EU to defend Christian minorities
The European Union has announced the creation of a working group to assist Christian minorities in countries around the world where they are persecuted. The initiative launched by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is to help EU member countries' embassy staffs know how to intervene on behalf of persecuted Christian minorities. Frattini says that before action the first step will be to write a manual that will be given to the embassy staff of all EU member nations. It is the first European government organisation devoted to addressing the persecution of Christians, he said in an interview in the Italian newspaper Avvenir. EU analyst Jonathan Racho says ‘This panel will be an official EU governmental agency designed to intervene on behalf of a nation's Christian minority,’ Racho said. ‘They will advocate on behalf of persecuted Christians even though the report we have from our sources doesn't go into a lot of detail.’
Pray: for this initiative to bring God’s help to those persecuted for their faith in Jesus. (Ps.9:13)
More: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=132577
EU to defend Christian minorities
The European Union has announced the creation of a working group to assist Christian minorities in countries around the world where they are persecuted. The initiative launched by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is to help EU member countries' embassy staffs know how to intervene on behalf of persecuted Christian minorities. Frattini says that before action the first step will be to write a manual that will be given to the embassy staff of all EU member nations. It is the first European government organisation devoted to addressing the persecution of Christians, he said in an interview in the Italian newspaper Avvenir. EU analyst Jonathan Racho says ‘This panel will be an official EU governmental agency designed to intervene on behalf of a nation's Christian minority,’ Racho said. ‘They will advocate on behalf of persecuted Christians even though the report we have from our sources doesn't go into a lot of detail.’
Pray: for this initiative to bring God’s help to those persecuted for their faith in Jesus. (Ps.9:13)
More: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=132577
Christian nurse says NHS 'persecuted' her faith and favours Muslim employees
A Christian nurse who refused to remove her crucifix at work has told an employment tribunal she felt ‘persecuted’ because of her faith. Shirley Chaplin, who has worn her cross every day for 30 years, said she felt that Muslim members of staff were treated with greater understanding when it came to outward symbols of their religion. The 54 year-old was banned from working on hospital wards and moved to an office job by Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust after she failed to hide the cross she wore as a necklace. She is now suing her hospital employers. Mrs Chaplin is supported in her case by seven
leading bishops who have written a letter to The Sunday Telegraph published on 28 April. DailyTelegraph In the letter, the Bishops express their deep disquiet at the double standards of public sector employers, claiming that Christians are punished while followers of other faiths are treated far more sensitively. (See Prayer Alert 3909)
Pray: for all those whose faith is challenged in the workplace. (Ps.109:28)
Two-thirds of Europeans want Christian values
Around two-thirds of Europeans feel that Christian values are relevant to modern life and are ready to acknowledge Church efforts to promote them. A survey conducted in France, Britain, Italy, Germany and Spain for the Catholic La Croix newspaper found that ‘Christian anchorage’ among Europeans was still strong. Around half of Europeans also felt Christian values could promote dialogue with different cultures and religions and solidarity with the poor. Over half believed Christians were ‘sufficiently visible’ in society, but a quarter felt they were under-represented. However, only Italians felt the churches were doing a good job in communicating with young people.
Pray: for this underlying trust in Christian values to be strengthened by the work of the Church in Europe. (Ac.16:5)
Two-thirds of Europeans want Christian values
Around two-thirds of Europeans feel that Christian values are relevant to modern life and are ready to acknowledge Church efforts to promote them. A survey conducted in France, Britain, Italy, Germany and Spain for the Catholic La Croix newspaper found that ‘Christian anchorage’ among Europeans was still strong. Around half of Europeans also felt Christian values could promote dialogue with different cultures and religions and solidarity with the poor. Over half believed Christians were ‘sufficiently visible’ in society, but a quarter felt they were under-represented. However, only Italians felt the churches were doing a good job in communicating with young people.
Pray: for this underlying trust in Christian values to be strengthened by the work of the Church in Europe. (Ac.16:5)
Christian preacher fined for speaking on homosexuality
A Scottish court has fined a street preacher £1,000 after answering a question about homosexuality. Shawn Holes, who is American, was kept in a police cell overnight and then charged with a breach of the peace. The accusation was that he had used ‘homophobic remarks’ that were ‘aggravated by religious prejudice’. Freedom concerns have been raised that this case shows religious liberty is under threat. One commentator described the charges against the preacher as ‘grotesque’. Shawn Holes was in Scotland with a group of American colleagues preaching on a wide variety of topics. ‘I was talking generally about Christianity and sin’, he said. He continued: ‘I only talked about these other issues because I was specifically asked. Mr Holes later commented: ‘It felt like a set-up by gay campaigners.’ Mr Holes’ lawyer said: ‘This case raises important issues about the interface between the criminal law in Scotland, freedom of speech and religious freedom.’
Pray: against the progressive limitation on free speech and religious freedom as shown in this incident. (Ga.5:1)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-preacher-fined-for-speaking-on-homosexuality/
Prayers and praise for Polish leaders
In the spring sunshine, sirens and bells marked the two minute silence at midday across Poland. At the church of St Stanislaw Kostka in a suburb of Warsaw, the silence was particularly poignant. It was here that Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria used to come to Sunday service. Their pews were kept empty during the service, draped in a huge red-and-white Polish flag and a black ribbon. The smiling pictures of the president and his wife were placed in front of the altar, together with the names of the other 94 people who died on board the presidential jet in Smolensk. Young children gathered around, eagerly putting their hands up when the priest asked them why Poland was in mourning. Outside the packed church, a
group of elderly people wiped their tears. Danuta Kaniewska, a former Solidarity activist sobbed ‘We've lost our elite. We're all in pain.’ The signs of mourning are everywhere.
Pray: for the people of Poland that they might be comforted in their huge loss. (Ps.119:50)
Prayers and praise for Polish leaders
In the spring sunshine, sirens and bells marked the two minute silence at midday across Poland. At the church of St Stanislaw Kostka in a suburb of Warsaw, the silence was particularly poignant. It was here that Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria used to come to Sunday service. Their pews were kept empty during the service, draped in a huge red-and-white Polish flag and a black ribbon. The smiling pictures of the president and his wife were placed in front of the altar, together with the names of the other 94 people who died on board the presidential jet in Smolensk. Young children gathered around, eagerly putting their hands up when the priest asked them why Poland was in mourning. Outside the packed church, a
group of elderly people wiped their tears. Danuta Kaniewska, a former Solidarity activist sobbed ‘We've lost our elite. We're all in pain.’ The signs of mourning are everywhere.
Pray: for the people of Poland that they might be comforted in their huge loss. (Ps.119:50)
Christians feel persecuted by human rights law and councils
Christians in Britain are feeling persecuted because of ‘paradoxical’ human rights laws and the ignorance of local councils, according to a major BBC documentary to be broadcast on Easter Sunday. Nicky Campbell, the presenter of the corporation’s flagship programme for Holy Week, argues that Labour’s anti-discrimination legislation has led to clashes between religious conscience and equality for homosexuals. He blames local authorities for rebranding Christmas celebrations as winter festivals because of a misguided belief that they are standing up for minority faiths. He concludes that although Christians do not face violence and suppression in Britain as they do abroad, their treatment can seem unfair in a modern democracy. The programme, called Are Christians Being Persecuted?, looks into widespread claims that the faith is being driven out of public life in Britain while its followers are being treated less fairly than minority groups. Campbell believes council leaders have no understanding of what followers of any religion want.
Pray: that the message of this programme and the cross will be heard this Easter. (1Cor.1:18)
EU ties support for Kyrgyzstan to democracy
The European Union said on Tuesday it would offer Kyrgyzstan's interim government political and economic support if satisfied it was committed to a quick return to democracy. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was encouraged by early signs, including pledges of a new constitution and elections, but underlined the need for the involvement of all parties and ethnic groups. ‘If we are satisfied that the provisional government is committed to a quick return to legitimacy and genuinely wants to join the democratic family, the European Union will be ready to provide the necessary political, financial and technical support.’ Russia and the United States have pledged aid to Kyrgyzstan, where President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was ousted on April 7, but Washington and the EU have not yet recognised the new government. (See Prayer Alert 1610 & 1510)
Pray: against any breakdown and disunity amongst the leaders. (Job.22:21)