Miliband urged to do more on tackling tax haven secrecy
UK-based international development agency Christian Aid has welcomed Labour leader Ed Miliband’s determination to tackle the tax havens which are harming UK public finances but it urges him to go further, because financial secrecy is a curse for poor countries too. The intervention comes as the opposition leader and the Conservative Prime Minister exchange words about 'responsible capitalism' which critics say have rested on amelioration rather than a tackling of fundamental problems and injustices. ‘It’s great that Mr Miliband has recognised that tax haven secrecy is damaging people in the UK, by providing a cover for people and companies to hide their wealth and avoid paying the taxes that are so urgently needed,’ commented Dr David McNair, Christian Aid’s Principal Adviser on Economic Justice, earlier this week. But, he added, ‘We now hope the Labour leader will also recognise that financial secrecy has devastating effects on public services and people’s lives across the world, especially in poor countries.’
Pray: for message from Christian Aid to heard and acted upon by all parties in Parliament. (Lk.16:11)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16120
Focus on care, not assisted suicide, say MPs
‘Rather than legislating for an abrupt end to life, we need to find better ways to help care for the dying’, an MP has said as he led a debate on palliative care in Parliament. David Burrowes MP was joined in the debate last week by around 20 MPs. He quoted Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the modern hospice movement, who said: ‘You matter because you are you, and you matter to the last moment of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.’ The MP’s comments come in the wake of a controversial report from Lord Falconer which advocated assisted suicide in England and Wales. Glenda Jackson MP said it was ‘paramount that our society turn its face away from what could become legalised murder, and argue and press the case for increased funding, increased support for palliative care and, most markedly, support for hospices’.
Pray: for a Government backed support for quality palliative care so often left to the work of charities to maintain. (Ps116:15)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/video-focus-on-care-not-assisted-suicide-say-mps/
Midwives take hospital to court in abortion row
Two midwives went to court Tuesday (17 Jan) to challenge a policy introduced by Southern General Hospital in Glasgow which requires midwives to help with abortions, regardless of their religious convictions. The right of midwives to refuse to participate in abortions on the basis of their religious beliefs is explicitly protected by the 1967 Abortion Act, and has
historically been respected by the hospital. However, the hospital recently changed its stance by imposing an obligation on midwives to watch over, and sometimes assist, with late abortions, which were frequently being transferred from the gynaecology department to the labour ward. The two midwives, Mary Doogan and Teresa Wood, both Catholics, were unable to persuade the hospital to uphold their right to refuse to participate in abortions during the statutory grievance procedure.
Pray: for Mary and Teresa as they face this challenge to their faith and their rights. (Is.7:9b)
Welfare benefits cap will break up families
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes has warned that the governments proposed welfare benefits cap will ‘break up families’ and ‘damage the lives of literally hundreds of thousands of children.’ Mr Hughes, who is not a minister and therefore not part of the coalition government, made his comments to the BBC ahead of more crucial votes in the House of Lords this week, as the Welfare Reform Bill (WRB) goes through its report stage before returning to the Commons. Mr Hughes told the BBC that he did not believe the Welfare Reform Bill would be passed as it stands. The government has headed off a House of Lords defeat over plans to replace the Disability Living Allowance. Conservatives leaned heavily on Liberal Democrat support in the Lords, avoiding another humiliating Welfare Reform Bill report stage defeat by only 16 votes.
Pray: for Government policy that as it tackles fiscal problems still protects the most vulnerable in society. (Ps.41:4)
Backbench rebellion over plans to change marriage law
Conservative MP’s are planning what could be the biggest ever backbench rebellion faced by Prime Minister David Cameron over his stated intention to legislate for full homosexual marriage. At least 100 Conservative backbenchers are thought to strongly oppose homosexual marriage. ‘Feelings are running high,’ one senior party source told the Independent. Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, has announced plans for a ‘consultation’ to be launched in March which is to be followed by a change in the law. David Burrowes MP told the paper that he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ the proposal will be defeated in the Commons because it would ‘fracture’ the institution of marriage. ‘Many colleagues are worried that it would fundamentally affect how marriage between a man and woman has historically been viewed in this country. There are strong doubts that we need to go down this path. It would open up a can of worms and a legal minefield about freedom, religion and equalities legislation.’
Pray: for our government as it considers these changes. Pray that those who already support the recognised form of marriage would stand firm on their beliefs. (1Cor.16:13)
Islamist stops university debate with threats of violence
A talk on sharia and human rights at Queen Mary University, London was cancelled because an Islamist made serious threats against everyone there. Ms Waters was due to give a talk on behalf of the One Law for All Campaign on 16 January but before it started a man entered the lecture theatre, stood at the front with a camera and filmed the audience. He then said he knew who everyone was, where they lived and if he heard anything negative about the Prophet, he would track them down. He also filmed students in the foyer threatening to murder them and their families then joined a large group of men supporters outside. Students were told by security to stay in the lecture theatre for their own safety. The police were contacted about the incident.
Pray: against a religious/political ideology that puts a Christian British way of life in danger. (Ps.33:18)
Putting God at heart of communities
Church charity shop is a listening ear and a place for a bargain. ‘The Church Shop’ is the brainchild of the Rev Alison Phillipson, vicar of Coatham and Dormanstown, and has been set up with the help of lay members of her church. ‘In a world where people don’t stop and listen, we here will listen,’ she said. Alison is one of the individuals living out the Gospel in the north-east of England whose stories will be told on the Archbishop of York’s website in the coming weeks. Other stories to be highlighted include a former drug addict and school bad boy who now contributes to the spiritual and moral development of school students. See: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/ Dr John Sentamu said: ‘How wonderful it is to hear these encouraging stories. Across the country, so many people are proclaiming the Good News and putting God at the heart of their communities’.
Pray: that the Holy Spirit will give vision to believers in creating ways to spread the Good News. (Ps.127:1)
Costa Concordia disaster
The Costa Concordia, believed to be the largest cruise ship flying the Italian flag, struck rocks in shallow water off Italy's western coast on Friday. The cruise liner captain accused of abandoning ship reportedly claimed he was unable to lead the evacuation because he slipped and tripped into a lifeboat while helping passengers leave the stricken vessel. The captain did however admit responsibility for crashing the ship into rocks forcing him to ground the vessel. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/18/costa-concordia-captain-tripped-lifeboat The name Concordia is Italian for harmony. Ironically, a Swiss national told national daily La Tribune de Genève he was listening to the theme tune from the film Titanic in the restaurant with his brother Kevin at the time of the accident. However, he said staff incompetence in evacuating the stricken vessel bore no comparison to the Titanic disaster. ‘Besides kitchen staff, who helped, there were no crew members,’ Mr. Sgaga is quoted as saying.
Pray: for God’s to rule and reign over this disaster, giving encouragement to survivors, comfort to family and friends of the deceased and those still not accounted for and that this will not become an ecological disaster. (Ps.47:8)
Costa Concordia disaster
The Costa Concordia, believed to be the largest cruise ship flying the Italian flag, struck rocks in shallow water off Italy's western coast on Friday. The cruise liner captain accused of abandoning ship reportedly claimed he was unable to lead the evacuation because he slipped and tripped into a lifeboat while helping passengers leave the stricken vessel. The captain did however admit responsibility for crashing the ship into rocks forcing him to ground the vessel. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/18/costa-concordia-captain-tripped-lifeboat The name Concordia is Italian for harmony. Ironically, a Swiss national told national daily La Tribune de Genève he was listening to the theme tune from the film Titanic in the restaurant with his brother Kevin at the time of the accident. However, he said staff incompetence in evacuating the stricken vessel bore no comparison to the Titanic disaster. ‘Besides kitchen staff, who helped, there were no crew members,’ Mr. Sgaga is quoted as saying.
Pray: for God’s to rule and reign over this disaster, giving encouragement to survivors, comfort to family and friends of the deceased and those still not accounted for and that this will not become an ecological disaster. (Ps.47:8)
Broke Greeks giving up their children
Greece - considered one of the most family oriented countries in Europe is now seeing Children being abandoned at nursery groups, churches and foster charities because parents can no longer afford to care for them since the financial crisis caused widespread unemployment across the country. A priest told the BBC that he had not come across children simply being abandoned before. ‘The parents say they do not have any money or shelter or food for their kids, so they hope we might be able to provide them with what they need. In a heartbreaking incident - a single unemployed mother put her child into foster care with a charity after twelve months searching for work. Although she now has a job she cannot afford to take her daughter back as she earns only £16 a day. Previously children went into foster care because of drug and alcohol addiction in the family. Now it is because of poverty.
Pray: for God to give Greece’s politicians and bankers and leaders in commerce and industry the strategies to lead Greece back into His purposes. (Pr.21:5-6)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/broke.greeks.giving.up.their.children/29149.htm