News, November 2004

November 30th, resumé.

(Church and Sport news click more) Ex-president Aznar defended his record yesterday before the 3/11 parliementary commission, investigating the terrorist killings - up to 2.5 million were watching the 11 hours live on TVE2, the commision president says his continbutions open up new avenues of investigation; cabinet met to prepare new vote on membership of judiciary; 9 injured in work on new high speed rail tunnel north of Madrid; 100 illegals dead so far this year attempting to land on Spanish soil; heavy snow and rain warning in Madrid, La Mancha, Galicia and Extremadura. Over the past 2 weeks other major headlines have included: Basque Lehendakari believes we are in a post-ETA time ; 63 women have died in Spain so far this year at the hands of their partners; government defeated in Cortes on appointment of new leading judges, due to absenteeism - vote to be repeated next week; Costa del Sol: new DNA evidence to link Briton Tony King with death of Rocio Wanninckhof in 2002; figures show 2004 will see more homes built than ever before. 90 arrested across Spain in child porn ring round-up; Imam of Mataró (Barcelona) arrested - on orders from judge Garzón- together with 31 others in on-going anti-terror operation; anaesthetist in Valencia infected 276 patients with hepatitis C - prosecutor demands over 2000 years; 2 boats with 92 illegals detained off Motril, Andalusia; Civil Guard in Asturias under fiscal investigation for concealing evidence re 3/11; 2nd anniversary of the Prestige (oil tanker and worst ever such disaster in Spain) sinking in Galicia - oil slicks reached the coasts of Spain, Portugal and France; new revelations out about the involvement of two Spaniards in 3/11 preparations up to 3 years before the event; a new 'extraordinary legalisation' of illegal immigrants is likely to take place between February and April; 7 illegal immigrants lost overboard as detained boat overturned when passengers attempting to board police patrol boat - 29 saved; boat with 56 illegals detained off Almería, Andalusia; fishing boat sinks, 1 dead, 2 missing; bodies of soldiers who died in Turkey air incident last year being exhumed after mix-up of remains.

Sport:

Football (soccer): A new book by Spanish evangelical leader Jaime Fernandez is aiming to reach English priemiership footballers - more at http://www.protestantedigital.com/hemeroteca/052/spain.htm#5 ; Barça now has two evangelicals, as Edmilson has joined Sylvinho there - both are Brazilians and members of Athletes for Christ - however, Edmilson is sadly injured and will be half the season off the field; Spain won England game; Barcelona continues good run at top of league; champions' League round - Barcelona through on draw, Deportivo out, Madrid drew and Valencia won allowing hope but uncertainty for next round.
Motor: Bikes: In 250 19 year old Dani Pedrosa won championship; Rally: Carlos Sainz won 26th Rally victory in Argentina to become record holder of rally victories, he has retired as of the end of the 2004 season F1 Final championship result: Fernando Alonso finished in 4th position; Paris - Dakar Nani Roma, bike winner in '04, transfers to a car for the '05 rally.
Cycling: the 2004 Vuelta Ciclista de España was one of the most exciting for years, with the final day's chrono into Madrid determining the winner, Roberto Heras, who held off new-comer Santi Perez, the Vuelts's revelation and winner of several stages including the last one; this was Heras's 3rd victory in the race; Australia's Matthew White hung on in valliant last position for most of the 3 week race; course (and other daily info) is available at: http://www.lavuelta.com/04/ingles/recorrido/index.asp
Tennis Fed Cup: Spain put out by France, 5-0; Davis Cup team through to final against USA after defeating France; Seville eagerly awaits December encounter - all tickets sold out in an hour.

Churches

Trust to be set up by government to finance social activity of minority religions The Socialist government has proposed the establishment of a trust, presided over by the justice minister, to provide finance for certain social activities practiced by the 3 recognised religious minorities, Evangelicals, Muslims and Jews, through their churches and NGOs, activities such as cultural integration, the study of religions, family support projects, women and young people. Public worship will not, however, be subsidised.

New book about the Gypsy revival A book has just been published on this subject, “Gitanos Pentecostales”, by Editorial Signatura, written by a teacher at Seville University, Manuela Cantón

Girona Gospel Concerts A series of four concerts took place in October. Several thousand people attended, over 3,000 in Girona capital alone, according to a local newspaper. More: http://www.prayforspain.com/projects/index11.html

Rights claimed: Protestants, Jews and Muslims, through their official representative bodies, claim the same advantageous financial rights as Roman Catholics. The 3 recognised minority religions have for years demanded an end to the unconstitutional financing by the 'lay' Spanish State of the Catholic Church. Now they are changing their tune and demanding that they, too, should be financed by the State. The argument is primarily economic, but the events of 3/11 and the change of government have caused some significant rethinking all round. Evidently, there is concern about state intervention in church life which has prevented the protestants from adopting this position before, but the current state of things causes much discrimination. Evangelicals will surely be divided on this new position!

Both Roman Catholic and Evangelical churches are campaigning against the government plans to extend 'marriage' to same sex couples.

Sources El Mundo, TVE, EP, ACPress, Ferede