Zaragoza, April 28th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The ancient capital of Aragón, Zaragoza, is undergoing something of an evangelical renaissance. The city from which Calvin's antagonist, Miguel Servet, hailed, and which witnessed the burning of several Protestants under the Inquisition in the 16th century, is now seeing genuine church growth.

Zaragoza remained virtually impermeable to the Gospel until the so-called 'Second Reformation' during the First Republic, which was declared in Spain in 1869.

Several denominations arrived during the following century, including Presbyterians, Baptists, Brethren and Independents. In 1990, a city-wide mission organised by most of the churches in Zaragoza, bore fruit, especially in two large congregations. The campaign 'Aragón-90' was a great fillip to all the churches in Zaragoza, and the unity between pastors shown in prayer and cooperation, had a significant impact on the city.

The Baptist Church has recently moved to a 700-seater auditorium in the Actur district of the city, whilst 'Bethel Church', affiliated to the Assemblies of God, has rented the old railway station. It began in the 1980s with about 20 members and today about 500 meet where the trains used to call. It also works in the rehabilitation of drug addicts through a project called 'Vision', which is supported by the regional authorities. Zaragoza is a living witness to what God can do in Spain, a country which in general is so resistant to the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Palma de Mallorca, April 30th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The smallest book in the world, about the size of an ear-ring, and of which only 12 copies exist, has been on display at a book exhibition in Mallorca celebrating 'Book Day'. Yet the smallest book is also part of the greatest - it is a copy of some Bible texts.

The book measures 5 millimetres by 5 millimetres and is recognised as the smallest in existence by the Guinness Book of Records. It contains the Lord's Prayer in seven languages, including English, Spanish, Latin and German. Bound in dark green leather, it has a cross on the cover in gold lettering, and is so small that it has to be handled with tweezers and read through a magnifying-glass.

Another copy of this book, whose origin and age are unknown, is in the Bible Museum in Lima, whilst a third copy was sold at auction in London last year for 240,400 euros.

This surprising declaration came when the Archbishop was asked for his views on the new government's plans to legalise abortion and homosexual marriage. Vallejo said that "any government, of whatever party, must always be attentive to society's needs", and that "at this moment in time, Spanish society, as in other countries, needs above all uncondtional support for the family, which is the most important (unit)."

Vallejo observed that "there are many types of family" and that he felt one ought to "respect each person's identity". Referring to couples who live together without being married, he said they should be covered by the law, whether or not they were male-female or same-sex couples.

Madrid, April 30th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The Catholic Church is  making Prince Felipe and his fiancée, Letizia Ortiz, go through the same process as any other couple being married under their authority, and Ortiz herself has got to fulfil other obligations because she has already been married and divorced, even though bizarrely, and rather conveniently, the Catholic Church does not recognise this first marriage, because it did not take place in one of their buildings.

Ortiz had to sign a commitment saying she accepts the conditions of the Catholic 'sacrament' of marriage - faithfulness, indissolubility of the marriage vows, and a commitment to having children. One of the partners could sign the unbeliever's option, whereby they agree to allow their spouse to practice their faith freely and bring up their children in the Catholic tradition, but this is not the case here.

Before meeting the Prince, Ortiz says she was an agnostic, but her forthcoming marriage to the heir to the throne seems to have led to a recovery of her faith. She has signed as a believer and she will also have to explain why she chose the civil option in her first nuptial arrangement. Monseñor Estepa, a Catholic ex-Archbishop, has been charged with instructing Ortiz in Catholic teaching, and will go through the Catechism with her, placing special emphasis on the sacrament of marriage.

Valencia, May 5th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Tony Selma, a Spanish Christian singer, was the first evangelical Hispanic singer to perform in the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London. A local TV station in Valencia has decided to broadcast the concert.

He sang there on two occasions last year in concerts organised by the church which claims to be the largest in England - "Kensington Temple London City Church" - with more than 15,000 members. The church, pastored by Colin Dye, organised the special meetings at the Royal Albert Hall. Channel 13 in Valencia has requested the video as it wants to show the concert.

Madrid, May 5th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), the agency charged with dealing with racism in the European Union, has again singled out Spain as the main source of anti-Semitism in the region, in its report "Manifestations of Antisemitism in the EU 2002-2003".

 The report, which is the second of its kind, was presented by Beate Winkler of the EUMC and Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, three weeks ago. However, it has returned to the headlines due to the fact that the Spanish government has ignored it, and the Spanish press has rejected it.

One of the criticisms in the report is that the Spanish press incites anti-Semitism by its biased coverage of the conflict in the Middle East. Specifically, it accuses an anti-Israel attitude in Spain of perpetuating the stereotype of Jews as child-killers, world-controllers and money-dealers with dark motives, which was prevalent in the 1930s. The report adds that such attitudes cannot be divorced from anti-Semitism. It says that Jews continue to be the social victims of terrorism, but that the Spanish press lambasts them daily.

An opinion poll shows that 72% of Spaniards believe the only solution to the conflict is to deport all Jews from Israel, though only 12% would be prepared to have Jewish neighbours. 68% support the rights of Palestinin refugees while only 4% knew there were Jewish refugees in 1948. 69% think the Jews have too much power, though they cannot define in which areas, and 62% allege that the Jews "have a special relationship with money". Finally, 55% say they have "suspicious motives."

Spain waits to see the reaction to the report, both from the Jewish community within the country as from Jewish visitors and tourists who come annually to Spain. The police say they have not detected attacks on Jewish people, but attacks on Jewish property are quite common.

Alcalá de Guadaira, May 5th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The German Consulate in Andalusia and Alcalá de Guadaira Council have reached agreement on the promotion of German industrial investment in the town. They will also develop social and cultural links.

The first event, being held this week from May 6th-9th, sees a significant German presence at a Trade Fair in the town. German customs and dances will be on show, a typical Saxon house will be constructed, and Germans and locals will knock down a replica of the Berlin wall to symbolise their unity and freedom.

There will also be an ecumenical act between the Catholic Church and the German Protestant Church at which the first German woman bishop will be present.

Madrid, May 5th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
A 21-year-old woman started a fire in her home and poisoned herself from noxious fumes after trying to emulate a potion out of a Harry Potter book.

The potion consisted of soap, oil, alcohol, mouthwash and toothpaste, which was then heated together in a plastic container. The combination and the heating of this concoction caused a fire in the bathroom, where firemen later found the young woman.

It took them nearly an hour to put the fire out, and the girl's identity has not been revealed. The tragedy took place in north-west Madrid. Part of the flat was destroyed but adjoining properties were not affected.

Madrid, May 5th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Verbal and pyschological bullying in schools causes many children to display anti-social behaviour and to suffer from depression. An obvious symptom is the sight of children at playtime who are on their own, well away from their classmates.

Experts have detected small groups of children whom they call 'permanent victims' of bullying. A report published in the 'Journal of Child Development', show that boys who suffer from bullying are more likely to be anti-social or depressive in adult life. In the short-term, such behaviour at school can protect them from further bullying, but can actually make them the target of more abuse in the longer-term.

Girls who suffer bullying are more likely to be anti-social at home, whereas at school they are sad and stay on their own. This makes their classmates more likely to treat them as victims rather than targets, as in the case with boys. Victims of regular bullying vary; some are able to confront the situation, but others are not. It is estimated that there is a case of bullying, on average, every 5 minutes or so. This research may help parents who until now have been unable to fathom the reason for their children's strange or aggressive behaviour.