A LOOK AT THE PRESS  

Convict should be Saint!

Coronation Street actor, Bryan Mosley, says that Scotland's most outspoken anti-abortion activist should be a saint. Bryan Mosley said "Father James Morrow is as close to sainthood as it's possible to be." Father Morrow, who has a conviction for assault on a pregnant woman, pickets woman as they enter Britain's abortion clinics. He also throws photos of beheaded foetuses in the faces of women who have made the decision to abort their babies. A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church said that campaigns to end abortions are given the church's full backing.
Sunday Mail (UK) July 9
 
 

Pope is sorry for oppression of women

The Archbishop of York, John Habgood, has warned the Church of England to become media wise or face more humiliation and ridicule. He also accused the media of distorting and misrepresentating "carefully balanced and nuanced judgements". He suggested that some form of scrutiny of reports was necessary before publication.

John Habgood told the Church not to be frightened by adverse publicity from its duties to engage with current social issues.

The Archbishop, aged 68 will retire soon after 12 years in the post. He will take up a seat in the House of Lords.

He urged the Church not to retreat from its moral lead. As The Archbishop of York put it, "We run the constant risk of losing our Christian bearings in a rapidly shifting world".
The Guardian (U. K.) 14 July 1995

 Pope John Paul issued a very strong defence of women's rights and apologised for the Roman Catholic Church's past role in the oppression of women.

In a 19-page letter to women, however, he asserted his firm stand against women priests in the Church, saying that his stance was justified by the Gospel.

Frances Kissling, president of the United States-based Catholics for a Free Choice was astonished. "This is a good expression of women's rights."

The Pope said that the women who had an abortion after a rape committed a grave sin, but men and society were also to blame. The Pope also said that although the feminist movement made many mistakes, it had been a "substantially positive one."

The 75-year old Polish Pontiff said that"women will play a part in the solution of the serious problems of the future."

Pope John Paul also vigorously condemned sexual violence and the "systematic exploitation" of the female sexuality.
The Scotsman Tuesday 11 July.
 
 
 

Religious Pervert

Religious teacher in Johor, Malaysia detained for molesting six pupils. The 53-year-old man could be jailed for 10 years or whipped.
Malay Mail 19 July 1995.
 
 
 

Church Thugs

In Petaling Jaya a church sent thugs to collect a debt from one of its congregation members.
The Sun (Malaysia) Jul 18 1995.

Quran Translation Banned

Following a controversy, which lasted some weeks the Malaysian government, has banned a Malay translation of the Quran by writer Othman Ali. The translation titled 'Bacaan' (pronounced Bacaan) is published by Omar Brother Publications Ltd. of Singapore. Many copies were already in circulation before the ban took place.
New Straits times 23 July 1995.
 
 
 

Daily Report 7

Bible Belt

Holy Hamburger! It's a sign of the times that the McDonald big gold "M" is now recognized by more people in the world than the cross.

But that shouldn't be the signal for the churches to start serving Mc Nuggets and milk shakes or provides drive-in services.

A Big Mac may be a happy meal. But the churches are offering something that lasts longer and is more satisfying…

Soul food!

Hopefully, religion hasn't had its chips yet.
 
 
 

Serb aggression in former Yugoslavia

While the eastern media and governments are active in voicing their views on the Bosnian crisis the 'Muslim' nations appear to be conspicuously silent!
 
 
 

Ban J. A. M.

Dr. Mahathir , the Malaysian Prime Minister, is expected to reject an application by Dr. Kassim Ahmad to register the Jemahh Al-Quran Party (J.A.M.). Dr. Ahmad is a former Partai Rakyat leader.
NST 23 July 1995
 
 
 

SUNDAY MAIL

OPINION THE VOICE OF SCOTLAND

THE West looks on in abject helplessness as Serbian fascist gangsters indulge themselves in an orgy of rape, murder and genocide in the former Yugoslavia.

And as the horror and savagery of the killing fields of Srebrenica, Zepa and Tuzla fills our TV screens, the West is paralysed.

The stench of appeasement is in the air. Let us remember. This is not a faraway country of which we know little.

Only a few short years ago the country where brutality has now gained a new dimension was a favourite holiday destination for thousands of Britons.

And there comes a time when all the words, rhetoric and diplomacy have to be put to one side. This is such a time and in the name of common humanity the civilised world must stake its claim to be the last barrier against inhumanity.

There are many decent people who ' will warn against becoming mired in the insoluble agony of Bosnia.

They will ask if Britain and the West is ready to bear the burden of casualties and dead which war necessarily entails.

But are we ready to bear the eternal shame of sitting on our hands, overcome by the very indecision, dithering and blunders which helped create a playground for those who put no value on human life?

Are we ready to let the Serbian vultures who commit vile crimes laugh at us as they gorge themselves on atrocity?

Let us not forget that at the turn of the decade, the West assembled 300,000 troops to assert the sovereignty of nations in the Gulf.

In Bosnia, the task for the civilised world now is to assert the sanctity of human life. Otherwise, will we ever be able to turn away from our television screens and look ourselves in the mirror?

Will we ever be able to say that we helped keep alive the flame of justice in what is, after all, the very heart of Europe?