To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Misc News items
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 18:17:51 -0500

From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>

The Daily News
Sunday, October 31, 1999
www.hfxnews.southam.ca

The draft version of a new United Church book of service has
sparked protest from conservatives in Canada's largest Protestant
denomination, who complain it reflects radical feminist ideology
and a gay and lesbian agenda. The draft - titled Celebrate
God's Presence - refers to Mother and Father God. It changes
Father, Son and Holy Spirit into Creator, Liberator and Healer.
It also suggests a good alternative to the
term "husband and wife" is "life partners." By including the
word partner, critics complain the new
term is general enough to include same-sex relationships.
"There is no doubt at all that it permits any number of scenarios
to unfold," says Fred Graham, program officer for worship at
the United Church of Canada head offices in Toronto.
"If the book goes to publication, it will be the first time
in the United Church of Canada that such
broad language has been used." And that broad language is unacceptable
senior minister at North Lonsdale United Church in North Vancouver.
In an article in the newsletter of the conservative Community
of Concern within the United Church of Canada, Faris suggests
that if published, the new service book will include "prayers
and services which are nothing less than an attack on the father,
the faith, and the family." In the first 100 pages of prayer,
he wrote, only one is addressed to the Father. Replacing
Father with God and Mother Goddess panders to a radical feminist
agenda, say critics, and is another step toward abandonment
of scripture.

FBI PROJECT MEGIDDO SAYS POSSIBILITY OF MILLENNIUM VIOLENCE
‘VERY REAL´ October 31, 1999

CNN reported today: “An FBI report prepared for the nation's
law enforcement officials says the threat of violence by extremists
to mark the new millennium is ‘very real,´ The Washington
Post reported. The bureau said in a written statement on October
20 that it was preparing the report,
entitled Project Megiddo, and would share it with police chiefs
at their upcoming convention. The agency said the document
analyzes ‘the potential for extremist criminal activity
in the United States by individuals or domestic groups who
attach special significance to the year 2000.´ The
Post reported in Sunday's editions that it had obtained a copy
of the report, which FBI officials have
said might eventually be made public. The first official audience
is to be a closed-door meeting of the International Association
of Chiefs of Police in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday. ‘The
threat posed by extremists as a result of perceived events
associated with the Year 2000 is very real,´ the
Post quoted the report as saying. ‘The volatile mix of apocalyptic
religious and (New World Order) conspiracy theories may produce
violent acts aimed at precipitating the end of the world as
prophesied in the Bible.´ The Post said that while most of
the report focuses on domestic threats,
one portion is devoted to Jerusalem, where the FBI says an
influx of tourists making pilgrimages
and millennial cults will add to the danger. ‘Israeli officials
are extremely concerned that the Temple
Mount, an area already seething with tension and distrust among
Muslims and Jews, will be the stage for violent encounters
between religious zealots,´ the Post quoted the study as saying.
‘Additionally, several religious cults have already made inroads
into Israel, apparently in preparation
for what they believe to be the endtimes.´...”

RUSSIAN SPY NETWORK EXPOSED October 31, 1999

The London Telegraph reported: “Russian spies are rebuilding
a vast espionage network in the Czech Republic at a time when
the country is being integrated into Nato's command structure
as one of its newest members. According to a confidential Czech
government report, seen by The Telegraph, half of the 63 diplomats
and 104 other staff at Russia's palatial Prague embassy
are spies protected by diplomatic immunity - giving them a
safe window on the West. There are significantly more Russian
diplomats in Prague than in the other Nato newcomers
Poland and Hungary. In Britain, which has a population six
times that of the Czech Republic, Moscow has only
47 diplomats at its London embassy. Prague's Social Democratic
government, eager to foster warm relations with Moscow, has
shown little apparent concern. Ministers also appear somewhat
ambivalent towards Nato. When the Kosovo conflict erupted a
month after the Czechs joined the Western military alliance,
Prague worked with the Greeks to construct a peace deal
acceptable to President Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia. Prague
has now become the regional centre of
operations for Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU...”

CHINA BOASTS OF CRUISE MISSILE DEPLOYMENT October 29, 1999

The South China Morning Post reported: “The presence of guided
missiles in the PLA Garrison has been disclosed for the first
time. A picture in yesterday's edition of the Liberation
Army Daily, the PLA mouthpiece, showed military trucks and
men identified as being with ‘the naval missile
unit of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison´. They were shown on parade
with at least three types of guided missiles at an unidentified
location presumed to be Stonecutters Island. The picture is
unusual because the PLA rarely discloses its full battle order,
especially for as sensitive a unit as
the SAR Garrison. The weapons included three cruise missiles,
a pair of ship-to-ship missiles and a pair of shore-to-ship
missiles, a military expert said. ‘The guided-missile unit is a
regimental-level unit under the PLA navy, which is at divisional
level in Hong Kong,´ h

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Nov 2, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 18:20:37 -0500

From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>

8:00 PM Eastern

PBS - SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN FRONTIERS - "Natural Born
  Robots" - Engineers use humans as models for designing
  robots.(CC)(TVG)

A&E - BIOGRAPHY - "Wallis, Duchess of Windsor: An
  American Royal" - England's King Edward VIII gives up his
  throne to marry an American divorcee.(CC)(TVG)

DISC - THE SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS - A network identifies
  and finds people.(CC)(TVG)

HIST - THE ENDURING MYSTERY OF STONEHENGE - Anthropologists,
  engineers and astronomers assess the stone
  circle.(CC)(TVG)

9:00

A&E - INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS - "The Nazis' Secret
  Killing Squads" - The Einsatzgruppen, a mobile killing unit,
  uses crude and heinous methods to exterminate Jews and other
  enemies of the Third Reich.(CC)

HIST - THE GREAT EMPIRE: ROME - "Age of Emperors" - Emperors
  reign over Imperial Rome; public/private lives of
  emperors.(CC)(TVG)

TLC - EXODUS EARTH - Our planet may someday be
  destroyed.(CC)(TVG)

10:00

TLC - STAR FLEET - The future of space
  travel.(CC)(TVPG)

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Lutherans and Catholics sign joint declaration
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 18:28:41 -0500

From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>

Lutherans And Catholics Sign Joint Declaration

AUGSBURG, Germany (EP) -- On Oct. 31 in Augsburg,
representatives from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the
Vatican signed a document called the Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification. Leaders from both churches hope that
the signing will end the rift between Lutherans and Catholics
that dates from Oct. 31, 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95
theses on the Wittenberg door. As its name suggests, the
declaration is a statement that reconciles the long-standing
debate between Lutherans and Catholics over the doctrine of
justification. The declaration states, "Jesus Christ won
salvation through His life, death and resurrection; salvation is
a gift that no one but Jesus Christ can earn. Together we
confess: by grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and
not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and
receive the Holy Spirit." Work began on the declaration during
the early '80s, when Pope John Paul II visited Germany and met
with Lutheran leaders to discuss cooperation between the two
churches. Since that meeting both the LWF and the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) have worked
together on a statement that would resolve their doctrinal
differences. Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, of the PCPCU and Dr.
Ishmael Noko of LWI signed the Official Common Statement at a
meeting in Augsburg, Germany. The statement was presented
earlier this year at a June press conference; this short version
states that both churches affirm the declaration in its
entirety. Included in the full declaration is an annex that
clarifies certain points of consensus. Lutheran and Catholic
leaders from around the world were present at the signing. Among
them was H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "American Lutherans greet
this announcement with enthusiasm," says Anderson. By
acknowledging that there is agreement on this crucial article of
the Christian faith, our two churches have bridged a theological
divide that has separated us for nearly 500 years." Anderson
said the declaration was "a significant milestone in the
reconciliation of our two church traditions." He continued,
"This agreement will have a positive effect on the mood of
conversations between our two communions. I hope that this
theological breakthrough will lead to other agreements in the
future." There is little indication how the declaration will
change the ecumenical relationship between the Lutheran and
Catholic churches. No institutional changes are expected in the
near future. However, acceptance of the declaration suggests
that Lutherans and Catholics will cooperate more closely on a
local level. Lutheran and Catholic congregations across the
world were planning joint services on Oct. 31 to celebrate the
signing.

(© 1999, Evangelical Press)

(Post date: November 1, 1999)

http://www.mcjonline.com/news/news3573.htm

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Syria Times - China confirms support for ME peace process
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 19:44:05 -0500

From: croteaunet@ime.net

China confirms support for ME peace process

RIYADH

Syria Times

politic

1-11-1999

Chinese President Jiang Zemin has confirmed his country's
support for just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East
through peace talks and in the light of the relevant UN
resolutions and on the principle of land for peace.

In remarks he made and published yesterday by Saudi daily al-
Riyadh, President Zemin said China has always supported the
Middle East peace process.

The Chinese President pointed out that his country, being a
permanent member of the UN Security Council, has played an
active role through international organizations in backing the
Arabs and their just cause and their legitimate demands to
restore their usurped lands and maintain their sovereignty and
independence.

President Zemin confirmed the need that the international
community help the parties concerned with the peace process
overcome the difficulties and remove the obstacles so as to go
ahead on the road of peace.

He expressed China's readiness to work together with the others
in the international community to achieve peace in the region.

http://www.teshreen.com/web/apolitic05-s.htm

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