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Dead
body exhibition is criticised in Frankfurt
Frankfurt, January 27th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
An exhibition of dead
bodies has attracted an audience running into millions in various
cities, and its latest stop is Frankfurt, where it has received
criticism from Lutheran church leaders and public officials.
The German Lutheran Church questioned its morality, considering
it offensive. The exhibition, entitled 'Worlds of the human
body', includes 20 bodies at various stages of the dissection
process, plus 150 other human remains. For its part, the Catholic
Church has organised a prayer vigil to pray for the dead, as
well as several talks dealing with the issue. The exhibition
met similar criticism in the other cities which it has visited.
However, around 14 million people have now seen the exhibition,
which has also visited Japan, Austria, Switzerland and Great
Britain. Doctor Gunther von Hagens, who put the exhibition together
for the first time in 1997, defended it as an example of the
hidden beauty of the human body "It is not an illegal cemetery,
it is a place to show off."
Source: AP. Editing: ACPress.net
Danish Prime Minister expresses support for gay church weddings
Copenhagen, January 27th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The Danish Prime Minister,
Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Liberal), says he is in favour of allowing
church 'weddings' for homosexual couples.
Rasmussen tried to defend his view with this tortured theology:
"I find it hard to believe that God has a tenser relationship
with homosexuals and lesbians than with everybody else. But
politicians should not interfere with the internal life of the
Church. We should leave the rites in the hands of pastors and
Parish Councils", he added, stressing that this was merely
his personal opinion. The problem is that he has expressed it,
which in itself could be seen as interfering in the life of
the Church, albeit indirectly.
"As a member of the state Church (Lutheran), I believe
it would be right" for homosexuals to be treated the same
as heterosexuals. This can only be interpreted as putting more
pressure on the Church to cave in on this issue. Denmark was
the first country in the world to authorise homosexual marriage,
on October 1st, 1985. Called a 'registered cooperation', the
act was officiated by Council officials in Town Halls, but since
then homosexuals have been lobbying to be allowed to 'marry'
in church too.
Some pro-gay pastors have in fact carried out religious ceremonies
for same-sex couples, and the topic is a hot one in Denmark.
In 1997, 11 Lutheran bishops, divided on the issue, reached
the compromise of allowing a blessing for the civil union of
homosexuals, but without pronouncing the phrase "do you
want to take this man as your husband" at any stage in
the ceremony.
Source: EL MUNDO. Editing: ACPress.net
French educationalists vote
to ban religious symbols from schools
Paris, January 27th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The war over religious
symbols in French schools is boiling up. The educational establishment
is divided, though a majority have voted in favour of new legislation
to ban obviously religious symbols at school.
The vote by the Higher Education Council went 16-9 in favour,
with 16 abstentions, 29 blank votes and 27 who did not even
turn up. The project was thereby passed and Education Minister,
Luc Ferry, can take his text to the Council of Ministers for
their approval. It is concise, and bans "signs and clothing
which identify clearly the religious affiliation of pupils",
and the ban extends to all state schools. If passed, it will
become law from the beginning of the next school year.
Source: El País. Editing: ACPress.net
Muslims demonstate against
proposed ban
Paris, January 27th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Protestors numbering
between 10,000 and 20,000 took to the streets of Paris to demonstrate
against the proposed ban on religious symbols, particularly
the Islamic headscarf, in French state schools.
The demonstration was organised by the minority and anti-Zionist
'French Muslim Party' (PMF), which was founded in Strasbourg
in 1997. It was accompanied by a strong police presence, who
feared trouble. Ironically, given the PMF's anti-Jewish leanings,
the French proposal will also ban Jewish symbols, and large
Christian crosses.
Many mainstream Muslims in France were against the demonstrations,
including the Chairman of the French Muslim Council and Rector
of the Grand Mosque in Paris, Dalil Boubakeur, who fears that
such actions will only promote what he calls 'Islamophobia.'
However, the Union of Islamic Organisations in France, after
some hesitation, did encourage Muslims to demonstrate, but "calmly,
serenely and responsibly, in the spirit of good citizens."
The Minister, Ferry, says the text is not hostile to any particular
religion, but is simply designed to protect the lay nature of
the French education system. Catholic leader, Cardinal Jean-Marie
Lustiger, though warned it might re-open what he called "religious
war" in France, and called on politicians not to interfere
in religious matters.
Source: EL MUNDO. Editing: ACPress.net
Reconciliation concert misses the point at the Vatican
Rome, January 27th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Jewish and Muslim clerics
joined the Catholic leader, Pope John Paul II, at a concert
aimed at promoting reconciliation between religions in a world
troubled by religious violence.
Gilbert Levine, an American Jew who has held concerts before
at the Vatican, conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
in the world première of 'Abraham', a choral work written by
American composer, John Harbison. The title refers to the biblical
patriarch who is revered by both Jews and Muslims, and recognised
as important by Christians. (The popular press like to say,
erroneously, that he is the 'father' of the three religions.)
A Turkish choir from Ankara also took part in the concert, while
the crowd included Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders, as well
as representatives from Protestant and Orthodox Churches. The
Pope commented: "The history of relations between Jews,
Christians and Muslims is marked by light and darkness, and
unfortunately there have been very painful times. Today we feel
the urgent need of sincere reconciliation between those who
believe in the one God. We are here today to give concrete expression
to this commitment to reconciliation, trusting in the universal
message of music."
The Pope was brought up in a Polish town with a large Jewish
population, and is the first Catholic Pontiff to visit a synagogue
and a Muslim mosque. Also at the concert was Brazilian Jewish
Rabbi, Henry Sobel, who lamented the fact that relations with
Muslims had been neglected somewhat in recent decades, whilst
much more had been done to repair relations between Jews and
Christians.
If Jews, Muslims and Catholics wanted to give 'concrete expression'
to their commitment to reconciliation between religious groups,
they could all start by putting a stop to their persecution
of evangelical Christians around the world. Once the concert
was over, of course.
Source: AP. Editing: ACPress.net
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David's
mighty men tackle idolatrous festival
Yumbel, January 27th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
'David's mighty men'
do not rest. This is the name of a Christian group who are preparing
what they call their first "battle against idolatry",
which will be during the traditional festivities surrounding
St. Sebastian of Yumbel.
"What we want to do is preach that Jesus Christ is the
only one who can listen to our prayers and answer them, because
He is at God's right hand. The rest is merely making a business
out of faith and is lies, and it saddens us to see how people
put their trust in plaster statues like the saints", says
Pastor Carlos Adams, leader of the group. "God is clear
when He says that He will not share His glory with anybody."
Adams calls on all who love God not to bow down before idols,
"because they are deceived and will earn God's curse. This
means that God will leave them and then come illnesses and catastrophes."
The news that 'David's mighty men' were planning to attend the
festivities was met with calm by the local Catholic priest,
Hernán Llancaleo, who expressed the hope that there would be
no unpleasant incidents. "One has to respect all views
and if they want to talk, then we will." The festivities
usually draw thousands of pilgrims.
Source: MILENIO. Editing:
ACPress.net
Get me to the church on time....or pay a fine!
Sao Paulo, January 27th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Brides arriving late
at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Bahia Province, Brazil,
will be fined as the pastor is fed up with having to wait around
so long.
Pastor Ivo Junior has decided that each bride who arrives more
than half-an-hour late will have to pay the equivalent of a
month's wages, about 70 euros. "They are warned when they
set the date of the wedding", explained Junior. He adopted
this drastic measure after having to wait 3 hours for one bride
to turn up.
Source: AFP. Editing: ACPress.net
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Congolese
Anglicans repudiate homosexuality
Kinshasa, Congo. January 28th,
2004 (ACPress.net).
Anglican bishops in the
Democratic Republic of Congo have made a public statement condemning
homosexual practice and reprimanding those members of the Congolese
Church who support homosexual groups.
The Archbishop of Kinshasa, Dirokpa Balufuga Fidele, who presides
over the Anglican Province of Congo, has signed a document which
goes further than the views of some of his African colleagues
on the homosexuality issue, and Congo becomes the latest African
province to sever relations with the American Episcopal Church
over the latter's appointment of a gay bishop. The difference
between the Congolese statement and those from Nigeria, Kenya
and Uganda, is in its scope. Whilst those other countries limited
themselves to a condemnation of the American move, the Congolese
bishops have condemned the practice of homosexuality generally.
This also differs from the official Lambeth position, which
is to keep 'an open debate' on the matter. The Congolese statement
reads: "We declare that the Anglican Province of Congo
condemns homosexuality strongly and we wish to disassociate
ourselves from the diocese and parishes involved in homosexuality."
The Congolese said they were part of "a global network
of theologically orthodox churches and diocese which were opposed
to homosexuality."
The subject of homosexuality is completely taboo in Congolese
society and has never been an issue of public debate. Theoretically
legal, this is only so because people believe it does not exist
in their country. Meanwhile, in nations like Uganda and Kenya,
the subject is being aired and some voices are heard calling
for homosexuality to be legalised. Previously gays could be
punished severely, including with prison sentences.
Source: AFROL NEWS. Editing:
ACPress.net
The catalogue
of persecution against Egyptian Christians
Cairo, January 28th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Laws against conversion
to Christianity and legally-enshrined discrimination are just
two of the problems with which Christians in Egypt have to live.
The government calculates Christians make up 6% of the population
but this does not prevent those converting to Christianity from
suffering arrest and even torture.
Persecution begins early. Children with Arab names are forced
to study Islam, whatever their parents' religion. International
Christian Concern says other Sources put the Christian population
as high as 14.2% of the population, most of whom belong the
Coptic Church, which already existed in Egypt when Islam arrived.
Yet this distinguished and long history does not save the Copts
from suffering on many fronts.
22 converts from Islam were arrested in October, and the last
of them was not released until December. Their only crime being
to convert from Islam to Christianity. Normally only Christian
leaders know their true identity, and they cannot mix freely
with other believers, unless they too are living a 'secret life'.
If they are discovered, the converts will be tortured and forced
to reveal the identity of their 'accomplices' and of other converts.
In November, Bolis Rezek-Allah, Christian husband of a convert
from Islam, tried to leave Egypt because of the persecution.
He was arrested and put under the authority of an official,
Hussein Gohar, known for his hatred of such converts. Gohar
threatened Rezek-Allah that he would find his wife and execute
her in front of her husband. Rezek-Allah was later released,
but is still prevented from leaving the country.
Sources: Zenit, Barnabas Fund.
Editing: ACPress.net
Pastor shot dead at prayer
in Tajikistan
Isfara, Tajikistan. January
28th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
A pastor who was also
an active evangelist, has been shot dead while he was praying
in a chapel.
At 9pm on Monday 12th January, gunmen burst into a churchyard
in Isfara in the north of Tajikistan and fired several rounds
through a window at Sergei Bessarab as he was kneeling in prayer.
Forum 18 news agency reported that on hearing the gunfire, his
wife, Tamara, rushed to her husband's side but he was already
dead. Reuters also carried the story and confirmed he was shot
13 times with a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
A local newspaper had only a week before attacked Bessarab for
his missionary work in this staunchly Muslim region. Women are
often seen wearing the veil in villages and alcohol is taboo,
indeed shops stocking it have sometimes been burnt down. The
hard-line Islamic Revival Party garnered a large majority of
the local vote in recent elections, despite central government
attempts to curb the growth of Islamic extremism. Bessarab's
handing out of Christian literature aroused considerable local
anger. Nevertheless police have not yet confirmed that the suspected
motive for the murder was his evangelistic activity.
Local opposition to the work of this pastor is typical throughout
the Muslim world. The reason lies in Islamic law, shari'a, which
states that any male who converts from Islam should be put to
death. Barnabas Fund is currently engaged in a major international
campaign on behalf of converts from Islam focusing on the Islamic
law of apostasy and the treatment of converts in Islamic societies.
The Fund is calling upon Muslim religious leaders to condemn
the harsh treatment of converts and to make public statements
calling for a reform of shari'a teaching on apostasy to affirm
clearly that Muslims who choose to convert to another faith
are free to follow their personal convictions without fear of
punishment or harassment.
Source: Barnabas Fund. Editing: ACPress.net
Bomb attack on church in
Pakistan
Karachi, January 28th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Islamic militants used
a grenade to draw large crowds outside Trinity Church, Karachi,
and then detonated a powerful car bomb, injuring thirteen people.
On Thursday 15th January, in the busy Saddar Bazaar area of
Karachi, two men pulled up on a motorcycle outside the reading
room of the Pakistan Bible Society, adjacent to Trinity Church
in Fatima Jinnah Road. One of them threw a grenade at the library
which exploded as the two then made their getaway at high speed.
As a result of this small explosion (which caused minimal injuries)
a large crowd gathered which included employees of the Bible
Society and the church. Top security officials also gathered
at the scene.
Twenty minutes after the grenade exploded people in the crowd
were blown off their feet as a 19lb bomb ripped through the
vicinity. Twisted metal and glass from twelve destroyed cars
were strewn throughout the area. Around thirteen people were
injured but amazingly no one was killed.
"The blast was timed to cause maximum damage. It was a
very close shave," a senior policeman commented. Police
had earlier received an anonymous phone call that the Pakistan
Bible Society would be targeted. The attack is very similar,
in tactics, to those used by Islamic militants fighting against
the Indian army in Kashmir, but it is the first time that such
a callous strategy of drawing crowds to their potential death
has been used in Karachi. The attack is the first one on a Christian
institution in Pakistan in more than six months. Pakistani Christians
fear this may mark the beginning of another campaign of violence
against them.
Source: Barnabas Fund. Editing:
ACPress.net
Pakistani police arrest
Karachi bombing suspect
Karachi, January 28th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Pakistani police have
arrested a suspect and seized a "huge" cache of explosives
in Karachi, declaring that both are linked to the grenade and
car bomb explosions at a Bible Society shop on January 15th
(see previous article).
Shamim Ahmed, 25, a militant of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
group, was arrested in a middle-class district of eastern Karachi.
Information from police interrogation led police to a bomb-making
factory in Karachi's Mehmoodabad district, where they discovered
a store of heavy ammunition, detonators, grenades and two large
bombs ready for use. "The people who are doing this are
not friends of Pakistan," said Anthony Lamuel, Director
of the Pakistan Bible Society. After touring the scene of the
attack with Lamuel and Anglican Bishop John Alexander Malik,
the governor of Sindh promised that damages caused to the shop
and the adjacent cathedral compound would be repaired at government
expense.
Source: Compass Direct, Religion
Today. Editing: ACPress.net
Boxer says he is a Christian
and forgives Tyson for biting his ear
New York, January 28th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
The American boxer, Evander
Holyfield, said he forgave Mike Tyson for the notorious incident
in 1997 when Tyson bit Holyfield's ear during a fight.
Holyfield is putting into practice what he preaches, as he is
now involved with an evangelical church. He also said that Bin
Laden should be forgiven for the September 11th attacks. The
ex-heavyweight world champion was on a visit to a school for
3,000 children which is supported by the American Evangelical
Church. His mission, "to spread love and forgiveness."
He regretted the fact that today most boxers fight for the love
of money more than for the love of sport, and recommended that
people did so for lvoe. "If you want to do something great,
love should not be missing." As for the ear-biting, when
Tyson ripped off part of Holyfield's ear, he said his lawyers
had recommended he take legal action against Tyson, but that
he refused to do so. He added that he forgave the terrorists
who attacked New York and Washington in 2001, saying "if
you do not forgive, the same thing will happen again."
Source: Agencias. Editing:
ACPress.net
Bush pushes for state aid
to church social work
New Orleans, January 28th,
2004 (ACPress.net).
American President, George
Bush, has reiterated his call for religious organisations to
have easier access to state funds for community projects which
are open to people of all religions. On a tour of the heavily-Christian
South of the USA, Bush hopes to gain support for his plan, which
has already been rejected once by the American Parliament.
American laws place restrictions on the access to state funds
by religious groups for social work, because of the view there
that church and state should be separate. However, Bush says
"this country should not fear the influence of faith. We
must celebrate the faith which can make the United States a
better place", speaking at Bethel Methodist Church in New
Orleans, where the late Martin Luther King sometimes preached.
So far legislators have merely proposed reducing the tax paid
on donations made to churches for their social projects, but
even this measure has not been passed by Congress, the American
Parliament. Bush responds to critics of his plan by saying that
hitherto, religious groups have been discriminated against in
a system which almost seems to wage war on anything which smacks
of a connection between church and state. Bush, himself an ex-alcoholic
and beneficiary of such social work, is touring some southern
states in what is seen as an attempt to woo the black vote.
Source: EL MUNDO. Editing:
ACPress.net
Guide to healthy children
starts with cleaning the toys
New York, January 26th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Children should be clean,
careful, sociable and live a healthy life in body and mind.
The American Pediatric Academy (APA) has come up with 20 recommendations
to encourage such a lifestyle among the nation's youth.
Nursery-age children are told to clean their toys, clean their
teeth twice a day, and their hands after going to the toilet,
and after meals. Primary school children should drink a lot
of milk and cut down the consumption of fizzy drinks. Before
going out, they should devote 2 minutes to applying protective
creams, even in winter, and should wear a hat and dark glasses
when doing sport. They should choose a sport they like, and
play at least 3 times a week.
Seat-belts must be worn in the car, and children must be good
with other children. They must never give personal information
to a stranger, such as their name, address, school or phone
number, and this includes contacts on Internet. If they find
a gun, they should not touch it, but tell their parents or another
adult they know well.
Teenagers are advised to have at least one piece of fruit or
greens a day, get physical exercise and not watch more than
2 hours' TV or play video-games a day. Even then, they should
opt for programmes or games without violent content. When they
feel angry or stressed, they should relax by reading a book,
and talk about their problems to their parents. As for friendships,
they are told to exercise self-control, and to resist peer pressure
to try drugs and alcohol.
Source: EL PAÍS. Editing:
ACPress.net
Christians in Laos threatened with death by farm tools
Vientaine, January 26th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Believers in villages
of Laos's Attapue province are being told they must renounce
their faith in Christ, leave their villages, or face being beaten
to death with farm tools such as spades or pitchforks.
A contact in the region said that the 11 believers who were
released from prison on January 9th, are facing renewed pressure
by authorities in Attapue province to renounce their faith.
Along with them, 34 other believers who had fled but returned
to their villages were facing similar pressure. The key men
perpetrating the persecution are Mr. Bounlarb (Deputy District
Head of Sanamsai District) and Mr. Sitad (Head of Religious
Affairs for Attapue province). On January 18th, they started
digging pits, saying if believers did not deny Christ, they
would be buried. Believers in Dongsung village were also told
they could deny Christ, leave the village, or face death.
The next day these same two officials led non-Christian villagers
to two other villages and threatened believers there the same
way. The spokesman thought Kang, Donthapad and Donphai villages
would be next.
Source: Christian Aid, Religion
Today. Editing: ACPress.net
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