Right to Believe petition
More than 20,000 people have signed a petition expressing support for millions of believers around the world who are denied the right to practice their faith. The Right to Believe petition has been launched by Oxfordshire based Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians worldwide. It opposes efforts by an Islamic organisation to win the right for governments to choose which religious views are permissible in their country. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is again introducing the Defamation of Religions Resolution in the United Nations this year. Open Doors believes the terms of the resolution impose substantial limits on the freedom of individuals to express their religious beliefs. It would also criminalise defamation of a particular religion, Islam in particular. The organisation said that persecuted Christians were looking to believers in countries with religious liberty to ‘walk with them on our knees in prayer and on our feet in action’. Pray: for opposition to be so strong that this resolution will be defeated in the UN. (Tit.2:8) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/thousands.sign.right.to.believe.petition/26551.htm
Anti-poverty action pledges
Micah Challenge UK is encouraging Christians in Britain to get on board with an anti-poverty action pledge, following the example of public figures. The Archbishop of York has promised to launch a global charity for those in need, the Chief Executive of aid agency Tearfund has promised to inspire his children afresh about world poverty; Andy Flannagan, songwriter and Director of the Christian Socialist Movement, has promised to be part of changing the global economic system. These are just a few of the promises being made at the request of Micah Challenge to help end world poverty. ‘What’s Your Promise?’ is part of the Micah 2010 campaign being mobilised around the world. The promises of Christians, around the globe, will be brought together on Sunday 10th October (10.10.10) when over 100 million people worldwide will stand united in prayer and commitment to a life that remembers those in poverty. Pray: for all involved in Micah Challenge and for a huge global response to help the poor of the world. (Gal.2:10)
Number of 'gay weddings' plummets
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the number of civil ceremonies dropped by almost a fifth to just 7,169 in the UK in 2008, compared with 8,728 in 2007. The latest figure is a drop of more than a half since 16,106 ceremonies in 2006, the first full year after the law was changed. The number of true wedding ceremonies is at a record low as more and more couples cohabit and it seems the civil ceremonies are proving less popular than their supporters had hoped. When Government officials drew up the new laws for civil partnership they estimated that five per cent of the population was gay or lesbian and predicted that 62,000 gay couples would register in the first five years of ceremonies. The ONS published the number of ‘divorces’ for the first time. There were 180 dissolutions last year. Pray: for the church’s sacrament of marriage to remain as the bedrock of true committed relationships. (Ac.14:22) More: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/relationships/article6738671.ece
STI increase - questions sex education
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) reported 482,696 cases of sexually transmitted infections in UK health clinics in 2009, a 3% increase on 2008, with teenagers and young adults accounting for the majority. According to HPA young women aged 19 and men aged between 20 and 23 are at the greatest risk and of the 12,000 additional cases reported last year over two thirds were women under 25. The figures also revealed that re-infection is a serious issue, with at least 11% of women and 12% of men aged 16 to 19 becoming re-infected with an STI within one year of being treated for a previous one. Despite the increase in infections, which many attribute to an increase in sex education, there have still been calls to increase sex education in schools. Helen Jenkins from Marie Stopes International, stated: ‘We fear that STI rates may continue to rise without increasing access to comprehensive sex and relationships education in all British schools’. Pray: for our young to be strengthened morally by the examples of parents and respected teachers. (Mt.19:16)
Alcohol fuelling abortions
New research suggests that women with a high level of alcohol intake are more likely to take the morning after pill or have an abortion. According to the University College London study, women who binge drink have a 40 per cent higher chance of having at least one abortion in the past year. Furthermore, the research found that women who exceed the recommended weekly alcohol limit were 80 per cent more likely to have used the morning after pill. Commenting, Norman Wells, director of the Family Education Trust, said that the findings show that alcohol consumption should not be underestimated. ‘The importance of a stable family background and responsible parenting can never be overstated.’ Meanwhile, plans to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in the Greater Manchester area have received support from Prime Minister David Cameron. Pray: that the legal framework encouraging binge drinking may be changed to discourage it. (Lk.11:53) More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=8174&this=Alcohol_fuelling_abortions,_study_suggests
Budget creating 'huge hardship'
Church Action on Poverty has voiced concern over the impact of George Osborne’s Budget one day after a respected think tank warned that financial cutbacks were hitting the poor hardest. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the Budget had been ‘clearly regressive’ and was hitting low earners more than those in the upper income brackets. Niall Cooper, CAP’s Coordinator, said ‘the IFS’s report had confirmed the group’s worst fears that the Budget was hitting those already struggling to get by and least in the position to cope with cuts to income, welfare and services. They are people who are already just keeping their heads above water and struggling to keep up with their debt repayments and living costs. Even a five per cent loss of income may not sound like very much but it is enough to tip some people over the edge. The cuts are creating huge hardship.’ he said. Pray: that the government will seriously consider the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/budget.creating.huge.hardship.church.group.warns/26584.htm
France: Church anger over Roma policy
French government policy towards the Roma community has provoked the anger of the Catholic Church – from the Vatican itself to individual priests like Father Arthur Hervet. A renowned defender of Roma rights, Father Arthur is returning the Order of Merit he was awarded by way of protest. Describing current policy he said: ‘For the last three months this minority has had a real war being waged against it.’ Pope Benedict XVI has also spoken out. Although he did not actually name France, he chose to make the following address in French: ‘Scripture tells us again and again that all men are called to salvation, and the Scriptures are also an invitation to receive amongst us all legitimate human differences, as did Jesus who gathered together people of all nations and all languages.’ The French government has intensified its deportation of illegal Roma people since a violent incident involving the Roma community last month. Pray: that this policy will not be forced upon them but the authorities would show compassion. (Eph.4:32) More: http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/23/church-anger-over-french-roma-policy/
France: Church anger over Roma policy
French government policy towards the Roma community has provoked the anger of the Catholic Church – from the Vatican itself to individual priests like Father Arthur Hervet. A renowned defender of Roma rights, Father Arthur is returning the Order of Merit he was awarded by way of protest. Describing current policy he said: ‘For the last three months this minority has had a real war being waged against it.’ Pope Benedict XVI has also spoken out. Although he did not actually name France, he chose to make the following address in French: ‘Scripture tells us again and again that all men are called to salvation, and the Scriptures are also an invitation to receive amongst us all legitimate human differences, as did Jesus who gathered together people of all nations and all languages.’ The French government has intensified its deportation of illegal Roma people since a violent incident involving the Roma community last month. Pray: that this policy will not be forced upon them but the authorities would show compassion. (Eph.4:32) More: http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/23/church-anger-over-french-roma-policy/
Czech Republic: Controversial homeless plan
Organizations working with the homeless, the country's largest opposition party, the political party likely to lead Prague after autumn elections and homeless people themselves are all speaking out against the plans by City Hall to build an ‘integrated assistance centre’ for the homeless on the outskirts of the city. Plans approved by the City Council last week will see a new centre being built within six months in Malešice, an industrial area on the eastern edge of the capital. Facilities planned for the centre are described as ‘an oasis’ for the homeless. Homeless people would be registered but would not be required to live in the new space but would be encouraged to go there. Ilja Hradecký, chairman of a Christian charity that works with the homeless, described the idea as ‘absolutely misconceived’ and would either see people leaving the camp each day after being taken there against their will or being ‘interned’, something that he termed a violation of human rights. Pray: for wisdom to result from the debate over Prague’s homeless. (2Cor.8:9) More: http://www.praguepost.com/news/5501-outcry-as-city-approves-controversial-homeless-plan.html
Czech Republic: Controversial homeless plan
Organizations working with the homeless, the country's largest opposition party, the political party likely to lead Prague after autumn elections and homeless people themselves are all speaking out against the plans by City Hall to build an ‘integrated assistance centre’ for the homeless on the outskirts of the city. Plans approved by the City Council last week will see a new centre being built within six months in Malešice, an industrial area on the eastern edge of the capital. Facilities planned for the centre are described as ‘an oasis’ for the homeless. Homeless people would be registered but would not be required to live in the new space but would be encouraged to go there. Ilja Hradecký, chairman of a Christian charity that works with the homeless, described the idea as ‘absolutely misconceived’ and would either see people leaving the camp each day after being taken there against their will or being ‘interned’, something that he termed a violation of human rights. Pray: for wisdom to result from the debate over Prague’s homeless. (2Cor.8:9) More: http://www.praguepost.com/news/5501-outcry-as-city-approves-controversial-homeless-plan.html