|
Evangelical
Alliance leader says Rome must drop exclusivity claim
Barcelona, April 26th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Jaume Llenas, General
Secretary of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, in an interview
with A.C.Press (eMision), has criticised the Catholic Church
"for not speaking in terms of equality", but on the basis of
its claims to be the only true Church. Llenas added that "the
Catholic Church in Europe and where it is a minority does not
present its true face", while in Spain "it is more interested
in (others') surrender than in dialogue."
Llenas laments that there is no real follow-up in the Catholic
Church to agreements such as that reached with the Lutheran
Church on justification by faith,
and its members are not taught about any doctrinal change. "We
cannot toy with issues of spiritual life and death." Llenas
says he is happy to talk, as one talks with anyone, even those
who have no faith, but ecumenism is another matter. "This is
more difficult because it tries to show (we have) a common faith,
fellowship in the sense of a shared faith. First we must be
clear that the Bible is the maximum authority. There shouldn't
be an institutional ecumenism, but an encounter with what God's
Word says: it is our reference point, as its doctrinal content
speaks clearly (and helps us) avoid false steps."
Llenas said he respected the open ecumenism of the members of
the World Council of Churches, but he did not share it. The
line of Evangelical Alliances is to separate dialogue, in which
they participate, from joint services or fellowship, which they
have avoided. "In this sense, Jesus knew how to maintain His
identity without confusion. Some identify themselves with so
much that they end up confused, while others go so far away
so as to be incapable of dialogue. I believe the balance is
in the true process of dialogue and ecumenism." Dialogue should
have content, and allow the Bible to sort out differences and
disagreements.
As for Spain, Llenas said the past had made Protestants reticent
about talking to Rome, but said it would be good to do so, yet
"not on the current basis whereby the Catholic Church calls
us to return to Rome." The aim is not a mega-church but an encounter
with the Bible, and with the Jesus of the Bible."
Source: eMision. Editing:
ACPress.net
Socialist Party aims to heal conflict over church-state
relations
Madrid, April 26th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The government and the
Spanish Catholic leadership came out of the recent meeting between
their respective leaders with renewed hope. The thorny subjects
of the family, marriage and the financing of the Roman edifice
were touched on, but no more.
Prime Minister Zapatero spoke of "a good chance of understanding",
while party spokesman, José Blanco, said the meeting "laid the
foundations for a fluid and fruitful dialogue for everyone."
According to Socialist Party sources, the government is now
trying to conciliate the different viewpoints within the party
on the issue of Church-State relations. Two very different strands
stand out; 'Christians in Socialism', who want Christianity
to remain at the heart of the nation, and 'Laity Platform',
who want all religion out at any cost. Many feel that such a
conflictive situation as exists at present does nobody any good,
least of all the party.
A curious aspect of the meeting was when the Catholic Primate,
Ricardo Blázquez, gave the Prime Minister a wood memento including
an image and a prayer attributed to Teresa of Avila, the city
where both Blázquez and Zapatero's wife come from.
Source: EL MUNDO. Editing:
ACPress.net
Saudi Arabia making most of double standards on religious
freedom
Málaga, April 27th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Building works at the
Islamic Centre in Málaga, which aspires to being one of the
largest in Europe, are well advanced and it is hoped the Centre
will open by October.
The building already stands out from those surrounding it, thanks
to its size and its 50-metre-high minaret. It is infinitely
bigger than any Muslim country would allow a Christian church
to be. Indeed, the country funding the Centre is Saudi Arabia,
one of the most implacably opposed to Christianity, and does
not even allow Bible distribution or sales, never mind the construction
of churches. The frontage of the mosque is nearly complete and
according to the Al-Andalus group, an autumn opening is likely
as work on the inside is a little behind schedule. The group's
Chairman in Málaga, Félix Herrero, says they are having trouble
finding specialists to decorate the front with Arab symbols.
The construction is promoted by the Saudi Arabian Consulate
and should hold up to 500 people, which makes it one of the
largest mosques in Europe. It will also house an Islamic school
with six classrooms, a conference room, a library with books
about Islam, an electronic department and another to teach people
about their religion.
Source: Agencia Islámica.
Editing: ACPress.net
Some are more equal than others in Zapatero's Spain
Madrid, April 27th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The Prime Minister, José
Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, says he wishes to respect the Accords
signed with the Catholic Church, whilst at the same time insisting
on the lay principles which govern the non-confessional nature
of the Spanish state. At a Press conference, he said that no
religion should set out "values for social harmony", and called
on the Catholic Church to respect his electoral commitment,
a polite way of saying 'keep out of politics'.
Zapatero obviously wants to keep in with all sides, and hopes
to placate Rome by maintaining its privileged status within
the Spanish system, and at the same time push through his 'Sodom-and-Gomorrah
measures' on abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia et al. He said
he respected the "discrepancies" which exist between his government
and the Catholic Church on certain issues. Yet he added that
they must respect his duty to fulfil his electoral promises.
However, what Zapatero did not explain is why - in a supposedly
'inclusive' government policy - he has left out certain groups
from his umbrella coverage. Namely, Christian believers and
others of similar moral persuasion. He is merely pandering to
the anti-religious and agnostic feelings of one sector of society.
Clearly, some are more equal than others. Socialism under Zapatero
has its limits.
Source: Agencias. Editing:
ACPress.net
Internet users talk to their families 10 minutes fewer
than before
Madrid, April 27th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The average Internet
user has reduced the time he spends talking to his family by
10 minutes a day, to go surfing. He has also cut down his sleep
time by 25 minutes a night. 67% of Spanish Internet users watch
less television due to the time they spend on the web.
The most common uses of the Internet in Spain are searches,
newsreading, consulting maps and downloading music and software.
Little by little, people are losing their fear of buying over
the Net, particularly travel tickets and computer items.
Source: C.SER. Editing: ACPress.net
500,000 people sign petition against legalisation of
gay 'marriage'
Madrid, April 27th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The day before Parliament
was due to discuss changing the law to allow homosexual 'marriage',
the Spanish branch of 'Focus on the Family' handed in a petition
signed by 500,000 people expressing their opposition to the
proposal, and asking politicians to reconsider.
The petition asks for the legal definition of 'marriage' to
remain as a legal union between a man and a woman. It also requests
that adoption be restricted to a legally married couple, again
a man and a woman. It expresses its clear opposition to the
regulation of homosexual couples as 'marriage', and to their
adoption rights. In the opinion of Eduardo Hertfelder, Chairman
of the Family Policy Institute, if the government goes ahead
with the change, it "will be turning a deaf ear to society."
Source: ABC. Editing: ACPress.net
When will the West wake up to the persecution of Christians?
Madrid, April 27th, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The annual report of
the World Evangelical Alliance has been presented to the United
Nations by the Director of the Religious Liberty Commission,
Johan Candelin.
The report expresses grave concern at the lack of religious
freedom in Asia, where the concept of a religious monopoly is
being used more and more by those espousing nationalist causes.
Anti-conversion laws are being used in five states in India,
and are being introduced in Sri Lanka. Although they are only
called 'pseudo-laws', in practice it will be impossible to change
religion in Sri Lanka, and a preacher can be given a 5-year
prison sentence.
Countries on the religious freedom blacklist include Turkmenistan,
Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Burma, North Korea, Pakistan and Laos. Bob
Fu, who works for the Commission, told the United Nations about
the treatment of Christian prisoners in China. He expressed
his amazement at the political blindness of Christian leaders
in the West regarding China. According to figures from China
Aid Association, there are about 4,000 Christian prisoners in
China. They are theoretically charged with some crime or other,
but the real reason is their faith in Jesus Christ and because
they have shared the good news of the Gospel.
Yet the good news is getting out, and it is also good news that
the hard line taken by the authorities is doing nothing to stop
the evangelical advance. In Peking
University alone, there are now
400 student Bible Study groups. It is estimated that in Peking
there are at least 10,000 house churches, according to investigations
carried out by the authorities. God will not be mocked, nor
silenced.
Source: Alianza Evangélica
Mundial. Editing: ACPress.netA.C.Press:
The News Agency of the AEE (Spanish Evangelical Alliance)
Digital magazine at the website: www.ACPress.net
Telephone: 91 747 14 89; Fax: 91 747 59 24; E-mail: noticias@ACPress.net.
Postal address: Apartado 59198, 28080 Madrid, Spain.
Co-ordinator of A.C.Press News: Jonathan Dawson, E-mail: jdawson@acpress.net
A.C.Press is part of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, whose
E-mail is: oficina@AEEsp.net (www.AEEsp.net)
The Alliance is a forum for fellowship, reflection and the development
of Christian thought, produces various publications, and is
involved in the struggle for religious liberty. It is also part
of the European and World Evangelical Alliances.
A.C.Press news items may be reproduced as long as their source
is mentioned (ACPress News) |
