Victory for Christian sacked over gay weddings
Margaret Jones, a registrar who refused to marry same-sex couples, says she was sacked for her beliefs not for her actions. A marriage registrar has been vindicated by a council’s reversal of its decision to sack her for refusing to marry same-sex couples because of her Christian beliefs. Margaret Jones, 54, who had been dismissed for ‘bringing the council into disrepute’, was offered her job back after an appeal hearing ruled that her employer had failed to take a ‘balanced view’ of her religious beliefs. While the decision does not create a legal precedent, it is likely to give people greater rights to express religious beliefs in the workplace because it was based on official guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Paul Diamond, barrister to the Christian Legal Centre, which advised Jones early in her battle, said: ‘All good employers should follow this precedent, and practising Christians should no longer fear expressing their beliefs.’
Faith, refusing medicine and dependence on God = long life
A 105-year-old South Carolina, US woman refuses to take medication, choosing instead to rely on the Lord to keep her well. Dorothy Geiger is a former minister who just recently stepped down from the pulpit. She credits her faith in the Lord for strengthening and maintaining her well-being in her advanced age. ‘Hallelujah. Glory to God,’ she told WLTX. ‘I'm still doing what he tells me to do.’ Mrs Geiger founded God's Miracle House of Prayer for All People after the Lord told her to become a pastor. ‘God told me to build a church and he told me where to build it at,’ she said. ‘And I built it.’ The Orangeburg woman also believes she is being obedient by refusing to take any medications. ‘I don't take medicine,’ she said matter-of-factly. ‘I depend on God.’ Her goddaughter, Myra Elmore, said that her godmother's faith has been an inspiration and encouragement to her over the years.
Scotland’s referendum
Jim Murphy, the former Scottish Secretary, was forced last week to suspend his ‘100 towns in 100 days tour’ when groups of independence supporters started disrupting the events. They shouted down members of the public, intimidated his staff, threw eggs and called him names during events in Montrose, Dundee and Kirkcaldy. Mr Murphy alleged they had coordinated their actions using Yes Scotland social media. We are asked to pray for no more ugly scenes that disrupt campaigning. We are asked to pray for the campaign leaders to display strong leadership by speaking out loud and clear against unacceptable behaviour. Also please pray that the police will take firm action against bad behaviour at all events leading up to the referendum. See also:
Wales: NATO summit Thursday and Friday
Last Friday kitchens, toilets and washing facilities were installed at the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) peace camp at Newport's Tredegar Park, where it is estimated thousands of protesters will camp ahead of the NATO summit for more than 150 heads of state and ministers at Newport's Celtic Manor Resort. Police have taken over Rodney Parade sports ground to manage extra policing. Security will be provided by 9,500 police drawn from 43 police forces with 12 miles of security fencing already in place at key sites in Cardiff and in Newport. It is not known how many campaigners will descend on Newport from CND snd Stop the War peace campaigners arriving in coaches from London, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle and foreign campaigners from further afield. At the summit the UK will call for increased defence spending by NATO's 28 member states and has set an example by a decision to order almost 600 armoured vehicles. This will be the UK’s largest single order for such vehicles for more than 30 years and underpin nearly 1,300 jobs across the UK. See
British Christians intimidated into hiding their faith
Former Conservative Attorney General has suggested ‘an aggressive form of secularism’ in Britain is threatening to ‘sanitise’ the country of faith and exclude Christians from the public space. Dominic Grieve says he finds it extraordinary that Christians are being sacked or disciplined for expressing their beliefs in workplaces and public bodies and being forced to hide their beliefs. Describing Christianity as a ‘powerful force for good’ in modern Britain, Mr Grieve calls on public figures not to be afraid of ‘doing God’ and he believes politicians have a duty to explain how their beliefs inform their decisions.describes himself as a ‘practising Anglican’ and says Britain is ‘underpinned’ by Christian ethics and principles. However, during Mr Grieve's tenure as Attorney General, government lawyers submitted to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that Christians should leave their religious beliefs at home or move to another job when faced with a clash between the requirements of their faith and their employment.
Sex education for seven-year-olds' say Lib Dems
How should we respond to British jihadism?
The news that there are 'significant numbers' of Britons fighting for extremist Islamist groups abroad, one of whom is implicated in the murder of US journalist James Foley, has prompted calls for action against radical Islamism in the UK. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that the government was aware of 'significant numbers' of Britons fighting for Islamist organisations abroad. ‘That's one of the reasons why this organisation represents such a direct threat to the UK's national security. Many of these people may seek at some point to return to the UK and they would then pose a direct threat to our domestic security.’ Christians from across the political spectrum are calling for action regarding jihadism in the UK, from better border controls to sharing the love of the gospel.
'Bullied' teen Joshua Davies told he will not walk again
A vulnerable teenage boy, told he will never walk again after a bridge fall. He was trying to escape from bullies, say his family. Joshua Davies, 18, of Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, broke his spine in four places in the fall. South Wales Police said it has carried out ‘a thorough investigation’ into assault complaints. Joshua and his friend were walking by the river, when they realised some boys were following them. Joshua and his pal climbed on to the steel supports of the bridge to get away but the boys started throwing stones at them. The family claims the teenager has been bullied for the last five years, targeted because of his disability, which is a form of autism. Mr Morgan said: ‘Joshua has always had some kind of harassment or bullying in some shape or form, solely due to the fact that he is an easy target.’
Middle East/North Africa: The other face of Islam
The International Director of Barnabas Fund comments on an IS magazine now being produced in English and other languages. It’s called Dabiq. Dabiq is prophesied by Muhammad to be an end times battle when Muslims conquer Christians then take over the world. Muslims believe Jesus (who they call Isa) will descend via a minaret in Damascus, and from there he will lead armies to destroy every cross, kill every Jew and pagan, and either convert every Christian to Islam or kill them. This apocalyptic dimension is now shaping IS as it sees itself fighting an end time battle. The first issue of Dabiq addressed the ‘return of the Caliphate. The second issue links Noah and the flood to IS removing ‘polluted ideologies affecting the world and condemns the idea of leaving people to choose for themselves what to believe. We are asked to pray against radical Islam with ideologies propagated by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, funded by their vast oil resources, and now effectively reshaping Islam.
Iraq: Latest report from Amnesty International
Most of the members of non-Muslim communities held by IS who have been able to communicate with their families have reported persistent pressures to convert to Islam. Pressures ranged from promises of freedom to death-threats. In Kocho, where scores of men were murdered, residents said they would be killed if they didn’t convert. A social media video on 20 August showed Yezidi men converting to Islam. An IS commander said those who do not convert die of hunger and thirst on the mountain (Mount Sinjar, where Yezidi have been surrounded by IS fighters since 3 August). Some converted to save their lives and are now trapped in the area. A member of one such family said, ‘We agreed to convert because we thought this would solve our problem but we are prisoners. We are under surveillance, we are scared of what could happen to us. Can someone come to get us out of here?’