Muslims lobbying to worship in Spanish Cathedral
While the dispute over the proposed Cordoba House near New York City’s Ground Zero has been highly publicised over the past few months, less known is the debate over Spain’s Cordoba Cathedral, which was formerly the Great Mosque of Cordoba. For some time now, Muslim groups have been trying to convince leaders of the Cathedral of Cordoba in southern Spain to allow the Catholic Church to be used for both Muslim and Christian worship as the site still remains significant for many Muslims. The Bishop of Cordoba, Demetrio Fernandez, says sharing the space with Muslims would be like a man sharing his wife with another man. Built in the 8th century after the Moorish invasion of Spain, the Cordoba house of worship was transformed from a mosque into a cathedral in 1236 when King Ferdinand III captured the city of Cordoba from the Moors. Pray: for Christians everywhere that they will hold fast to the ground that God has given and be wise in their deliberations. (Ps.107:43)
Muslims lobbying to worship in Spanish Cathedral
While the dispute over the proposed Cordoba House near New York City’s Ground Zero has been highly publicised over the past few months, less known is the debate over Spain’s Cordoba Cathedral, which was formerly the Great Mosque of Cordoba. For some time now, Muslim groups have been trying to convince leaders of the Cathedral of Cordoba in southern Spain to allow the Catholic Church to be used for both Muslim and Christian worship as the site still remains significant for many Muslims. The Bishop of Cordoba, Demetrio Fernandez, says sharing the space with Muslims would be like a man sharing his wife with another man. Built in the 8th century after the Moorish invasion of Spain, the Cordoba house of worship was transformed from a mosque into a cathedral in 1236 when King Ferdinand III captured the city of Cordoba from the Moors. Pray: for Christians everywhere that they will hold fast to the ground that God has given and be wise in their deliberations. (Ps.107:43)
Cross is point of contention in Poland
Supporters of the late president Lech Kaczynski of Poland are refusing to take down a cross they placed outside the presidential palace in Warsaw, a move that is igniting political tensions between secularists and nationalists. The 13 feet high cross was put up soon after the crash on April 10 of the presidential plane killing the president, his wife and 94 others. Calling themselves Defenders of the Cross, many who have gathered around the cross belong to the nationalist Law and Justice party. The party is led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of the late president. With important local government elections due in the autumn, analysts say, Law and Justice is trying to recover its popularity. The church has refused to be dragged into the controversy. On Thursday, it took the unusual step of calling on all sides to find a compromise in a dispute it claimed was being exploited for political reasons. Pray: that the Cross might unify rather than divide. (Mt.5:9) More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/world/europe/14poland.html?_r=1&ref=europe
Cross is point of contention in Poland
Supporters of the late president Lech Kaczynski of Poland are refusing to take down a cross they placed outside the presidential palace in Warsaw, a move that is igniting political tensions between secularists and nationalists. The 13 feet high cross was put up soon after the crash on April 10 of the presidential plane killing the president, his wife and 94 others. Calling themselves Defenders of the Cross, many who have gathered around the cross belong to the nationalist Law and Justice party. The party is led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of the late president. With important local government elections due in the autumn, analysts say, Law and Justice is trying to recover its popularity. The church has refused to be dragged into the controversy. On Thursday, it took the unusual step of calling on all sides to find a compromise in a dispute it claimed was being exploited for political reasons. Pray: that the Cross might unify rather than divide. (Mt.5:9) More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/world/europe/14poland.html?_r=1&ref=europe
Church bells to highlight toll of biodiversity
Church bells across the country will ring in tune with the United Nations next month to mark crucial international talks on biodiversity. As the bells toll at the UN headquarters in both New York and Nairobi, bell ringers from small parish churches to large cathedrals and minsters are being encouraged to ring on September 22, the day the UN General Assembly will discuss for the first time ever the crisis affecting the world’s biodiversity. This year was declared the UN 2010 International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) and the Church of England is one of the official partners in the UK. With a Christian presence in every community, around 6,000 of the CofE’s 16,000 churches have a peal of bells (not including those with a single bell). IYB in the UK is encouraging bell ringing by faith groups, schools and organisations from 12-2pm. Pray: that this sign of unity and its message will be recognised by the wider community. (Gen.1:24-28) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.bells.ring.to.highlight.toll.of.biodiversity/26480.htm
Legacies as part of Christian's discipleship
Christian relief and development agency Tearfund is asking Christians to consider leaving a legacy in their will as part of their discipleship. Tearfund made the call following its decision to join the Christian Legacy consortium, a group of Christian charities which encourages people to leave a gift to their favourite Christian charities when writing their will. Paul Brigham, Tearfund’s UK Director, says: ‘Because so many Christians have not yet considered leaving a legacy to a Christian charity as part of their lifetime’s discipleship, Tearfund is passionate about joining with other charities to encourage people to consider prayerfully this important area of ministry. Partnerships are key to everything Tearfund sets out to achieve, and we’re pleased and privileged to be working alongside other Christian organisations as part of this consortium.’ Pray: that the Spirit will continue to remind us that everything we have belongs to the Lord. (Lk.16:11)
British brothels have 12,000 foreign 'sex slaves'
A new report commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers revealed for the first time the true scale of immigration prostitution and trafficking. At least 2,600 women were confirmed as being trafficked into England and Wales and forced to work as prostitutes, it found. A further 9,200 sex workers at brothels and other premises were considered to be ‘vulnerable migrants’ working unwillingly in the sex trade, but whom researchers could not be certain had been trafficked. Half of the women are Chinese, police said, with the majority of others from Eastern European and other south east Asian nations. Mohib Rahman, a Home Office official, said: ‘We need to step up our efforts and to do more to get a handle on why so many people are trafficked from China.’ Pray: for the authorities as they seek way to combat this evil trade. (Lev.19:29)
Charity begins at home?
Marolin Watson of Hope UK has expressed concern that we are quick to support international outreach, but may be neglecting the needs on our own doorstep? Children and young people in Great Britain are losing their way for want of spiritual guidance and direction. Many children and young people have little more than a rudimentary understanding of the Bible. A recent article in the Telegraph (Prayer Alert 2410) reported an Ofsted finding that ‘Schools are neglecting to teach children the core beliefs of Christianity in religious education lessons’. This is illustrated in the article by a recent survey of more than 500 12-year-olds which revealed that only 54% knew that Christians celebrated the Resurrection at Easter. Is it any wonder, then, that practically a whole generation have no core values by which to order their lives and their behaviour? Marolin writes ‘The Church must do more to help save this generation.’ Pray: for our young people and for the many initiatives that are beginning to address these concerns. (Jdg.2:10) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/charity.begins.at.home/26496.htm
Two registrars subjected to investigation over beliefs
Two registrars at Lambeth Council are under investigation because they swapped shifts in order to accommodate their religious beliefs over homosexual civil partnerships. The informal arrangement came to light when it was praised as an example of good practice during a diversity training seminar. But a homosexual colleague complained, and the pair are now being formerly investigated by council bosses. Other councils have chosen to accommodate the religious beliefs of registrar staff by not forcing them to conduct civil partnership registrations against their will. But some, such as Islington Council, have chosen to discipline registrars who don’t fall in line. The complaint against the Lambeth registrars was taken up by Brian Palmer, a homosexual Liberal Democrat councillor, who described their actions as ‘grossly offensive’ and ‘wholly unacceptable’. Steve Reed, the Labour leader of the Council, responded by saying that the Council ‘does not tolerate bigotry for any reason’. Pray: for the council to avoid bigotry themselves and accept this arrangement as ‘good practice’. (1Pe.3:15)
Anger at ‘Bibles for the courts’ campaign
The Scottish Bible Society (SBS) has come under fire from the National Secular Society for sending thousands of Bibles to Scottish law courts and judges. The campaign was launched in July by the organisation’s honorary president, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, to make the Bible readily available to judges as a reference book. Terry Sanderson of the National Secular Society said the campaign ‘could put the Sharia laws of the Middle East to shame.’ SBS is sending Bibles to judges in the Court of Session and each of the Sheriff Courts in Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates Library, the Crown Office, and countrywide offices of the Procurator Fiscal Service. SBS has produced a pamphlet, entitled The Bible in Scots Law: A Guide for Legal Practitioners, to accompany the Bibles. In it, Lord Mackay, a former Conservative Cabinet member, speaks of how ‘vitally important’ the Bible is in giving guidance for daily living. Pray: that this initiative will help Judges understand the Biblical foundations of Scottish law and its relevance today. (Heb.4:12)