wfn.org | ALC Noticias Dec 12 2004 Brazil Argentina Panama Venezuela

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ALC NEWS SERVICE
E-mail: director@alcnoticias.org

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CONTENT

BRAZIL: Communicators analyze treatment of religious news by media
ARGENTINA: Refuge against discrimination faced by those affected by AIDS
PANAMA: Discotheque sanctioned for discrimination
VENEZUELA: Ecumenical Movement needs a new paradigm, said Batista
BRAZIL: Researcher calls on people to not be influenced by machismo

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BRAZIL
Communicators analyze treatment of religious news by media

By Micael Vier B.

SCO PAULO, Dec 10 (alc). An unprecedented event promoted by the Syndicate 
of Professional Journalists from the State of Sao Paulo brought together 
communicators and press advisors from religious institutions to debate the 
space given to religion in the media.

According to the Jose Maria Mayrink, special reporter from the daily O 
Estado de Sao Paulo and Nilo Wachholz, communication advisor for the 
Lutheran School of Sao Paulo, Church-related issues should vie for space in 
the media alongside other key issues.

Mayrink and Wachholz were panelists during the Communication Advice in 
Religion workshop held November 27. Other panelists included journalists 
Aldo Quiroga of TV Cultura and communication advisors Maria Angelica Rittes 
of the Catholic Church and Buddhist monk Coen.

During an interview with ALC, Mayrink said that there is no prejudice in 
the media regarding religious affairs but there is a certain resistance to 
addressing doctrinal issues, Evangelism, or to disseminating religious 
agendas or programming.

He admitted that some atheist or agnostic journalists might not be willing 
to address religious issues. "However, those are personal positions that a 
good professional should be able to leave aside," he said.

According to Wachholz, there is mistrust on the part of the media regarding 
the denominations and vice versa.

The secret, he added, is that the media orient professional who are going 
to address Church-related themes and they must be alert and organized to 
offer quality material that is of interest to editors.

Wachholz, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB) said 
that the denominations have a great deal to transmit in terms of ethical, 
moral and spiritual values to society.

"Just as people seek out the religious, the media should find news of a 
human and social nature in Churches that is of interest to the public," 
said Wachholz.

Asked about religious news in conventional Brazilian media, Mayrink said 
that a mass on the part of the Rev. Marcelo Rossi, an Evangelical meeting, 
a visit  from a religious leader or a statement from Church representatives 
are of interest to the press.

He also mentioned cases involving pedophilia or extortion. "It is a mistake 
to expect the media to only cover routine celebrations, commemorations and 
festivals," he said.

According to Mayrink, it is up to the Churches to defend their points of 
view and take a stance regarding major issues. The Churches, he affirmed, 
should exploit issues like peace, violence, ethics, corruption, defense of 
life and illnesses that threaten humanity.

"This can be done through interviews, reports and life experiences," he said.

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ARGENTINA
Refuge against discrimination faced by those affected by AIDS

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 8 (alc). We used to be alone. No one wanted us around, 
said Hector. Rafael and Esteban, both 35 years old are two of six men with 
HIV/AIDS living in Hostal Solidaridad.

Lisandro Orlov, Lutheran pastor, founder and administrator of Hostal 
Solidaridad, created in 1992 Buenos Aires, told the Buenos Aires Herald 
that AIDS produces exclusion and discrimination.

Here we have found a group that is now our family, said Esteban.

"We take in anyone, regardless of their age, sexual orientation or 
religious beliefs," said Orlov.

"AIDs reveals that our society is not as inclusive as we though. If 
someone, man or woman, discovers that they are HIV positive, they keep it 
secret, out of fear of rejection," he said.

The Hostal Solidaridad, said Orlov, is a group that defends human rights 
because to fight discrimination is to struggle for human rights.

The shelter, maintained by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) provides 
housing, food and job training for people who are HIV positive for three 
months. However, they can stay for longer if they show concrete progress.

"The residents do not end their days here. This project is to help them 
rejoin society. Those who enter must work, study or have a life project and 
must receive medical treatment," Orlov told journalist Nicolas Di Nucci.

When Hector Rafael reached the Hostal six months ago, he only weighed 35 
kilos, he lived on the street and had no contact with family or friends. 
Doctors at the Hospital Muqiz said only a miracle would save him. He now 
weighs 78 kilos, is learning electricity and bakery skills and meets with 
his family, in particular his brother.

Maintaining the hostel is not easy. Resources are limited and so the guests 
must help. They prepare their food and clean up. They wanted a dog and I 
told them it would be their responsibility, this is their home. They take 
it out, feed it and keep it clean, Orlov said.

Esteban said that he has lived in other shelters but it was not the same. 
There they prepared people to die. Here they prepare us to live. According 
to Orlov, in the 1980s people thought that AIDS was a problem of those ! 
who were affected. Today, it is more clearly seen as a social problem, he
said.

The LWF encourages its members to talk about AIDS and to confront it with 
creative responses. For this reason, the Hostal Solidaridad holds meetings 
where they talk about preventive measures and analyze how the media 
addresses the pandemic.

"We respect differences in sexual behavior. To protect is not to ask 
someone to change or to condemn them for their behavior, but to protect 
diversity," said Orlov. However, he recognized that saying so is easier 
than doing so. Prejudice exists everywhere and we are no exception, he said.

"We need to recover the humility of Jesus. It is bad to judge and exclude. 
HIV cannot be used as an excuse for repression, for not respecting 
diversity, for not tolerating freedom," he said.

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PANAMA
Discotheque sanctioned for discrimination

By Tzeitel Allen

PANAMA, December 7 (alc). A discotheque in Panama City was fined $1000 for 
violating a municipal decree that establishes the right to admission for 
all citizens who want to participate in social, cultural and other 
activities in public establishments.

A complaint was filed with the Ombudsman and the Pro Citizen Equality and 
Action Office by a young Black man who was barred from entering an 
exclusive dance establishment last September 3.

Both bodies filed a complaint with the appropriate municipal authority and 
it ruled against the dance center on November 2. Together with the fine, 
discotheque owners were warned that the establishment could be shut down if 
it incurs in similar violations.

"Since 1968 this is the first time that I see something concrete, that 
tells us that work has not been in vain, that there is awareness and that 
someone dared to take action. There have always been denouncements but now 
there is a sanction. Now we can say that there is hope that these 
situations will be eliminated," said Walter Smith, a theological 
educational official from the Episcopal Church of Panama and a veteran in 
the struggle against discrimination.

In its news bulletin, the Mayor of Panama emphasizes that the municipal 
norm, passed May 30, 2002 "preserves the right that every individual has to 
be admitted in any public place regardless of race, color or creed."

The measure is considered a success in the struggle spearheaded by 
individuals and civil society organizations for several years, through 
denouncements and peaceful protests.

This struggle was supported by the municipal government, through the Pro 
Equality and Citizen Action Office, in April 2002, and by the Ombudsman 
through the National Commission against Discrimination and Equality, 
installed in June that same year.

Both bodies have dedicated resource to raising awareness and to training 
district officials and human rights officials in the Ombudsman and the 
public in general, about the resources that exist regarding discrimination 
and the importance for respect and tolerance.

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VENEZUELA
Ecumenical Movement needs a new paradigm, said Batista

By Eduardo Chinchilla

CARACAS, Dec 6 (alc) The ecumenical movement lacks a paradigm that brings 
us together and impels us with renewed strength, beyond our daily agenda," 
affirmed Pastor Israel Batista, general secretary of the Latin American 
Council of Churches (CLAI).

This observation was made by Batista when he analyze the current time in 
the ecumenical movement, adding that this does not take away the importance 
of what has happened to date.

The CLAI General Secretary spoke during the Forum on Ecumenical Resource 
Sharing (FOCER) held in the Venezuela capital December 3-7.

The meeting was attended by a variety of leaders from Churches and 
Christian organizations in Latin America, in order to analyze the situation 
of the ecumenical movement in the region.

In his intervention, Batista said that "Latin American integration in the 
midst of an imposed globalization, offers an important agenda for the 
ecumenical movement."

The integration processes, confront us with a dilemma: Either we are 
absorbed into the neoliberal global model, with a loss of identity and 
dignity or we project toward integration, from the position of the excluded 
and the poor, centered on the Evangelical identity, the right to live and 
solidarity justice," said Batista.

According to the Rev. Batista the "ecumenical movement faces three central 
challenges."

First to build an "ecumenism of proximity" with a sense of flexibility, 
that strengthens the national space with the vision of integral ecumenical 
models.

Secondly, with a vision of Latin American integration "to advance in our 
cultural, social, political, economic and spiritual identity. A response of 
life based on our identities"

Third, to advance with others in the construction of a distinct 
globalization, the Catholicity or universality of Churches "that emerges 
with force from the community."

The key to overcoming challenges, said Batista, can be found in the midst 
of five methodological dynamics: informal ecumenism, ecumenism of 
proximity, Church forums, constructing networks and training-formation.

"This will allow the ecumenical movement to facilitate make relevant 
experiences dynamic and not develop as an end in and of itself," he said.

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BRAZIL
Researcher calls on people to not be influenced by machismo

By Edelberto Behs

SAO LEOPOLDO, Dec 7 (alc). The Latin American man should live more 
intensely his possibilities, without allowing himself to be influenced by 
the machista atmosphere that surrounds him, said Nathan Krieger, student at 
the Theological School in this city.

Krieger reached this conclusion after analyzing the results of research 
about positive masculine profiles in Latin America. The investigation was 
carried out in Latin American Lutheran congregations and institutions.

"There should be more openness on the part of men and more affirmation on 
the part of women," concluded the theology student. The politically correct 
man, at the beginning of this century, should respect his companion, 
reflect about respect for his masculinity and seek a culture of peace, he 
added.

The investigation was suggested by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The 
idea was inspired by the commitment that the LWF assumed at the X Assembly, 
held in Winnipeg Canada last year to work for a community of men and women 
based on justice.

In Latin America, said Krieger, the culture of the "macho" authoritarian 
and centralist man predominates. Taking this situation into account, the 
research examines how to promote gender equality, how to open up spaces for 
women and how to improve gender relations with diverse segments of society.

In the LWF headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland between January and October 
Krieger tabulated the results of the research that sought to establish the 
gender and sexuality stereotypes in Latin America.

When asked about the role of man within God's creation, the researcher 
obtained a variety of responses from members of LWF affiliated Churches. 
Some said men were responsible for maintaining the family, for being the 
head of the family, but other underscored the importance that 
responsibilities be shared in marriage.

Many responses indicated that Latin American men do not recognize women as 
being capable of assuming director positions, although they do admit the 
importance of seeking gender equality.

Interviewed by ALC, Krieger emphasized the importance of achieving an 
appropriate family atmosphere on the continent, supported by love and a 
struggle against intolerance. He emphasized the need for Latin American men 
to assume an active role in this issue, reformulating gender attributions 
in the family, Church and society.
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