Scotland’s Assisted Suicide Bill Defeated
‘In every free democratic society there are limits placed on human freedom in order to protect the common good and vulnerable people. It is right that the law is not to be changed to accommodate the wishes of a small number of desperate and determined people at the expense of the rights of others.’ These were the comments of Dr Gordon Macdonald after a bill proposing to introduce assisted suicide was defeated on its first reading at Holyrood last Wednesday. He added, ‘Legal and medical experts consistently warned that the proposed Bill was deeply flawed and would be difficult to enforce in practice. We thank God that the Scottish Parliament rejected this dangerous legislation and voted in favour of protecting the lives of thousands of vulnerable people.’ See article 4 below.
UK Churches urged to live-stream services on social media
A plan has been suggested to enable people who are ill, too nervous to attend church, or who have family commitments on Sundays to take part in church services. It will help mums and dads throughout the country who might have preferred to go to church on Sunday but have sacrificed their spiritual needs to stand in the cold and wet on football and rugby sidelines to support their children's sporting endeavours. They will now be able to stay in touch with their church community while continuing to support their children's Sunday morning activities. Many clergy and parochial church councils impose strict controls over taking photographs or videos at services, including weddings. But the mood against media is undergoing a profound shift with the nation's young people growing up digitally literate from early childhood. The sacred can be found in the social as well as in the sanctuary. See THE MILL GATHERING:
20,000 worshippers at the ‘Big Church Day Out’
More than 20,000 campers and day visitors descended on the Wiston Estate near Steyning, Sussex, for a two-day event over Pentecost weekend. The Big Church Day Out offered families the Big Church Fete where there were fair rides, a climbing wall, arts and crafts and face painting. There were three different stages with a variety of worship styles brought to crowds by artists from the UK and abroad, including Rend Collective; American worship leader and composer Israel Houghton; Martin Smith, formerly the front man of the Christian rock band Delirious?; the Watoto Children’s Choir; and rap and dance group LZ7. There was prayer and more intimate worship in Wiston Church, near the estate’s house. The church was packed throughout both days as people sought some quiet, more reflective worship time. Tearfund ran its ‘Free a Slave’ campaign, and the event ended with a beacon being lit to launch the Diocese of Chichester’s new mission strategy.
Lord Falconer’s suicide bill
Earlier this week, Labour peer Lord Falconer said he would reintroduce a Bill at Westminster attempting to allow assisted suicide for patients in England and Wales who are deemed to have less than six months to live. But in a ballot on Wednesday 27 May determining the order in which private members’ bills are to be introduced in the House of Lords, Lord Falconer's bill came 21st, meaning that it's unlikely that it will be brought before Parliament. Earlier this year politicians on the Isle of Man voted strongly against a private member's bill calling for the legalisation of assisted suicide. The World Medical Association re-asserted its opposition to assisted suicide in 2013. A 2006 survey by the Royal College of Physicians found that over 70% agreed no change in legislation is needed.
Petition launched against ‘Named Person’ scheme
Campaigners opposing Scotland’s controversial Named Person scheme launched a new petition last weekend, tapping into mounting opposition to the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act passed at Holyrood last year. Under the law, every child in Scotland will be assigned a state-employed Named Person to monitor their welfare. A campaign spokesman said they were concerned about the threats to the human rights of families to their privacy in their own homes as well as possible breaches of data protection laws as the state passes confidential family information to and from different public bodies. The petition says, ‘I oppose the Scottish Government’s plan to assign a Named Person to every child in Scotland because it undermines families and diverts resources from children who need them.’ In January, judge Lord Pentland dismissed a judicial review brought against the legislation, but three judges will consider an appeal next Wednesday.
Gay marriage: Belfast City Council says 'yes'
Last week Prayer Alert reported: ‘The ‘Yes’ result in the same-sex marriage referendum in the Republic of Ireland has led to calls for its introduction in Northern Ireland.’ On Monday this week Belfast City Council voted in favour of same-sex marriage; 38 councillors voted for, 13 voted against and there were two abstentions. Councillors from Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Green Party, PUP, People Before Profit, and Alliance spoke in support of the motion. All but three Ulster Unionists also voted for the motion. In April, the Northern Ireland Assembly rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time.
Born-again Christian set for love reality show
A born-again Christian is to be one of the contestants on ITV reality show 'Love Island'. Zoe Basia Brown, 24, will take part in the programme which sends 12 single people to the Mediterranean island of Mallorca in an attempt for them to 'find love'. The model said she would avoid controversy in a bid not to embarrass her priest or mum. She said, ‘I'm a Christian and that is the number one thing in my life, so I can turn the other cheek. I started going to church two years ago. It's the opposite of fashion and I love it because everyone is so nice. I'm not going to start giving sermons on the island, but it's a big part of me. I'm not going to mess around on Love Island, I'm going to maintain my dignity. A cheeky snog might happen, but nothing more’. It launches on Sunday 7 June at 9 pm.
Global corruption – not just FIFA
The following comes from Radio 4’s Thought for the Day earlier this week. FIFA’s problems are part of global issues. Corruption conjures up images of people getting rich. But corruption often produces more poverty than wealth. The harmful effects of corruption are especially severe on the poor, who are hit by economic decline, are more dependent on public services and the least capable of paying the extra costs associated with bribery, fraud and the misappropriation of economic privileges. Countries that score badly on the World Bank’s Doing Business Indicators also score badly on the Corruption Perceptions Index, including Chad, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, all ranking in the bottom 15 countries on both tables. Tackling corruption requires a sharp change of culture. Just as corrupt countries find it difficult to attract investors then so too will FIFA find it increasingly difficult to attract sponsors. Perhaps those leading FIFA might take inspiration from Jesus, ‘there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance’.
Burundi: It's enough to make you cry
The following is from a missionary working in Burundi: ‘I'm sitting in a café having a snatched lunch alone, and I'm crying. Our teams on the frontline urgently need more resources to help save lives. The sound of gunfire in the capital is normal now. Most people are petrified. Suffice to say, there's plenty to make one weep right now after last week's failed coup and the deteriorating political and security situation. My colleague M’s 3 year-old daughter is so traumatised by the shooting that every time she hears a gunshot she pees herself - she's now peeing herself multiple times. C rings me, hunkered down in her hovel with her daughter and granddaughter, a gun battle going on outside. I would do anything for C, but I can’t swoop in through the bullets to save my dear friend. My widower buddy H tries to keep his six children's morale up, and L’s wife has just died in childbirth. He now has four starving children.’
Afghanistan: News from a missionary
‘Daily we receive reports of more atrocities, higher death tolls, repeated attacks on NGOs and guest-houses with foreigners as victims. Pray that this spring offensive may soon come to an end and that the whole Taliban movement will be crushed. Signs of an alliance of the Taliban with IS come from the North and East. Pray against the demonic powers that drive those people. UN statistics show civilian casualties rose by 16% this year. We believe our prayer is the decisive weapon in a war that cannot be won in the natural by all the world’s superpowers. Many foreigners have left the country, so pray for the local believers not to be discouraged, but to share their beliefs with others and remain faithful in the midst of adversity. There have been months of political infighting over the appointment of the crucial post of defence minister. Pray for Masum Stanakzai, appointed to this position on 24 May.’