Thompson Looks for Life, McCain and Huckabee Seek Bump in S.C. Primary
http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/18/thompson-looks-for-life-mccain-and-huckabee-seek-bump-in-sc-primary/
Playing to the crowd in rough-and-tumble South Carolina, Republican candidates underscored their conservative toughness Friday as they plowed into the final stretch before the state’s first-in-the-South primary, hoping a win there would finally help one of them break out in the toss-up GOP field.
John McCain and Mike Huckabee were both predicting victory in South Carolina’s primary Saturday, while Mitt Romney downplayed expectations, opting instead to campaign in Nevada ahead of its caucuses the same day.
All three have racked up a major win, and were looking for a bump to carry them through the Florida primary and Super Tuesday Feb. 5.; former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who has yet to win a state, is looking for new life in South Carolina.
Every eventual GOP nominee going back to 1980 has won the South Carolina primary, which could explain the spate of push polls and other negative campaign tactics coming out of the state.
Huckabee tried to brush off the dirty tricks in Greenville Friday, taking a moment to denounce push polls which have gone after his rivals.
“I hate push polling, I wish it didn’t happen,” he said of pro-Huckabee calls being put out by a group called Common Sense Issues. “It certainly isn’t happening with our permission, blessing or encouragement.”
Huckabee told FOX News Friday the state is not a “must-win,” but that he doesn’t plan to come in second. He also played up his Southern roots as a former Arkansas governor.
“I think I have a better understanding than anybody else running for president what unique challenges we face, not just in Southern states, but especially in Southern states,” he said in Bluffton, S.C. Friday.
Huckabee has tried to shore up support among conservative voters by recently signing a “no new taxes pledge” and another pledge against amnesty for illegal immigrants.
In an unexpected sideshow, Huckabee also curried favor with pro-Confederate flag advocates, who in one case began running radio ads against McCain and Romney for criticizing the flag. Huckabee said Thursday that South Carolina alone should make the decision over whether to fly the Confederate flag.
McCain, whose 2000 campaign unraveled after losing South Carolina, had already set up a group to fend off negative attacks in the state, spending his personal time stressing national security and the economy.
He blasted the federal government Friday for overspending at a time when South Carolina’s unemployment rate has hit 6.6 percent, the largest one-month increase in nearly 20 years.
“The economy is not good. The stock market continues down. And the indicators are not good. I’m not too astonished. … We let spending get totally out of control, and it continues today, and I’m sorry to tell you this,” McCain said at a town-hall style meeting at the Carolina Hospital East Campus in Florence.
McCain’s attention to economic factors comes after Romney aggressively pledged to fix Michigan’s “one-state recession,” which likely helped him win the Michigan State primary Tuesday. McCain earlier won the New Hampshire primary, while Huckabee won the lead-off Iowa caucuses.
Both Huckabee and McCain could play to a key South Carolina constituency: Huckabee, a Baptist pastor, to evangelicals, and McCain, a Vietnam veteran, to military families.
A new FOX News poll shows McCain holding on to his lead in South Carolina with 27 percent followed by Huckabee with 20 percent and Romney with 15 percent.
But among those living in a military household, McCain has a double-digit advantage: 33 percent to Huckabee’s 18 percent and Romney’s 17 percent. Over half of likely Republican primary voters in the state live in a military household (52 percent).
Evangelical Christians were a key part of Huckabee’s win in Iowa and he retained a slight edge in that group in South Carolina, according to the poll. The former Baptist minister has a slim four-point edge: 27 percent Huckabee and 23 percent McCain. In Iowa, Huckabee won among evangelicals by nearly 30 points.
Almost two-thirds of likely voters in the South Carolina Republican primary describe themselves as evangelical Christians.
Thompson, who is hoping to revive his campaign in the state neighboring his own home state of Tennessee, received only 11 percent total in the poll, up just two points from earlier in the month. Thompson was running second in national polls after announcing his candidacy in September, but has slipped steadily since.
Thompson said Friday that “tomorrow night is very key for me. South Carolina … is the gateway to the rest of the country as far as I’m concerned, and we’ve been working very hard here and the response has been good, so we expect good results.”
He reiterated that he believes he’s the “strong, consistent conservative in this race.”
Thompson recently cast doubt on the need for the federal government to pass an economic stimulus package, as President Bush proposed Friday. And in Seneca, S.C., he made a point to defend the detention of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
Thompson even went after Huckabee Friday for saying in an interview that the Constitution is a “living, breathing document.”
“I thought it must have been Hillary or Obama (saying that),” Thompson said in Greenville. “I’ve come to find out it was Mike Huckabee. He apparently doesn’t know how that phrase has been used by liberals over the years …”
Meanwhile Romney left South Carolina for Nevada Thursday, sounding the same “Washington is broken” message he rolled out in Michigan.
Having said that McCain stands a good chance of winning South Carolina, Romney is the only major GOP candidate campaigning in Nevada.
Romney defended his strategy Friday in Reno, saying: ” I love the entire country. I’m not leaving off any part of the country. I’m campaigning in 50 states, not in two or three … Right now, we’ve had four contests and I’ve got two golds and two silvers. That’s a pretty good medal count if you’re an Olympian.”
Romney also won the overlooked Wyoming caucuses, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told FOX News Friday that Romney’s strategy of focusing on racking up delegates is “giving him a real advantage.”
But some party officials have suggested that the GOP race is so close, it could come down to the Republican National Convention.
The Democratic South Carolina primary is Jan. 26.
The Messy Relationship Between Religion and Science: Revisiting Galileo's Inquisition
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,323327,00.html
"The secular nature of science." The phrase evokes much praise by intellectuals and people of reason — but should it provoke fear?
The phrase is taken from a letter written by a professor at La Sapienza University in Rome and signed by 66 of his colleagues, protesting a scheduled visit on Thursday by Pope Benedict XVI.
This week, students joined the protest and have been on an "anti-clergy" campaign to voice their opposition to the Pope — over comments he made in 1990 about the church's inquisition trial of scientist Galileo calling it "rational and just."
The Pope will send his speech instead — the theme of the of the school ceremony was to abolish the death penalty worldwide. FOX News Channel Contributor Father Jonathan Morris says, "They misread his 1990 talk on Galileo, but they won't be able to misread this one. It will be rational and challenging, a call to recognize the unique and complimentary roles of faith and science."
The Catholic Church's trial of Galileo in the early 17th century is the stuff of real concern for anyone who believes religion and science operate in two different realms of world views. Galileo had found, through scientific observance, that the earth revolved around the Sun and not the other way around, which was what almost the entire world believed at the time. A few forward thinking scientists — and clergy — began to see that a geocentric system didn't fit what they observed, but that a heliocentric system did.
It's also interesting to note that no where in the Bible does it say that the earth is the center of the Universe. That is a man-made supposition, and helps prove one of the great themes you will find in the Bible, that man will always look for ways to glorify himself, instead of God.
Ironically, for scientists of the 17th century, including Galileo, their craft was about glorifying God. That if God is the creator of everything, the discoveries in science could only bring mankind closer to knowing him — not drive a wedge between them.
Pope Benedict's 1990 comments may have been sorely taken out of context. Benedict is a scholar, who speaks in deep scholarly talk that sometimes takes many paragraphs to unfold and sometimes several reads to grasp. But his conclusions are usually thought-provoking, as is the case in his 1990 speech on Galileo. Benedict quoted 20th century agnostic-skeptic and philosopher Paul Karl Feyerabend, who wrote about the trial: "The church at the time of Galileo was much more faithful to reason than Galileo himself, and also took into consideration the ethical and social consequences of Galileo's doctrine. Its verdict against Galileo was rational and just, and revisionism can be legitimized solely for motives of political opportunism."
Benedict was illustrating that when he's asked about the Galileo trial he's not asked, "Why did the church try to get in the way of the development of modern science?" Instead he's asked, "Why didn't the church take a more clear position against the disasters that would inevitably follow, once Galileo had opened Pandora's box."
Even though science has opened the door to advances in medicine — which has saved millions of lives and has created great opportunities for mankind — it has also opened the portals to weapons of mass destruction like the atom bomb, or tools of personal trauma like addictive drugs. Benedict added after his statement that, "The faith doesn't not grow from resentment and the rejection of rationality, but from its fundamental affirmation and from being inscribed in a still greater form of reason."
In other words, science is a great gift, by which mankind has prospered. But as an all-encompassing worldview, science is a poor master. Science is great at telling us how to create, how to help, how to heal. It can't instruct us on why, why not, or who should benefit? That just may be the "greater form of reason" the Pope is referring to.
The small group of protesting professors and students at La Sapienza University are doing to the Pope what they claim the church did to Galileo ... silence him. In a world where the marketplace of ideas is heralded, they have tried to muzzle a man who, as FOX News Rome Correspondent Greg Burke says, "would like nothing better than to sit in a college seminar-type room with (smart) people of different ideas for a good wide-ranging debate among intellectuals."
You may not like the Pope's views, his doctrine, or even his wardrobe, but he does have a right to believe what he believes. And that is not a right that any man, or science, can give — or take away.
Texas Creationist Museum Selling Off Mastodon Skull
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,323808,00.html
A Texas museum that teaches creationism is counting on the auction of a prehistoric mastodon skull to stave off extinction.
The founder and curator of the Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum, which rejects evolution and claims that man and dinosaurs coexisted, said it will close unless the Volkswagen-sized skull finds a generous bidder.
"If it sells, well, then we can come another day," Joe Taylor said. "This is very important to our continuing."
Heritage Auction Galleries says the skull is estimated to be 40,000 years old, and projects it will fetch upward of $160,000.
The artifact discovered in La Grange in 2004 is believed to be the largest of its kind, Heritage spokesman David Herskowitz said.
The auction will be held Sunday in Dallas, with bids accepted on the Internet until Saturday night.
"We're trying to reach out to someone who would buy it, then reach out to a museum in Texas," Herskowitz said.
Taylor said he would love to keep the skull of the elephant-like mammal as the centerpiece of his tiny museum just outside Lubbock, which includes creationist exhibits.
Claims on the museum's Web site include that Noah took dinosaurs aboard his ark. The prevailing scientific wisdom is that humans and dinosaurs missed each other by tens of millions of years.
Taylor said he's been financially crippled by about $136,000 he's been ordered to pay in a legal dispute over finder's rights to an Allosaurus skeleton unearthed in Colorado.
About $141,000 has also been put into the mastodon skull's restoration, he said.
If the mastodon auction doesn't cover the judgment, Taylor said local authorities will seize his 10-year-old museum and sell off its contents in February.
"We've struggled so long here just to keep this thing going," Taylor said. "We're kind of losing interest. You can just tread water for so long."
The Heritage auction will also include other natural history items, including a 26-pound gold nugget found in Mexico that is expected to fetch at least $1 million.
Confederate Flag Ad Praises Huckabee
http://www.newsmax.com/politics/confederate_flag_ad/2008/01/18/65569.html
WASHINGTON -- A group that promotes protection of the Confederate flag is airing radio ads during conservative talk shows in South Carolina that praise Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and criticize John McCain and Mitt Romney for voicing objections to the flag.
The ads are paid for by Americans for the Preservation of American Culture, a Tennessee-based political organization that has been in existence since 2001, according to Federal Election Commission records. The ads began airing just three days before Saturday's Republican primary in the state.
"Waving a confederate battle flag in front of Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney turns out to be like waving a red flag in front of a bull _ he charges," the ad states. "Romney let fly in the CNN debate, saying, "That flag shouldn't be shown,' and 'that's not a flag I recognize.'"
In its anti-McCain ad, an announcer states: "Mitt Romney is trying, but when it comes to bashing the Confederate flag he can't hold a candle to John McCain. McCain's been doing it _ calling the flag a racist symbol _ for years."
Both minute-long spots go on to applaud Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, saying he is more in tune with Southern values.
"Governor Huckabee understands that all the average guy with a Confederate flag on his pickup truck is saying is he's proud to be a Southerner," the ad states. "Mike Huckabee understands we value our heritage and why."
The flag, long seen as a symbol of racism by some and as an emblem of Southern pride by others, once flew atop the Capitol in South Carolina. A 2000 compromise removed it from the dome, though it remains on the Statehouse grounds and flies next to a Confederate soldier memorial.
Campaigning in South Carolina on Thursday, Huckabee said the government should stay out of disputes over the Confederate flag.
"You don't like people from outside the state coming in and telling you what to do with your flag," Huckabee told supporters in Myrtle Beach, S.C. "In fact, if somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we'd tell 'em what to do with the pole, that's what we'd do."
Americans for the Preservation of American Culture is the third group spending money in South Carolina either in support of Huckabee or against his rivals. Vietnam Veterans Against McCain distributed a leaflet that accused McCain of collaborating with the Vietnamese during his years as a prisoner of war. Common Sense Issues, a group financed by Huckabee supporters, was placing automated, interactive phone calls that praised Huckabee and were critical of his rivals.
McCain responded in a Web ad, using praise from Huckabee himself: "Senator McCain, no matter what anyone may say, is a genuine conservative," and "John McCain is a hero in this country. He's a hero to me."
"If you want the truth about John McCain," the ad states, "just ask Mike Huckabee."
Church Design & Construction Expert Bruce C. Anderson Announces the Rollout of 'The Church Development Bootcamp' for Church Pastors and Leaders
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06770.shtml
VALRICO, Florida -- "Straight Talk" About Church Design, Building and Construction today announced the rollout of their "Church Development Bootcamp" series and will hold their first Bootcamp March 12- 14th in Tampa, Florida.
This bootcamp touts that "You can quickly and easily save ten's, even hundreds of thousands of dollars on your next building project without spending a fortune on architects, contractors and consultants. Guaranteed." Even if you don't know what you need to build yet.
The "Church Development Bootcamp" is not your typical seminar of "talking heads" and information that doesn't apply to your church, Mr. Anderson says. This is three days of intense hands on training and individualized application where you come in with your church team and vision and walk out walk out with a project that meets your ministry goals and objectives, financing lined up and designs that can be built with cost estimates to back them up.
Mr. Anderson states that during those three days "We won't just give you theory, we are rolling up our sleeves, working with only 20 churches and getting it done". The Bootcamp staff which is comprised of some of the leading church design professionals, finance professionals, campaign professionals, audio-video-lighting consultants, and engineers come together and work hands on with your church.
During those three days Mr. Anderson states that his team will help the church develop:
Masterplan Concepts, Site Utilization, Land Development Issues
Ministry Space Programming With Room Sizes and Phasing Strategies
A Realistic Total Project Budget With Financing To Back It Up
Schematic Concepts Of Floor Plan, Layout, Proximities, Space Flow & Sizing
Schematic Concepts of exterior Elevations, Materials, Heights and Roof Plans
Technical Audio, Video, And Lighting Design and Cost Savings Strategies
Structural Systems Strategies including spans, systems and cost expectations
Outline Specifications outlining preliminary finishes, plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, specialties
A realistic preliminary estimate of the building and total project costs.
Plus much, much more
For more information about "The Church Development Bootcamp" you can call (813) 684-6018 or contact Bruce C. Anderson at bca@brucecanderson.com.
Indieheaven Announces 'The Christian Independent Alliance'
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06771.shtml
Franklin, Tenn. -- Indieheaven, the leading Christian independent musician resource announces the next chapter in their 10 year history, "The Christian Independent Alliance." CIAlliance founder, Keith Mohr states, "After working with thousands of independent Christian artists and musicians since 1997, I believe artists of faith should be sent to the church and world by an organization who has a proven history of supporting independent Christian artists and musicians. We will accomplish this through our new non-profit, assisting members with fund raising, grants and scholarships for recording new music, and other services they need. The model is based on partnerships, memberships and strategic alliances with individuals and companies we know and trust.
Members of the CIAlliance receive 1 year membership to Indieheaven.com, discounts to CIAlliance conferences and events, the ability to raise support through the non-profit umbrella, and be eligible to receive matching grants for services offered through the alliance.
The CIAlliance is holding their 5th Annual CIA Summit conference in Franklin, TN March 28-29, 2008. The conference focuses on teaching independent artists how to be successful in their music careers. A wide range of topics will be covered, featuring mainstream music guru Bob Baker, well known stage performance coach Tom Jackson, Essential Records founder, Richard Beeson, Platform Artist Management's Darren Tyler, Rick Cua, and many more.
Also held during the Summit is CIAlliance's 3rd annual MOMENTUM AWARDS, which recognizes the pursuit of excellence in independent Christian Music. The awards show will be held at Building 8 at The Factory in Franklin, TN on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 7:30PM and is free and open to the public.
On Thursday, March 27, CMS Productions will hold their 2nd Nashville Songwriter Bootcamp with many notable Nashville area songwriters and publishing personel. Featured mentors are Charlie Peacock, Casey McGinty of EMI, Chad Segura of WORD, Steve Rice of Integrity, Scott and Christine Dente, and many more. For More information on this event, visit: http://www.songwriterbootcamp.com
On Wednesday, March 26, Tom Jackson will hold an all day seminar where he will share his proven techniques on connecting with an audience and crafting your live performance to maximize impact. Tom's seminar is highly educational and entertaining. Tom will also work with a band onstage and transform their live show. For more information on this event, click HERE.
For more information on the CIAlliance, go to: http://www.cialliance.org
For more information on the CIA Summit, go to: http://www.ciasummit.com
For more information on Indieheaven, go to: http://www.indieheaven.com
For more information on the MOMENTUM AWARDS, go to: http://www.indieheaven.com/momentum_awards.php
The CIA Summit is sponsored by: Mission of Mercy
Visit their website to learn more: www.missionofmercy.org
Top Seven Acts of Christian Bashing in America of 2007
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06772.shtml
FT. LAUDERDALE, Florida -- "From murder and intimidation, to the crass and the blasphemous, 2007 was a horrendous year of Christian bashing," said Dr. Gary L. Cass, Chairman and CEO of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission. "Anti- Christian sentiments are being fomented in the culture and are becoming more deadly and cynical," said Cass. "Impressionable young people are being swept up in anti-Christian hysteria, aided and abetted by a greedy, a-moral entertainment industry. Mocking Christians, blaspheming their faith and ridiculing their values has become the easy way for 'entertainers' to shock their way to the top."
"The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission (CADC) calls on anti-Christian politicians, Hollywood and New York media elites to stop the Christian bashing and take responsibility for the culture of hate towards Christians they have helped to create. The CADC will work aggressively to stop this dangerous and irresponsible Christian bashing in 2008."
1.) Colorado Church Murders--"You Christians brought this on yourselves I'm coming for EVERYONE soon and I WILL be armed to the @#%$ teeth and I WILL shoot to kill. ... God, I can't wait till I can kill you people. Feel no remorse, no sense of shame, I don't care if I live or die. ..." Posted by a troubled young man, Matthew Murray, ten hours after killing two at the Arvada missionary base and two hours before killing two at a Colorado Springs church. Churches used to be considered sanctuaries, but now they are targets for the hateful and the deranged. The CADC calls on every church to be prepared to use deadly force, if necessary, to protect their congregations.
2.) Federal Hate Crimes Bill--The 2007 Federal Hate Crimes Bill which threatens religious liberties and lays the groundwork for "thought crime," which has no place in American law and violates the concept of equal protection under the law. As has occurred in other nations, these laws pave the way for Christians to be silenced and even arrested because they believe that homosexual acts are sinful. It is totalitarian regimes which punish thoughts, not free societies. Thomas Jefferson declares that "the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions."
3.) Violence on San Francisco Church--In September, Christians in San Francisco spoke out against a blasphemous anti-Christian advertisement for the Folsom Street Fair, a perverted "fair" for the sadomasochistic, leather fetish community. The ad mimics the classic Christian painting of Christ at the Last Supper. In the ad, Christ and the 12 Disciples are portrayed as sexual deviants provocatively posed before a table of sex toys.
4.) Attack on Jerry Falwell--CNN reached a new low when Anderson Cooper invited Christopher Hitchens, editor of Vanity Fair Magazine, on his show the day of Jerry Falwell's death to make critical remarks about Falwell. Hitchens made the most reprehensible and offensive remarks one can imagine against a Christian minister, Jerry Falwell, even on the day of his death. Christopher Hitchens called Falwell "a little toad ... a horrible little person...an evil old man...a conscious charlatan and bully and fraud...an actual danger to democracy, to culture, to civilization."
5.) CNN's "God's Warriors" and "Friends of God"--Two biased, anti-Christian documentaries were produced and aired. One by Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Alexandra, "Friends of God" on HBO and the other by CNN's Christiane Amanpour, "God's Warriors." At least they tried to act as if they wanted to be fair. Of course, they failed. Evangelicals are almost 100 million strong and very diverse but are reduced to cliched caricatures or are portrayed as the moral equivalents of Islamic terrorists.
6.) John Edwards's Campaign Bloggers who called Christian supporters of President Bush his "wing nut Christofascist base." One asked, 'What if Mary had taken Plan B after the Lord filled her with his hot, white, sticky Holy Spirit,' to which she replied, 'You'd have to justify your misogyny with another ancient mythology.' They posed the thoughtful question of religious conservatives, "What don't you lousy %#*@! +# understand about keeping your noses out of our britches, our beds and our families?"
7.) Golden Compass, the Movie--Phillip Pullman's atheistic answer to C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series because destroying the church and killing God in the mind of every child is the best revenge. Why be damned alone when you can take a few million souls with you and get rich on the proceeds.
To schedule an interview with Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, please contact Kevin McVicker at Shirley & Banister Public Affairs at (703) 739-5920 or (800) 536-5920.
Believers Attacked During Prayer Meeting in Rajasthan, India
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06773.shtml
Hindu activists attacked a group of Christian families while they were conducting a prayer meeting in a believer's home in Udaipur, Rajasthan at approximately 9:00 p.m. on January 6.
According to a January 8 report from the Evangelical Fellowship of India, the militants surrounded the house and then barged into the home and beat those present, injuring several people.
Pray that these Christians will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4). Pray for healing for tho se injured. Pray that the faithfulness of Indian Christians will be a light that draws others to Christ.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to www.persecution.net/country/india.htm.
Video reports on India are available on VOMC's main website, www.persecution.net, on their multimedia website, www.persecution.tv, and on their YouTube and Facebook pages.
GFA Leader Says Fringe Radicals Responsible for Persecution of Christians in India
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06774.shtml
CARROLLTON, Texas -- Dr. K.P. Yohannan, founder and president of Gospel for Asia, says he is terribly disturbed by the increasing persecution of Christians in his homeland of India. And while it is evident that the rising tide of harassment and crimes against Christians is being carefully orchestrated by fundamentalist, nationalist religious groups, he says such behavior is not condoned by either Hinduism at large or by the vast majority of the Indian people.
"There is a lot of disturbing news coming out of India," Dr. Yohannan lamented, "a place where Christians and followers of other faiths have lived in peace together for centuries. Today, the Christians of India are being persecuted in ways that just a few years ago would have been unthinkable."
Photo: Dr. K.P. Yohannan, founder and president of Gospel for Asia
Dr. Yohannan cited the reports he has received in just the past few weeks:
In the state of Jharkhand, radical Hindus beat up a 14-year-old girl and her mother, dragged them from their home and forced them to bow down before a man-made idol in an effort to force the girl to recant her faith. This was in spite of the fact that the girl considered the claims of the Gospel for three years and had her parents' permission to become a Christian.
An estimated 2,000 tribal Christians are hiding out in the forests of Orissa state for fear of their lives after being threatened by anti-Christian fanatics.
At least 60 church buildings and hundreds of Christian homes have been destroyed. As a result, many believers are sleeping on piles of hay with only the clothes they were wearing when they escaped-- and temperatures are hovering around 50 degrees F (10o C).
A pastor was beaten, his head was shaved, he was paraded through the streets, forced to bow to an idol and had his home destroyed.
All of the Catholic churches in one district have been burned down or left as unusable skeletons of buildings, with all furniture and other items burned.
A 300-year-old Baptist church is said to be scheduled for attack next week, as are two villages that are 80 percent Christian.
"All of this is on top of dozens and dozens of reports over the past several months of increased persecution against Christians from across India, including the beating up of some of our seminary students and even our women missionaries," Dr. Yohannan said.
"Just the fact that these radicals are attacking women is a tremendously low thing that is totally unthinkable in normal Indian society. So the questions must be raised: 'Who are these radicals in the streets, who is behind this violence and lawlessness, and why are they doing what they are doing?' "
Dr. Yohannan laid out some answers.
"What the Christians in the West need to understand is that this recent violence is not just the result of random acts by local gangs. It is carefully planned by the leaders of a few extremely radical Hindu nationalist organizations that want to totally destroy the Church in India.
"Many of those who attack churches and Christians are not from the local village, but come from many miles away. Then they try to enlist local youths to join them, and the attack is on. But the problem is not really the local villagers, because they usually welcome our missionaries and appreciate what they are trying to do for them. Rather, it is the extremist political parties who are behind it and their street thugs who do the dirty work."
He cited a statement by the chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India that lays blame for the attacks at the feet of the radicals.
After visiting Orissa, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo presented a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in which he said the attacks against Christians were "undoubtedly premeditated" and "carried out by sectarian forces." Other bishops have been even more outspoken, naming the radical Hindu organizations they say planned the attacks.
One GFA regional leader said the violence in Orissa is part of a deliberate plan to break down the will of the Christians, cut them off from outside assistance and then, when they are left cold, hungry and alone, force them to deny Christ.
Dr. Yohannan went on explain why the radicals are attacking the poorest Christians.
"When we hear of these attacks, it is usually against Dalit or tribal Christians," he pointed out. "These are the Untouchables and others at the bottom of the caste system, and they have been held in slave-like conditions for more than 3,000 years. It is on the backs of these hopeless people that the upper castes have built their wealth, and their control is based on convincing the Dalits that they are sub-human, worth less than animals, and despised even by their gods.
"So when the Dalits and tribals hear the Good News that God loves them as much as any other person in the world, it is a radical message. They are responding by the thousands--and many in the upper castes are not happy at the prospect of losing their 'slaves.'
"To keep the Dalits in bondage, the radicals raise the argument that 'to be Indian is to be Hindu,' and that Christians are 'outsiders' who want to destroy India.
"Of course, the reality is that Christianity has been in India since the Apostle Thomas brought the Gospel to South India in the first century. And our Indian believers are as loyal to their Indian homeland as any Hindu or Muslim.
"The real problem for them, of course, is that millions of Dalits and others are responding to God's infinite love. And just as it did in New Testament days, that becomes an economic threat to some, and instills fear of change in others. And since they cannot fight God's Word and His love through peaceful persuasion, they resort to violence.
"Our response is to pray for those who persecute us, that they, too, will know the peace of love of Jesus Christ in their hearts. I ask that all Christians earnestly pray for the missionaries, pastors and others who are suffering at this time. And pray that the government of India--and the state governments--will act to end this violence and the prejudice against the Christians that fuels it."
Gospel for Asia is a mission organization sharing God's love through both words and actions in the most unreached regions of the 10/40 Window. GFA native missionaries share the Good News and disciple Christians through some 30,000 worship centers in 10 Asian nations.
UN Agency Ignores Mandate by Supporting Contraception and Abortion
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06775.shtml
In its recently released annual report, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) boasted of its spending on "reproductive health services" (contraception) and pledged to pressure governments to do more in this regard.
UNFPA spends $148 million annually on "reproductive health" programs, compared to only $51 million on development programs.
The report warns that "every minute, 190 women are forced to confront the possibility of an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy - one that could have been easily prevented if only they had access to contraceptives."
World Congress of Families International Secretary Allan Carlson responded: "UNFPA acts as if this was one of the great tragedies to befall humanity - that a woman is expecting a child whose conception wasn't planned. How many of the great men and women of history - scientists, inventors, artists and composers - were the result of an 'unplanned pregnancy'?"
UNFPA claims to be "abortion neutral," but states it promotes "family planning as a means to reduce unsafe abortions." By "unsafe abortions," UNFPA means "illegal abortions," which implies that the agency considers legal abortion to be a valid "reproductive health service."
In the past, investigators from the governments of the United States and Britain have charged the agency with complicity in China's forced abortion program. For that reason, the U.S. no longer contributes to UNFPA.
According to The New York Times, UNFPA has also been charged with promoting forced sterilization in Peru, where indigenous women were sterilized without their consent or were bribed into undergoing the procedure for bags of groceries.
Carlson noted: "UNFPA's agenda is the same as that of Planned Parenthood. If it could, it would locate a condom dispensary in every school and neighborhood in the Third World."
Carlson continued: "The UN agency acts as if people are a plague - a hindrance to economic development and social stability. If that was true, why are some of the most densely populated nations among the most prosperous - including many of the countries of Southeast Asia?"
The Warsaw Declaration (adopted at the close of World Congress of Families IV - May 11-13, 2007) noted, that "the future of humanity passes by way of the family" and that such families accept, "joyful responsibility for every child-to-be, versus the fear of the child expressed in the contraceptive mentality."
The World Congress of Families calls on UNFPA to re- think its dogmatic support for so-called family planning and focus instead on helping nations plan for the needs of their people - born and unborn.
For the Warsaw Declaration (translated in four languages), click here. For more information on World Congress of Families, go to www.worldcongress.org. To schedule an interview with Allan Carlson, contact Larry Jacobs at 1-800-461- 3113.
The World Congress of Families (WCF) is an international network of pro-family organizations, scholars, leaders and people of goodwill from more than 60 countries that seeks to restore the natural family as the fundamental social unit and the 'seedbed' of civil society. The WCF was founded in 1997 by Allan Carlson and is a project of The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society in Rockford, Illinois (www.profam.org). To date, there have been four World Congresses of Families - Prague (1997), Geneva (1999), Mexico City (2004) and Warsaw, Poland (2007).
'Divorce' is the Word -- New Movie Takes Aim to Help the Hurting
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06776.shtml
Take a poll of any church congregation and see how many people have had their lives affected by divorce.
"The number is at least 90%," says film producer Dave Christiano. "A mother, father, brother, sister, relative, almost everyone has now been touched by this dreadful word."
With that said, the writer and director of a new movie takes heart to help the hurting.
"Me & You, Us, Forever" is a love story opening nationwide in theaters on Valentine's Day weekend.
The dramatic motion picture is about a 47 year old Christian man, on the other side of an unwanted divorce, who thinks back and reminisces about his old high school girlfriend and first love of 30 years ago.
"This movie is very real," states Christiano. "The story tries to help people who have been affected by singleness, separation or divorce, and that begins by being honest with your feelings, emotions, and yourself. Through the main character in the film, we'll see just that. It's the beginning of healing in any situation."
The movie is also a heartfelt and sincere story about a lost first love, which Christiano feels is something many people can relate to, but might be afraid to admit or talk about.
With the film based on a true story, the producer is confident about the realism portrayed in his movie.
As for divorce, it is a damaging reality of life that too many people have been devastated by.
"And it is devastating," says Christiano. "Separation and divorce is difficult for all, regardless of which side of the equation you're on."
"I'm asking church leaders in the cities where this film will open to take a serious look at their congregation and see how many people have been affected by divorce," says Christiano. "Adults and children; the number is astonishing. With that known, this film is a tool that can be used to help those people who have been hurt by it. The movie has some answers to help ease the pain."
The movie's initial release is set for in 83 cites and 34 states on Feb 15th. A second release to additional cities is being targeted for May 9th.
For a list of theaters, articles, and more information on this movie, visit the website, www.MeYouUsForever.com
For more on Dave Christiano, visit www.ChristianFilms.com/dcf.htm
"Me & You, Us, Forever" is distributed by Five & Two Pictures.
Islamic Scholars Call for Crackdown on Christians in Algeria and Afghanistan
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06777.shtml
Christians came under fire in Algeria and Afghanistan in recent weeks by Islamic scholars who have called for government crackdowns on Christian activity in the countries.
In Afghanistan, members of the Afghanistan Islamic Council warned President Hamid Karzai not to allow foreign missions into the country, especially to the impoverished areas. The council claimed that missionaries in Kabul and in the provinces were forcibly converting Muslims, enticing them by giving them Bibles and promising to send them abroad. The Islamic scholars warned of serious consequences if the government did not stop Christians from preaching and evangelizing.
In Algeria, the head of the Algerian Association of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Al-Shayban, called on officials to counter Christian missionary campaigns, claiming they had "reached the point of aggressions against Algerians." According to the Arabic TV station, "Al Arabiya," Shayban called for the crackdown under the religious practice law for non-Muslims, claiming that Christians in tribal villages give people money and university scholarships for converting to Christianity and that the Protestant church rewards its clergy for every Muslim that is converted.
Ask God to thwart the attempts of those who seek to hinder His work in Afghanistan and Algeria. Pray that His servants in these countries will be emboldened to carry on their service to Christ wherever God leads them. Pray that those who accuse Christians of forcible conversion will see that that the Gospel message is one of a free gift, not coercion (Ephesians 2:8-9).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in these countries, go to www.persecution.net/country/afghanistan.htm and www.persecution.net/country/algeria.htm.
Chinese Christian Bookstore Owner Released
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06778.shtml
Shi Weihan, a Christian bookstore owner who was detained in late November on charges of "illegally" printing and distributing Christian literature (see www.persecution.net/news/china189.html for more details), was released on bail on January 4 in China.
According to a January 7 report from China Aid Association (CAA), two dozen others who were detained on charges associated with his case were also released unconditionally. Weihan is reportedly in relatively good health.
Chinese officials decided against a formal trial for Weihan, dismissing all charges against him due to "insufficient evidence." It is evident that international pressure was instrumental in his release.
"The Chinese government has made a positive step in the right direction regarding this case," said CAA President Bob Fu. "This is a clear victory of rule of law and international intervention."
Praise God for Shi Weihan's release. Pray for other Chinese believers still in detention for their Christian activities.
Premier announces new website to target whole of church
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/premier.announces.new.website.to.target.whole.of.church/16277.htm
Premier Christian Media Trust, the Christian media group that serves all denominations of the Christian faith, has redesigned its core website, premier.org.uk, in a bid to reach new parts of the church.
"It is well known that Premier have a strong Evangelical audience, but it is often forgotten that many of our supporters are from Anglican, Baptist, Catholic or other Christian backgrounds," premier.org.uk's Web Editor, Naomi Thatcher commented.
"While our programming on air and on Premier.tv reflects the diversity of our Christian audience, we felt that our main website, premier.org.uk could do more.
"The new site's design and content are intended to appeal to a much broader section of the Church, as well as being accessible to those with disabilities," Thatcher added.
The new premier.org.uk website allows users to access all areas of the media group including Premier Radio, Premier.tv, the magazines and Lifeline, from one place.
"As a media group, Premier holds a varied role in the Christian community," Chief Executive, Peter Kerridge said. "We believe that the new premier.org.uk will provide many of the resources we offer to Christians and the Church through one website."
Christians will be able to listen to Christian news on demand, read archived articles from Premier magazines, and watch the latest Christian programmes on Premier.tv.
Established in the early nineties, Premier Christian Media Trust began as Premier Christian Radio, broadcasting on medium wave to a Greater London audience. A series of magazine titles then joined and are currently Christianity Magazine, Youthwork Magazine, Christian Marketplace and Faithworks Magazine.
Premier Christian Radio also broadcast on the internet and later, Freeview, SKY, Virgin Media and London DAB. Two years ago, the media group launched Premier.tv, one of the first Christian IPTV channels in the UK.
For more information go to www.premier.org.uk
Christian group calls on church to speak up for God’s creation
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.group.calls.on.church.to.speak.up.for.gods.creation/16293.htm
Pressure group Christian Concern For Our Nation (CCFON) has expressed its disappointment at the vote in the House of Lords on Tuesday against a ban on the creation of animal-human hybrids for the purposes of medical research.
The Bill, now passing through the Commons, will allow scientists to create “cytoplasmic” embryos by inserting human cells into an animal egg, and “true” hybrids by mixing human sperm with an animal egg or vice versa.
As peers voted inside inside the House of Lords, hundreds of Christians rallied outside Parliament to express their opposition to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill on the basis that hybrid embryos go against God’s intention behind His creation.
Andrea Minichiello Williams said: “This legislation, which holds many other worrying provisions besides hybrids, is attacking the very core of who we are as a society, what we value as human beings, how we view the unique dignity of humanity and the lengths we are prepared to go to in perverting nature for our own selfish and often misguided desires.
“If the nation is still capable of being shocked, then this Bill – if its contents were more widely known and understood – would certainly do just that.”
Ms Williams called on the church to speak up on the risks that the Bill’s provisions pose.
“It is the church’s responsibility to speak up for God’s intention for His creation, and in the absence of a wider understanding of the Bill it falls to the church to speak on behalf the nation, to act as lookouts in the watch tower warning of the approaching dangers,” she said.
Today, the Government’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) gave the go ahead to scientists at King’s College London and the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to create the cytoplasmic hybrids.
Kenya's persistent violence disturbs Christian groups
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/kenyas.persistent.violence.disturbs.christian.groups/16294.htm
Violent skirmishes in the once-hailed democratic oasis of Kenya continued Thursday between angry young demonstrators and police, making it difficult for Christian aid groups to provide help for affected victims.
More than 600 people have died and 250,000 displaced in Kenya since violence erupted following the disputed presidential election on December 27. International aid groups working with local churches have responded to the instability by distributing food and relief supplies to sustain vulnerable children and adults.
Christian aid agency World Vision has provided humanitarian supplies to more than 150,000 people in Kenya. A World Vision spokesman from Nairobi noted that the humanitarian situation is likely to get worse the longer families are “too scared” to return home because they will be without basic needs such as food and clean water.
The aid agency is partnering with the Kenya Red Cross Society to meet immediate needs of affected people in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Mombasa and Kisumu. The groups recently distributed milk, bread, lentils, blankets, mosquito nets, jerricans, tarpaulins, soap and kitchen sets to some 3,000 people taking shelter in Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium.
The agency reported having 800 staff members in Kenya, but noted concerns about the dozens of staff working to support work in nearby Sudan and Somalia who are based in Kenya. It said continued violence in the West African country could affect their ability to work in these neighbouring countries.
Violence broke out in Kenya following the presidential election when the opposition party declared that the results were rigged and refused to acknowledge Mwai Kibaki as president.
Initial clashes took place between supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga and those of incumbent president Kibaki, but then expanded to Odinga supporters and the police force.
“What you see in Kenya right now are the pains of a growing democracy,” said Pastor Mwaya Wa Kitavi, Christian Reformed World Missions' eastern and southern Africa regional leader.
A Kenyan who travels to his homeland several times every year, Wa Kitavi explained that democracy is young in the country and much needs to be done – and redeemed – in order for peace to flourish, according to Christian Reformed Church Communications. He remains hopeful that Kenyans will realise “they need to listen to one another. It is in their best interest in the long run to have peaceful solutions.”
Underlying the political violence is the long-held ethnic tension. Kibaki is part of the largest ethnic group in Kenya, the Kikuyu tribe, while Odinga is from the Luo tribe, a smaller but still prominent group. Citizens from both candidates’ tribes have attacked one another in defense of their fellow tribesmen.
While conflict persists on once peaceful streets, Christian groups are working hard to provide displaced families with basic items.
The US-based Church World Service is supporting the efforts of the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC) to provide 15,000 people (3,000 households) with maize grains, flour, cooking oil, salt and a minimal amount of cash to enable them to buy vegetables and other urgent items they may need.
Other Christian aid groups working in Kenya include Compassion International and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.
Christians account for 78 per cent of Kenya’s 37 million people, while 10 percent of the population is Muslim.
Odinga supporters have vowed to continue protest rallies until the government agrees to direct talks and seek a solution. The government has repeatedly said the opposition should take its case to the court and said the administration “is very open to dialogue”, according to The Associated Press.
Turkey's Christians still concerned over safety as Bible worker trial continues
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/turkeys.christians.still.concerned.over.safety.as.bible.worker.trial.continues/16276.htm
One of the men standing trial in Turkey for the murders of two Turkish and one German Christian told the court on Monday how the victims were tortured and killed. The wives of the victims were present in the court.
According to the Turkish news network NTV, one of the defendants, Hamit Ceken, described how he placed plastic bags under Necati Aydin’s head to make his death ‘comfortable’ before other defendants cut his throat.
Turkish citizen, Necati Aydin, and German citizen, Tilman Geske, were found murdered in a Christian publishing house where they worked in April 2007. The second Turkish citizen, Ugur Yuksel, later died in hospital. The five men standing trial, all aged between 19 and 20, confessed to the murders.
The judge in the trial also rejected objections from legal representatives for the families of the murdered men and the Turkish Protestant churches to the use of 16 out of 31 case files presented by the public prosecutor.
These files focused on the religious activities of the murdered men and published addresses for 40 other Christians associated with the victims. Lawyers for the families are also demanding an enquiry into suggested links between the defendants and extremist networks.
The trial is set to resume on 25 February 2008, when other defendants are due to testify.
Commenting on the trial, Zekai Tanyar of Turkish Alliance of Protestant Churches told Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), “As the trial is still in its early stages, there may still be a chance that the court may move towards demanding a deeper enquiry into the background and the motives behind the killings.
"Sadly however, the court's unexplained refusal of some reasonable basic requests from the lawyers on both sides leaves one with the impression that discovering the truth and thus deterring such acts in the future is not uppermost in the minds of the authorities.”
There has been a significant rise in attacks on Christians in Turkey over the last two years. On December 29, police arrested 22-year-old Murat Tabuk for plotting to kill Pastor Ramazan Arkan in Antalya, southern Turkey.
Following his arrest, Murat alleged that he decided to kill Pastor Arkan after watching an episode of the nationalist TV show ‘Valley of the Wolves’ – a programme which portrays missionary activities as linked to aims of Western powers to divide Turkey. Pastor Arkan told CSW that he was under police protection and that he will continue his work at his church.
On the same day, Pastor Orhan Picaklar started receiving threatening telephone calls from 17-year-old Semih Seymen. Semih was eventually located and arrested by the police on 5 January when he called a friend to tell him to watch ‘the massacre’ on TV that day.
He was released the following day as he is a minor and after a judge deemed that he does not pose a serious risk. This was not the first time Pastor Picaklar has faced death threats. During 2007 his church was stoned and a group of youths tried to kidnap him.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, said: “We are deeply concerned by the rising hostility against Christians in Turkey in recent years, which results mainly from an increase in extremist nationalism in the country.
"Christians are considered to be betraying Turkey’s national identity and are even more vulnerable as they constitute such a small minority. The trial of the men accused of murdering the three Christians last April is a landmark case, and a chance to show that justice will prevail irrespective of religious background.
"We urge the Turkish authorities to ensure that the case goes forward without prejudice and to send a clear message that harassment and attacks against Christians will not be tolerated. We also encourage the international community to scrutinise this trial to ensure fairness.”
Faith Talk Lands Sarkozy in Hot Water
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/306538.aspx
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is drawing criticism from opponents for his frequent talk of God and faith.
Many French believe Sarkozy broke a taboo when he emphasized France's Christian roots at a speech in Rome.
His critics say his speeches ignore a French law separating church and state, Reuters reports.
They say faith is a personal affair and speaking about it publicly is politically incorrect. But Sarkozy wants to change that.
He's even talking about providing state subsidies for faith-based groups.
The twice-divorced Sarkozy is an infrequent churchgoer and calls himself a "cultural catholic," but "someone who believes is someone who hopes."
Hindu Nation: India's Religious Cleansing
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/305889.aspx
NEW DELHI, India - Three weeks after brutal attacks against Christians in India's eastern state of Orissa, hundreds of believers are still hiding out in the surrounding jungle, and 2,000 are in refugee camps.
The attacks are part of a larger campaign by Hindu radicals to turn India into a Hindu nation.
Christians Under Attack
It was perhaps one of the worst attacks on Christians ever in India's history. Last month, hundreds of Hindu radicals destroyed more than 700 Christian homes in India's eastern state of Orissa.
"The Hindu mob threatened us saying that India belongs to Hindus, Christians do not belong here," said Obed Diggal, a resident of the Kandhamal District.
Some 95 churches were demolished or burned to the ground.
"They warned us that if we rebuild the churches they would kill us; they would break our body into pieces just like they broke our church into pieces," another resident, Nabaghana Naik, said.
The man, whose group is suspected of taking part in the attacks, told CBN News that peace will come only when Christians in India stop proselytizing.
"This is my message to the Christians: Stop your conversions or you will learn a lesson from the Hindu society!" said Hindu Umasankar Acharya
Acharya didn't say what that lesson would be, but his Hindu extremist organization, Bajrang Dal often uses violence against Christians.
Bajrang Dal and other radical groups are trying to turn India into a Hindu nation- what many people would even call a fundamentalist state.
"The goal of the Hindu radicals is to destroy India's reputation as a secular and pluralistic democracy and replace it with an explicitly Hindu identity."
'Hindutva'
Ram Madhav is a spokesman for the RSS, a right-wing Hindu supremacist organization.
"Just as America belongs to Americans, Britain belongs to British, Germany belongs to Germans, he maybe a Muslim, he maybe a Christian, he maybe a Jew. Similarly, India belongs to Hindus, it is a Hindustan," Madhav said.
He claims that Hindus are the original creators of Indian culture and that they are descendants from an "Aryan" race. All others are "aliens" or "invaders". These and other extremist views form their ideology known as "Hindutva".
"Hindutva ideology is basically fascist-- that propagates one nation, one language, one people, one caste, one religion," human rights activist Father Cedric Prakash said.
While the number of people who subscribe to the Hindutva ideology is relatively small, their influence and popularity are growing in Indian society.
"Many of them are in key positions, they have, if I can use the word, infiltrated the administration, the judiciary," said Tehmina Arora of the Christian Legal Association.
And they're especially angry that Indian Christians and foreign missionaries are sharing the Gospel with lower-caste Hindus known as Untouchables or Dalits.
Acharya said, "Hinduism never asks the Christians or the Muslims to convert to Hinduism, but these Christians are always trying to decrease the population of Hindus by converting them to Christianity."
Dalits make up one-fifth of India's one billion plus population. They live on the margins of society, and are often considered by Hindus as less than human. But a growing number of them are turning to Christianity.
Dr. Sajan George is a Dalit convert and a member of the Global Council of Indian Christians.
"On arrival of Christianity as they started loving God they are being treated like human beings by Christians which is unacceptable to the higher caste system." George said.
The Biggest Killer? The Silent Majority
But their conversions aren't without a cost. Indian newspapers and human rights groups document the almost daily attacks against Dalits and other Christians.
"We are asking the Lord to give us more boldness, to give us the strength to bear His name and to stand strong in the face of terrible persecution," Dalit convert Sunderson Digal said.
Analysts warn that unless these radical Hindu groups are reined-in, violence against Christians will continue.
An investigation into the attacks in Orissa showed that the violence was premeditated and that state government and law enforcement officials had prior knowledge of a potential attack - but did nothing to prevent it.
Church leaders here are asking their fellow countrymen to end their silence and to speak out on behalf of those being persecuted for their faith.
George said, "Where is the collective conscious of this country? Are they dead now or are they just being silent supporters? The silent majority is the biggest killer."
Abortion Levels Drop in U.S.
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/305689.aspx
The number of abortions in the United States has dropped to its lowest level in 30 years.
The Guttmacher Institute, which tracks the number of abortions, reports there were 1.2 million in 2005. That's reflective of the downward trend in recent years.
There has been a nine percent drop in abortions since 2000.
Analysts speculate that the wider availability of the morning-after pill has played a role in the decline, but they also say values are changing.
They say more American couples are going forward with unwanted pregnancies and more women are having children out of wedlock.
Scientists Make Human Embryo Clones
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/306430.aspx
NEW YORK -- Scientists in California say they have produced embryos that are clones of two men, a potential step toward developing scientifically valuable stem cells. The new report documents embryos made with ordinary skin cells. But it's not the first time human cloned embryos have been made. In 2005, for example, scientists in Britain reported using embryonic stem cells to produce a cloned embryo. It matured enough to produce stem cells, but none were extracted.
Stem cells weren't produced by the new embryos either, and because of that, experts reacted coolly to the research.
"I found it difficult to determine what was substantially new," said Doug Melton of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. He said the "next big advance will be to create a human embryonic stem cell line" from cloned embryos. "This has yet to be achieved."
The Real Splash?
Dr. George Daley of the Harvard institute and Children's Hospital Boston called the new report interesting but agreed that "the real splash" will be when somebody creates stem cell lines from cloned human embryos.
"It's only a matter of time before some group succeeds," Daley said.
Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk claimed a few years ago that he'd created such cell lines, but that turned out to be a fraud.
Dr. Samuel Wood, a co-author of the new paper and chief executive of Stemagen Corp. of La Jolla, Calif., said he and his colleagues are now attempting to produce stem cell lines from the embryos.
The work was published online Thursday by the journal Stem Cells.
Cloning Concerns
Scientists say stem cells from cloned embryos could provide a valuable tool for studying diseases, screening drugs and, perhaps someday, creating transplant material to treat conditions like diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
But critics raise objections. The process "involves creating human lives in the laboratory solely to destroy them for alleged benefit to others," said Richard Doerflinger, spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Citing the earlier work in Britain, he also said that as a scientific advancement, the new work was "very limited."
Other objections to cloning include concerns about health risks and exploitation if large numbers of women are asked to provide eggs.
Those objections are one reason that an alternative route to stem cells made headlines last November. Scientists reported a relatively simple way to turn skin cells directly into stem cells. This direct reprogramming carries a theoretical risk of cancer for the recipients of tissue from these cells, however, and many scientists have urged that work continue on the cloning technique as well.
The cloning approach involves inserting DNA from a person into an egg, and then growing the egg into an embryo about five days old before extracting the stem cells. At that stage, the embryo is a sphere of about 150 cells.
In the new work, researchers took skin cells from Wood and another volunteer and produced three embryos with DNA matching the men's. Further DNA testing on one of these embryos strengthened the case that it was a clone, researchers said.
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