PM challenged to support prayer for Britain
In the midst of another wave of recession and record prison figures following the riots, and an onslaught of bad news in the media, one thousand leaders from across the UK will gather at Wembley Stadium's Great Hall next week to ask God to heal battered Britain. The Carry The Torch leaders prayer summit on September 17, coordinated by the Global Day of Prayer London, comes at a very strategic time as the UK faces several challenging social issues. GDOP London was even mentioned in Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons this week, when Member of Parliament for Enfield-Southgate David Burrowes said: ‘In the wake of the riots, Is this not a good time to support the forthcoming Global Day of Prayer, which in London is going to be taking place at Wembley Stadium?’ Prime Minister David Cameron responded by commending all combined efforts of communities in response to the riots.
Pray: for the prayer summit and that God will empower and inspire all those attending. (2Co.9:8)
End ‘intrusive’ equality surveys, says Govt minster
People using public services should not have to answer ‘intrusive’ equality questionnaires on subjects like sexual orientation, a government minister has said. Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, has issued statutory guidance to councils which clarifies that there is no requirement for them to carry out ‘lifestyle or diversity questionnaires’. The move follows revelations that Islington Council asks people wanting to a join a library if they are transgender. (See last week’s Prayer Alert). And it comes after a grandmother was asked about her sexual orientation after she complained about her council’s bin collection service. Mr Pickles continued: ‘Local residents shouldn’t be asked to reveal detailed personal information just because they’ve enquired about getting their bins emptied or how to join their local library. Clamping down on such town hall activity will save taxpayers’ money and protect the privacy of residents of all backgrounds.’
Pray: for the new guidance to be fully adopted by all councils and departments. (Pr.13:10)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/end-intrusive-equality-surveys-says-govt-minster/
Most schools 'shunning law on Christian assemblies'
Almost two-thirds of parents responding to a survey said their children did not take part in collective worship at school every day, it was revealed. Secondary schools are far more likely to shun the traditional requirement which has been compulsory in the state system since the Second World War. The disclosure – in research commissioned by the BBC – will add weight to growing calls to drop the legislation. It comes after a delegation of teachers, secularists and religious leaders wrote to Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, last year insisting children should not be ‘coerced’ into religion in schools. Under the 1944 Education Act, schools must provide ‘broadly Christian worship’ every day. Parents have the right to pull children out of religious assemblies but the power is not extended to pupils themselves.
Pray: that schools will not keep ignoring this law and pray that the authorities will enforce it. (Pr.6:23)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8743072/Most-schools-shunning-law-on-Christian-assemblies.html
The Scottish Government should not redefine marriage
The Scottish Government has launched a public consultation asking whether the law should be changed to allow religious ceremonies for homosexual civil partnerships, and whether the legal definition of marriage should be changed to allow homosexual marriage. Mike Judge argues that the law should stay as it is. All the legal rights of marriage are already available to homosexual couples through civil partnership registrations. Last year only 465 civil partnerships were registered in Scotland. This is not about rights, this is about redefining marriage for the whole of society at the behest of a small minority of activists. If marriage is redefined for homosexual marriage, that new definition will be the one that the state promotes as the standard. It will have huge implications for what is taught in schools and for wider society.
Pray: against this and any further moves to change God’s definition of marriage. (Lev.18:22)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/the.scottish.government.should.not.redefine.marriage/28559.htm
Spain: Radical branch of Socialist Party pushing euthanasia
The organization Professionals for Ethics has warned that pro-euthanasia associations, working together with the radical wing of the Socialist Party, are hoping to ‘achieve their ideological goal of making death legal,’ reports Catholic News Agency. The organization said that pro-euthanasia forces are attempting to influence local governments until euthanasia is approved at the national level. Ramona Estevez, a 90-year-old comatose woman in the city of Huelva, has become the
poster child for supporters of euthanasia. Her son recently won approval from officials in the province of Andalusia to have her feeding tube withdrawn. Dr. Maria Alonso of Professionals for Ethics pointed out that the regional law establishes that every person has the right to reject any procedure in writing that is suggested by health care workers. This can be done even if such rejection would endanger that person’s life, she added.
Pray: against this increased pressure to allow euthanasia to become law. (Job.13:14)
Spain: Radical branch of Socialist Party pushing euthanasia
The organization Professionals for Ethics has warned that pro-euthanasia associations, working together with the radical wing of the Socialist Party, are hoping to ‘achieve their ideological goal of making death legal,’ reports Catholic News Agency. The organization said that pro-euthanasia forces are attempting to influence local governments until euthanasia is approved at the national level. Ramona Estevez, a 90-year-old comatose woman in the city of Huelva, has become the
poster child for supporters of euthanasia. Her son recently won approval from officials in the province of Andalusia to have her feeding tube withdrawn. Dr. Maria Alonso of Professionals for Ethics pointed out that the regional law establishes that every person has the right to reject any procedure in writing that is suggested by health care workers. This can be done even if such rejection would endanger that person’s life, she added.
Pray: against this increased pressure to allow euthanasia to become law. (Job.13:14)
Belgium: Seeks new Government after 450 day milestone
Divided French and Dutch speaking parties gathered in Brussels on Tuesday in a fresh bid to forge a new Belgian government. It is now more than 450 days since Belgium had a fully functioning administration; the country passed that unenviable milestone on Monday. Despite 15 months of deadlock it is hoped the latest round of talks will finally break through the impasse. Reporting from Brussels euronews Gulsum Alan says: ‘Some believe a deal can be reached if the Liberals and Christian Democrats want it badly enough. The alternative could be elections’. Longstanding linguistic and cultural divisions lie at the heart of the political stalemate, however the most acute problem is the future of Brussels. French speaking parties oppose plans to break up the city’s current electoral boundaries, a key demand of their Flemish counterparts. Belgium’s socialist leader Elio Di Rupo is the man currently charged with trying to strike a deal. He has had 10 predecessors since the elections in 2010.
Pray: for the spirit of unity to prevail and differences be healed. (Eph.4:3)
More: http://www.euronews.net/2011/09/06/belgium-seeks-new-government-after-450-milestone/
Belgium: Seeks new Government after 450 day milestone
Divided French and Dutch speaking parties gathered in Brussels on Tuesday in a fresh bid to forge a new Belgian government. It is now more than 450 days since Belgium had a fully functioning administration; the country passed that unenviable milestone on Monday. Despite 15 months of deadlock it is hoped the latest round of talks will finally break through the impasse. Reporting from Brussels euronews Gulsum Alan says: ‘Some believe a deal can be reached if the Liberals and Christian Democrats want it badly enough. The alternative could be elections’. Longstanding linguistic and cultural divisions lie at the heart of the political stalemate, however the most acute problem is the future of Brussels. French speaking parties oppose plans to break up the city’s current electoral boundaries, a key demand of their Flemish counterparts. Belgium’s socialist leader Elio Di Rupo is the man currently charged with trying to strike a deal. He has had 10 predecessors since the elections in 2010.
Pray: for the spirit of unity to prevail and differences be healed. (Eph.4:3)
More: http://www.euronews.net/2011/09/06/belgium-seeks-new-government-after-450-milestone/
Somalia: UN warns of 750,000 deaths
Up to 750,000 people could die as Somalia's drought worsens in the coming months, the UN has warned, declaring a famine in a new area. The UN says tens of thousands of people have died after what is said to be East Africa's worst drought for 60 years. Bay region becomes the sixth area to be officially declared a famine zone - mostly in parts of southern Somalia controlled by the Islamist al-Shabab. Some 12 million people across the region need food aid, the UN says. A sixth region of Somalia has been declared a famine area by the UN, which warns the situation will only worsen in the coming months. In total, 4 million people are in crisis in Somalia, with 750,000 people at risk of death in the coming four months in the absence of adequate response. Half of those who have already died are children.
Pray: for God’s mercy to rest upon the people and famine aid to reach the most needy. (Ps.108:6)
Uzbekistan: Christians face fines and abuse
Uzbekistan's authorities continue to punish peaceful religious believers with fines, physical abuse and court-ordered destruction of religious literature. According to a story by Forum 18 police in eastern Fergana Region police raided the home of a Protestant couple. The police inspector who led the raid said that police found and confiscated ‘banned’ religious literature. Asked what literature found in their home was banned, he identified the Bible and the New Testament. Also courts in the capital of Tashkent and eastern Syrdarya Region have handed down fines of up to one hundred times the minimum monthly wage to ten Protestants to punish them for unregistered activity. In both cases, Forum 18 said, the courts ordered that confiscated Christian literature - including Bibles and New Testaments - be destroyed. Another court in central Samarkand Region fined a member of an officially registered Baptist Church for ‘illegal’ religious teaching.
Pray: for the Church in Uzbekistan the God will be their ever present help in times of trouble. (Ps.9:9)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.face.fines.and.abuse.in.uzbekistan/28566.htm