“The calling of the church in every culture is to be mission. That is, the work of the church is not to be an agent or servant of the culture. The churches’ business is not to maintain freedom or to promote wealth or to help a political party or to serve as the moral guide to culture. The church’s mission is to be the presence of the kingdom. . . . The church’s mission is to show the world what it looks like when a community of people live under the reign of God” ...Robert Webber photo

Martyred Turkish Christians Buried
04/30/2007

Additional details about the horrific killing of three Christians in Turkey last week have emerged. A Turkish court has arraigned five men, all under the age of 20, for the murder of three employees of a Christian publishing company in the southeastern city of Malatya.

Alerted by a neighbor who reported a disturbance, police entered the offices of Zivre Publishing on the afternoon of April 18 and discovered German Lutheran missionary Tilmann Geske and two Turkish Christian converts, Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, bound hand and foot. The three men had been tortured for hours, and two of the men were already dead by the time police arrived. The third later died in a hospital. the rest

Mexico Catholics focus on flock after abortion law
Mon Apr 30, 2007
By Catherine Bremer

MEXICO CITY (Reuters Life!) - The debate over a radical new law legalizing abortion in Mexico City may be the jolt that was needed to bring Catholic drifters back in line with the faith's values, a top Church spokesman said.

Pressure from the Catholic Church -- including a letter from Pope Benedict -- and a petition for a referendum failed to stop the Mexican capital's leftist-run assembly passing a law last week to allow abortion in the first three months of pregnancy.

But heated debate around the law may prompt Catholics in Mexico, the world's second-biggest Catholic nation, to consider the dangers of letting values slip, said Father Hugo Valdemar, spokesman for Mexico City's Catholic Archdiocese. the rest

The Military: Faith Under Fire
By Eve Conant
Newsweek

May 7, 2007 issue - Army Chaplain Roger Benimoff heard the IED blast and saw the smoke rising. From his vantage point at a forward-aid station on the morning of June 7, 2005, he peered through a fog of dust as .50-caliber machine-gun fire erupted in the distance. Then the guns went silent. Benimoff helped medics get stretchers ready for the wounded. But when the soldiers of Fox Troop returned to station near Tall Afar, all they had was the bloodied corpse of one of their men. Benimoff began a familiar death ritual. The heat was closing in on 100 degrees; a smell of diesel fumes filled the air. Benimoff gathered the medics around the corpse of their comrade in the shade of an armored personnel carrier. Ignoring the din of rumbling engines and radio chatter, he began to pray in a strong and reassuring voice, quoting Psalm 121: I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He prayed for the soldier's family. He prayed for the medics who had wanted so much to help. He prayed that God would look down upon their small circle and surround them with his love. the rest

Ministry announces online prayer initiative for troops in, around Baghdad

Salvation: Just click and confess
Confession websites have become popular places to post your sins -- or to read about the transgressions of others.
BY JENNIFER LEBOVICH
Sun, Apr. 29, 2007

A woman kept her secret for nearly two decades.

Finally ready to confess, she turned not to a minister, but to her computer.

''I am sorry God for not keeping that baby,'' her anonymous confession reads. ``I had an abortion and had kept that secret for over 18 years. I feel so ashamed. Please forgive me!''

The confession appears at ivescrewedup.com, a website launched by the Flamingo Road Church in Cooper City. It's one of a growing number of such sites across the country -- some secular and others church-sponsored -- that offer a place to spill out ugly secrets or just make peccadilloes public. the rest

Reversing Alzheimer's memory loss may be possible
Mon Apr 30, 2007
By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mental stimulation and drug treatment may help people with brain ailments such as Alzheimer's disease regain seemingly lost memories, according to research published on Sunday.

Scientists used two methods to reverse memory loss in mice with a condition like Alzheimer's -- placing them in sort of a rodent Disneyland to stimulate their brains, and also using a type of drug that encourages growth of brain nerve cells.

Neuroscientist Li-Huei Tsai of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said such methods might yield similar benefits in people with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia that rob them of their memory and ability to learn. the rest

Nigeria: Church of Nigeria Renews Evangelism Focus At New Bishops' Consecration
Posted to the web April 30, 2007
Lagos

The Anglican Church in Nigeria has renewed its focus on evangelism with the recent consecration of six new bishops at The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Enugu.

Those consecrated include the Rt. Rev. Jonathan Bamaiyi for Katsina Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Prof. Evans Ibeagha, for Nike Diocese in Enugu State, the Rt. Rev. Blessing Enyindah, for Ikwerre Diocese in Rivers State, and the Rt. Rev. Samuel Ajani, for the Diocese of Egba-West in Ogun State.

Others were the Rt. Rev. Owen Azubuike, for the Diocese of Isiala-Ngwa, in Abia State and the Rt. Rev. John Ezirim, for the Diocese of Aba-Ngwa North, also in Abia State.

The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Peter Akinola, presided over the consecration, where he advised the new bishops to "shepherd the sheep placed under them in a true and forthright way devoid of deceit", according to All Africa Global Media. the rest

Catholic hospitals may be forced to do abortions
The Connecticut state Senate by a wide margin approved a bill that would require all hospitals to provide "morning-after" abortion pills to rape victims. Separation of church and state is at stake, say Catholic bishops.
Monday, April 30, 2007
By CNA

The Connecticut state Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday April 25 that would require all hospitals — including the four Catholic facilities — to provide the Plan B emergency contraceptive to rape victims. The abortifacient drug is also known as the morning after pill.

“This bill is a violation of the separation of Church and State,” wrote Bishops Henry Mansell of Hartford and William Lori of Bridgeport in a letter to lawmakers on Wednesday. “The Catholic Bishops of Connecticut are responsible for establishing and determining what moral guidelines Catholic institutions should follow; not the Connecticut General Assembly.”

“Senate Bill 1343 should contain language that respects the religious beliefs of Catholic hospitals and not force them to cooperate, either directly or through a third-party contract, in an abortion,” they said. the rest

Bishop Arthur E. Walmsley–The Episcopal Church: A Half Century of Turmoil and Transformation

Reluctance to discipline non-conforming clergy and parishes has been a mark of the Episcopal Church’s handling of controversy. As the focus of debate shifted to gender issues and the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian ordinands, a resort to disciplinary procedure preoccupied the church as a presentment was made in 1996 by Bishop James Stanton of Dallas on behalf of a group of his colleagues against the Rt. Rev. Walter C. Righter, former Bishop of Iowa and an Assistant Bishop of Newark. Righter, who had ordained to the priesthood a non-celibate gay man in a public relationship with a partner, was charged with “the offense of holding and teaching. . .a doctrine contrary to that held by this Church.”. The Theological Court for the Trial of a Bishop, on which I served as one of its nine members, ruled that although the matter at hand was doctrinal in nature, it was not part of the core doctrine of the church, of creedal or kerygmatic teaching. On the strength of this conclusion, the Court declined to bring Righter to trial and the matter became moot. Although our decision bears on the question of same-sex blessing which must be answered in the vote at your June General Synod, you clearly have had opportunity for deeper reflection on the subject that was available to us in 1996, and I am grateful for the opportunity to see the various papers which have been drafted over what you are asked to conclude, what constitutes doctrine?.

the rest at titusonenine

Robert E. Webber, Theologian of 'Ancient-Future' Faith, Dies at 73
Author of more than 40 books on worship, Webber was criticized, then lauded, for emphasizing early church practices.
Tabby Yang
posted 4/30/2007

Robert E. Webber, a theologian well-known for his work on worship and the early church, died of pancreatic cancer on April 27 at his home in Sawyer, Michigan. He was 73. At the time of his death, Webber was the William R. and Geraldyn B. Myers professor ministry at Northern Seminary in Lombard, Ill. He was also the president of the Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Florida, and professor of theology emeritus at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.

Webber, the son of a Baptist minister, received his bachelor's degree from Bob Jones University in 1956 and went on to earn a divinity degree from the Reformed Episcopal Seminary in 1959 and a masters degree in theology from Covenant Theological Seminary in 1960. Eight years later, he received his doctoral degree in theology from Concordia Theological Seminary. the rest

Digital Christian Outreach Picks Up Steam
By Nathan Black
Christian Post Reporter
Sun, Apr. 29 2007

Evangelical Christians today are either entering secular scenes on the worldwide Web to save the lost or designing their own Christian web world to house the faith community. In both cases, the Internet has become a powerful tool for Christian evangelism.

Internet Evangelism Day on Sunday is recognizing what God is doing on the Web and telling more Christians to get on board in web outreach.

The latest development is the virtual world. With the unchurched population in America nearing 100 million, according to The Barna Group, Christians are bringing church to the Internet for easy access and wider reach. The popular online virtual reality world "Second Life" with over 5 million visitors has a small but growing Christian community. Pastors have set up virtual churches in the digitalized secular world and even an ecumenical group to help spread the Gospel message and serve as Christ-centered churches more effectively. the rest

Secular Turks draw a political line
Protests and warnings meet the Islamist-based ruling party's campaign to win the presidency.
By Laura King, Times Staff Writer
April 30, 2007

ISTANBUL, TURKEY — Amid a sea of Turkish flags, nearly three-quarters of a million people poured into the streets of Istanbul on Sunday to demand that parliament choose a president with no Islamist ties.

But the Islamist-rooted ruling party insisted that it would push ahead with the candidacy of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, chosen last week as its standard-bearer in parliamentary voting scheduled to take place in the coming two weeks.

Secular opposition parties have mounted a legal challenge to a first-round vote last week by lawmakers, and Turkey's powerful military, which considers itself the guardian of this overwhelmingly Muslim country's secular system, issued a sharply worded warning Friday night against the accession of any leader who does not fully support secular principles. the rest

Anglican Church names first female archdeacon
April 29, 2007

LONDON (Agence France-Presse) -- Canterbury Cathedral, the seat of the Church of England, installed its first female archdeacon in its 1,400-year history yesterday.

Before a congregation of 500, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams led the service of installation for the Venerable Sheila Watson, 53, the first woman to join Archbishop Williams' senior staff.

The former archdeacon of Buckingham in the Diocese of Oxford, who succeeds the retired Patrick Evans, can now enthrone new diocesan bishops in 27 of England's 43 dioceses under Archbishop Williams' guidance.

The move comes as the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, takes the first steps toward the creation of female bishops. The Church of England ordained its first female priests in 1994. the rest

Teachers leaving profession in droves
By Shirley Dang
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Article Launched: 04/26/2007

Stephan Goyne entered teaching as a "fight the good fight" kind of guy, taking a job in East Oakland right out of college.

"I come from a family of teachers. It wasn't even a question of whether to do that," Goyne said. "The question was whether to do elementary, middle or high school."

But after six years in the trenches -- transferred from campus to campus, forbidden from organizing field trips and ordered to teach math only after lunch -- Goyne left the profession.
Now he works in real estate and runs a Brazilian jiujitsu studio in Oakland.

"That last year, I had enough of it," said Goyne. "The biggest skill you're applying is crowd control. You're not really having a say in the curriculum or what goes into it." the rest

Teachers insist: Being 'gay' good'
Educators' promoting homosexuality no matter what children learn at home
Posted: April 29, 2007

A nationally distributed training video produced by a "gay" advocacy group – which claims it's been shown on more than 100 public television stations – advises teachers to promote homosexuality as normal and healthy to children as young as kindergarten age, regardless of what values the child has been taught at home.

"We are asking kids to believe this [homosexuality] is right. Not as a matter of moral principle, but as a matter of, we're educating them and this is part of what we consider to be a healthy education," one unidentified teacher said during the videotaped meeting of educators preparing to teach – or as their critics charge, "brainwash" – their students.

That particular response was to a question from another teacher who wondered how to approach homosexual advocacy when a student comes from a background of biblical teaching, that is, that homosexuality is a sin. the rest

Sexual Threats Stifle Some Female Bloggers
By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 30, 2007

A female freelance writer who blogged about the pornography industry was threatened with rape. A single mother who blogged about "the daily ins and outs of being a mom" was threatened by a cyber-stalker who claimed that she beat her son and that he had her under surveillance. Kathy Sierra, who won a large following by blogging about designing software that makes people happy, became a target of anonymous online attacks that included photos of her with a noose around her neck and a muzzle over her mouth.

As women gain visibility in the blogosphere, they are targets of sexual harassment and threats. Men are harassed too, and lack of civility is an abiding problem on the Web. But women, who make up about half the online community, are singled out in more starkly sexually threatening terms -- a trend that was first evident in chat rooms in the early 1990s and is now moving to the blogosphere, experts and bloggers said. the rest

Mauritania's fiery singing senator
By Rose Skelton
BBC News, Nouakchott

Dressed in the colourful muslin veil that brightens up the harsh sandy streets of Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott, Malouma holds her traditional ardin, or harp, in one hand as she speaks rapid-fire Arabic into a mobile phone held in the other.

When she hangs up the phone, clearly annoyed, she explains that she has to go to a political meeting.

Despite being given only 10 minutes' notice, she says that if she does not turn up they will all agree that electing a woman, and a singer, to the senate was not a good idea.

And she is determined not to give them that chance.

Fierce criticism is something that Malouma, one of the country's most famous musicians and also one of its 56 senators, has had to fight against all her life. the rest photo

Break-away Anglican church growing in Fairfield
By DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer
Monday, April 30, 2007

FAIRFIELD CENTER -- Retired educator and self-described dirt farmer Larry Morse of Manchester was not always a man of Christian faith.

"I was without a church for years," he said. "I was a skeptic, a doubter, a rationalist."
But, as a thinker, too, Morse said it eventually became clear to him that there was intelligent design to the world around him.

Morse said he turned to the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, a tradition-rooted assembly established in 2004 and opened in 2005 on Ten Lots Road in Fairfield.

"I have looked at the world, and it is clear that God has made it," Morse said. "If deity exists, then you may pursue that logically and you conclude that faith makes real sense. Once it was clear to me that that was sound judgment, then it was clear I had to go and find a church that was congruent with what I had come to understand."

Holy Trinity, a denomination of the Traditional Anglican Communion, is housed in the Asa Bates Memorial Chapel, built in 1909 on Ten Lots Road as a Baptist Church. the rest

Working Replica of Noah's Ark Opens
By TOBY STERLING
AP 2007-04-29

SCHAGEN, Netherlands (April 28) - The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was thrown open Saturday - you could say it was the first time in 4,000 years - drawing a crowd of curious pilgrims and townsfolk to behold the wonder.

On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for the opening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats. And one camel.

Visitors on the first day were stunned.

"It's past comprehension," said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.

"I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big."

In fact, Noah's Ark as described in the Bible was five times larger than Johan's Ark. But that still leaves enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater, where kids can watch the segment of the Disney film "Fantasia" that tells the story of Noah. the rest photo

Turning to Churches or Scripture to Cope With Debt
By JOHN LELAND
Published: April 29, 2007

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Doug Sweeney, a police officer, watched his credit card balance grow to $13,000, thinking he would never be able to pay it off. Renée Santiago had $40,000 in student loans. Susan Hancock owed $14,000 in credit card debt and could not point to anything in her home to show for it.

“I saw it going up,” Ms. Hancock said, “but I was numb. I thought, that’s just the way of life.”
When the debt got to be too much for them, instead of going to family members or financial professionals for help, they did what many Americans are doing: they turned to their church.

“You need a little help with motivation,” said Mr. Sweeney, 47, who blamed years of impulsive spending for his debt. Recently, he joined two dozen others at Southeast Christian Church for Week 9 of a 13-week debt-reduction program called Financial Peace University. Since joining the group, he had disposed of his credit cards.

“A big part of it is that it has a faith component,” he said. “God wants you to be good stewards of your money. The money’s all his.” the rest

New Episcopal bishop's vow one of unity, justice
Sunday, April 29
By Kelly Hassett

The Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal, assisted by deacon Theorphlis Borden, consecrates the host before communion during his ordination.

In a lavish ceremony intertwining centuries-old rituals with contemporary messages, a man who pledged compassion to all became Ohio's newest leader in the Episcopal faith yesterday.
The Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal was consecrated as the ninth bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio at the Ohio State University campus.

About 2,000 people from throughout the state welcomed their new bishop at Mershon Auditorium. The diocese includes 25,000 members in 40 counties of central and southern Ohio. the rest

"Thy life will I give thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest." Jeremiah 45:5

This is the unshakable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him - "I will give thee thy life." What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. "Thy life for a prey" means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life, nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in the shows of things, not in the way of property and possessions, but of blessings. All these have to go; but there is something grander that never can go - the life that is "hid with Christ in God."

Are you prepared to let God take you into union with Himself, and pay no more attention to what you call the great things? Are you prepared to abandon entirely and let go? The test of abandonment is in refusing to say - "Well, what about this?" Beware of suppositions. Immediately you allow - What about this? - it means you have not abandoned, you do not really trust God. Immediately you do abandon, you think no more about what God is going to do. Abandon means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you abandon entirely to God, He says at once, "Thy life will I give thee for a prey." The reason people are tired of life is because God has not given them anything, they have not got their life as a prey. The way to get out of that state is to abandon to God. When you do get through to abandonment to God, you will be the most surprised and delighted creature on earth; God has got you absolutely and has given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience or a refusal to be simple enough. ...Oswald Chambers photo

Wonderful Cross by Michael W. Smith

Educating Baptists on the Holy Spirit
By Audrey Barrick
Christian Post Reporter
Fri, Apr. 27 2007

A three-day conference is underway in Arlington, Texas, to teach Baptists and other Christians what Scripture says about the Holy Spirit.

Recent debates on charismatic practices within the Southern Baptist Convention prompted the Rev. Dwight McKissic to open “A Baptist Conference on The Holy Spirit” on Friday along with a host of speakers lined up to discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in the church.

McKissic, a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS), was recently involved in a controversy at the school where he had mentioned in a chapel service of experiencing private prayer language. The sermon sparked debate among Southern Baptist leaders, most of whom do not engage in or accept charismatic practices, and the video recording of the service was not posted on the seminary's website, as was regular practice. the rest

Earthquake shakes southern England
April 28, 2007

LONDON, England (AP) -- A moderate earthquake rattled parts of southeast England Saturday morning, toppling chimneys from houses and rousing residents from their beds.

Several thousand people were left without power after the quake in the county of Kent, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

"It literally felt like the whole house was being slid across like a fun-fair ride," said Sharon Hayles of Stanford, southeast England.

The British Geological Survey said the 4.3-magnitude quake struck at 8:18 a.m. (0718 GMT) and was centered at sea, 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) off the Dover coast. The area is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) southeast of London.

The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude at 4.7. the rest

Ultrasound Deemed Too Emotional by Pro-Abortionists
Kevin Roeten
April 27, 2007

The dark secret is that seventeen states have, or are considering, ultrasound legislation. The darkest part is that this ultrasound allows women to physically view their babies prior to a possible abortion. Hideously, South Carolina could be the first state to make the viewing mandatory, making women view another life in their bodies before they kill it. Who could possibly require such a thing?

But this information is not surprising. We learn that more and more Crisis Pregnancy Centers now have ultrasound equipment that allows women intending to abort, to see exactly what is to be aborted. Some ultrasounds actually show enough detail where you can observe ‘up-to-now’ hidden physical characteristics. Those centers report that anywhere from 62 to 95% of the women who had intended to abort, change their mind after an ultrasound viewing. It seems all those Planned Parenthood locations can hear the money flushing down the toilet(no pun intended).

The pro-abortionists are livid at such a display of realism. They typically call the practice ‘intimidation’ or ‘emotional blackmail’. But as Star Parker(TownHall) explains, “Intimidation or blackmail implies some kind of threat. What exactly might that threat be?” When has asking a doctor to explain something to you been better than a picture? the rest

Church History: America once an Episcopalian nation
Friday, April 27, 2007

Statistically no group of Christians held a greater influence over the founding and initial direction of the United States of America than the Episcopal Church. According to the website www.adherents.com, fifty-five percent of the founding fathers were Episcopalian. In addition, Episcopalians comprised thirty-two percent of all Supreme Court Justicesand more than twenty-five percent of all presidents in the past two and a quarter centuries of American history.

The Revolution may have been a “Presbyterian Parson's War,” as King George referred to it, but Episcopalians populated the fledgling nation. This is quite natural: the Episcopal Church was the Anglican Church, the national Church of England. Anglicanism was the official church of five colonies and held sway in most of the others. English appointed governors, military leaders, and land grantees were often required and usually quite happy to maintain membership in the Anglican Church when immigrating to the Colonies. Quite happy, that is, until the Declaration of Independence called for the end of British sovereignty over the colonies. Membership within the Anglican Church calls for submission to the British monarch. National independence led to the reorganization of Colonial Anglicans into the semi-autonomous Episcopal Church.

Comprising just under two-percent of the United States population, it would be easy to write off the Episcopal Church as a church whose power day is past. Yet, it remains a bellwether organization. In 2003, the Episcopal Church consecrated the openly homosexual Gene Robinson as Bishop of the New Hampshire Diocese. This event broke open a torrent that had long been an undercurrent within the Anglican Communion. First, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams issued what amounts to a cease and desist against the Episcopal Church. Then, in their 2006 “Message to the Nation,” the leaders of the Anglican Church of Nigeria made clear their position by declaring their “commitment to the total rejection of the evil of homosexuality which is a perversion of human dignity.” And now, perhaps most telling, is the exodus of conservative Episcopalians to the Reformed Episcopal Church (founded in 1873) and several new Episcopal bodies seeking the blessing and oversight of the British and Nigerian Church. the rest

Archbishop Expresses Deep Sorrow Over Child Abuse Suffering
The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his deep sorrow over the suffering of child abuse victims while under the care of the Church of England.
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Saturday, April 28, 2007

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has expressed his deep sorrow over the suffering experienced in child abuse cases involving the Church of England after a former choirmaster was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison this week for abusing boys in his care.

Peter Halliday, 62, formerly a choirmaster in Farnborough, Hampshire, admitted indecently assaulting boys under his care between 1985 and 1990. He was sentenced by Winchester Crown Court to two-and-a-half years in jail on Thursday and ordered to pay £2,000 to each of his three victims.

Dr Williams said that the Church had developed greater awareness and expertise, and had stringent procedures in place, but that vigilance was crucial. the rest

Brazil 'Prosperity' Preachers – Victims or Swindlers?
By Stan Lehman
Associated Press Writer
Sat, Apr. 28 2007

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - As Brazil's most infamous evangelical couple waits in electronic ankle bracelets for a cash-smuggling trial in U.S. federal court, Brazilians are taking a closer look at the husband and wife team whose case has been compared to that of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in America.

Their adoring followers refer to them as Apostle Estevam and the Bishop Sonia. But Brazilian authorities say Estevam Hernandes Filho and Sonia Haddad Moraes Hernandes used the faithful's donations to buy mansions, horse farms and other luxury properties in Brazil and the United States.

Brazil is now seeking to extradite the couple from Florida, where they await trial Monday in Miami on federal charges that they smuggled $56,000 cash — including $9,000 stashed in a Bible and $10,000 in their son's backpack — on a flight from Sao Paulo. the rest

Syphilis Rate Rises in US Homosexual and Bisexual Men but Declines in General Population
John-Henry Westen
March 22, 2007

New research has again shown the grave danger of homosexual sex acts to the human body. The grave health risks associated with such dangerous sexual behaviours is one of the prime reasons why society as a whole should oppose homosexual acts, doctors have told LifeSiteNews.com under condition of anonymity. A study which appears in the February issue of the International Journal of STD & AIDS, has found that "HIV-positive men who have sex with men are up to 90 times more likely than the general population to develop anal cancer."


Study: HIV-positive Practicing Homosexual Men 9000% More Likely to Develop Anal Cancer
John-Henry Westen
March 22, 2007

New research has again shown the grave danger of homosexual sex acts to the human body. The grave health risks associated with such dangerous sexual behaviours is one of the prime reasons why society as a whole should oppose homosexual acts, doctors have told LifeSiteNews.com under condition of anonymity. A study which appears in the February issue of the International Journal of STD & AIDS, has found that "HIV-positive men who have sex with men are up to 90 times more likely than the general population to develop anal cancer.

Mexico Catholic Lawyers to Take Abortion Law to International Rights Court
By Gudrun Schultz

MEXICO CITY, April 27, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Mexican lawyers plan to take the capitol city's new abortion law to an international human rights court next week, according to a Reuters report published earlier today.

A law permitting abortion on demand during the first three months of pregnancy passed Tuesday in Mexico City in an assembly vote dominated by left-leaning members. Lawyers argue however that the abortion law violates the Mexican Constitution, which states that human life must be defended "from conception until its natural end."

"The College of Catholic Lawyers, a secular association of believers, is going to start an international campaign to take this case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ... to show the world the lack of democracy in Mexico City," said Father Hugo Valdemar, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Mexico City. the rest

Visit by Anglican Bishop Draws Episcopal Anger
NEELA BANERJEE

WASHINGTON, April 27 —The Anglican archbishop of Nigeria, a fierce critic of the Episcopal Church for its acceptance of homosexuality, is arriving next week to install a bishop to lead congregations around the country that want to break from it.

Episcopal leaders say the visit threatens to strain further the already fragile relations between their church and the rest of the worldwide Anglican Communion. But Episcopal traditionalists say there is a growing desire among them to break away. A decision by the Episcopal Church in 2003 to consecrate an openly gay priest, V. Gene Robinson, as the bishop of New Hampshire profoundly alienated those theological traditionalists, and most of the Anglican Communion overseas, who contend that the Bible condemns homosexuality.

The Nigerian archbishop, Peter J. Akinola, will preside over a ceremony in Virginia on May 5 installing Martyn Minns, former rector of an Episcopal church there, as the bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, an offshoot of the Nigerian church. the rest

If you find it hard to believe in God, I strongly advise you to begin your search not with philosophical questions about the existence and being of God, but with Jesus of Nazareth. … If you read again the story of Jesus, and read it as an honest and humble seeker, Jesus Christ is able to reveal himself to you, and thus make God. … real to you. ...John Stott art

India: Christians denounce restrictions on worship
Draft regulations in Karnataka State would jeopardize Christian religious and social gatherings says All India Christian Council.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
By Asia News

Christians in India are rising up in protest against “ambiguous” regulations to control “public gatherings” in Karnataka State, which also aim to impose restrictions on religious monuments and processions. The Dakshina Kannada district has introduced a draft notification which intends to limit public gatherings to 5 people due to “previous public order problems”.

John Dayal, President, All India Catholic Union and All India Christian Council, expresses the Christian communities concern to AsiaNews. “This order would put many of its religious and social gatherings that generally happen in public places into jeopardy. I do appreciate the idea behind the order, but it also stops other peaceful congregations of people organized for religious and social purposes, such as those by the Christian community”. The activist feels that, “the existing provisions of the law have enough power for effective management of the law and order situation. Moreover it lacks clarity on vital issues on what constituted public places, property and public gathering”. Dayal has written a letter to the Karnataka Chief Minister, asking him to evacuate the serious risks such a law would have regarding the freedom to practice religious beliefs. the rest

Death by visitation
China: A harrowing firsthand account of forced abortion leaks out of Guangxi Province as Chinese officials command over 60 procedures in 24 hours
Priya Abraham

Wei Linrong was in labor for 19 hours, in so much pain she could barely speak. Hers was a slow, agonizing countdown: No joy of a new son would come at the end. Instead, she knew her baby would be born dead. Now, her husband says, Wei cries at any mention of their lost child.

Wei was seven months into her pregnancy, and hers was no natural stillbirth. The 34-year-old is a resident of Guangxi Province in southern China, and local officials dragged her to a hospital, injected her abdomen with chemicals to kill her baby, and lingered to make sure that he died. Her forced abortion was one of at least 60 in the province that took place under the direction of Chinese officials in Baise City during a 24-hour period April 17-18. the rest

Shutting Down Opposition
The Gay Agenda and Schoolkids
By Chuck Colson
Christian Post Guest Columnist
Thu, Apr. 26 2007

Once upon a time there was a handsome young prince. When he grew up, he began searching for a wife, but could not find a princess he wanted to marry. One day, he met another prince—and fell in love. The two men married and lived happily ever after.

They must have been the only ones who did. When the fairy tale—which ended with the newly married “couple” kissing—was read to Massachusetts first graders, Christian parents were outraged.

Two sets of parents sued the Lexington school district, claiming that district officials violated both state law and their civil rights by allowing a teacher to read to their 6-year-olds a book that normalizes homosexual love and marriage.

Not surprisingly—this is Massachusetts, after all—federal judge Mark Wolf dismissed the lawsuit. Public schools, he wrote, are “entitled to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy.”
I guess it is not possible to become a productive citizen without embracing the teachings of radical gays.

Incredibly, the judge said parents did not even have a right to pull their kids from classes that discuss and depict homosexual behavior. Allowing kids to leave, the judge said, “could send the message that gays, lesbians, and the children of same-sex parents are inferior and, therefore, have a damaging effect on those students.” the rest

Report Reveals 66 Babies Born Alive After Abortion
A report has revealed that in one year alone as many as 66 babies were born alive after abortions carried out on their mothers, before dying as a result of the procedure.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Friday, April 27, 2007

A report has revealed that in one year alone as many as 66 babies were born alive after abortions carried out on their mothers, before dying as a result of the procedure.

The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health, a government agency, has launched its report detailing stillbirths and neonatal deaths in 2005.

The report indicates that in one year alone an alarmingly high number of babies were born alive after abortions. The report also does not include data relating to aborted babies who were born alive but did not die. the rest

World Famous Evangelist John Stott Announces Retirement
Legendary theologian and evangelist Rev Dr John Stott has announced his decision to retire from public ministry at the age of 86.
by Daniel Blake
Friday, April 27, 2007

Legendary theologian and evangelist Rev Dr John Stott has announced his decision to retire from public ministry at the age of 86.

Dr Stott said that the final engagement of his illustrious career will be an address at the upcoming Keswick Convention in July.

Dr Stott is revered the world over for his ministry life. The world famous evangelist Rev Billy Graham testified him as “the most respected clergyman in the world today”.

Dr Stott, who founded the Langham Partnership International, was confirmed into the Anglican Church in 1936 and has since enjoyed working in a wide range of activities and organisations.

He held the position as chair of the Church of England Evangelical Council from 1967 to 1984, and has also been the president of two hugely influential Christian organisations, the UK branches of Scripture Union from 1965 to 1974 and the Evangelical Alliance from 1973 to 1974. the rest

Albert Mohler: "There's Not Much Lord in this Church Service"
Posted: Friday, April 27, 2007

The movement toward gender-neutral language for God has picked up steam in recent years, and liberal churches have been busy rewriting language for worship and theology. Just last year the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to "receive" a document that called for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be replaced or supplemented with triads such as "Sun, Light, and Burning Ray," "Overflowing Font, Living Water, and Flowing River," and Fire that Consumes, Sword that Divides, and Storm that Melts Mountains."

That report even suggested an explicitly female triad -- "Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, Life-Giving Womb." The report was controversial, but this kind of nonsense has been spreading for some time now. Many feminists simply insist that they cannot or will not worship a God who names Himself exclusively in male terms. Yet, to rename God is to create an idol -- a false god of our own creativity and invention. Put simply -- God gets to name Himself.

Now, a report out of Tucson, Arizona indicates just how far many churches have already gone down the road of reinventing God. As Stephanie Innes reports in the Arizona Daily Star, some churches have banished the word "Lord."

From her article:

At Tucson's largest Episcopal church, St. Philip's in the Hills, the creators of an alternative worship service called Come & See are bucking tradition by rewriting what have become prescribed ways of worship. the rest

Gay N.H. bishop to make union official
Fri, Apr. 27, 2007
By NORMA LOVE
Associated Press Writer

CONCORD, N.H. --The Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop and his partner want to be among the first gay couples in New Hampshire united under a soon-to-be-signed civil unions law.

New Hampshire is set to become the nation's fourth state to offer civil unions for gay couples after legislation approved by the state Senate on Thursday was sent to Gov. John Lynch, who has said he would sign it.

"My partner and I look forward to taking full advantage of the new law," the Rev. V. Gene Robinson told The Associated Press.

Robinson, 59, was elected the ninth Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire four years ago, making him the church's first openly gay bishop. His elevation divided the Anglican community. the rest

New Hampshire approves gay unions
Thursday, 26 April 2007

The bill was passed without difficulty in the state senate Lawmakers in New Hampshire have approved same-sex civil unions, giving legal recognition to gay partnerships in the north-eastern US state.

State Governor John Lynch would sign the bill into law within days, his spokesman said.
Gay marriage is legal in only one of the 50 US states - Massachusetts. New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont also offer some sort of civil unions. the rest

Stephen Hawking soars weightlessly
Apr 27, 2007
Mike Schneider Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.–Free of his wheelchair and tethered only to heart rate and blood pressure monitors, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking yesterday fulfilled a dream of floating weightless on a zero-gravity jet, a step he hopes leads to further space adventures.

"It was amazing," Hawking said after the flight, which took off from the space shuttle's runway at the Kennedy Space Center.

The modified jet, named G-Force One but nicknamed the vomit comet, carried Hawking, his four doctors and two nurses, and dozens of other passengers up to 7,200 metres over the Atlantic off the coast of Florida.

Hawking's nurses lifted him up and carried him to the front of the jet, where they placed him atop a special foam pillow.

The jet then climbed to around 9,600 metres and made a parabolic dive back to 7, 200 metres, allowing Hawking and the other passengers to experience weightlessness for about 25 seconds. the rest

Safe haven of church may not be good for you, minister says
by Celeste Kennel-Shank
Apr 26, 2007

The Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor, once named one of the 12 most effective preachers in English, says attending church every week may not be what's best for your soul.

Going to church every week may be bad for your soul, says one minister.

“What if leaving is not a terrible thing?" Taylor said. "What if leaving church is what church is all about, at least as long as the door remains open for people to come back again?"

She drew from her recent memoir, “Leaving Church,” about her decision to leave an Episcopal church she pastored, encouraging people to take risks in leaving jobs or institutions where they feel safe. the rest

Bush meeting with Pope Benedict XVI confirmed
Friday, April 27, 2007

Vatican City (dpa) - US President George W Bush is scheduled to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on June 9, the US embassy to the Holy See confirmed in a statement Friday.

The US president plans to visit the pope after attending a June 8-10 Group of Eight summit in Germany.

The June 9 meeting will be the first between Bush and Joseph Ratzinger since the latter's April 2005 election as pope. link

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Mark 4:35-38

When Jesus says, “Let us go,” we expect smooth sailing ahead. But these verses show something different. When Jesus says, “Let us go,” do you focus on the word “go” or on the word “us.” Jesus wants us to focus on both words. The word “go” is a calling, and the word “us” is a relationship. Following Jesus is a calling and a relationship.

Because Jesus did not respond according to the disciples’ expectations, they accused him of not caring about their lives. Like the disciples, we sometimes accuse Jesus about his lack of care for us. But the cross is Jesus’ ultimate sign of care for us. He gave up his life to die on the cross so that we might have life in God. Then he gave us his Holy Spirit as a personal sign of his eternal relationship with us. The next time you accuse Jesus in your heart of not caring for you, remember the cross and the gift of his Holy Spirit in you. ...Jonathan Bissel
the rest at Albany Intercessor art

How Great Is Our God by Chris Tomlin

Chris Tomlin, Aaron Shust Dominate Dove Awards
By Kevin Jackson
Christian Post Reporter
Thu, Apr. 26 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The biggest night for Christian music took place last night in Nashville, with awards given to the most talented Christian artists.

Chris Tomlin accepts the male vocalist of the year award at the Dove Awards show Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Nashville, Tenn. The Dove Awards are given by the Gospel Music Association.
Among the big winners at the Dove Awards, which is the most prestigious award given to a Christian musician, worship star Chris Tomin and newcomer Aaron Shust raked in the most accolades with six and three Doves, respectively. the rest

Episcopal Head: Anglican Churches Will Follow 'Journey' to Pro-Gay Stance
After affirming that the 2008 Lambeth Conference will not be cancelled over sexuality debates, the Anglican Communion is moving forward with plans for the worldwide assembly.
by Lillian Kwon, Christian Today US Correspondent
Thursday, April 26, 2007

After affirming that the 2008 Lambeth Conference will not be cancelled over sexuality debates, the Anglican Communion is moving forward with plans for the worldwide assembly.

Next year's decennial conference will be different, however. Rather than a parliamentary debating chamber with a string of resolutions, it will be a time for "spiritual reflection, learning, sharing and discerning," said Archbishop of Melanesia, Sir Ellison Pogo.

The 77 million-member Anglican Communion had been considering whether to cancel the global event in the wake of heightened controversy over the Episcopal Church's recent actions and stance favouring the consecration of homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions. the rest

Ki-moon to meet Pope Benedict
April 26 2007

United Nations - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that Pope Benedict XVI has accepted his invitation to visit the United Nations.

During a meeting with the pope at the Vatican last week, Ban said he invited the pontiff to visit the United Nations "at a mutually convenient time."

"I am very much happy that he accepted my invitation to visit United Nations," the secretary-general told reporters.No date has been set for the pope's visit to UN headquarters in New York. the rest

Boom In Christianity Reshapes Methodists
Wednesday, 25 Apr 2007
By RACHEL ZOLL
AP Religion Writer

The United Methodist Church is the latest Protestant group caught in the shifting currents of world Christianity. While the American denomination is shrinking at home, its congregations in the developing world are growing explosively.

Over the last decade, the number of United Methodists outside the U.S. more than tripled. The denomination's largest district is now in the West African nation of Ivory Coast. At the next national church assembly, the 2008 General Conference in Texas, overseas delegates will have more say than ever in the church's future -- as many as 30 percent could come from abroad.

"Trends suggest that Christianity is going to continue to grow as a global phenomenon, and denominations that have thought of themselves as being predominantly North American in character are going to have to get over that," said William Lawrence, dean of the Perkins School of Theology, a Methodist seminary in Dallas. the rest

Spitzer Pushing Bill to Shore Up Abortion Rights
By DANNY HAKIM
Published: April 26, 2007

ALBANY, April 25 — Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday that he planned to introduce legislation to overhaul the state’s pioneering but antiquated abortion law, shoring up abortion rights in New York.

The proposal follows the United States Supreme Court's decision last week to uphold the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, at a time when several other states are moving to tighten restrictions on abortion.

New York took an early role in legalizing abortion, and the governor’s plan could take on much broader significance if the Supreme Court ever returns abortion law to the discretion of the states. Still, it is far from certain that the legislation will pass the Republican-led State Senate.

Mr. Spitzer’s bill, the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, would update current law, which, for example, does not include a provision allowing for abortions late in pregnancies to protect a woman’s health. New York state laws on the books also treat abortion as a homicide, but with broad exceptions that allow the procedure in many cases. the rest

ACNS: Lambeth Conference Plans move forward
April 26, 2007

Decision-makers met last week to continue their planning for progress plans for the Lambeth Conference 2008.

The conference ‘Design Group’, appointed by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spent five days from April 16 to 20 working on looking the conference structures, purposes, issues and programme.

This international group is chaired by the Archbishop of Melanesia, Sir Ellison Pogo.
He said:

“We feel excited as we prepare through prayer and meditation on the time the bishops will spend together in July 2008.

“Perhaps most important will be the many opportunities for encounter, fellowship and conversation that gathering provides.” the rest

First designer babies to beat breast cancer
Mark Henderson, Science Editor
April 26,2007

Two couples whose families have been ravaged by breast cancer are to become the first to screen embryos to prevent them having children at risk of the disease, The Times has learnt.

Tests will allow the couples to take the unprecedented step of selecting embryos free from a gene that carries a heightened risk of the cancer but does not always cause it. The move will reignite controversy over the ethics of embryo screening.

An application to test for the BRCA1 gene was submitted yesterday by Paul Serhal, of University College Hospital, London. It is expected to be approved within months as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has already agreed in principle.

Opponents say that the test is unethical because it involves destroying some embryos that would never contract these conditions if allowed to develop into children. Even those that did become ill could expect many years of healthy life first. the rest

Albert Mohler: The Bishop Condescends
Thursday, April 26, 2007

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the Episcopal Church USA visited Boston this week and while there granted a noteworthy interview to The Boston Globe. In the course of the interview, Bishop Jefferts Schori described her church's election of an openly-homosexual man as Bishop of New Hampshire as "a great blessing" and said, "I don't believe that there is any will in this church to move backward."

We can safely interpret that statement to mean that the Episcopal Church is unlikely to do what the Anglican Communion has asked -- to repent of its sin and desist from any further elections of homosexual bishops or blessings of homosexual unions. The Presiding Bishop's comments are in direct contradiction to the solemn demands of the world-wide Anglican Communion.

In the interview with The Boston Globe, Jefferts Schori made her point clearly. Consider this section of the paper's report:

In an interview during a visit to Boston, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori compared the gay rights struggle to battles over slavery and women's rights, and said she believes that it has become a vocation for the Episcopal Church "to keep questions of human sexuality in conversation, and before not just the rest of our own church, but the rest of the world."

Jefferts Schori said that it could take 50 years for the debate over homosexuality to be resolved, but that she believes it will happen. She said she hopes that the Anglican Communion, an umbrella organization including the Episcopal Church and the Church of England, will stay together. the rest

Study Says Hispanics Alter U.S. Catholicism
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: April 26, 2007

The influx of Hispanic immigrants to the United States is transforming the Roman Catholic Church as well as the nation’s religious landscape, according to a study of Hispanics and religion released yesterday.

The study, conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, found that half of Hispanic Catholics practice a “distinctive form” of charismatic Catholicism that includes speaking in tongues, miraculous healings and prophesying — practices more often associated with Pentecostalism. Among Catholics who are not Hispanic, only 12 percent are involved in these practices.

The study also found that two-thirds of Hispanics choose to worship in “ethnic congregations” that have Hispanic clergymen and Spanish-language services, and where a majority of congregants are Hispanic. These congregations are cropping up throughout the country, even in areas where Hispanics are sparse. the rest

LATimes: Latinos reshaping nation's religious landscape, study says

Rabbis try to pass pro-gay resolution
By MATTHEW WAGNER
April 25, 2007

A group of Israeli and US Conservative Rabbis will try to pass a resolution next week at the Annual Convention of the Rabbinical Assembly (RA) in Cambridge, Massachusetts that would force Israel's rabbinic seminary to admit homosexuals.

"Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has called for full civil rights for Gays and Lesbians," write the proponents of the resolution, "therefore be it resolved that the RA calls for all of the rabbinical schools the world over that ordain Conservative/Masorti rabbis to admit applicants without regard to sexual orientation."

Rabbi David Lazar, who has been conducting same-sex commitment ceremonies for over a decade in open disregard for Conservative Judaism's official stance, is one of the rabbis behind the initiative. the rest

Public consulted over embryo work
Wednesday, 25 April 2007

UK regulators have launched a public consultation on whether scientists should be allowed to create human-animal hybrid embryos.

Ministers proposed outlawing such work after unfavourable public opinion.

But a recent report from the Science and Technology Committee warned a total ban was "unnecessarily prohibitive" and could harm UK science.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority (HFEA) will announce its final recommendations in the Autumn.

Applications by King's College London and the University of Newcastle for permission to produce embryos that would be 99.9% human and 0.1% animal have been sent to the HFEA, but have been put on hold. the rest

Nuns killed for convent treasure
By Malcolm Brabant BBC News, Athens
Wednesday, 25 April 2007

The Peloponnese is home to many historic monasteries and churchesPolice in southern Greece are hunting the killers of two elderly nuns found suffocated in their hillside convent.

The motive appears to be robbery - the killers are believed to have taken a crucifix containing wood reputedly from the cross on which Jesus Christ died.

The two murdered nuns were 83 and 61 years old. the rest

Sometimes I think of life as a big wagon wheel with many spokes. In the middle is the hub. Often in ministry, it looks like we are running around the rim trying to reach everybody. But God says, "Start in the hub; live in the hub. Then you will be connected with all the spokes, and you won't have to run so fast." ...Henri J. M. Nouwen photo

Rector of Holy Innocents', Atlanta, Resigns
04/25/2007

The Rev. David A. Galloway has resigned as rector of Holy Innocents’ Church in Atlanta and voluntarily submitted to godly judgment imposed on him by the Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, Bishop of Atlanta, who held a question-and-answer session with members of the parish April 18.

In February, a routine parish audit uncovered “some legitimate expenses and others that were highly questionable,” according to Bishop Alexander who was interviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Parish leaders notified the diocese, and an outside accounting firm was contacted to do a more thorough investigation, Bishop Alexander said. the rest

Reflections on the Life & Times of Boris Yeltsin
Rev. Richard Kew
Wednesday, April 25, 2007

This morning I watched some of the funeral service for Boris Yeltsin, which was broadcast on the BBC World Television News on BBC America. It took place in Christ our Savior Cathedral in Moscow, itself a product of Yeltsin's years as President of Russia.

The cathedral had been blown up by the Soviets under Stalin and the area was turned into the largest outdoor swimming pool in the world. In 1995 my elder daughter, Olivia, and I leaned over the railings and watched some of the last swimmers to use the pool enjoying themselves in the sunshine, yet it was soon to make way for a rebuilding of the cathedral, a symbol of the seachange that had taken place in Russia. the rest photo

Robert Gagnon: Did Jesus Approve of a Homosexual Couple in the Story of the Centurion at Capernaum?
Apr. 24, 2007

A rebuttal of the oft-repeated but historically baseless argument that Jesus approved of a homosexual relationship in the story of centurion at Capernaum.
Essay: Here

Billboards Urge Second Look At Bible's View Of Homosexuals

Scientists discover new fatal strain of virus
From our ANI Correspondent
Washington, April 24

Scientists have discovered a new infectious virus, the genetic study of which may help enhance the safety of organ transplant recipients.

Researchers at Columbia University, who made the discovery, say that the new virus is related to, but distinct from, known strains of lymphocytic choreomeningitis virus (LCMV), which has been implicated in a small number of cases of disease transmission by organ transplantation.

The study for the identification of the virus began after the unfortunate deaths of three organ transplant recipients in Australia in January. All of them had received organs from the same deceased donor last December. the rest