Pagan wins 'family life' human rights case
An American woman who claims to worship Norse gods has won the right to stay in Britain because of her ‘family life’ with her boyfriend and his wife. The Home Office refused Emily DiSanto, permission to stay in Britain because the law bans polygamous relationships. But now she has won an extraordinary legal case in which she is allowed to remain on the basis
of her human right to family life. Emily now shares Alan and Anne-Marie Caulfield’s marital home in south-east London with his two children – one by each of the women. The case is the latest example of how human rights laws are being used to overturn the decisions of ministers in immigration cases in what critics say are dubious circumstances. This decision also shows the definition of family life is now widening far beyond the conventional couple with children and has implications for immigrants who believe in polygamy, which is still practised in parts of the Muslim world and – illegally – by breakaway Mormons in the USA.
Pray: for God’s hand on the lives of these people and also for the courts to recognise the primacy of monogamous marriage in our society. (2Sa.22:31)
Hungary: Battle for legal recognition of churches
In June, Prayer Alert reported on a draft religion law that constituted oppression because it discriminated against minority religious groups and would create an oppressive religion law inconsistent with fundamental human rights. See Prayer Alert 25-2011. This week Hungary's Constitutional Court has annulled the new law that would have withdrawn legal recognition from all but a handful of the country's registered religious associations. Praise God! However, a church commentator warned that the ruling was ‘just a technical delay,’ and predicted the law would still be enforced from the start of 2012.
Pray: that any changes in Hungary’s law would not violate the right to religious freedom. (Ex.22:28)
Hungary: Battle for legal recognition of churches
In June, Prayer Alert reported on a draft religion law that constituted oppression because it discriminated against minority religious groups and would create an oppressive religion law inconsistent with fundamental human rights. See Prayer Alert 25-2011. This week Hungary's Constitutional Court has annulled the new law that would have withdrawn legal recognition from all but a handful of the country's registered religious associations. Praise God! However, a church commentator warned that the ruling was ‘just a technical delay,’ and predicted the law would still be enforced from the start of 2012.
Pray: that any changes in Hungary’s law would not violate the right to religious freedom. (Ex.22:28)
Spain: Soaring sales of morning-after pill
Use of the abortifacient morning-after pill in Spain has risen by 83% in 2010, the first full year of over-the-counter availability of the dangerous drug, according to a report by ANSAmed news service. The Spanish Ministry for Health approved the sale of the morning-after pill without a doctor’s prescription, and with no age restriction, in September 2009, citing a need for emergency contraception and to reduce unwanted pregnancies. ‘It is an emergency method of contraception, not to be used except in emergencies,’ said Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez in a press release at the time. ‘We don’t want it to become another means of contraception.’ However, mounting evidence has shown that the drug is both ineffective for its stated purpose of reducing unintended pregnancies, and is being abused the world over as a common method of contraception. A contraception and abortion pushing organization, RH Reality Check, admitted that the morning-after pill, ‘is not as effective in reducing unwanted pregnancy rates as we once hoped.’
Pray: for availability of the morning-after pill to be re-considered in light of these statistics.
Spain: Soaring sales of morning-after pill
Use of the abortifacient morning-after pill in Spain has risen by 83% in 2010, the first full year of over-the-counter availability of the dangerous drug, according to a report by ANSAmed news service. The Spanish Ministry for Health approved the sale of the morning-after pill without a doctor’s prescription, and with no age restriction, in September 2009, citing a need for emergency contraception and to reduce unwanted pregnancies. ‘It is an emergency method of contraception, not to be used except in emergencies,’ said Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez in a press release at the time. ‘We don’t want it to become another means of contraception.’ However, mounting evidence has shown that the drug is both ineffective for its stated purpose of reducing unintended pregnancies, and is being abused the world over as a common method of contraception. A contraception and abortion pushing organization, RH Reality Check, admitted that the morning-after pill, ‘is not as effective in reducing unwanted pregnancy rates as we once hoped.’
Pray: for availability of the morning-after pill to be re-considered in light of these statistics.
Christians are ‘evil’ for backing marriage, says Tesco R&D boss
Christians are ‘evil’ if they resist the redefinition of marriage to allow for same-sex marriage, the Head of Research and Development at Tesco.com has said. The company has already faced criticism for dumping its support for the Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’ and sponsoring London’s gay pride festival. The ‘evil Christians’ comment was made by Nick Lansley, Head of Research and Development for the Tesco website. He wrote: ‘I’m also campaigning against evil Christians (that’s not all Christians, just bad ones) who think that gay people should not lead happy lives and get married to their same-sex partners.’ Director of The Christian Institute, Colin Hart, said: ‘I won’t be shopping at Tesco this Christmas, and I am repeatedly hearing from other Christians who have already come to the same conclusion. ‘Mr Lansley is entitled to his opinions, and Christians are entitled to choose not to shop at Tesco.
Pray: for a more balanced view by Tesco to respect and not alienate the Christian community. (Dt.13:3-4)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christians-are-evil-for-backing-marriage-says-tesco-rd-boss/
Ethiopia: Police and Muslim students demolish church
More than 500 Muslim students accompanied by Muslim police officials burned down a church in the village of Qoto Baloso. Four days earlier 30 police tried to destroy it but managed only to remove the roof when Christians protested. The court ruled that the church was built without proper authorisation and therefore had to be demolished. The church has stood on the land for over 60 years, and the supreme court of the south nations had previously ruled in favour of the Christians when a Muslim business man claimed ownership of the land. All the government officials in the area are Muslims. Non Muslims there live and worship in fear. The actions of the Muslim police as well as the students show the growing Islamisation of Ethiopia.
Pray: the Ethiopian government will stop violations against the rights of Christian minorities in areas dominated by Muslims. (Lev.19:15)
More: http://www.persecution.org/2011/12/13/ethiopian-police-and-muslim-students-demolish-church-2/
Uzbekistan: Churches banned from evangelism
Authorities warned churches not to allow youngsters and children to attend worship services and not to carry out missionary activities. Deputy Head of Administration met officials of the Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Presbyterian, Seventh-day Adventist and Baptist churches in Angren city telling them, ‘All unregistered religious activity is a criminal offense, in defiance of the international human rights agreements Uzbekistan is a party to.’ He demanded the churches provide him with lists of members (a move resembling the time when Uzbekistan was still part of the Soviet Union). Church leaders refused to give names amid concerns authorities could pressure individuals. These developments came after a Baptist Christian, was fined 80 times the minimum monthly wage when police broke up a meeting of Baptists on holiday together. Also, two schoolgirls stopped attending church after police threatened they ‘will be in police records and thrown out of school’.
Pray: that fanatical religious persecution will not re-emerge in the region. (Ps.37:11)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11112-uzbekistan-churches-banned-from-evangelism-youth-worship
INSIGHT ARTICLE: Sunni Shiite troublesome relationship
The New York Times reported: The withdrawal of the United States from Iraq leaves Mr. Abu Risha and the militia units he commands, known broadly as the Sunni Awakening, to navigate increasingly troublesome relations with the central Shiite-led government of Iraq. See: http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/category/iraq-war-2003-2011/ The Sunni Awakening, remain outside the new Iraqi police force and army and the ragtag groups of men wearing jeans and carrying rifles at dusty checkpoints throughout western Iraq are a loose end left by the United States. Some Awakening members are former insurgents and members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party who fought in a nationalist wing of the Sunni uprising early in the war, a matter of grave concern to the Shiite-dominated government. Without the buffer provided by the Americans relations between the Awakening and the central government, always touchy, are growing increasingly strained, and the government now wants the Awakening to disband by Dec. 31st. For INSIGHTS into Shiite and Sunni relationships across the Middle East click the Info button.
Pray: for a progressive atmosphere of peaceful relationships across various tribal groups in Iraq. (Ps.147:10-11)
Info: http://site.prayer-alert.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=355&Itemid=93
Australia: Church leaders speak out for traditional marriage
Twenty of Australia’s senior church and denominational leaders have urged the Government to protect the definition of marriage in Australian law. The Joint Statement on the Significance of Marriage follows: Marriage is the lifelong commitment and faithful union of one man and one woman. As such, marriage is the natural basis of the family because it secures the relationship between biological parents and their children. As Christian leaders representing different denominations or churches, we join together and affirm our shared commitment to promote and protect marriage. We honour the unique love between husbands and wives; the vital place of fathers and mothers in the life of children; and the corresponding ideal for all children to know the love and role modelling of a father and mother. We call on ourGovernment to: protect this definition of marriage in Australian law, and not change the meaning of marriage by adding to it different kinds of relationships.
Praise: God for this stand by the church and that the Government will protect traditional marriage. (Jer.29:6)
More: http://ausprayernet.org.au/newsletter/DisplayNewsletter.php?e_id=00000002315#st2