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Oxford
University wants Wycliffe website on its list
Madrid, February 14th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Oxford University, through
its Humbul catalogue of electronic resources, has written to
ask if it may include the Proel website, an evangelical organisation
which works with Wycliffe Bible Translators who are devoted
to the translation of the Bible into the world's languages,
in its listing. It wants to promote the website in the UK because
of its valuable educational content.
The initials 'Proel' stand (in Spanish) for the Spanish Promotion
of Linguistics, and is a non-denominational organisation which
cooperates with various entities, especially Wycliffe's Summer
Institute of Linguistics, to promote the linguistic development
of minority languages in Spain and around the world. Proel works
closely with Wycliffe Bible Translators, whose sole aim is to
take God's Word to the peoples of the world in their own language.
Wycliffe says "translation is closely related to the original
concept of the Gospel; God, who does not have linguistic favourites,
has so ordered things that we have the Good News in our native
language." This is why Wycliffe believes everybody should
have the Bible in their language.
Source: Proel. Editing: ACPress.net
Death threats
for nuns who condemned traffic in human organs
Maputo, February 14th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
They are putting their
lives on the line but their conscience forces them to say what
they know, and be the voice for those unable to speak. Two Spanish
Catholic nuns have condemned the traffic in human organs in
Mozambique, giving specific evidence of the crimes committed.
Juliana and María Jesús Calvo work out of a convent in the northern
town of Nampula and have told police of a network of organ traffickers
in their area. They have given photographic evidence to the
police, who have begun an investigation. Despite receving death
threats, the nuns have been told that the Spanish Embassy does
not have the means to protect them.
The two nuns have lived and worked in Mozambique for 30 years,
and believe that the property next door to the convent which
is rented by whites is being used for the trafficking. It is
situated 10km north of Nampula, near the airport. The nuns -
and there are 40 at the convent - have testified, and handed
in photos and videos showing horribly mutilated children - without
eyes, heart or kidneys. Street children, orphans and destitute,
abound all over Mozambique since the end of the civil war, are
easy prey and noone bothers about their disappearance.
Nicanor Calvo, brother of the two nuns, say his sisters have
received death threats and an attempt to ambush them was made,
and do not feel sufficiently protected. The Spanish Ambassador
to Mozambique, Luis Antonio Calvo, said the local authorities
are investigating the incidents, but as yet have come to no
conclusion.
Source: El País. Editing:
ACPress.net
Website for exorcist advice
Madrid, February 25th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
What should you do if
you hear strange noises in your house? Do ghosts really exist?
Can curses harm people? What about playing with ouija boards?
Has science overcome demonic possession? Is it possible to make
a pact with the devil? These are some of the questions answered
on a new Catholic website - www.fortea.es - designed to address
the issue of exorcism and Satanic influence.
José Antonio Fortea, a priest who lives and works near Madrid,
is the man behind the project. He says the site is designed
as a meeting-point for exorcists and medical experts to be able
to discuss the issues involved. The site has been translated
into 6 languages, covers topics such as ghosts and demonic possession,
and says it submits all its content to the judgement of the
(Catholic) church.
The website has received more than 22,000 hits in 6 months and
helps those "who think they are suffering from some kind
of extraordinary demonic phenomenon." It also has various
appendices with specific information for priests and audio sections
containing sermons about the devil which can be downloaded.
The site states firmly that people should never go to a witch
or clairvoyant whatever their problem: "One should only
go to a group of priests or a charismatic prayer group. Going
to a witch will not resolve anything, but might put one under
a malignant influence."
Evangelicals do not figure among those considered capable of
helping in this matter, but at least they are not included in
the list of quacks and mediums to which one should not go under
any circumstances.
Source: LA RAZÓN. Editing:
ACPress.net
Breaking TV dominance of
pre-schoolers
Madrid, February 25th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Television has much to
answer for. Giovanni Sartori, author of 'Homo videns: the telly-led
society', says the current generation of children will be adults
who do not read, guided by the visual, softened up by TV and
addicted to video-games. Television is blamed for obesity, violence,
failure at school, lack of sleep and so on. What can be done
to prevent children spending so much time in front of the box?
Current data suggests that small children watch TV for an average
of between 3 and 5 hours a day, but a recent report published
in 'Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine' shows it
is possible to reduce this. Previous research had been done
on 8-12-year-olds, but in fact it is pre-school children who
spend more time in front of the box. The report was based on
studies undertaken in New York, USA, and showed - among other
things - that obesity in children is four times higher in those
who watch more than 4 hours' television a day.
The researchers encouraged parents to engage in alternative
activities with their children - reading them stories, talking
about the activities they were involved with instead of putting
the TV on, eating together as a family with the TV off, and
other measures. The results were that the children watched considerably
fewer hours' television. Research on a group where these measures
were not carried out showed a marked contrast, and far more
viewing time.
Dr Dennison, who led the investigation, said "our study
reveals that practical measures can be taken in kindergartens
to reduce the time children spend watching television."
She also concluded that child carers should analyse the long-term
effects of reducing viewing time on small children.
Source: EL MUNDO. Editing:
ACPress.net
Brain repays a sense of
humour
Madrid, February 25th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
As well as reducing stress,
a good sense of humour also leads the brain to 'repay' its owner
with a feeling of general wellbeing, according to new research.
A sense of humour also plays a part in conditioning with whom,
and for how long, one makes friendships and sentimental attachments.
It activates areas of the brain which make people feel happy,
the same areas which function when drugs like cocaine or amphetamines
are taken. Dr Reiss, of Stanford University in the USA, says
"The brain has a system to compensate good-humoured people."
Researchers gave a number of people a series of humorous cartoons
and they had to press a button if they found them amusing. When
they found one they which made them laugh, researchers discovered
that this activated the area of the brain which made them feel
good. The discovery might help doctors treat depression, as
"the loss of the ability to appreciate jokes might be a
symptom of this disease." The research also found that
people without much of a sense of humour often have serious
problems in relating to others. So look on the brighter side
of life sounds like sound advice.
Source: EL MUNDO. Editing: ACPress.net
Government
website to help immigrants
Madrid, February 25th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
The Spanish government
has opened a website, with information in English and French,
to help those who wish to move to Spain legally.
Interior Minister, Angel Acebes, presented the site - www.extranjeros.mir.es
- which offers would-be immigrants advice on the legal procedures
to be followed. The website is also designed for anyone who
wishes to learn more about the whole issue of immigration. Acebes
pointed out that people in any country could obtain the necessary
forms with ease, so as to be able to apply for residency and
a work permit. They can also found out about current legislation
relevant to their situation.
The site, which is also designed to be used by handicapped people,
answers frequently-asked questions about immigration. Other
contents include job offers for foreign workers, seasonal work,
permit renewal information and a subscription service.
Source: SERVIMEDIA. Editing:
ACPress.net
Religious
intolerance is a 'constant temptation'
El Ferrol, February 25th,
2004 (ACPress.net).
Evangelical historian,
Gabino Fernández, says "religious freedom continues to
be an exotic plant struggling to acclimatise to the temperature
in Spain."
Fernández was lecturing in north-west Spain on the Inquisition
and Protestantism in Spain. Referring to an American government
report on the state of religious freedom (or the lack of it)
around the world, he said "it makes us pessimistic."
So much so, that a Euro MP has denounced the situation in Italy,
Portugal and Spain. The Italian MP has presented a formal complaint
to the European Parliament, saying that while these three countries
have technically separated Church and state, in practice Protestants
and Muslims continue to be discriminated against.
Fernández added that religious intolerance is a "constant
temptation", and gave some examples which have occurred
in this part of Spain. Félix Moreno Astray, "one of the
fathers of the Galician Renaissance suffered threats to his
life for being Protestant", or Pablo Fernández, a soldier
put on trial for refusing to kneel when the chalice was raised
in a Mass." Gabino Fernández concluded by saying "one
can speak of religious intolerance before and after the Inquisition."
Source: D. FERROL. Editing:
ACPress.net
Is Evanescence
really Christian?
Madrid, February 25th, 2004
(ACPress.net).
Is the Grammy-winning
pop group, 'Evanescence', really Christian? Spanish theologian,
José de Segovia, in an article on the A.C.Press website (protestantedigital.com)
looks at the band whose latest album, 'Fallen', has been presented
to the secular market as a non-Christian offering.
'Evanescence' were previously only known on the Christian music
scene, yet they now say they are not Christians. Why? The 'scandal'
which the news of their self-proclaimed Christian faith produced
in the world of rock music has led them to distance themselves
from any religious label. In an action reminiscent of Peter's
denial, they have reiterated - with blasphemies included - that
they are not a Christian band. This has endeared them to the
secular market, which is the one buying their records.
Indeed, this is precisely the market targeted by Evanescence,
with Christian sales merely a secondary concern. So far have
they distanced themselves from their erstwhile base, that their
latest record has been withdrawn from Christian outlets for
being offensive to Christians. Segovia asks: "What actually
is a Christian group? I believe these lads are Christians, although
they belong to a band which does not want to be known as 'a
Christian band'. They speak badly, but they write and sing honest
and helpful songs, even though they do not talk about their
Christian faith, or about God as the answer. I can't see anything
wrong with that."
Many Christian artists have abandoned the music industry, run
by people who do not love God nor wish to know anything about
Christian values, which is why Segovia approves of groups such
as Evanescence trying to influence such a world and offer hope.
In this case, argues Segovia, the question is not whether Evanescence
is a Christian group or not, but whether their music helps people
see life from a true perspective. "The rest does not matter
so much. The Lord knows who are His.."
Source: Protestante Digital.
Editing: ACPress.net |
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