Adult stem cell cure reported Los Angeles, USA Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center reported the successful isolation and generation of a mans brain cells, and a transplant re-injection of them into his own brain. The treatment appears to have cleared up trembling and cramped muscles associated with Parkinsons disease. Only adult stem cells were utilised. Researchers Secretly Prepare To Clone Humans For Stem Cells Los Angeles, USA Despite the possibility that the Senate may pass a ban on all human cloning, researchers around the United States are already quietly cloning humans for their stem cells. The effort is moving ahead because there are no laws yet to regulate human embryo cloning. Scientists are encouraged by the failure of the Senate to enact any regulations on cloning. TVC and other pro-life groups view this as another example of the slippery slope. Human embryos are not products or spare parts to be created to benefit others. To keep updated on the cloning controversy, access the Council For Biotechnology Policy web site: www.biotechpolicy.com/biotechpolicy/channelroot/home/ Campaign against terrorism will be long and dangerous Washington, USA President George W Bush told a meeting of International Democratic Union party leaders in Washington that with the spread of chemical and biological and nuclear weapons, along with ballistic missile technology, freedoms enemies could attain catastrophic power. The war on terror, he said, will be long and dangerous. We fight for the non-negotiable demands of human dignity: the rule of law, limits on the power of the state, respect for women, respect for private property, free speech, equal justice and religious tolerance, the president added. Atheists decry '9/11 cross' memorial New York, USA A campaign to incorporate Ground Zero's "miracle debris" steel cross into the design of a planned permanent memorial has been targeted by atheists who say it would be "unconstitutional, inappropriate and insulting." Construction workers, firefighters, police officers and family members have held weekly Sunday services at the World Trade Center (WTC) site of the cross since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "We're hoping it will stay right where it is and become part of any permanent memorial," said Ed Malloy, president of the Building Construction and Trades Council of Greater New York, whose members cleared the site. The Port Authority, which owns the WTC site, said that if the cross is moved, "it will most likely be moved to a public place". But Malloy, a Christian construction worker who had first noticed the crossed beams of steel in the wreckage said: "It's a symbol of faith, humanity, and freedom. There's nothing bad that can be said about that cross." Abortion training mandated in New York New York, USA Beginning in July, OB-GYN residents in New York City public hospitals will be trained to perform abortions, a move backed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Abortion training previously was an elective in these programs. Medical students will be permitted to decline the new required training fro religious or moral convictions. Barreness common among career women New York, USA Census 2000 data and recent social research shows that childlessness among professional women has doubled in the past 20 years, so that 1 in 5 career-seeking women between ages 40 and 44 is childless. For women that age and younger with graduate and professional degrees, the figure is a shocking 47 percent. Many top career women are dealing with regret and the effects of corporate stress and age-related infertility. The chances of getting pregnant begin to decline from age 27 onwards a biological clock condition for which there is no promising therapy, even though the number of infertility treatment procedures being routinely performed has jumped over 25 percent. Truth behind Separation of Church and State emerging Scottsdale USA American University Professor Daniel Dreisbachs forthcoming book, Thomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation, documents strategic background on Thomas Jeffersons so-called separation of Church and state, an expression found nowhere in the US Constitution, appearing instead in a letter from Jefferson to Connecticut Baptists dated January 1, 1802. It was intended to defend the religious liberty of Baptists, unlike the Congregationalist and Anglicans who at that time enjoyed tax support as state churches. Jefferson actually opened federal buildings to a variety of religious services, and he himself attended church in the House of Representatives. Complaint against Judge Moore dismissed; moral law monument case continuing Montgomery, USA The Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission dismissed a bias complaint filed against state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore by the Lambday Legal Defense Fund. Judge Moore had called homosexuality an inherent evil. A case against Judge Moores installation of a monument on the moral foundations of law that includes the Ten Commandments is continuing, and is expected to go to the US Supreme Court. See Web www.tencommandmentsdefense.org Complaint against Judge Moore dismissed; moral law monument case continuing Montgomery, USA The Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission dismissed a bias complaint filed against state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore by the Lambday Legal Defense Fund. Judge Moore had called homosexuality an inherent evil. A case against Judge Moores installation of a monument on the moral foundations of law that includes the Ten Commandments is continuing, and is expected to go to the US Supreme Court. See Web www.tencommandmentsdefense.org Christian titles top best-seller list New York, USA <text>For the first time since 1975, Christian books have topped the best-seller lists. Publishers Weekly, the magazine of the book trade, listed The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson as #1, Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson as #2, and Desecration by Jerry B Jenkins and Tim LaHaye as #3. Study shows student-alcohol deaths Washington, USA A new study shows 1,400 college students are killed each year in alcohol-related accidents and that drinking contributes to 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape. The federally appointed task force that issued the report plans to distribute the study to college presidents, along with findings about which anti-drinking strategies work and which dont. Researchers aid it is better to teach students to resist peer pressure, show them how alcohol may interfere with academic goals and strictly enforce minimum age laws. Australia Sydney launch of NCE2003 The National Congress on Evangelism 2003 (NCE2003), held a media launch in Sydney on Wednesday, June 12, to explain the concept and how it will involved those interested in evangelism in Sydney. The chairperson of the National Steering Committee, The Rt Rev. Stephen Hale explained the two stages of the proposed Congress to be held in the Melbourne Town Hall, September 8-12, 2003. Stage 1 will be the Melbourne meetings for invited participants from around Australia, with a range of national and international speakers, while Stage 2 will see the practical application of information and lessons learnt. The Rev. Karl Faase of Gymea Baptist and a board member of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Australia emphasised the need for sharing and networking together. A total of 44 Australian key leaders in evangelism initiated NCE2003 as a follow-up to Amsterdam 2000, which was attended by delegates from around the world. Details of upcoming tour revealed Sir Cliff Richard has once again confirmed rumours that he will be touring Australia and New Zealand in 2003. On a recent webchat through the Top Of The Pops website, Cliff revealed that after finishing his European Wanted tour there would be a short gap for Christmas and New Years before he took the tour to Australia. Tasmanian Baptist in Federal Parliament Launceston, Tasmania New Tasmanian Senator Guy Barnett has joined a small but growing number of MPs in Federal Parliament from all sides of politics who practice Christianity. Guy was appointed to fill a casual vacancy, caused by the retirement of Senator Brian Gibson earlier this year. Guy will serve out the balance of three years of Senator Gibson's term and then face his own Half Senate election in 2005. From 1988, he attended the Sandy Bay Baptist Church, together with his wife Kate and their three children, Nina, Alice and Benjamin. Recently they moved to Launceston where they attend the City Baptist Tabernacle. Senator Barnett has taken a stand, in opposing the research and destruction of human embryonic stem cells and allowing single women or lesbians access to IVF programmes. "I know my stand is fodder for those who want to brand us the religious right, but I cannot compromise on what I see as fundamentally and morally vital," he said. He encouraged others who come to a view on such matters to express it to their local MPs as it is "important for Christians to be part of our democratic process." Effectiveness of Kings Cross heroin shooting gallery questioned The Rev Fred Nile MLC, Chairman of the Legislative Council Estimates Committee, GPSC No 1, grilled the Special Minister of State, John Della Bosca, over the effectiveness of the Kings Cross heroin shooting gallery in Budget Estimates Committee hearings. The heroin shooting, so-called medically supervised safe injecting room, is the only legal shooting gallery in Australia. Other states such as Western Australia have had excellent results in reducing overdose deaths with NO legal shooting gallery. DEATH OF MRS DAVIS AND MRS WHELAN On Thursday 27th June 2002 Rev Fred Nile MLC, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, questioned the Attorney General about the investigation of murder suspect Mr Burrell in regard to the Mrs Davis and Mrs Whelan murder case. Reverend the Hon. FRED NILE: I ask a question without notice of the Treasurer, representing the Attorney General and the Premier. Have the findings of the Coroner into the disappearance and probable murders of Mrs Davis and Mrs Whelan been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions? Did the Director of Public Prosecutions discontinue the murder case against Mr Burrell because Justice Scully ruled that vital evidence was not admissible because of minor technical problems with search warrants? In view of the reluctance of the Director of Public Prosecutions to proceed against Mr Burrell because of the rulings of Justice Scully, will the Attorney General appeal against Justice Scully's ruling about admissible evidence, particularly relating to the alleged kidnapping, ransom notes and other matters? The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: I will refer the question to the Attorney General. Egypt Anti-Christian Provocation Cairo, Egypt The Egyptian weekly Al-Nabaa has returned to circulation, almost one year after it was closed for running a story alleging a Coptic monk ran a sex and blackmail ring in a monastery. Al-Nabaas return follows a May 25 court ruling that said constitutional and press laws protected press freedom. The court also quashed a decision revoking the papers license. In June last year, the paper published fraudulent and numerous photographs purportedly of an ex-monks illicit behaviour in an Assiut monastry, about 180 miles south of Cairo. The Coptic Church denied the papers claims while thousands of Copts took to Cairos streets in protest, saying the article was an attack on Coptic religion. The Australian Coptic Association denounced the court ruling and the quashed decision revoking the papers license. The Christians of Egypt have become expendable due to the Egyptian Government policies. Last year on February 5 judge Mohammed Affify, acquitted all but four of 96 suspects in El-Koseheh trial, where 21 Christians were killed in the massacre and 260 of their homes and business destroyed or looted. The four were only tried for minor offences. The ACA appeal to freedom and justice loving organisations and governments around the globe to condemn the injustice. We strongly feel that such verdict is an open incitement to more attacks on Coptic religion. Israel Brainwashing babies Jerusalem, Israel The world was confronted with this horrifying picture depicting a baby suicide bomber. The picture was allegedly found by Israeli soldiers during a raid in the West Bank. The boy, strapped around the waist with explosives and an ammunition belt, wears a headband of the feared Hamas Qassam Brigade. Israeli soldiers discovered the picture during the search of a house of a wanted man in Hebron. The image is the most shocking yet to emerge in a conflict which has regularly seen children exploited for propaganda purposes. The operation in Hebron which unearthed the picture was part of an incursion into the West Bank city. United Kingdom Faith hit by 'spin doctors' Wales, UK A Welsh headteacher, facing calls for his suspension following a school assembly which focused on religious freedom, claims that many Christians are afraid to openly express their faith in today's classrooms. Bill Beales, of Cwmcarn High School, Gwent, hit the headlines because of an assembly address in which he attacked an "undercurrent of liberalisation" that was "eating away at freedom to uphold the tenets of the Christian faith". He said Christianity's fundamental precepts and value system were being eroded by "spin doctors and politicians keener on gaining votes than standing firm on the principles of right and wrong." |