wfn.org | ALC Noticias 20 Dec 2004 Cuba El Salvador Ecuador Brazil

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

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

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CONTENT

CUBA: signs Silent Night
GERMANY: Bremen 2005 Solidarity Award granted for the struggle against 
impunity in Argentina.
EL SALVADOR: Salvadoran Population trusts more in Churches and in police
ECUADOR: CEE and FEINE differ regarding Ecuadorian Institutional crisis
BRAZIL: Evangelical Movement loses impetus, said Pentecostal Pastor

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CUBA
signs Silent Night

By Josi Aurelio Paz

HAVANA, Dec 17 (ALC). Coco Freeman, one of the stars of Cuban music brought 
the public to their feet when he sang the classic Silent Night, alongside 
the Pax Dei choir during the Evangelical Christmas Concert in the Amadeo 
Roldan theatre-auditorium.

The concert, held for the fifth year in a row, included the repertoire of 
the past four years. It has been taking place since the Cuban government 
allowed people to use cultural centers to celebrate concerts on such 
significant dates.

The event is a type of Christmas message from Evangelical Churches to the 
Cuban people as it is broadcast by the Bravo Program, on the main state 
television channel the Sunday following the event. Similar events are held 
in several provinces and municipalities with the consent of local
authorities.

Pax Dei, a choir made up of more than 90 voices from seven Cuban Church 
denominations held daily practices for more than three months to prepare 
for the concert that was more than two hours long.

The general director, Rita Oliva explained that "only with the grace of God 
were we able to carry out the show when a greater number of Churches joined 
the choral group and the work intensified as many of these people do not 
have vocal education or are dedicated to singing. Moreover, the practices 
were held after everyone finished working for the day.

The work with the children's choir was also exhausting but very 
stimulating. They interpreted traditional Christmas carols arranged by 
Cuban composer Andres Alen, with popular rhythms, he said.

In the five years that the concert has been held, the accompanying 
symphonic orchestra has always been directed by Enrique Perez Mesa, one of 
the most renowned directors of concerts groups in the country.

"For me each year the concern is that the choir, which is not made up of 
professionals but by regular people from Churches, manages to integrated 
into a quality work. However, the discipline and love they bring overcomes 
any difficulty. And, in this fifth edition, they have been marvelous," he
said.

Robert Fergurson, of Cuban television, said that his program dresses up in 
finery each year with a fine show that is born from the sincere hearts of 
those who give it life.

According to Fergurson, having to reduce the show to one hour is very 
difficult given its quality.

Francisco Freeman is a Christmas and recently held a tour to Evangelical 
Churches in the center of the Island.

During this journey he told the public about the temptations facing artists 
who have faith in God, who work at night time establishments where they are 
offered alcoholic drinks.

While the country is not marked by the same Christmas decorations and 
effusiveness as other parts of the planet, many participants agreed, upon 
leaving the theatre, that the intimacy that takes place during this 
important Christian festival, makes it possible to reach the essence of the 
redeeming message.

"May God allow us to continue celebrating this great witness for the people 
from this great theatre," said one elderly woman from the Seventh Day 
Adventist Church when she left the theater and concluded by saying "I will 
be praying, on my knees, for it to be so."

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GERMANY
Bremen 2005 Solidarity Award granted for the struggle against impunity in 
Argentina.

By Esteban Cuya

NUREMBERG, Dec 16 (alc) - The Senate from the city of Bremen will grant the 
2005 Solidarity and Human Rights Award to representatives who battled 
impunity surrounding crimes against human rights in Argentina.

Elsa de Oesterheld will receive the award, a representative of the 
Commission of Mothers and Relatives of German disappeared and people of 
German origin in Argentina and Lutheran Pastor Kuno Hauck, representative 
of the Coalition Against Impunity, based in Nuremberg, a body that has been 
carrying out a criminal process against those responsible for the last 
military dictatorship in Argentina since 1998.

The mentioned Prize has been granted in Bremen since 1988 every two years 
to "honor people or groups who act in a committed fashion against 
colonialism, racism, in favor of freedom and self determination," and 
includes 5000 Euros.

The winners also receive a piece from a sculptor from Bremen Bernd 
Altenstein, who represents the solidarity action of musicians in the city. 
Previous winners include Nelson Mandela, (1988), Israeli Gila Svirsky and 
Palestinian Sumaya Farhat-Naser (2003) as well as Marguerite  Barankitse 
and Melanie Ntahongendera , of Burundi.

The award will be presented to Elsa de Oesterheld and Kuno Hauck on 
February 21, 2005 in the municipality of Bremen.

"With this distinction, the Senate of Bremen values the commitment of these 
two people, who fought for an end to impunity in the Argentina state, as 
well as for the defense of democracy and human rights," said a spokesman 
from the city of Bremen.

The Senate of Bremen recalls that "during the time of the Argentine 
military dictatorship, those who opposed the regime were kidnapped and 
murdered by the thousands. The Oesterheld family, that comes from Bremen, 
was atrociously affected by these procedures."

Over a period of two years, eight people belonging to Else de Oesterheld's 
family were murdered. These included her husband Hector and four of her 
daughters.

Hector Oesterheld was a graphic artist. His caricatures and drawings 
emphasized the precarious political situation of the time.

In June 1977 Hector was kidnapped and disappeared in a clandestine 
detention camp. Despite the efforts of his colleagues and Amnesty 
International he never appeared again.

His four daughters were also involved in political activity. Beatriz, age 
20, was kidnapped a year before her father. She was killed and her body 
given to her mother. Three other daughters met with the same fate.

For the Coalition against Impunity, this Bremen Solidarity prize is a very 
positive sign of moral reparation for the families of the victims of 
terrorism in the state of Argentina, as in Germany, efforts to find the 
truth and reach justice have been blocked in the judicial terrain.

In 1999, the Bremen Attorney's Office ordered that a complaint for the 
kidnapping and murder in Argentina of Guillermo Augusto Engel Osuno in May 
1976 be filed, with the argument that no one can be accused of murder until 
his remains are found.

The same argument was used in July 2004 by the Nuremberg Attorney to 
suspend investigations in the majority of the 32 cases that the Coalition 
against Impunity has filed, including cases involving the disappearance of 
six people of Jewish-German descent.

The Coalition against Impunity, with the support of Amnesty International 
and human rights organizations in Argentina and Catholic and Evangelical 
Churches are currently holding a campaign to send letters to German Federal 
government leaders, calling on them to reopen the investigations until they 
are able to punish those who are guilty of such seriously human rights 
violations.

Thanks to the tireless struggle of the families of German disappeared and 
the support of the Coalition against Impunity, of which Pastor Hauck formed 
a part, in the past three years, justice from Nuremberg emitted six arrest 
warrants against former Argentine president Jorge Rafael Videla, as well as 
Carlos Suarez Mason, head of the first Argentine Army Zone, Admiral Emilio 
Massera and other high officials for the disappearance and murder of 
Germans Claus Zieschank and Elisabeth Kdsemann, between 1976 and 1977.

In January 2004, Germany requested the extradition of Argentine military, 
including former president Videla. The Argentine government has announced 
the abolition of impunity, thanks in good part to work carried out by the 
relatives of thousands of disappeared and murdered in Argentina between 
1976 and 1983, including Elsa de Oesterheld.

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EL SALVADOR
Salvadoran Population trusts more in Churches and in police

By Susana Barrera

SAN SALVADOR, Dec 15 (alc). A recent public opinion poll, carried out by 
the Jesuit "Josi Simesn Caqas" (UCA) University, emphasized that 
Salvadorans place a high degree of trust in the Churches and in the 
National Civil Police (PNC), ahead of political parties, the media and 
parliament.

"These institutions (churches and PNC) have always been there with the 
people," said Miguel Cruz, director of the UCA Opinion Institute, during a 
television program.

Regarding institutions that have an impact on the socio-political life of 
the country, the survey specifically points to the Roman Catholic and 
Evangelical Church, and the Police. This security body emerged as a result 
of the 1992 Peace Accords.

In El Salvador, a country of 7 million residents and the most densely 
populated in Central America, the Protestant population numbers more than 1 
million and continue to grow, according to official figures. The majority 
continue to be Catholic, including so-called non practicing Catholics.

Regarding credibility, the Churches and police are followed by a "group of 
institutions with intermediate trust, made up of the Army, the mayors, the 
central government, the Human Rights Attorney, the Attorney General and 
communication media," said Cruz.

The legislative assembly and political parties are in last place, according 
to the survey held the last week of November and published December 15.

The percentage of people with a great deal of trust in national 
institutions is defined as follows: 44.3 percent for the Roman Catholic 
Churches, 31.3 percent of Evangelical Churches and 31 percent for the 
National Police.

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ECUADOR
CEE and FEINE differ regarding Ecuadorian Institutional crisis

By  Manuel Quintero

QUITO, Dec 15 (alc). In a turbulent political environment, in which 
opposition parties and social forces accuse President Lucio Gutierrez of 
laying the foundation for a dictatorship, Evangelical Churches took the 
floor with divergent opinions and positions regarding the most recent 
institutional crisis in the country.

On December 8, the new parliamentary majority, which is favorable to the 
government, dissolved the Supreme Justice Court and designated a new one 
with magistrates from pro-government sectors. This decision sparked a 
protest from several political, productive and social sectors, which 
considered it to be illegal and anti-constitutional.

Government parties defended the move saying it was based on a transitory 
law that allows Congress to designate officials in an exceptional manner.

However, Ecuadorian vice president Alfredo Palacio criticized the 
parliamentary action and in a communiqui published in the press said that 
"unrestricted respect for the Constitution and the laws is the only way to 
reach justice, peace and a rule of law."

On the other hand, the president of the Evangelical Federation of 
Indigenous of Ecuador (FEINE), Marco Murillo expressed support for the 
changes but warned there would be mobilization if the Judicial Power is not 
restructured.

Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian Evangelical Confraternity (CEE) accused Congress 
of having "converted the Constitution into cheap merchandise, allowing it 
to be managed by merchants who offer it to the best bidder."

In a communiqui signed by CEE President Pastor Estuardo Lopez, this body 
question whether it is legal that 52 wills - the congress representatives 
who voted to dissolve the supreme court - "lead an entire nation to chaos 
and anxiety."

"We demand the immediate rectification of the arbitrary and illegal acts 
committed in the past few days by a majority that is made up of non 
believing interests that put at serious risk the peace, justice and 
progress of the nation," the statement said.

Another indigenous organization, the Federation of Indigenous and Black 
Nationalities (FENOCIN) also protested. Its president Pedro de la Cruz said 
that the recent parliamentary decisions are a "systematic violation of 
democratic institutions."

The tense political climate forced President Gutierrez to cancel a trip to 
the Mercosur Summit held December 16-17 in Brazil. Meanwhile, Government 
Minister Jaime Damerval announced that he would push forward to this month 
a bid to convene a referendum on political reform.

The referendum seeks to overcome the crisis sparked by the restructuring of 
the Supreme Justice Court.

Meanwhile, the head of the Quito Chamber of Commerce, Blasco Peqaherrera 
called on the head of Congress, opposition leader Guillermo Landazuri of 
the Democratic Left, to convene an extraordinary session period to 
reconsider his most recent decisions.

He has invited President Gutierrez to support this extraordinary Congress 
so that the "juridical system regains legitimacy."

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BRAZIL
Evangelical Movement loses impetus, said Pentecostal Pastor

SAO PAULO, Dec15 (alc). The Evangelical movement, which constituted the 
greatest religious phenomenon in the XX Century, is losing impetus and its 
cycle of existence is reaching an end, said Pastor and writer Ricardo 
Gondim Rodrigues of the Betesda Assembly of God Church.

In an interview with the magazine Eclesia, Gondim said that the Gospel of 
results will produce a "more alive spirituality, a more intimate 
relationship with God" and will give way to a "more human" approach to 
scripture.

The signs of exhaustion are clear, said the pastor. "One of them is the 
theological and doctrinal fragility of those who form part of the 
Evangelical movement at the grassroots," he said.

For example, he said, if you as a member of the Evangelical Church why they 
are evangelical they will respond with a traditional argument or recount a 
mystic experience, without any basic, exegetic or hermeneutic contents.

According to Gondim, the Brazilian Evangelical Church "has enormous 
difficulty to examine itself, because it is very enthused by its own growth."

"Today we have a pragmatic Church, where it is more important to "give the 
truth" than to be in truth. Today the paradigm of the blessing of God is 
prosperity. Therefore, if you are earning money, if your company is going 
well, it is a sign that God's blessing is with you," he said.

According to the Betesda Assembly of God leader, this theology begins to 
disappoint people who feel frustrated with God and the Church. "This 
operates with the same logic as a betting game: millions bet but only a 
tiny group wins," he said.

Gondim also questions Brazilian Evangelical Churches in the media, which 
focus much more on propaganda for the institutions that place advertising 
than on teaching the contents of the Gospel.

The pastor foresees that after this exhaustion phase in the Evangelical 
movement will "will not feel identified with the beating of God's heard for 
suffering humanity. Evangelism will no longer be an institutional agenda 
and becomes an identification of our heart with God's heart," he said.

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