Information Related to "World News Review Jan. 1999"
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In Brief... World News ReviewRadical reforms: a personality to watchby Peter Eddington, David Palmer and John R SchroederPope Offers Shortcut to Salvation ROME: (New York Times/Special Report) - For many Roman Catholics the year 2000 offers early salvation. Pope John Paul II has announced that throughout the millennium celebration, those who do charitable deeds, or give up cigarettes or alcohol for one day can earn "indulgence" that will eliminate time in purgatory. Indulgences are an ancient form of church-granted amnesty that release penitents from certain forms of punishment. In fact the medieval church sold indulgences, a practice that drove Martin Luther to rebel, finally leading to the Reformation, from which many Protestant churches trace their beginnings. Some liberal Catholics are embarrassed by a practice that seems to offer such a simplistic shortcut to salvation. In a papal document just released entitled Incarnations Mysterium (The Mystery of Incarnation), John Paul formally proclaimed the year 2000 a Holy Year. The edict will also in many ways serve as a practical guide to spiritual salvation during the millennium period. John Paul decreed that the jubilee would begin on Christmas Day 1999, and end on the Feast of Epiphany January 6, 2001. The pope says individual sinners will be granted "plenary indulgences," a full pardon for sins as opposed to a shortening of time spent in purgatory. In Catholic theology, souls in purgatory are purifying themselves before entry into heaven. The pope's decision to expand the use of indulgences during the millennium celebration is not entirely surprising. In 1985 the pope allowed Catholics to receive indulgences via television. But indulgences (which began in early times of the church) have not always been viewed favorably. In the 16th century Pope Julius II offered indulgences in exchange for contributions to the construction of St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Martin Luther protested and was excommunicated in 1521. Only God can forgive sin! Any religious organization that suggests we can receive a form of forgiveness‚ regardless of what it is called,..is an organization that has: "a form of godliness, but denies the power thereof:...from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:5 paraphrased) If "wisdom is the principal thing" (Proverbs 4:7), then we might be wise to pay close attention to the words of the Apostle Paul. "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). World Education Crises LONDON: (U.N. Report) - The United Nations' children's agency says millions of children are growing up unequipped to build decent lives because they can't read, write or even count. In developing countries, forty percent of elementary school-age children never enter school, or drop out before they receive even a basic education. In many industrialized countries (including Canada and the U.S.), 15-20 percent of children leave school without the skills necessary to find or keep a job. The U.N. report says nearly one-sixth of humanity...almost one-billion people will enter the 21st century (year 2001) unable to read a book, or even sign their names, much less operate a computer or understand a simple application form. If, as so many of our leaders like to say, children are the future of our world, then our world is in serious trouble. "In ancient Israel God admonished His people to "Teach children the ways of the Lord" (Exodus 12:26). Solomon wrote: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right" (Proverbs 22:11). "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him" (Proverbs 22:15). Through the prophet Isaiah, God also delivers a dire warning: "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths" (Isaiah 3:12) . Here's one of the many examples of the latter portion of that statement "they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." Tensions Create Possible Splits at Christian Assembly HARARE, Zimbabwe: (Associated Press) - A Russian Orthodox Church official has complained that a council representing hundreds of millions of Christians is dominated by liberal Westerners, and said his church was being isolated. The Rev. Hilarion Alfeyev, who leads a five-person Russian delegation at the World Council of Churches assembly in Zimbabwe's capital, said the possibility of Orthodox Church delegates walking out was not a threat, but "an outcry of pain." "We do not want to leave, but we want the WCC radically transformed," he said. The Orthodox churches of Bulgaria and the Georgian republic have already quit the council, and senior Russian Orthodox Church officials did not attend the assembly, which met in early December. The council has a total constituency of 350 to 450 million non-Catholic Christians. The assembly, with 960 delegates from 112 countries, is the WCC's highest deliberative body. Alfeyev said his church is the largest in the WCC, putting its membership at more than 100 million. "Many Protestant churches have adopted the tendencies of liberal western society," Alfeyev said. "The WCC agenda is dominated by a western Protestant ethos.... We are becoming more and more isolated." Orthodox leaders have said many on the council take too liberal a stance on key issues including homosexuality and the inclusion of women in the clergy. The Orthodox pleas drew a testy response from several Protestants at the assembly, including a bishop from Germany who expressed irritation that the Russian had cited his church's size. In remarks that drew the day's warmest applause, one of the first generation of women priests in the Church of England, Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin, also complained about the threatened walk-outs. "You say I'm bigger than you are, or we have this great tradition. This is all about power," she said. "Let's not wrap it up in theological language." "We live a strange world. On one hand modern technology has created a global community, yet it seems everywhere we look we see anything but harmony. Instead envy, strife, hatred and even war, almost as though there was a hidden desire within the human race toward the 'clan mentality,' the my country, my race, my religion syndrome. It has permeated nearly all aspects of our world, no matter where we live." The lone area where one would think we might find some degree of harmony would be in modern so-called Christianity. After all, Jesus taught that God is love. In fact, on the night before He died He made it clear that we can tell who His disciples are by the love they share for one another. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). Yet what we see is a different pattern-one of splits and divisions-and a parting of the ways. It will take the return of Christ to put it all back together. New Era of European Defense SAINT MALO, France, Dec 4 (AFP) - Britain and France took a step toward "a new era" of European defense without America by signing a bilateral accord Friday to allow joint operations outside their territories and those of their NATO allies. The accord is seen as an example of the new bonding between Britain and France on the need to build a European defense arm. In a symbolic highlighting of the event, the accord was signed on board a British destroyer, anchored alongside a French frigate off the picturesque walled city of Saint Malo on the western Brittany coast. The signing took place during a two-day Franco-British summit during which Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prime Minister Jacques Chirac are expected to issue a statement of principle underlining their commitment to forging a new European security architecture. Friday's letter of intent on cooperation in crisis management and operations states that the deal should "improve the operational capabilities which might be available in support of, and contribute to, the developing European Defense Identity." "As we stand here today on the deck of HMS Birmingham we start a new era in British-French military relations," said British Defense Secretary George Robertson. "It is a significant day for both countries." Robertson and his French counterpart Alain Richard said the accord marked a major and practical step toward strengthening Europe's defense capability. The agreement, said Richard, would allow "joint action when it is necessary in outside terrain." The two defense ministers, at the heart of what is shaping up as a new partnership to give the European Union added muscle, stressed that cooperation in the field was "more than just words." A visible sign of mutual defense cooperation is to emerge this month when troops from the two nations engage in Macedonia, at the head of a force also including German and Dutch soldiers. The so-called "extraction force" will be on standby, in the event of need, to rescue the 2,000 monitors in Kosovo working for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). It will be the first NATO operation to be commanded by France. "We Europeans need to play, and can play, a fuller role in contributing to our own security," Robertson said this week. The letter of intent provides for the mounting of joint operations and cooperation in logistics, intelligence, civil/military affairs, personnel exchanges and media handling. It comes after Britain-in a significant shift last October-reversed its previous opposition to a "European defense identity." A move in the direction of a joint defense arm would end years of frustrated efforts by the European powers to speak with a joint voice in military affairs and comes as the 15-nation E.U. prepares to launch its single currency in January. At the center of the plan is a bid to enable Europeans to take action in regional crises, or missions in other parts of the world, where Washington is unwilling to commit troops. E.U. leaders have insisted the plan would in no way affect ties with NATO. But there is talk, on the other hand, of coming change for Europe's sole current defense arm, the 10-member Western European Union (WEU), long viewed as ineffective. Talks earlier this month between 28 foreign and defense ministers from WEU, E.U. and NATO countries left unresolved a long-running debate over the institutional framework for a European defense arm. Britain for one has insisted that European nations first tackle the nitty-gritty issues of building a proper European military capability before worrying about the institutional arrangements. Addressing the WEU this week, Robertson stressed that European forces would not have had the military muscle to take on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in Kosovo because of the lack of European airpower. "We need a defense capability that is fit for today's world," he said. "For all of us this means tough choices. Together we need to address questions of investment, prioritisation and the restructuring of our defense industries." Russia Looks East The News Channel, 12/21/98; MOSCOW: (Agencies) - On Monday, December 21, Russia called for a strategic triangle with India and China, and its defense minister urged closer military cooperation between former Soviet republics after U.S.-British air attacks on Iraq. U.S. and British air strikes against Iraq have dealt a new humiliating blow to Russia's superpower ambitions, exposing Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov to pressure at home to review Moscow's entire foreign policy. But many political analysts say that the Russian economic crisis, a lack of political consolidation at home and Moscow's declining role in world affairs strongly limit its ability to force any major shift in international priorities. Primakov, visiting India, and Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev took a firm line after Russia's bitter criticism of the four-day blitz by bombs and missiles. But another leading general said that while military cooperation with London and Washington could be affected, Moscow did not expect relations with the NATO military alliance as a whole to be soured. Primakov made clear Russia would not back down from its condemnation of the strikes, and would be equally critical of any new offensive against Baghdad in the future. "We will never change our position. We are very negative about the use of force bypassing the Security Council," he said in comments during a visit to New Delhi. He said Russia, China and India should form a "strategic triangle" as a counterweight to U.S. influence in the world. The decision by the United States and Britain to launch air raids without seeking approval from the U.N. Security Council infuriated Russia, which jealously guards its position as a permanent Security Council member. After the bombing ended on Saturday, President Boris Yeltsin said common sense had prevailed but added that a profound review of international relations was now necessary. Russia recalled its ambassadors to London and Washington for consultations as a sign of protest last week. The gesture was considered bold but largely symbolic. Unfortunate Rise in Anglo/American Unmarried Couples The U.S. Census Bureau reports that more than four million American households consist of unmarried couples living together. In 1970 there was one unmarried couple for every 100 households. Now that number is eight, based on 1997 figures. Further research shows that up to 50 percent of American women in their early 30s have lived with a man outside the marriage bonds. The overall climate in Britain is very similar. Noted British author Paul Johnson has lamented: "The powers-that-be in our confused society seem to be ganging up together in a direct assault on the institution of marriage. A majority of the Anglican bishops, a body of men always inclined to side with sin if it's fashionable, say that cohabiting couples are just as worthy in God's eyes as unmarried ones." For instance, the Bishop of Hereford has urged Christian people to recognize the reality of this social change, and his view is all too common. But Paul Johnson minces no words in his conclusion: "For those who lay down the moral, or immoral, laws to us today nearly all come from stable backgrounds themselves. That is what got them the positions they hold. That is what makes their advocacy of the liberal-perhaps one should say libertine-approach so irresponsible and cruel. It is to deny to others, who are still children or yet unborn, the advantages we take for granted." Back across the Atlantic nationally syndicated columnist William Murchison observed: "A sad likelihood is that many of today's cohabiters fear and shrink from commitment. Since 1960, the culture has worked overtime pitching instant gratification to the customers.... Well, yes, marriage restricts and restrains; it does so in order to liberate. Cohabiters confuse license with true freedom, which flourishes only in a structured environment where rights and duties play off each other, endlessly and elegantly." ( The Los Angeles Times, The Daily Mail (Britain), The Washington Times) |
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