MP’s try to overturn ban on claiming God can heal
Last month the Advertising Standards Authority told a group of Christians in Bath that they could not continue to make any claims in their advertising which state or imply that, by receiving their prayer, people could be healed. The group, called ‘Healing On The Streets Bath’, were specifically banned from using their leaflets which stated: ‘Need healing? God can heal today! We believe that God loves you and can heal you from any sickness.’ Atheist Hayley Stevens took offence at the group’s adverts, complaining to the ASA that the claims by the Christians could 'not be substantiated'. Her complaint was upheld and the ASA ordered the group to stop stating on their website or in literature that God can heal. Now three Christian MPs, Gary Streeter (Con), Gavin Shuker (Lab) and Tim Farron (Lib Dem) have written to the ASA asking them to produce ‘indisputable scientific evidence’ that prayer does not work, otherwise they will raise the issue in Parliament. (See Prayer Alert 06-2012)
Pray: that the work of HOTS will continue unhindered and that the ASA will reverse it’s decision. (Jn.16:33)
MPs' confusion over under-18s in the forces
A report by a committee of MPs has rejected proposals to raise the minimum age of military recruitment to 18. But Forces Watch, an NGO working on ethical issues around the armed forces, has suggested that the wording of the report reveals a lack of clarity over the law in this area, even among MPs and senior officers. The MPs on the Committee on the Armed Forces Bill disagreed with each other over raising the minimum age of enlistment from 16 to 18. In the end, the majority were opposed to an increase and they recommended no change. The Committee reported that they have raised concerns with the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Sir William Rollo. Forces Watch has suggested that William Rollo's evidence was itself unclear as to which provision this refers to. In law, a Discharge As Of Right (DAOR) applies to recruits under 18 for only the first six months of service. Pray: for our young soldiers that God would protect them and that the military authorities who make decisions on their behalf would be given wisdom. (Jas.3:13)
MPs confirm public order law reform
MPs have confirmed that a controversial public order law that criminalises ‘insulting’ words or behaviour will be reformed to give greater freedom of speech. The move follows the Government giving way on the issue last month, after a vote in the House of Lords. The bid to change the law was spearheaded by Reform Section 5 – a campaign supported by The Christian Institute, the National Secular Society, the Peter Tatchell Foundation and others. Reacting to the news, Simon Calvert, the Campaign Director for Reform Section 5 (RS5), said it was ‘a great victory for free speech’. He also commented: ‘This is a fulfilment of the Home Secretary’s promise to accept the amendment, which was passed by the House of Lords in December. We can now say, officially, that Reform Section 5 has achieved its goal. The amendment cannot now be overturned, and so will become law later this year.’
Pray: that the outworking of this bill will bring a greater freedom of speech. (1Pet.3:10)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/mps-confirm-public-order-law-reform-in-free-speech-victory/
MPs attack Government’s 'downgrading’ of religious education
Religious education in schools is to come under attack in a report which will warn that more than half of those who teach the subject do not have any expertise. A cross-party group of MPs, peers and bishops will claim that “a raft of recent policies” have undermined the teaching of RE in schools. Their report, includes a survey of 430 schools, which found that 10 out of 130 secondary schools broke the law by not teaching RE to some pupils. In a quarter of the primary schools surveyed, pupils were being taught by teaching assistants, rather than qualified teachers, while 43 per cent of staff teaching RE in primary and secondary schools did not have any specialist training in the subject. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Religious Education described its findings as “unacceptable”. “A raft of recent policies have had the effect of downgrading RE in status on the school curriculum, and the subject is now under threat as never before.
Pray: for those with control over the content of schools' curriculum will recognise the vital importance of R.E. In our multicultural and multi-faith society. (Dt.6:5-8)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9934940/MPs-attack-Governments-downgrading-of-religious-education.html
MP: Do not pray in the House of Commons
A Conservative MP has said the House of Commons should stop saying prayers at the start of its proceedings. The contentious proposal could, Jo Johnson MP said, ‘save three or four minutes every day’ and would better reflect the UK. Another Tory MP, Peter Bone, challenged this claim, saying a recent poll showed ‘75 per cent of British people thought that they were Christians’. Jo Johnson, the MP for Orpington, said ‘I am not against going to church, which is something that people should feel free to do, but it is something that MPs should be encouraged to do in their own time’. The MP is the brother of Boris, the Mayor of London. Last year the Mayor backed prayers in Parliament, saying it was helpful for both believers and non-believers. Pray: that our MPs would reject this move to restrict prayer and give God at least three or four minutes every day. (Mk.12:17)
MP wants to force churches into same-sex unions
A member of David Cameron’s government is calling for a ban on marriages at Christian churches if they refuse to also perform same-sex unions. ‘As long as religious groups can refuse to preside over ceremonies for same-sex couples, there will be inequality,’ wrote Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, in an August 21 letter to Cameron. While Weatherley’s proposal is currently a ‘minority view,’ it ‘could quickly become a main stream point of view,’ warned Neil Addison, national director of the UK‘s Thomas More Legal Centre. The UK‘s 2004 Civil Partnership Act, which legalized same-sex unions, forbade them from being performed in religious venues or from using religious imagery. But Cameron’s Coalition government has proposed an amendment to the 2010 Equality Act that would allow churches and other religious venues to perform same-sex unions if they choose.
Pray: that this proposal would not gain support within parliament and lead to a further erosion to God’s laws. (2Ki.17:37)
More: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/british-mp-urges-government-to-force-churches-into-same-sex-unions