European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 23, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday january 23, 1993 religion the stars and stripes Paga 11new sex education rules put stiff limits on churches. I from wire reports Washington a an out of court Deal made on the last night of the Bush administration May make it impossible for churches to teach their Faith when they use Federal funds to pay for sex education to teen agers. After nearly a decade Long court Battle that once went to the supreme court a constitutional Challenge to churches that use so called Quot chastity act Quot Money was settled late tuesday night a two Days before the trial was to Start. A a the restrictions written into the settlement appeared to make it More difficult for roman Catholic organizations to qualify for Federal Grants if they insist that the sex education be taught by clergy or include Dogma. Under the settlement approved by a Federal judge Here government financed programs to teach teen agers not to have sex and avoid pregnancy May have to cover up All the religious symbols if the program is held in a Church itself or in a parochial school. A stained Glass window however would not have to be covered. Barricades sometimes would have to be set up to obscure the altar and other religious insignia or objects if a Sanctuary itself were  Channel sees threat Washington a religious bodies operating the vision interfaith satellite network visa charge that a new Cable to Law violates the first amendments religious Freedom clauses and could Force the interfaith Channel off the air. The complaint filed in Federal District court against the Federal communications commission says a key provision forcing Cable systems to carry local religious stations would restrict Visnes Access to local  Quot ability to disseminate its diverse religious message will be limited and reduced solely by Means of governmental regulations Quot the suit says. Furthermore the must carry provisions Quot will cause the preference of the religious doctrine approved by the local religious  other Cable networks including Turner broadcasting system inc., also arc pressing constitutional challenges to the 1992 Law expanding the fecs Power to regulate the Cable  cuts stress Book says new York a in a new Book called give to live How giving can change your life author Douglas m. Lawson cites various studies suggesting that giving to others provides health Benefit. He says one 10-Ycar study of physical and social activities of 2,700 men in Tecumseh mich., found that those who did regular Volunteer work had death rates a times lower than those who did no to. He says another study by Harvard a George Valient in which male graduates were monitored Over a 40-year period found that altruism helped them Quot overcome stress and improve their  group visits Mideast new York a the Genera Secretary of the National Council of churches recently visited Israel and surrounding Arab countries with a group of 24 jews christians and muslims of the . Inter religious committee for peace in the Middle East. After the trip the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell said Quot we were told again and again that peace is the Only option for Israel the Arab states and the palestinians and that without a More Active . Role in the peace process this historic Opportunity for peace could be  hails Start ii Washington a the chairman of the roman Catholic Bishops committee on International policy has hailed the .-russian Start ii agreement for Quot deep cuts in nuclear missiles and urged further Steps toward nuclear disarmament. Archbishop John r. Roach of St. Part Minneapolis added Quot these Steps must be part of the larger and More important process of continued political change that will ensure that the cold War and cold War armaments remain relics of an unhappy  water is on tap for pilgrims to Israel Jerusalem apr Jordan River water is a Little like the pet Rock or genuine Berlin Wall fragments. Its hard to Tell from other water but pilgrims snap it up in Small Jesus snap cd plastic bottles for up to $7,50 for a few sprinkles. It was in the Jordan River that Jesus was baptized by John according to Matthew 3 13, and for centuries Christian pilgrims have followed in his footsteps to immerse then selves in the Muddy Waters. For those unable to make the Pil a vial of Jordan water has Jordan a water Grimage become 1 the next Best thing. A you know one time they went Down to get the water from the Jordan. But today we have the water pipe a a merchant in Jerusalem a ancient walled City said with a Wink. The holy water merchants have heard All the snide remarks Over the years but they say their wares arc the real thing. No one knows exactly How much Jordan water is sent abroad annually. The main importers arc Italy Germany the Philippines South Africa the United states and latin America. A Salesman for a company near _ Tel Aviv speaking on condition of anonymity said that twice a year stainless steel tankers collect,4,000 Gallons from the Jordan where it leaves the sea of Galilee at a spot where pilgrims Are baptized. It is sent to a packing Plant in Central Israel. Photographers Arentt permitted to film the operation he said. Quot we done to want to reveal any Market  Syria Quot a a a Gaton height Jerusalem Egypt 25 Tun. To stretch a Point israeli tap water could also be considered a valid substitute. One third of the country a household water Conics from the sea of a Tilic and the Jordan River. Bottles sold at Nicholas. Shaban that a shop in Jerusalem a Christian Quarter come with a certificate of authenticity from the syrian orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem. But Shaban tha admits he cannot be sure because he does no to personally witness the water being drawn from the River. Quot i can take the water from a tap or ask a bus Driver to get me some when he passes the Jordan River but i really wont know where he got it Quot Shab Aitha said. Quot but its not the certificate that counts Quot he added. Quot in the end the holiness of the water is a  Shaban that a shop is one of dozens Selling icons and souvenirs around the Church of the holy sepulchre venerated As the site of Christ s Tomb. Amid the crucifixes Mother of Pearl Rosary beads Oliv Wood nativity scenes and bowls of incense pilgrims from All Over the Christian world Stock up on holy water bottles. Some have them blessed by priests in the Church of the holy sepulchre. Quot the water is very popular with the american and mexican tourists Quot Shaba Itna said. His Cousin Tawfick does no to Sec the Point. Quot look its hot Here Quot he said. Quot the Jordan River evaporates and mixes in the Clouds and then Rains Down All Over the world. You really done to need to buy holy  a . Evangelists often interfere with native russian churches by George w. Cornell a religion writer at an orthodox Seminary in St. Petersburg Russia an american Church visitor observed several . Evangelists trying to implant their particular Brand of christianity on students training for the russian churches ministry Quot a variety of Western evangelists would Corner students in the dormitory hallways or other places trying to proselytize them a said the Rev. Elaine Stanovsky head of the greater Church Council of greater Seattle. Quot i was appalled Quot she added in an interview. Quot it broke my  she said such activity undercuts indigenous russian churches which include the predominant russian orthodox Church and also Baptist pentecostal methodist and other protestant churches that have survived 70 years of oppression. Quot it s Plain arrogance for Western evangelists to go in and say we know Best How to evangelize the nation a More Humble and ecumenical approach is to support revitalization of the churches that have endure All those years Quot Stanovsky said. She said Many . Churches Are doing that a helping indigenous churches restore property and providing Western resources and Relief Aid a but some groups with misplaced evangelistic Zeal Are Quot scrabbling for the Faith Stanovsky a United methodist Isnit the first to consider outsiders wooing converts in Russia As potentially offensive and harmful. Similar criticism has come from others. Lutheran Bishop Eero Huovinen of Helsinki Finland commenting on an evangelizing group s plans for preaching missions last fall in cities along the Volga River said Quot the temptation of Rich Western christians is to Rush to the East with ready made programs instead of openly listening to the needs and Wisdom of christians who have suffered so much. Quot Russia is not a confession ally Neutral country where you can pass by the churches that already exist there. The Mission work directed eastward is Only justified if those churches which already exist and their Faith Are taken be its Plain arrogance Lor Western evangelists to go in and say we know beat How to evangelize the nation. A More Humble and ecumenical approach is to support revitalization of the churches that have endured All those years a the Rov. Elpirio Stanovsky of the greater Church Council of greater Seattle piously Quot the Rev. Don Kammer dinner interim president of the Southern Baptist foreign missions Board said baptists and other christians in the former soviet Union for years have surmounted Quot the most difficult trials of their lives Quot westerners Quot wont do anything of Long lasting value unless we go first to them As learners Quot he told the women a missionary Union. Conflicts have Arisen even Between some indigenous. Churches particularly in the Ukraine where orthodox and newly restored Castern rite Catholic churches have feuded Over jurisdiction and property. From the West both roman catholics and protestant denominations have directed a steady Stream of Aid to christians in the former communist countries including bibles Christian teaching materials food Relief and some personnel. Generally the work is done in cooperation with existing East european churches thousands of whose buildings have been returned to them by the new parliament led government. Many need repairs but congregations have swelled. Besides the indigenously based work by . Denominations however Many Para Church groups and Independent evangelists have flocked to the Region often functioning unilaterally without regard to russian churches