AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER * ARCHBISHOP ATTACKS UNFORGIVING MATERIALISTIC BRITAIN * SLAVERY STILL THRIVES IN SAHARA * BUSH SAYS ALL RELIGIONS PRAY TO SAME GOD * UK COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR LONDON CHURCHES TO TAKE AUTHORITY OVER HIGH YOUTH CRIME RATE * INDONESIAN CHURCHES MEET TO ADDRESS PERSECUTION * CLINICS RECRUIT SURROGATES TO PROVIDE KIDS FOR HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES ----------------------------------------------- ARCHBISHOP ATTACKS UNFORGIVING MATERIALISTIC BRITAIN The Archbishop of Canterbury claims that British society has become "fantastically materialistic" and "deeply unforgiving". People have become suspicious and mistrustful of the Government, disillusioned with its failure to fulfil its promises to improve the education and health services, and feel isolated from the political process, he argues. Rowan Williams says that cynicism and greed are now the pervading sentiments of the country's culture. "We don't feel that the great institutions of our society, including the political system are working for us," he said. "We are unhappy and mistrustful about our educational system, our health care services and police - let alone our representatives in government. We sense ourselves caught up in international economic and political patterns we can't control and which we don't believe work for our advantage." His comments came as he gave a passionate defence of the importance of Christian beliefs. The archbishop, as leader of the Church of England has become increasingly critical of the Government over the past year. He has attacked its decision to go to war in Iraq as "morally flawed" and "short-sighted", accused it of undermining marriage and condemned its prison policy as "lethally dangerous". The archbishop also defended his intervention into the political debate, arguing that he has a God-given duty to be involved in all areas of public life. "We shouldn't be surprised if Christians are interested in things like politics and have awkward questions to ask and contributions they want to make. There are no areas that are off-limits [for Christians] if God is truly the Creator of this world." The archbishop expressed concern about society in general. The erosion of a Christian belief system has left society to become "fantastically materialistic" and consequently unable to value life, he suggests. "We seem to be tolerant of all sorts of behaviour, yet are deeply unforgiving," he says. "People demand legal redress for human errors and oversights." He continues: "We shouldn't be misled by an easy-going atmosphere in manners and morals; under the surface there is a harshness that ought to worry us." Modern society is described as an "obsessional and addictive age", in which "We are tempted to think that if it's nothing to do with me it isn't significant". However, the archbishop also conceded that the performance of the Church is often "embarrassingly bad" which was part of the problem. Source: Intercessors Network ----------------------------------------------- SLAVERY STILL THRIVES IN SAHARA They do not wear chains, nor are they branded with the mark of their masters, but slaves still exist in Mauritania. In the Islamic state, acenturies-old system of bondage is resisting the rise of democracy in the former French African colony. Herding camels or goats out in the Sahara, or serving hot mint tea to guests in the villas of Nouakchott, Mauritanian slaves serve their masters and are passed on as family chattels from generation to generation. They may number thousands, anti-slavery activists say. "If a woman is a slave, her descendants are slaves," says Boubacar Messaoud, who was born a slave and is now his country's leading anti-slavery campaigner. He says slavery is alive in Mauritania, with all its manifestations of non-paid work, punishment, forced sex and other abuses. The master-slave relationship and its social repercussions are branded into the minds of all Mauritanians, just as class-consciousness still haunts social discourse in Britain and other European states. Anti-slavery groups say the fear and secrecy cloaking the issue make it difficult to bring cases of slavery to light, let alone to court. But victims periodically surface, such as Matalla, a black Mauritanian. "I was born a slave. All my family, all my ancestors were slaves. My aunt, my brothers are still slaves," he says with lowered gaze. He said he herded camels for his masters, ate only leftovers from their table and suffered occasional beatings. Asked how many slaves his masters had, he answered: "There are more than can be counted". Historians say slavery developed in Mauritania from the seventh century, when Arab invaders pushed south into Sub-Saharan Africa, bringing their Islamic religion which explicitly allowed the enslavement of non-believers. This religious sanctioning of slavery has marked Mauritanian society. Islamic law and succession rights guarantee the perpetuation of slavery, passing on ownership from master to son. Slavery has become so engrained in Mauritania's society that it even crosses racial and social barriers. There are white slaves. There are blacks with black slaves. There are even freed slaves who have slaves. Asked if he forgave his former masters, Matalla shook his head: "No ... they are bad people." Source: Intercessors Network ----------------------------------------------- BUSH SAYS ALL RELIGIONS PRAY TO SAME GOD President George Bush has repeated his belief that all religions, "whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, pray to the same God". Bush made the statement in an interview with Al Arabiya television reporter Elie Nakouzi. Nakouzi in an interview in the White House residence, asked, "In the Islamic world they think that you are an enemy of Islam - that you wants to destroy their religion, what they believe in. Is that in any way true, Mr. President?" "No, it's not," said Bush. "This conflict we are in really is about peaceful people resisting radical people or terrorists, not about America being in conflict with Islam. "I believe in an Almighty God, and I believe that Muslims, Christians, or people of any other religion, all pray to the same God. That's what I believe. I believe that Islam is a great religion that preaches peace. And I believe people who murder the innocent to achieve political objectives aren't religious people. The most important value we have as American's - particularly if you're a religious person - is the freedom to worship any way you see fit. And that's a right that I jealously guard. If you're a Muslim, an agnostic, a Christian, a Jew or a Hindu, you're equally American. Reaction from US evangelical leaders was swift and strong. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in America, was quoted as saying the president "is simply mistaken." Land said "We should remember that he is commander in chief, not theologian in chief. The Bible is clear on this: The one and true god is Jehovah, and his only begotten son is Jesus Christ." Gary Bauer, president of American Values, said Bush's comment was "not helpful". Since everybody agrees he's not a theologian, he would be much better advised to punt when he gets that kind of question." Source: WorldNetDaily.com ----------------------------------------------- UK COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR LONDON CHURCHES TO TAKE AUTHORITY OVER HIGH YOUTH CRIME RATE There has been an alarmingly significant rise in violent crime among that nation's youth in Britain. Due to the most recent fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy, a Newham Council Councillor, Alan Craig, has called for urgent action by London churches. The councillor is quoted as saying that youth violence is reaching "epidemic proportions" and that the authorities have simply run out of ideas and solutions. "While the government buries its head in the sand and claims the recent spate of teenage killings are only isolated incidents, it is time for the churches to promote their distinctive people-centred approach to young people, and youth issues," argued Councillor Craig. "Many churches already offer proven solutions to these intractable problems," he said. "The Glory House Football Academy, the flourishing Saturday supplementary schools, the Street Pastor scheme, the Young Leaders Academy and the Peace Alliance-all these are successful Christian initiatives at local level that offer hope for young men, especially black young men, who are being failed by society." Craig cited three areas where the churches have distinctive solutions: the marriage-based family, fathers for boys, and education for males. "It is time for the churches to take a lead in serving the community in their distinctive way in order to combat gang culture," he concluded. Source: Inspire Magazine ----------------------------------------------- INDONESIAN CHURCHES MEET TO ADDRESS PERSECUTION Earlier this year, a nationwide conference of Protestant churches was held in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, to discuss the persecution of Christians in the country. 282 representatives from 82 churches attended the conference, along with foreign observers and partner organisations. At the conclusion of the assembly, the churches issued a joint statement calling on the Indonesian Government to address social problems in areas where Islamic militants were active. Special mention was made of the mistreatment of indigenous people in the province of Papua, of unsolved killings in Poso, Sulawesi and the influence of shari'a law on new by-laws being implemented in some districts. Even though Indonesia is not an Islamic state, the government is under pressure from strong voices in favour of shari'a law. The implementation of shari'a severely disadvantages Christians and other non-Muslims, rendering them second-class citizens and inducing them to conform to Muslim expectations in dress, social behaviour, criminal punishment, and so on. Shari'a has only been implemented in one of Indonesia's 33 provinces - Aceh - but 22 districts and municipal governments have now adopted shari'a- based by-laws. Where Islamic militants are active, Indonesian Christians face church closures, restrictions on freedom of worship, terrorist bombings in their communities, and discrimination and prejudice in daily life. Christian church and community leaders are particularly vulnerable to attack, assassination and being charged with crimes they did not commit. Conference chairman Rev. Andreas Yewangoe said churches have an important contribution to make in helping Christian citizens understand their rights and responsibilities in an Islamic society. Source: Tears of the Oppressed ----------------------------------------------- CLINICS RECRUIT SURROGATES TO PROVIDE KIDS FOR HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES Several fertility clinics are recruiting surrogates to provide homosexual male couples with children. Pamela Madsen of the American Fertility Clinic said her facility has catered to the homosexuality community for more than a year. "We support all families," she said, "all people who are interested in having families through birth and adoption." The average cost of surrogacy is $60,000. But it can get pricier for those who want to select the gender of their baby - which three-fourths of homosexual couples do. Ken Connor, president of the Centre for a Just Society, said the services harm children. "It really creates the false impression that children don't need a mother and a father. We know from our experience that children benefit by having both a mum and a dad." Even more disconcerting, the homosexual men who sign a contract for a healthy, male baby might be able to legally abort the child if it's a girl. Source: Intercessors for America
top of page