wfn.org | ALC eNews May 12 2003

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

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

Agencia Latinoamericana y Caribeqa de Comunicacisn (ALC)
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HEADLINES

PERU: Award for theologian Gustavo Gutierrez applauded in Peru
BRAZIL: Dom Geraldo Majella to President Bishops Conference
CUBA: Cuban Evangelicals support creation of World Anti-Fascist Front
PERU: Internet facilitates child access to pornography
ARGENTINA: Churches mobilize to help flood victims in Argentina
SWITZERLAND: Preparations underway for upcoming WCC Assembly in Brazil

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PERU
Award for theologian Gustavo Gutierrez applauded in Peru

LIMA, May 5, 2003 (alc).  The press and religious and secular circles 
applauded the fact that the 2003 Prince of Asturias Award was granted to 
Catholic theologian and priest Gustavo Gutierrez in the area of Humanities 
and Communication.

It is a recognition of his effort to construct a Latin American theology. 
For many, the reflection has been an invitation to discover new ways of 
doing theology, said Methodist Peruvian Pastor Hector Laporta.

Above all today when fundamentalist religious discourses from different 
backgrounds are gaining notoriety, there is a need to create new paths in 
the theological task and Father Gustavo and his reflection are an important 
reference, added Laporta.

The award was announced last week in Oviedo, Spain by a jury presided by 
Jurist Juan Luis Iglesias. The distinction was shared with Polish 
journalist and writer Ryszard Kapuscinski.

The XXIII Prince of Asturias Prize, 50,000 Euros and a statue of Joan Miro 
will be granted the winners of the eight categories by the heir to the 
Spanish crown Prince Asturias, Felipe de Borbsn next October in a solemn 
ceremony in Oviedo.

Gutierrez, who was born in Lima in 1928 has been a priest for the past 40 
years. He studied in the Universities of Lima, Lovaina (Belgium), Lyon 
(France). He gained notoriety in 1971 when he published his book on 
Liberation Theology. The book maintained that the salvation offered by 
Jesus Christ is not only spiritual but also achieves social justice, which 
implies the reform of structural policies, above all in Latin America and 
the Third World.

The Vaticans Doctrine of the Faith Congregation condemned the theology, 
considering it to be based on Marxist ideology Other Latin American 
theologians who followed the same thesis, such as Brazilian Leonardo Boff, 
were also sanctioned.

While in 1990 the Archbishop of Lima published a statement from Gutierrez 
saying that he agreed to submit his subsequent writing to the consideration 
of the Catholic Church, he continues to be questioned by the Peruvian 
Catholic hierarchy. This may explain why they have been silent about the 
honor bestowed on the priest who currently lives in France.

In a telephone interview with the daily Peru21, Gutierrez spoke out in 
favor of an equal dialogue between the Catholic Church and other 
spiritual families, as no one owns Jesus testimony. He said that 
Liberation Theology begins with the poverty in Latin America which 
continues to be present and is a massive reality and is not ideological.

The ruling from the Prince of Asturias Jury states that Gutierrez is 
considered one of the most spiritual of the writers on the Theology of 
Liberation he proposes that the liberation preached by Christ, rather than 
being purely spiritual, also involves liberation from earthly injustice, 
leading on to a belief that such liberation requires profound reform of the 
present-day political structures of Latin America, the continent at the hub 
of the Theology of Liberation.

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BRAZIL
Dom Geraldo Majella to President Bishops Conference

SAO PAULO, May 5, 2003 (alc). The Archbishop of Salvador, Bahia, Dom 
Geraldo Majella Agnello was elected president of the Brazilian Bishops 
Conference (CNBB) for the next four years.

Dom Geraldo Majella Obtained 207 votes in the third round of a total of 
279. Cardinal Archbishop of Sao Paulo Dom Claudio Hummes obtained 64 votes.

Up until the first few days of the Assembly, which was inaugurated April 
30, Dom Geraldo Majella was the only candidate for the position. Archbishop 
Hummes has said he would not run for any position.

According to journalistic comments, the president of President Luiz Inacio 
Lula da Silva in the 41st CNBB Assembly last Thursday may have been the 
factor that lead Hummes to change his mind.

The Archbishop of Sao Paulo has known the president since he was a metal 
worker and a union leader in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo.

During this presentation to the Bishops, Lula mentioned dom Claudio. The 
president said I would never fight with the bishops of Brazil. If I were 
to fight with Dom Jayme (Chemello - the outgoing president of the CNBB) I 
will see how I do with Dom Claudio.

Bishop Irineu Scherer, of Garanhuns, Pernambuco said he felt that Lulas 
participation in the Assembly could have influence the vote. According to 
Irineu, it was understood as a sign to indicate that he was the candidate.

In the first two rounds, neither of the candidates obtained the necessary 
two-thirds to be elected. The election was finally defined in the third 
round when all that was needed was an absolute majority.

  After being elected Geraldo was presented to the press by the outgoing 
president. I want to say that I accept the will of the bishops with a 
great deal of simplicity, he said.

I want to contribute so that the walk continues, he added after thanking 
Chemello for his work as head of the organization.

  Geraldo was born in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, October 19, 1933. He was 
ordained  in 1957. In 2001 Pope John Paul II named him a member of the 
Pontifical Commission on Cultural Goods. He was in Rome for seven years.

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CUBA
Cuban Evangelicals support creation of World Anti-Fascist Front

HAVANA, May 6, 2003 (alc). Several Cuban Churches and Evangelical 
organizations expressed support the National Union of Cuban Writers and 
Artists (UNEAC)s initiative to organize a World Anti-Fascist Front. 
According to the organizers many Christian organizations around the world 
have also expressed their willingness to participate.

The Cuban Council of Churches, the Evangelical Theological Seminar of 
Matanzas, the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba and the Fraternity of 
Baptist Churches of Cuba signed the statement. The Latin American 
Ecumenical Social Action in Cuba, the Students Christian Movement of Cuba 
and the Latin American Union of Ecumenical Cuban Youth also signed.

There is no doubt that we are living through difficult times in which 
there is nothing wiser or more opportune than convening all people and 
institutions to feel responsibly committed to justice, peace, the right to 
diversity and the future of humanity and world, said Cuban Protestants.

Coincidentally, there is no other purpose more compatible with the faith 
that we profess as Christians. For this reason we support the efforts 
around the world that seek to avoid the consolidation of a scourge like 
fascism, whose consequences humanity knows well, it added.

Addressing the UNEAC, they said Know that you can count on us along with 
many Cuban Protestant Christians who also love peace and justice. We are 
praying for you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord of History, Son of a 
God who always embraces and energizes through his Holy Spirit, with every 
cause that promotes peace and justice for his Creation.

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PERU
Internet facilitates child access to pornography

LIMA, May 8, 2003 (alc). A total of 89.6 percent of children and 
adolescents use public cabins to access internet and of those interviewed 
21.8 percent have had access to pornographic material through these 
establishments.

The figures come form the survey Opinando en Grande carried out by the 
Accion por los Niqos nongovernment organization. A total of 403 young 
people age 11-17 were surveyed in 36 districts in Lima metropolitan and 
Callao.

Children and adolescents access pornography through Internet public cabins 
(55.7 percent), news stands and magazines (19.3 percent), home (18.2 
percent), school (14.8 percent), informal places (8.0 percent), 
neighborhood (6.8 percent), among others.

On the other hand, of the total number of children and adolescents who 
access pornographic material, 45.5 percent do so through a friend, 27.3 
percent by direct publicity in public cabins, 20.5 percent through 
magazines, 11.4 percent through photos and 10.2 percent on their own, 8.0 
percent in chat rooms, 6.8 percent by email, 6.8 percent on television and 
4.5 percent on video games.

The survey also shows that 72.3 percent of those surveyed enter Internet 
without adult supervision and only 27.7 percent are controlled by a relative.

Regarding the frequency that children and adolescents access Internet, 39.7 
percent do so every other day, 9.7 percent on a daily basis, 9.2 percent 
once a week, 3.5 percent once a fortnight, 4.0 percent once a month, 2.5 
percent enter twice a week. Of those surveyed, 18.5 percent do not have 
access to internet.

According to the survey, children and adolescents enter Internet for more 
than one reason. Of those polled, 57 percent are doing homework research, 
52.7 percent enter to chat, 34.1 percent enter to play games, 7.6 percent 
are looking for information and 1.5 percent to check their email.

A total of 65 percent of those who have viewed pornography said they did so 
out of curiosity, 41.9 percent said it was for their friends, 8.9 percent 
said it was at adult instigation and 0.7 percent said it was due to a lack 
of orientation.

They said one of the main consequences was that their emotional development 
was distorted (49.6 percent), premature sexual behavior (37.5 percent), 
anxiety (20.3 percent), fear (15.6 percent) and six percent accepted it as 
normal.

Young people said that one of the ways to stop young people from seeing or 
accessing pornography is to eliminate it from public places (39 percent), 
while 31.8 percent said that the sale and distribution of video games with 
pornographic contents should be sanctioned.

A total of 31 percent said that parents should be more watchful, 28.3 
percent said children should be barred from pornography in Internet, 22.3 
percent said their should be prevention campaigns in the media and 16.6 
percent said that teachers should orient young people.

On the other hand, 46.4 percent said that those who promote child 
pornography should go to jail (46.4 percent), for life (32.3 percent) while 
26.3 percent said their establishments should be closed, 11.4 percent said 
they should be fined and 10.4 percent said they should be given the death 
penalty.

Of those surveyed 77.2 percent said that the government does little or 
nothing to put a break on child pornography and that it is up to the 
Ministry of Women and Social Development to take charge of this problem.

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ARGENTINA
Churches mobilize to help flood victims in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, May 8, 2003 (alc). Evangelical Churches have mobilized in the 
face of the disaster caused by flooding in the Argentina provinces of Santa 
Fe, Entre Rios and Santiago del Estero. According to official figures, 22 
people have died, 900 disappeared and 125,000 people have been affected.

The overflow of the Salado River last week due to intense rainfall in 
northeastern Argentina principally affected the city of Santa Fe and caused 
an estimated US$100bn in damages.

Mandated by the Argentina Federation of Evangelical Churches (FAIE) and 
representing the National Christian Evangelical Council (CNCE), Pastor 
Emilio N. Monti visited the city last Saturday.

At that point more than a third of the citys population had been affected. 
Of those, 35,000 were in some 182 shelters set up for people who has lost 
their homes or had been evacuated.

Monti visited one where there were more than 1,500 people. Some 22 
Evangelical Churches were registered as shelters with more than 2,500 
people staying in them.

However, the number of people in Churches was increasing. In two the temple 
itself had become a dormitory.

I was moved, said Monti, to imagine that the next day (Sunday) worship 
would be carried out, with the mattresses pushed back, making real the 
Churchs testimony in the world. To hear the world, to praise, to give 
thanks and to intercede in the midst of needs, pain and peoples sadness, 
serving, consoling and transmitting hope, said Monti.

While he said there was ransacking and increased violence he also referred 
to an army of volunteers, organized by different aid and attention 
organizations in particular in the shelters. People have responded to the 
needs of the victims with enormous solidarity.

Together with material aid there is also a need for pastoral assistance. 
People are in shock. They stay in the place where they are placed 
literally holding onto their mattresses for 48 or 72 hours, said one of 
the pastors.

The devotional moment is very good for people. People who have not been 
able to cry or come out of this state of shock are able to let go of all 
the anguish and begin to cry, said another pastor.

International aid is also being organized. FAIE is a member of the Action 
of Churches Together Protestant humanitarian organization. From its 
headquarters in Geneva it has sent US$35,800 of emergency funds to Santa Fe 
for goods, medicines, blankets and other material.

The Board of Directors of the Pastoral Council of the City of Santa Fe is 
coordinating the aid and Monti met with them to collaborate in this first 
stage and to plan visits for the reconstruction phase that will be long and 
difficult.

The Pastoral Council represents all Protestant Churches in the area and a 
good spirit of unity and collaboration, he said Monti and pastors Jose 
Faienza and Federico Bertuzzi (president and secretary of the Pastoral 
Council) met with the mayor-elect of the city Marcelo Alvarez, and with the 
Minister of Production Ricardo Fragueyro, representing the governor of 
Santa Fe.

Accompanied by Pastor Ariel Fernandez of the Methodist Church, the FAIE 
leader met with Catholic priest Dante De Biaggi, of the Archdiocesan 
Caritas and with representatives of non government organizations who are 
also collaborating.

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SWITZERLAND
Preparations underway for upcoming WCC Assembly in Brazil

GENEVA, May 9, 2003 (alc). Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser will visit Brazil May 
11-17 to launch local preparations for the next, ninth assembly of the 
World Council of Churches (WCC), to take place there in February 2006.

At the beginning of his visit, Raiser will meet President Luiz Inacio 
"Lula" da Silva in Brasilia. He will be accompanied by leaders of national 
churches and the board of directors of the National Council of Christian 
Churches in Brazil (CONIC).

 From May 13-17, Raiser will hold discussions in Porto Alegre with a 
committee responsible for the local organization of the assembly. The 
committee is made up of representatives of WCC member churches, ecumenical 
organizations and other churches in Brazil.

The WCC general secretary will also visit the campus of the Catholic 
Pontifical University of Porto Alegre - the site chosen for the assembly - 
and meet with the university dean.

The WCC's ninth assembly will be the first to take place in Latin America. 
Provisional dates are 14 to 23 February, 2006. The WCC central committee is 
to take a final decision concerning dates and theme when it meets in August 
this year.

WCC assemblies take place every seven years, and are attended by about 3500 
people. Gathering Christians from all over the world and from virtually 
every Christian tradition, they are major events in the life of the 
Council. Founded in 1948 in Amsterdam, Holland, the Assembly is the WCCs 
most significant event.

During his visit to Porto Alegre, Raiser is likely to meet with local 
government representatives.

WCC member churches in Brazil are: the Evangelical Church of Lutheran 
Confession in Brazil, the Christian Reformed Church of Brazil, the 
Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, the Methodist Church in Brazil and the 
United Presbyterian Church of Brazil.

Representatives from the National Council of Christian Churches in Brazil 
(CONIC), which includes the Roman Catholic Church; the Ecumenical Forum of 
Brazil; the Brazilian region of the Latin American Council of Churches 
(CLAI); and the Ecumenical Service Association have also been invited to 
form part of the committee.

The Independent Presbyterian Church has also been invited to take part in 
the committee. It is hoped that other Protestant and Evangelical churches 
from Brazil will take part in this endeavour.

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