere, would fit the observations made. According to this
model, if a wave came out of the dodecagon it would re-enter
by the opposite side of the sphere. Surely the greatest discovery
man can make is that he is finite, whereas only God is infinite.
Source: El País. Editing:
ACPress.net
Circumcision reduces risk
of catching Aids
Los Angeles, USA. October
29th, 2003 (ACPress.net).
Circumcision might be
an effective protection against Aids, according to a report
published on tests done with 2,300 men in India. Those who were
circumcised were eight times less likely to contract the virus.
A researcher has suggested that the foreskin's surface does
not have the same protective layer which is found on the outside
of the skin which covers the end of the penis and is therefore
more vulnerable to infection by HIV, the virus which causes
Aids. Male circumcision is common in some parts of the world
for religious and cultural reasons, as well as to prevent urinal
infections or penis cancer.
Circumcision involves cutting the foreskin, the layer of movable
skin which covers the gland or end of the penis. This process
is often carried out soon after birth. Around a third of all
children born in the United States are circumcised, but the
practice is much rarer in other parts of the world, such as
India. Steven Reynolds, Head of the Department of Infectious
Diseases at John Hopkins University in the USA, says "It
is important to offer measures which help reduce the spread
of Aids, especially in the developing world, where the disease
continues to grow at an alarming rate." His university
is also comparing the risks of other sexually-transmitted diseases
in circumcised and uncircumcised men.
Source: Reuters. Editing:
ACPress.net
Christians
in Indonesia flee homes as attacks spread
Djakarta, October 29th, 2003
(ACPress.net).
Villagers in Central
Sulawesi, Indonesia, are fleeing for their lives in reaction
to recent attacks on four villages.
Following the October 11th attack on the village of Old Beteleme,
a further assault was launched in the early hours of October
12th on Saatu, Pantangolemba and Pinedapa, all villages with
large Christian populations. Bands of masked raiders armed with
automatic weapons sought out Christians for attack. Police reported
nine people were killed and 11 more had to be taken to hospital.
Even the deployment of extra armed forces to secure the area
has had little effect upon the worried inhabitants. "People
are too scared to remain in their isolated villages," said
Mona Saroinsong, coordinator of the Crisis Centre of the Protestant
Church in North Sulawesi. "They have been walking through
the jungle to the coast or making for Tentena."
Source: Religion today. Editing;
ACPress
American Anglicans unite
to fight homosexuality in their Church
Dallas, USA. October 30th,
2003 (ACPress.net).
A group of American Episcopalians
have issued a statement repudiating the church for its position
on homosexuality and requesting the global Anglican Church leadership
to "intervene in the Episcopal Church."
The American Anglican Council's declaration, issued at its meeting
in Dallas, Texas, rejects the elevation of Rev. Gene Robinson,
who is homosexual, to the position of bishop. "These actions
directly contradict Holy Scripture, the traditions of the Church,
and our own (Episcopalian) Constitution. They also imperil our
relationship with the worldwide Anglican Communion." The
American Anglican Council (AAC), according to its mission statement,
"is a network of individuals, parishes, specialised ministries
and Episcopal bishops who affirm Biblical authority and Anglican
orthodoxy within the Episcopal Church."
AAC members are calling on the worldwide leaders of the Anglican
Communion, which includes the U.S. Episcopal Church, to punish
Episcopal bishops who have "departed from biblical faith
and order" by electing Robinson as bishop and allowing
homosexual marriages in and by the Episcopal church. It also
asks the primates of the Anglican Communion's 38 worldwide branches
to "guide the realignment" of Anglicanism in North
America.
Source: Religion today. Editing:
ACPress.net
Sesame Street is out to
conquer Muslim world
Madrid, October 30th, 2003
(ACPress.net).
Children's programme
'Sesame Street' has been chosen by the American government as
the flagship to improve its image in the Muslim world.
President Bush is giving 6 million euros for the programme to
be broadcast in Bangladesh. He knows the American image in much
of the world is extremely poor, and hopes that the characters
of 'Sesame Street' will help put across 'American values' in
a peaceful way. The idea came from advertising buff Charlotte
Beers, 68, who was contracted by Colin Powell, the American
Foreign Secretary, to head up official American propaganda in
the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA.
Beers, who became famous in America through a rice advert, retired
from the post last March but her ideas remain. Apparently she
saw an episode of 'Sesame Street' which goes out in Egypt and
this fired her imagination. Egyptian children were not only
learning English (albeit a Sesamised version of it) but, in
Beer's words, were fascinated by 'American values.' One wonders
what they might be, so it is helpful to hear the programme's
producer say it is committed to promoting 'understanding, cooperation
and respect', although the scripts are adapted according to
which country they are broadcast in.
A recent survey found that only 13% of Pakistanis had a positive
view of America, despite the fact that their government supported
the Allies in the recent war against Afghanistan. The Bush government
is fighting to improve its image on other fronts too, viz the
recent screening of 'Profiles from the Front Line', a series
based on the experiences of American soldiers in recent wars.
The programme is supervised by the Pentagon and produced by
key Hollywood action film guru, Jerry Bruckheimer.
Another example is the film about soldier Jessica Lynch, where
the official version of a dramatic Marines rescue behind enemy
lines contradicts with personal testimony from Iraq that she
was simply involved in a road accident. The strategy, though,
is simple. If a director wants to film inside an American military
installation, the authorities must approve the characterisation
of the military personnel portrayed in the film. They are then
classified by the authorities as 'accurate' or 'not realistic',
accordingly.
Source: D. SUR. Editing: ACPress.net
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