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Anniversary
prayer journey recalls train bombings
Madrid,
March 18th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The 'Prayer Journey by
Train' lasted 3 hours as an inter-denominational Christian group
prayed for peace and showed solidarity with the victims on the
1st anniversary of the Madrid train bombings.
The journey began at Alcalá de Henares Station where local TV
cameras awaited participants. The local TV station interviewed
the organiser, Jorge Fernández, an evangelical pastor from BetaniaCommunityChurch,
who explained the purpose and the content of the event. Those
attending carried a large banner which read: 'The Evangelical
Churches pray for the peace of Madrid.'
About 60 people made the journey, an all-age group which included
a good number of young people, as well as some pastors and church
leaders. They made stops at some of the stations along the route,
those most affected by the bombings - Santa Eugenia, El Pozo,
etc. - and at each stop read a Psalm or another Bible passage,
as well as having a short time of prayer. One of the Madrid
Universities included the Prayer Journey in its list of commemorative
activities which aided reflection in the light of last year's
terrorist attack.
Finally, the group reached Atocha Station in Madrid
where, surrounded by many curious onlookers, they concluded
their journey with a time of prayer and a short message from
Wenceslao Calvo, the pastor of Pueblo
Nuevo Evangelical
Church, on the outskirts of the
Spanish capital. Throughout the journey, the group handed out
about 2,500 copies of a leaflet designed especially for the
occasion. Many passengers read its contents carefully, which
included a testimony and a short message of hope.
The organisers said they were "very satisfied" with how things
had gone, and thanked the media outlets - which included ProtestanteDigital
(ACPress) - which had covered the event.
Source: Betania. Editing:
ACPress.netState
becomes Catholic again for anniversary commemoration
Madrid,
March 18th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
In stark contrast to
the evangelical 'Prayer Journey' (see Top Story), the official
events commemorating the 1st anniversary of the Madrid bombings
was absolutely and exclusively Roman Catholic, despite the fact
that the victims included people from several other religious
confessions.
The Archbishop of Madrid, Rouco Varela, finished things off
with a mass at Madrid's Almudena Cathedral.
As happened last year, the commemoration ignored the fact that
there were evangelical, Orthodox and Muslim victims, never mind
those of no faith at all, and the non-confessional State which
blares its lay credentials to the four winds offered up a Roman
Catholic ceremony with all the trappings.
The Royal Family en masse attended the service, along with the
Prime Minister, many other dignitaries and relatives of some
of the victims. The front pews were filled with the high and
mighty, while the Archbishop was accompanied in the service
by the papal nuncio to Spain, Manuel Monteiro, as well as a
staggering 20 other bishops. The service lasted an hour and
twenty minutes and was the final official act in a day of homage.
The Editorial in this week's ProtestanteDigital magazine could
not contain its anger: "Let the Catholic hierarchy keep its
Cathedral, its monopoly of public life and this tearing-away
of a citizen's right, not to live, but to die and be remembered
according to the belief he had chosen freely to follow in his
life." It added that the Archbishop's sermon was "a monotonous,
sad monologue, which offered a decaffeinated version of the
biblical message...(which said) that Jesus practically died
together with those who travelled for the last time on those
benighted trains on March 11th, 2004." The Editorial concluded that this is far removed
from "the Jesus whose love is stronger than death."
Source: EL PAÍS. Editing:
ACPress.net
Muslims offer low-key commemoration of terrorist attack
Madrid,
March 19th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Respecting the wishes
of those most affected by last year's terrorist attack in Madrid,
the Muslim community in the Spanish capital offered a discreet
commemoration on the occasion of the first anniversary, by not
holding an official event. However, leaders from the Madrid
Islamic Centre carried a banner rejecting all kinds of terrorism.
They also kept a few minutes' silence to remember the victims,
and on March 29th, they do plan to hold a simple event to help
"find positive and human co-existence in our society." They
have invited school-children from the affected area to the act
and hope to display drawings in which the children have expressed
their feelings about the terrorist attack. The Association of
Young Muslims in Madrid has also produced a book of drawings
called 'Condolences and Solidarity' as part of their efforts
to accompany Madrid in its pain.
Finally, the Al-mechaal Association in northern Madrid
organised a football match under the motto, 'Everyone against
terrorism', which was played on March 13th in an attempt "to
show the absolute rejection of all Moroccans of terrorist acts
which threaten the stability and security of countries."
Source: ABC. Editing: ACPress.net
Bible goes from university ceremonies
Madrid,
March 19th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
University tradition
and protocol in Madrid means that newly
created PhD students or those awarded 'honoris causa' must swear,
under a crucifix, with a hand on the Bible and the other on
the Spanish Constitution. However, the new broom sweeping Spain
has removed the Bible and the crucifix.
According to Julio González, the General Secretary of Complutense
University in Madrid,
the absence of the Bible is due to a decision taken by the Board
of Directors (Rector, Vice-Rectors, Managing Director and General
Secretary) last autumn. They claim this is to fulfil Article
16 of the Constitution which talks of Church-State separation,
and they decided that in future no official event organised
by the University should have any type of religious symbol.
In case anyone was wondering, González added that on this matter
"there is no discussion." They want to respect people's privacy
and therefore not know if the person is making any kind of promise
or vow. The decision may well have repercussions for University
chapels and even the Theology Department, even though González
said they were not going to discuss this "for now". He added
that they enjoyed good relations with the Catholic hierarchy
and the Theology Department is based on an agreement which is
thoroughly adhered to. So everything in the garden is rosy,
then.
Source: LA RAZÓN. Editing: ACPress.net
Easter processions could go under government proposals
Madrid,
March 19th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Evangelical Christians
will not be leaping out of bed with any greater enthusiasm this
Easter but they can at least be pleased at government plans
which are considering removing "the idolatrous blight upon the
face of Spain" (words of an evangelical leader, not the government),
in other words, the Catholic Easter processions.
The current Socialist government under Rodriguez Zapatero is
carrying out a planned and concerted assault upon most things
religious and moral in its, yes, religious zeal to impose a
new state faith - laicism. Although only at the drawing-board
stage, draft proposals include the suppression of the Easter
processions which bring city and town centres to a standstill
throughout Easter week each year.
Although evangelicals would be delighted to see the back of
the appalling statues of Jesus, Mary and the 'saints' being
paraded through their streets, the government's proposals are
part of a drive to remove religious faith entirely from public
life. Thinking the unthinkable, one is contemplating a Spain
without Easter processions, the caravan to the Rocío shrine
or confessional R.E. classes. Under MP Gregorio Peces-Barba,
the government is drawing up a 'Lay Statute' which will, in
effect, ensure that Spain is governed without any hint of religious
(read, Christian) input.
One of the recommendations of this Statute is to limit as much
as possible popular manifestations of a religious nature in
public places. Gosh, is the government really that scared about
people showing their beliefs on the street? Although the phrase
'as much as possible' leaves the door open to various interpretations,
many a brotherhood up and down Spain is shifting uneasily in
its hooded cloaks.
Source: LA RAZÓN. Editing:
ACPress.net
Madrid City Mission celebrates its 20th anniversary
Madrid,
March 18th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Madrid City Mission was
officially registered in 1985 and received legal status in January
1986. The 20th anniversary celebrations are planned for the
period between September and December this year.
The Mission runs two centres in the capital. One is in the old
quarter of Lavapiés. The Mission has bought the building in
which it operates on three floors. The centre is mainly devoted
to social projects such as the distribution of food and clothing,
helping immigrants, etc.
The second centre is located in the newer San Blas district.
This building was donated by the Madrid authorities and specialises
in helping pregnant women. A two-storey warehouse is also being
prepared and the Mission now has three full-time workers.
Source: Misión Urbana. Editing:
ACPress.net
Help, I'm a mother!
Seville, March 18th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
'M for Mother', an organisation
devoted to helping this beleaguered species, offered a talk
last night in a Seville hotel by María del Mar Molina, Chairman
of the Association, entitled 'Help, I'm a mother!'
'M for Mother' works to help women deal with their current identity
crisis amidst the needs to be a good wife, mother and educator
within the family, as well as hold down a job outside the home,
a situation which frequently leads to personal, family and even
social conflict. A woman's identity, her role in life and in
society only find their true meaning in the values and the teaching
of Jesus. This is what has given birth to this organisation,
which seeks to impart Christian teaching on women through the
channel of a feminine cultural and social Association.
The Association organises different events which are designed
to be of interest to women. They include testimonies, music,
workshops and home groups where women can find out more about
Jesus, as a first step towards their joining a church. The events
are, of course, open to all women, whether or not they profess
Christian faith. Their first event, held last November, was
a talk by a family planner on the subject 'The challenge of
being a woman today.' It drew 150 women of whom almost 50 were
non-Christians, and a small study group has developed in Seville
since then.
Source: Con M de Mujer. Editing:
ACPress.net
Hacking the Da Vinci Code
Madrid,
March 18th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The evangelical responses
to Dan Brown's novel, 'The Da Vinci Code' come thick and fast.
José de Segovia, a Madrid pastor and
theologian, and Chairman of the Evangelical Alliance's Theology
Commission, gives a talk today in a cultural centre in Madrid.
The title of his talk, 'A response to 'The Da Vinci Code', highlights
the fact that Brown's thesis should not be allowed to go unchallenged
by Christians, or indeed by anyone interested in the truth.
Segovia will deal with the historical and theological errors
which plague Brown's book. The talk has been organised by the
Madrid Evangelical Council and another Christian group, and
the organisers are keen for Christians to invite their friends
and relatives who have actually read the novel.
Source & Editing: ACPress.net
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