Buenos Aires, January 15th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
In one of Argentina's worst road accidents on January 4th, 16 people were killed and 26 injured when two mini-buses hit head-on. However, a Christian couple on one of the buses have related how God saved them miraculously from the crash.

The accident happened at 5 a.m. when one of the buses swerved into the wrong lane and collided frontally with the other bus. Juan Anzulovich, an evangelical pastor, was travelling in one of the buses with his wife, Beatriz Rivarola. They were heading for the city of Pergamino when Anzulovich felt an overwhelming desire to break the journey and visit some relatives he had not seen for a long time. They got off at the stop which proved to be the last one before the crash, only 500 metres from the scene of the accident. The seats they had occupied until just seconds before the crash were completely destroyed.

Mexico City, January 15th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
While the Mexican goverment official responsible for agrarian reform, Florencio Salazar Adame, says there are no conflicts in rural areas, other news shows that Catholics and evangelicals may be using religion as a pretext to promote their land interests, and that this is causing tension and clashes in the Tzotzil community in Mitzitón, Chiapas Province.

In fact, tension in this area goes back 20 years. The Infodemex news agency reports: "In the name of their beliefs, the (Catholic) traditionalists have expelled dozens of Protestants, have burned or destroyed church buildings and private properties, banned the cutting of wood for domestic use, all of which has led to clashes which have ended up with injuries on both sides, and people illegally imprisoned. The fact that state aid in the form of the 'Procampo' support programme has been given peacefully complicates matters further."

State sub-secretary for Religious Affairs, José María Morales, claims that some groups are using religion as a pretext to provoke clashes, because when they sit down to talk, the conversation is only about agrarian issues and Procampo aid. The Catholic bishop of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Felipe Arizmendi, agrees that "the main reason for the conflict is not religion, but this is used or mixed with political and economic interests."

Evangelical pastor, Esdras Alonso, explains that aggression against Protestants began in 1982 when 50 families were violently thrown out of their homes because, it was said, they could not live there due to their religious beliefs, even though several of them were the legal owners of their land. Yet the state agrarian spokesman continues to insist that there are no land conflicts thanks to the issue of certificates which regulate land ownership.

The conflict is broader, too. In San Juan Chamula in Chiapas, the government has opened 9 schools especially for evangelical children, because Catholics will not allow them to study in the established schools. Religious intolerance has seen 30,000 evangelicals forced out of their homes over the past 30 years, as well as dozens of murders and injuries perpetrated against their community.

Mexico City, January 15th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
A Protestant theologian in Mexico is calling for true religious liberty, and an end to the privileged position enjoyed by the Roman Catholic Church.

Although legislation exists, in practice the government gives preference to those who follow Rome. Oscar Moha Vargas called for the lifting of restrictions which make it hard for evangelical ministers to visit hospitals and prisons and hold services there. He said "we too want to preach the Gospel in police barracks, hospitals, markets and public places without anyone imposing extra-legal limits."

Vargas added that the police need spiritual support "even though at present they only have one option." This is why he wants an opportunity to tackle alcholism, drug addiction, family break-up and corruption within the police force. He believes they can help improve productivity and make the force a worthy profession once more. He said evangelicals only wanted equality, not predominance, and that no religious group should be in a privileged position over the rest, which would be an affront to democracy.

Vargas also said that, despite what some people think, evangelicals were involved in different political parties, so that there was no such thing as a corporate vote waiting to be tapped into. He believed they were overcoming the old view of them as destructive cults and enemies of the state, and that their very diversity had given them strength to face intolerance, repression, state hostility and ignorance.

Mexico City, January 19th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
According to Susan Carrol, an American astronomer, Jupiter could have been the star which guided the wise men to Bethlehem.

In her article 'The Star of Bethlehem: An Astronomical and Historical Perspective', Carrol says she agrees that the celestial light appeared, and that it might be possible to pin down the astronomical action involved. The theory requires a somewhat imprecise dating for the birth of Jesus, somewhere between the years 7 and 1 BC. Several spectacular occurrences in the heavens are recorded in this period.

"In the year 7 BC, there was a triple conjunction involving Jupiter and Saturn. Three other alignments of these planets occurred in the Pisces constellation, a phenomenon associated with the Hebrew nation which only happens once every 900 years. The first conjunction was at the end of May, the second in September, and the third at the beginning of December." It is thought that the wise men would have been knowledgeable in astronomy and astrology and that such a conjunction would have held great meaning for them. Jupiter was known as 'the planet of kings' and Saturn as 'the protector of the Jews', so a combination affecting the two could have been interpreted as a sign of the arrival of the Messiah.

In February 6 BC, Carrol claims there was an alignment of the planets in Pisces, when Jupiter, Saturn and Mars were within 8 degrees of one another. "It is plausible that this occurrence could have been predicted by ancient astronomers as the Chinese, for instance, recorded two comets in the years 5 BC and 4 BC. The first one had a visible tail, the second one not. Although Matthew mentions a star, it could have been confused with a comet."

"The prophet Daniel predicted, between 605 and 530 BC, the coming of the Messiah. When the wise men, who were also astrologers, saw what they considered to be a Jewish star, it was the sign to go to Jerusalem and take presents to the new-born (king). Many Jews admired the wise men of the East, not only because of their association with Daniel, but because they were not idolaters."

"While looking for further signs, they found one in the triple conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus, in the Leo constellation, and on June 17th, 2 BC, Jupiter aligned with Venus, an event which could have led them to Jerusalem. Observing the conjunction from Mesopotamia, over the western horizon, (they were looking in the direction of) Judaea.' Carrol completes her elaborate theory by commenting that when Herod called in the wise men in secret, he asked for the precise date when they had first seen the star. Then when the wise men set off for Bethlehem, the star guided them. The central idea is that the star which served as a point of reference for the wise men was Jupiter, the 'planet of the kings.'

Carrol admits this might not be the correct solution, but hopes that it is at least an attractive one.

New York, January 19th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Having ordained the first openly homosexual priest to the post of Bishop, the American Episcopal Church has undergone a profound crisis. Cut off by an increasing number of Anglicans worldwide, internal divisions are now starting to appear, with Episcopal members and clergy on both sides of the debate.

Conservative believers and clergy are opposed to the liberal stance of their bishops. The connection between the American branch and the rest of the Anglican Communion hangs by a thread, as do relations with the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Conversations between Rome and Canterbury have been suspended, even though the leader of the American Episcopal Church, Frank Griswold, resigned from the negotiating committee.

David Kalvelage, of the weekly independent newspaper, 'The Living Church', who opposed the appointment of Gene Robinson in the American diocese of New Hampshire, said that the consequences represent "probably the most important and furthest-reaching" crisis since the formation of the Communion in 1789. In what seems to be a sign of a definitive split within the ecclesiastical hierarchy, Bishop Frank Howe of Orlando, Florida (USA), called for Griswold to resign on the grounds that his participation in the appointment of Robinson was an "abuse" of the trust placed in him. Howe also accused colleagues of "abandoning any recognisable commitment" to the authority of the Bible.

Meanwhile, the American Anglican Council, based in Washington, is organising a conservative network to guarantee the continuity of traditional beliefs and practice within the Episcopal Church. It will create 'a church within a church' as opposed to a separate organisation, rather like the 'flying bishops' who exist to support clergy opposed to the ordination of women priests. The group is headed up by 16 diocese which protested formally against Robinson's appointment, though other conservatives will join them.

It is not just a question of whom remains in the church and who leaves, but it will be devastating for the Episcopal Church if many of its members remain within but stop making financial contributions to support the edifice. Looking overseas, the situation for the pro-homosexual lobby is even worse. Inside the USA, 59% of the bishops voted in favour of Robinson's appointment, but worldwide they represent a tiny minority. Already incensed by the Canadian decision to bless same-sex unions, many Anglicans across the world are considering terminating relations with their North American counterparts.

In 1998, 82% of Anglican bishops voted against having homosexual clergy or blessing same-sex unions. So far, the Anglican Churches of Nigeria and Uganda - representing a massive 26 million members - have broken off relations with the American Episcopal Church, as has the Russian Orthodox Church.

Miami, January 21st, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Mel Gibson's film 'The Passion of Christ', which is surrounded by controversy even before being screened, is being shown to 3,000 evangelical pastors this week in a special viewing a month before the official première in the USA on February 25th.

Gibson was invited to a 3-day conference organised by the Global Pastors' Network, which started in Orlando, Florida on January 21st. The 3,000 pastors who attend the conference will be the largest group to see the film prior to its launch, and the screening will not be open to the general public or to the press. Indeed, Gibson is not keen to meet the press before the film opens at cinemas on Ash Wednesday, a date especially chosen by the director because of its significance to Catholics.

Gibson himself is a fervent and practising Catholic and tells the  story of the 12 hours before Jesus' death in the film. Some American Jews have accused him of provoking anti-Semitism by referring to old accusations against them by blaming them for the death of Christ.

The Global Pastors' Network is an organisation of Christian ministers who "work to train, equip and help pastors who defend the cause of Jesus Christ all over the world." Their invitation to Gibson is certainly bold, and may influence the attitude with which evangelicals receive 'The Passion of Christ.'

Los Angeles, USA. January 21st, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Tom Cruise's Spanish girlfriend, Penelope Cruz, has abandoned Buddhism and joined the Scientology cult of which Cruise is already a member.

The actress made her surprise announcement at the première of her latest film, 'Gothika', in which she co-stars with Halle Berry and Robert Downey Jr. The film has been widely panned in the USA. Other Scientology members include John Travolta and Lise Marie Presley.

Ottawa, January 22nd, 2004 (ACPress.net).
A Canadian Anglican bishop has withheld promised financial help to a church in his diocese because, unlike him, its leaders refuse to celebrate blessing services for same-sex couples.

Rev. James Wagner commented that he would not abandon his people, despite the financial problems. The congregation, in British Columbia in Western Canada, carried on with its Christmas celebrations as normal, despite the uncertain future it faces. It seems as if one cannot escape censure for holding an anti-homosexual position even with the Church. Bleak times indeed.

Islamabad, January 22nd, 2004 (ACPress.net).
A Christian pastor was shot dead in Khanewal, southern Pakistan, earlier this month. Mukhtar Masih, 50, had been the minister of a church in the city for 14 years.

As he was on his way to the railway station early one morning, he was attacked and killed in cold blood by several assailants. The police found the body lying in the earth and identified him from his identity card. It does not appear that he was robbed of anything, rather that he was the victim of Islamic extremism. A church spokesman said he did not have any particular enemies nor problems with anyone. He had devoted his life to the service of the local Christian community.

His funeral was attended by around 1,000 people, including some Catholics and moderate Muslims who held him in high regard. 40 Christians have been murdered in Pakistan since autumn 2001 and 80 others seriously injured, by Islamic extremists. Christians call for greater protection from the government, though recognise the efforts of President Pervez Musharraf to combat terrorism and extremism.

Vientaine, Laos. January 22nd, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Two families were recently forced to leave their village in the Attapue Province because they would not renounce their faith in Christ.

According to Christian Aid Mission (CAM), six women and their children arrived in the city of Pakse in southern Laos on January 2nd after being threatened for many months. "The situation is getting very unstable and dangerous," two of the women said. Meanwhile, police arrested six believers gathered for worship in Kang village on December 27th and another Christian in Somsouk village. On December 28th, authorities arrested three believers in Donphai village who were conducting worship in their homes and detained another believer in Sanamsai City. Bibles were also confiscated during the arrests. Other Christian leaders and believers are reportedly being sought by authorities and remain in hiding. Some have walked more than 60 miles to avoid arrest, CAM said.

Ankara, January 22nd, 2004 (ACPress.net).
After being beaten into a coma three months ago for alleged "missionary propaganda," Turkish Christian Yakup Cindilli has been slowly improving from a nearly helpless state.

Cindilli, 32, ended up in hospital in the third week of October after four men linked with the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) beat him severely on his head and face for distributing New Testaments and "doing missionary work." At a court hearing on December 17th, about 60 MHP sympathisers gathered outside the court in a show of support for two of Cindilli's assailants who remain in jail. Metin Yildiran, president of the local MHP chapter, was released at an earlier court hearing.

The crowd of sympathisers began shouting angrily when they learned that the defendants had been remanded in custody following the hearing because, a defence lawyer stated, there was "hard evidence" against them. Cindilli was discharged on December 2nd from the intensive care unit of Bursa State Hospital shortly after he began to emerge from total unconsciousness, and is now at his family's home and starting to speak. The doctor attending him said though that Cindilli is still unable to care for himself.