German government targets Christian homeschoolers!

[Perun]

I find this disgusting!


http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=42476

Germany continues targeting homeschoolers

Group of Baptist families face possible loss of children to state

Posted: January 21, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Ron Strom


German Christians who choose to homeschool their children are coming under continued enforcement action by the government, with one group of families fearful they may lose custody of their kids.

According to Richard Guenther, an American expatriate who lives in Germany, several families in the town of Paderborn currently "are being heavily persecuted for their faith."


The families are part of one of two Baptist denominations in the area that reportedly split over the issue of whether or not to continue homeschooling the younger generation.

A meeting is scheduled for today with immigration officials, Guenther says, since the families are Russian-Germans who moved to Germany after the demise of the Soviet Union.

Guenther says if the parents' attempt to negotiate with government officials fails, the parents could have their children removed from their homes. Thirteen children are threatened with such action.

"The claim of the parents is that the local school is raising the children to be promiscuous and the girls prostitutes," Guenther writes in an e-mail. "Christian family values are being replaced by the state's moral values, which are designed to create autonomous individuals. The authority of the parents is not being recognized. As is typical, the parents are declared to be incompetent to raise their children. …"

Guenther shares some of the concerns the Christian families have with state education in Germany:

"Here, the state is replacing the Christian worldview with those of the New Age, particularly the use of its psychological techniques and occultism. Relaxation techniques are being used in school, which include darkening the room and having the small children lie down beside each other, boys and girls together. Using a feather, they are to explore the neighboring child to find out where the most sensitive part of his body lies. They are encouraged to touch their neighbor anywhere on his body.

"Fourth-grade students are shown videos of sexual intercourse and how a baby comes forth from this act. The narrator of the video assures the students that this sexual act feels good and is fun. Homosexuality must be accepted as normal and the children are encouraged to examine themselves as to their own sexual orientation. Darwin's evolution theory must be accepted as truth."

Though the German government talks of a mandatory school-attendance law, the homeschooling families say no such law exists. Instead, they cite articles of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience and parental rights that are supposed to be upheld.

As WorldNetDaily reported, Seven homeschooling fathers from the Twelve Tribes Community in Klosterzimmern spent several days in jail last fall for refusing to pay fines that were imposed on them for failing to send their children to government schools.

Other German families have escaped the nation to keep from having their children seized.

American homeschooling advocate Bruce Shortt, who has been involved in encouraging Baptist parents in the U.S. to school their own children, has contacted the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the homeschooling families and encourages others to follow suit.

Shortt wrote to a German official at the Embassy:

"Is your government really intent on perpetuating unflattering stereotypes of Germans and Germany? Even Bulgaria tolerates some homeschooling, and it is fully legal in Romania. Do you want the free world to see German educational policy as more backward than that of Bulgaria? Do you want Germany to be known as a repressive society?"

Thomas Wriessnig, head of Cultural Department of the German Embassy responded to Shortt, saying, "Homeschooling may be equally effective in terms of test scores. It is important to keep in mind, however, that school teaches not only knowledge but also social conduct. Daily contact with other students from all walks of life promotes tolerance, encourages dialogue among people of different beliefs and cultures, and helps students to become responsible citizens."

Wriessnig said Germany had to counter "the rise of parallel societies that are based on religion" and force religious minorities to "remain open and engage in dialogue with those who think differently."

Shortt told WND: "The situation in Germany gives one a glimpse of what life would be like if the NEA [National Education Association] were in control here."

[Menydh]

You think that's bad? Hold your breath here..

Pope warns Spain's leader on gay rites and abortion


ROME Pope John Paul II expressed dismay Monday with plans by Prime Minister José Luís Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain to legalize gay marriage and ease abortion restrictions, urging the new Socialist leader not to let the country stray from its Christian origins..
Facing what the Vatican sees as a deterioration of Christian values in one of Europe's most densely Roman Catholic countries, the 84-year-old pope told Zapatero that Spain had to conserve moral and cultural values, as well as its Christian roots. The appeal echoed the pope's campaign for a mention of God and Christianity in the preamble to the European Union's new constitution. That effort seemed to come to an unsatisfying end for the Vatican on Friday, when, after two years of negotiations, European leaders agreed upon a final draft that omitted any mention of Christianity..
"When you look at the results, it hasn't been a very good week for this pope," said Giovanni Maria Vian, who teaches contemporary church history at Sapienza University in Rome. But Zapatero's visit here Monday also underlined the Vatican's continued relevance, especially in overwhelmingly Catholic countries like Spain. Some analysts said that a visit with the pope helped gild Zapatero's image in a country where more than 90 percent of the population is Catholic..
"I want to repeat my sincere thanks for that friendly visit," John Paul said in brief remarks in Spanish after the meeting, according to The Associated Press, which reported that the pope also had assured Zapatero that the Vatican intends to cooperate with Spain in promoting peace and combating violence and terrorism..
Zapatero described his papal audience as "very cordial and warm" and said he expressed his government's intention of having good relations with the Vatican, the Spanish bishops and the church, the AP reported. "The strategy is to keep existing accords in effect and maintain an open relationship with the Vatican," Zapatero told reporters after the meeting..
The Spanish leader did not meet with any Italian government officials during his visit here. "The positions are very clear," said Vian. "The Spanish government respects" the Vatican's position "but it will chart its own course." Zapatero's Socialist government, which came to to power in April, has proposed legislation that includes measures to speed up divorce proceedings and allow women to have an abortion in the first weeks of pregnancy. Under current laws, abortion is available only to women in cases of rape or incest, or when a health risk is posed to the mother or fetus..
Zapatero also has announced his intentions to make homosexual marriage legal. Homosexuality was banned in Spain until after Franco's death in 1975. Zapatero also has indicated that he is open to the possibility of gay couples adopting children..
International Herald Tribune


http://www.iht.com/articles/525990.html