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Pope
takes Spanish government to task
Rome, February 7th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The Pope has gone to
town in an attack on the policies of the Spanish government,
accusing it "of spreading a lay mentality which borders
on the despising of religion." The Pope has expressed his
opposition to homosexual marriage, the loosening of abortion
laws, and even the National Hydrology Plan, which at first glance
does not seem quite as anti-Christian as the others.
John Paul II gave vent to his feelings at a meeting with a group
of Spanish bishops, headed by the Cardinal of Madrid, Antonio
Rouco, on a compulsory five-yearly visit to the Vatican. The
Pontiff said that the 'Christian' roots of Spain cannot be torn
up nor religious liberty curtailed, and that parents have the
right to demand for their children Christian R.E. in schools.
He accused the Spanish government of promoting a lay ideology
which restricted religious liberty and relegated faith to the
private arena, while opposing its expression in public. "Spanish
youngsters have the right from the start of their schooling
to be educated in the faith. Religious education must not be
left out, if parents request it, and it should be marked according
to its importance. It is the duty of the state to guarantee
this parental right."
The Catholic Church has also expressed its opposition to homosexual
marriage, the easing of restrictions against abortion, and new
embryonic experimentation. The Pope also took the opportunity
to reiterate his Church's opposition to contraceptives, after
the Catholic Episcopal spokesman, Juan Antonio Martínez Camino,
had put the cat among the pigeons a few days earlier, saying
that condoms could be used in the fight against Aids, thus reversing
traditional Catholic policy. Those comments were later rectified.
Source: El Mundo. Editing:
ACPress.net10,000
complaints at offensive programme receive an apology
Madrid, February 7th, 2005
(ACPress.net).
Christian protests against
blasphemy on television are obviously more effective in Spain
than the UK. Just days after the BBC refused even to edit a
highly offensive play portraying an effeminate and foul-mouthed
representation of Christ, the Spanish pay channel, 'Canal Plus',
has offered a full apology for a programme 'The Most Plus',
which was broadcast in December.
The programme's presenters, Manu Carreño and Ana García Siñériz,
also said that "we have always had the greatest respect towards
all religious and ideological beliefs." The TV station had received
more than 10,000 written protests, but a Catholic campaigning
group, 'Hazteoir.org' ('Make yourself heard'), considers the
apology insufficient. It commented that it "contrasts with the
insulting and hostile attitude towards Christians shown by the
station", and it encouraged producers at the TV channel "to
show their tolerance with deeds and not just words."
Other complaints about the programme have centred on the Constitution
which contemplates a crime of offending the religious feelings
of others. A legal case is also being considered. The scandal
has reached the highest management level, as the Chairman of
the group which owns the TV station, Jesús de Polanco, is said
to be furious at the bad publicity caused.
Source: LA RAZÓN. Editing:
ACPress.net
Spanish denomination sees nothing to condemn in government
gay policy
Madrid, February 9th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Slowly but surely evangelicals
are making their voice heard. To date, only the Spanish Evangelical
Alliance and the Evangelical Council of Extremadura had made
official statements protesting at government plans to legalise
homosexual marriage, and a campaign by 'Focus on the Family'
has also been launched in the Spanish media. Now, finally, a
denomination to make its voice heard is the IEE (Methodist/Presbyterian
Church).
An Editorial in its house magazine, 'Protestant Christianity',
deals - among other issues - with homosexual marriage. Its neutral
headline is 'The best and the possible'. It says that "the government,
freed from a (Catholic) religious yoke, is trying to order society
along different lines." The article continues: "Churches may
be right to deplore the fact that values which they have traditionally
maintained as fundamental in society are being devalued." However,
rather than putting pressure on the government to change the
law, the Editorial believes Christians should insist that the
government "says what values it believes in. We don't live in
Utopia, but in 21st century Spain. We cannot accept divorce,
the break-up of the family, abortion on demand (etc.) and be
satisfied. We can only accept them with tears in our eyes."
The IEE does think the Church has a role to play, and should
not leave people to their fate. Its main function is to help
them to find God, but also to search for solutions to their
problems within the limitations of a fallen world. In practical
terms though, what does this mean? The Editorial says: "whatever
our view on homosexuality, preventing them from marrying...(or)
opposing the will of a dying patient who asks for a dignified
death, is imposing the best, with all the frustration, anxiety
and pain which that involves; doing nothing to find a possible
path of happiness for real men and women." So, concludes the
Editorial, "the State cannot insist on the best. Its job is
to allow the possible, while the Christian Church should mobilise
to give its support or, if there is a clear case of injustice
or flagrant immorality, condemn it.
'If'? As the IEE has so far failed to condemn anything the government
has done, it presumably does not feel any such case has yet
arisen. This flies in the face of biblical teaching, and a recent
ProtestanteDigital survey which found that 88% of respondents
believed homosexual marriage to be wrong, though almost half
understood that the government might wish to legalise the situation.
Source: IEE. Editing:ACPress
Evangelical Alliance calls on government to listen to
Christians
Madrid, February 9th, 2005
(ACPress.net).
The crisis in relations
between the Spanish government and the Roman Catholic Church
is evident, but for religious minorities like evangelicals,
a mixed blessing.
The government says there is "absolute respect" for the views
of the Catholic Church, but that the government is going ahead
with plans to broaden the rights and freedom of all citizens.
A spokesman said: "In this country there is a very high level
of religious freedom and worship", not a view shared by the
Pope after his recent scathing criticism of Spanish government
policy on such issues as R.E. in state schools.
Jaume Llenas, General Secretary of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance,
believes the Vatican needs to come to terms with the fact that
society will not go back to what it was, and that the Catholic
Church needs to adapt to its new role. He said this had happened
to Protestant churches in the past in other European countries,
and that "they are back, without having suffered unduly from
the experience." Llenas agreed that while the Socialist Party
was not homogeneous, there was a certain anti-clericalism on
the political Left, and that it depended on which part of Spain
one lived in; the situation regarding religious liberty is not
the same in Madrid as it is in Barcelona.
Llenas added that "one needs to be vigilant as the government
is suspicious of religion, which makes it turn a deaf ear to
what religious groups have to say." For instance, said Llenas,
the minority gay lobby has more influence than Christians. He
defended the right of religious leaders, such as the Pope, to
give an opinion and called on the government to pay more attention
to what Christians have to say on issues like homosexual marriage
and adoption. "It seems that religious people have no right
to be heard before a law is passed. This goes against the plurality
of society."
Mariano Blázquez, Executive Secretary of FEREDE, the umbrella
group which represents Protestants in matters concerning the
government, disagreed with the Pope and said that the setting
up of a Trust to finance cultural activities of religious minorities
"shows clearly that the government is not anti-religious, nor
is it promoting laicism at the expense of religions."
Source: e-Mision.org, El Mundo.
Editing: ACPress.net
Jewish numbers rise in Spain as Auschwitz is remembered
Madrid, February 9th, 2005
(ACPress.net).
The increase in immigration
from Argentina in recent years has led to an increase in the
numbers in the Jewish community in Spain. It is estimated that
last year alone, 10,000 Argentinian Jews moved to Spain, bringing
the total number of Jews in Spain to around 60,000. Federico
Zukierman, Vice-President of 'Hebraica Madrid', a group of Jews
from Argentina living in Spain, says "More Jews came to Spain
in 2004 than in the previous 10 years put together."
The average age of these immigrants is between 20 and 30, well-educated
with professional training. Zukierman says most of them are
not practising Jews, but though lay in their outlook, defend
their religious identity and Hebraic origin. "They all adapt
well to the Spanish way of life." The Jewish community in Argentina
goes back to immigrants from Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine,
Lithuania and Russia) who emigrated at the beginning of the
20th century.
Last week saw the celebration of the first official Holocaust
Memorial Day in Spain, including the Prevention of Crimes against
Humanity, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the liberation
of Auschwitz. It is the first such commemoration to be held
nationally in Spain and was organised by Parliament. The aim
was to honour the memory of the 6 million or so Jews who died
under the Nazis, as well as the thousands of Spanish Republicans,
Soviets, gypsies, disabled people and others who also suffered
under Hitler's regime.
Source: E. PRESS. Editing:
ACPress.net
Catalonia makes moves towards religious plurality
Barcelona, February 10th,
2005 (ACPress.net).
The Catalan Assembly
is to allow chaplains from religious minorities to cover hospitals
and prisons in their region, as well as recommending that Islamic
graveyards be included within municipal cemeteries.
Hitherto, only Catholic chaplains have been guaranteed access
to patients and inmates, but the authorities want to ensure
that Protestants, Jews and Muslims have the same access to people
of their faiths. Some imams already visit Muslim prisoners.
A similar arrangement is being considered for hospital visiting
in Catalonia, which would allow representatives of the three
recognised religious minorities to attend to the needs of their
co-religionists.
Funeral rites are also being investigated. Although the law
allows the existence of private graveyards, the authorities
consider that the construction of exclusively Islamic cemeteries
would be senseless, and is making moves to ensure that state
cemeteries are geared up to offer two types of burial rite,
one for Christians and the other for Muslims. It recognises
that Muslim demand for funerals is likely to increase, but said
that any costs incurred would have to be paid by the Muslims
themselves. Due to the lack of space, North African Muslims
who die in Catalonia currently tend to be repatriated so as
to be buried in their home soil, and facing Mecca.
Catalonia is also going its own way in Religious Education.
By the next academic year, it hopes to have replaced confessional
R.E. with a general subject, called 'Religious Culture'. "We
have looked at confessional schools and found that in practice
Catholic, Muslim and Protestant children share a classroom,
which shows that instead of a class of one religion, a subject
on religious culture would be better."
Source: EL MUNDO. Editing:
ACPress.net
Religious reps rubbing their hands at state money, but still
want more
Madrid, February 10th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Reaction to the establishment
of a Trust for Religious Minorities from those who will benefit
directly has been predictable. "A historic act, but not enough
money." They want to have their cake and eat it.
The government has set apart 3 million euros for the three recognised
minorities for 2005. The Trust was officially opened by the
Justice Minister, Juan Fernando López, and witnessed by representatives
of the three religious groups: Mariano Blázquez for the FEREDE
which represents Protestants, Riay Tatary and Mansur Escudero
for the two (!) Muslim Federations, and Jacob Garzón for the
Jews.
The government considers that the move is substantial in symbolism
though limited in content. For once, one must agree with the
government. 3 million euros for 2005 is a not inconsiderable
sum given that noone yet knows on what the money will be spent.
It is all very well for the religionists to rub their hands,
but they will have to come up with acceptable 'social, cultural
and educational' projects before they hear the pennies drop.
The more money on offer, the greater the scope for corruption
or, at best, stretching the interpretation of the above definition.
Many Christians will remain sceptical as to the wisdom and/or
ethics of receiving cash from the state. The government claims
it is a move towards greater religious liberty, but history
would suggest that the opposite is the case in the longer term
when specific religious organisations are targeted with state
benefits.
Meanwhile however, the FEREDE representative Mariano Blázquez
is delighted, calling the government move "ingenious". He believes
the money will be distributed on a proportional basis, though
adds "we shall see how this works out in practice." Indeed.
Source: EL MUNDO. Editing:
ACPress.net
Playing the R.E. numbers game
Madrid, February 10th, 2005
(ACPress.net).
Down by 25% in two weeks,
but there are still more than 74,000 pupils who want Muslim
R.E. in Spain, according to Riay Tatary, General Secretary of
the Islamic Commission in Spain. A fortnight ago, as reported
in this bulletin, the same Commission calculated that 100,000
would sign up.
There are currently about 20 teachers giving Islamic lessons
in Ceuta and Melilla, and a further 20 are being trained for
"strategic areas" around the rest of Spain. Andalusia, Aragón
and the Canary Islands are the regions with the greatest demand,
so will be the first to get staff. Tatary complained though
that it was difficult to get the Ministry of Education to "act
rapidly" and that they would have to "fight" to get teachers
in every region. A meeting is planned this month between Muslim
and government representatives.
The Advisor for Evangelical Religious Education, Francisco Calveche,
said that the latest figures suggested 7,822 pupils were receiving
evangelical R.E. classes from 148 teachers. Andalusia leads
the way, followed by Madrid, Galicia and Old Castile. Calveche
calls the growth "spectacular" though some evangelical teachers
have complained that it is the very bureaucracy of Evangelical
Religious Education which has made things so difficult for them.
When the latest Accords were signed in 1996, there were only
about 300 pupils receiving evangelical R.E.
Calveche believes numbers will continue to grow, basing his
belief on the estimate that there are about 1.5 million evangelical
adults in Spain (where are they?), and "they've got at least
one child per family".
Source: Web Andalucía. Editing:
ACPress.net
The road to hell goes through self-transcendence
Madrid, February 10th, 2005
(ACPress.net).
When will psycho-analysts
realise that man has a soul? Faced with dealing the great inner
problems of life - emptiness, the lack of meaning to life, the
loss of values, the desire to realise oneself - as well as the
need for spirituality confessed by thousands of patients, the
medical and psychiatric professions are trying to find a scientific
link to the 'forgotten pillar' of a person - his spirituality.
Psychiatrists, scientists and psychologists are trying to explain
spirituality in psychological terms, and discover if there are
different types of spirituality associated with different personality
traits. A model suggested by Robert Cloninger in 1994 includes
the definition 'spirituality and self-transcendence'. This delightful
concoction includes such thrills as 'self-abandon' which includes
the drawing out of feelings about one's role in life, sensitivity
regarding beauty and art, and the loss of limits in space and
time. Right.
Another dimension of self-transcendence is 'transpersonal identification',
otherwise known as spiritual and emotional relationships with
others, nature and the world; being able to identify oneself
with the grand Everything and fight for a better world. (One
without self-transcendent psychiatrists, perhaps?) Yet there's
more: 'spiritual acceptance' which is connected to the sixth
sense and includes religious experiences and the understanding
of the real meaning of life, its origin, humanity, immortality,
etc. A chap called Emmons (no, not Lemons) managed to define
something he called 'spiritual intelligence', which covers man's
capacity for transcendence, his sense of the sacred, and virtuous
behaviour of which only humans are capable - forgiveness, gratitude,
humility and compassion. Ah, at last we're talking; add in God's
grace, Jesus' death and our faith, and we have the Gospel which,
frankly, is a lot simpler and more meaningful than 'self-abandon',
'self-transcendence' and 'self-delusion'.
Source: LA RAZÓN. Editing:
ACPress.net
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