Psychiatrists back down on 'born gay' claim
In a highly significant development, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has changed its position on the causes and nature of same-sex attraction. The review follows strong criticism made by the Christian Medical Fellowship and Core Issues Trust of the way in which the Royal College had handled scientific evidence on the issue. Andrea Williams from Christian Concern for our Nation, commented, ‘This is a remarkable development. The assumption that people are born gay has become deeply rooted in our society and has driven huge political, social and cultural change. Yet now the Royal College of Psychiatrists has admitted that things are not so simple and that post-birth environmental factors play a part. It is a step in the right direction and I congratulate the Christian Medical Fellowship and Core Issues Trust for ensuring that public debate acknowledges truth. We will continue to work to ensure that those facing unwanted same-sex attraction can access appropriate therapy.’ See also http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/sexual-orientation
HS2 plans risk 'indecent' treatment of graves
The Church of England asked for bishops to have powers to oversee the removal and reburial of bodies in graves along the planned HS2 rail line. 30,000+ graves must be exhumed along the high-speed route. Church officials say the Bill paving the way for the line does not provide for those remains to be treated in a ‘decent and reverent’ way and the Bill should not pass without changes. The Archbishops' Council made its criticisms in a petition to Parliament, attacking the Bill for not striking a proportionate balance between the rights of the Church of England to manifest its religion and the general needs of the community that are to be met by the works on HS2. The petition says that by law, human remains interred in consecrated land are under the protection of the Church. Because the bill overrides that protection, the petition says other ecclesiastical safeguards should be provided for in its place.
Workfare scheme delayed after voluntary sector boycott
A flagship government employment policy is facing further delays following a boycott by over 300 voluntary organisations. The ‘Help to Work’ scheme will force long-term unemployed people to work full-time for six months for no pay, or face losing their benefits. Last Monday's deadline, by which the placements were required by contract to be up and running, has passed, but the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is now saying placements will begin later in the month. There is speculation that the DWP is struggling to find charities, faith groups or local authorities to host the placements. Hundreds of voluntary groups have signed the ‘Keep Volunteering Voluntary’ statement to say they will boycott the scheme. They include household names such as Christian Aid, Oxfam, Crisis, Shelter and Scope. Keep Volunteering Voluntary points out that even during the pilot scheme, the DWP failed to find placements for 37 percent of participants.
Yorkshire churches prepare to welcome the Tour de France
Yorkshire churches are preparing to welcome cycling legends Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins this summer, as the Tour de France begins in Leeds. The Tour is famed for bringing together teams of world-class cyclists, who compete for the elusive yellow jersey over an agonising, and exhausting 23 days. This year, the route will take competitors over a total of 3,656 kilometres from Leeds through Harrogate, York, Sheffield, Cambridge and London before arriving in France and finishing in Paris. Scores of churches from all denominations will line the route and a dedicated website has been set up to allow them to share ideas and resources, giving every community the chance to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Canon John Carter, communications officer for the diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, said ‘It's very much an ecumenical thing, and it's about encouraging churches to work together with their local community which has been really good’.
Manufacturers fail to reduce sugar despite 'healthy eating' pledge
Food companies who signed up to the Government’s flagship ‘healthy eating’ pledge have failed to reduce the amount of sugar in some of their best-known brands. The sugar and overall calorie levels in products such as Coca-Cola and Magnum ice creams have remained the same despite their manufacturers promising to help customers to ‘eat and drink fewer calories’. Instead, the companies have reduced sugar in lesser-known products. MPs and campaigners said it showed that the calorie pledge in the Government’s Responsibility Deal, under which food manufacturers pledged to encourage healthier eating, was failing. They called on ministers to introduce specific sugar reduction targets, similar to those in place for salt, to tackle rising levels of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Dr Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and Action on Sugar's science director, said the findings suggested food firms were simply paying ‘lip service’ to the Government by signing up to the calorie pledge.
Teresa May v corruption in police force
The Sunday Times stated that ‘police officers in Downing Street set a trap for Andrew Mitchell, the former Tory cabinet minister; the trap led to plebgate’. A police email sent in September 2012 stated officers planned to stop Mitchell the next time he wanted to cycle through the main gates. When he tried to do so, just hours later, the angry exchange that led to his resignation occurred. Also, hours before the alleged confrontation occurred, one of the Diplomatic Patrol Group asked for ‘backing from his superiors’ if the former Chief Whip was stopped. Last month a judge-led public inquiry was launched into undercover police officers after findings of police corruption in the original Stephen Lawrence investigation. Recently Theresa May attacked police on further corruption and treatment of women and minorities. The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester called for an end to the slanging match between the police and politicians. See also: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2636092/Theresa-Mays-bombshell-attack-police-leaves-rank-file-angry-bewilderedloss-respond.html
Scottish parliament and secular humanist groups
The Edinburgh Secular Society (ESS) claims official guidance was breached when Evangelical Alliance Scotland (EAS) hosted a reception in Holyrood marking the publication of its manifesto ‘What Kind of Nation?’ ESS called the reception (endorsed by a government minister) a ‘book launch’ in the Scottish Parliament which broke the rules. The EAS said they were aware of the rules and denied any breach, saying ‘It was not a launch. We published the document earlier in the week. It was on our website.’ Prayer Alert notes that the attempts to promote secularism within the Scottish Parliament have escalated recently, but we give thanks that the Education and Culture Committee have not taken forward two Secular Humanist groups' petitions. One was for opt-in Religious Observance in schools, and the second was to stop the automatic inclusion of faith members on Council Education Committees. However, there has now been another petition submitted for an increase in Humanist speakers to lead Time for Reflection. See also http://www.ppscotland.org/
Down’s Syndrome shouldn’t be feared, says mum
The mother of a seven-year-old girl with Down’s Syndrome, who hit the headlines for appearing in Sainsbury’s clothing adverts, has said there had been an ‘assumption’ she would abort her daughter. Hayley Goleniowska, 43, and her husband Bob, 59, told the Daily Telegraph they have no limits on their expectations for their daughter Natalia (Natty), who swims, rides horses and is in mainstream school. Hayley said there is a ‘conditioning to fear Down’s syndrome’ and an ‘assumption’ that if the baby tests positive for the condition, you will ‘automatically’ have an abortion. But, she said, ‘we knew who she was - our daughter, not a set of symptoms or predictions for the future’. Hayley has started a blog offering advice and support for parents of children with Down’s Syndrome, which gets 30,000 hits a month. She said, ‘when a family or a mum tells us ‘Your blog has thrown me a lifeline; now I can see what the future could hold’, then we know we’re doing the right thing’.
NSPCC changes stance on those who cover up child abuse
Peter Wanless, chief executive of the child protection charity NSPCC, has said people who cover up child sex abuse should be prosecuted, and there should be a duty on institutions like hospitals, children's homes and boarding schools to report abuse. He said, ‘If someone consciously knows that there is a crime committed against a child, and does nothing about it because they put the reputation of the organisation above the safety of that child, that should be a criminal offence.’ Until now the charity has opposed all forms of so-called mandatory reporting, but Mr Wanless said the NSPCC would be open to discussions about what form a new law should take. He is currently heading an inquiry about whether the Home Office failed to act on allegations of child sex abuse handed over in the 1980s by former Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens. Another independent inquiry, looking at historical sexual abuse and institutions' protection of children, will be led by retired senior judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss.
Urgent Prayer for the Iraq Situation
Iraqi Christians have requested urgent prayer as the situation deteriorates virtually to the point of all-out civil war.
Sunni militants, many aligned with the radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an al-Qaeda off-shoot group, began their violent take-over on Friday 6th June. ISIS has full control of the northern cities of Mosul and Tikrit and has this morning seized Saadiyah and Jalawla in the eastern province of Diyala. Meanwhile, Kurdish forces, who are seen as a bulwark against the Sunni Muslim insurgents, say they have taken control of Kirkuk.
A spokesman for the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, told Sky News that she is ‘extremely concerned’ by summary executions, extrajudicial killings and the displacement of more than 500,000 people. By Wednesday 11, half a million residents from the Mosul region had fled from the violence, many attempting to find refuge in the nearby Kurdish provinces of Northern Iraq. Huge numbers of people have been displaced in other areas.
Pray that Christians of Mosul, Kirkuk, Bagdad and surrounding areas will know the presence of Jesus, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the protection of the Father.
Pray that humanitarian assistance would reach all who are in need, whether displaced or remaining in situ.
At the time of compiling this bulletin, Sunni insurgents have vowed to march on to Baghdad. The Iraqi Parliament has delayed voting on a request to grant the PM emergency powers due to it failing to reach the necessary quorum. Government forces have reportedly launched air strikes against positions held by militants in Tikrit and Mosul. The US says it is considering further assistance to Iraq, without giving details.
Pray for the government and military to be united and strong in dealing with this invasion and not to be intimidated.
Pray that they will be able to re-take the cities in the north and western parts of the country that have been overrun.
Hundreds of Christian families are among those fleeing the area, and at least one Assyrian church in Mosul has been burned down in the recent violence. Christians feel particularly vulnerable, especially in the light of the treatment of Christians in the Raqqah province of northern Syria. (In February, ISIS established its authority in Raqqah. Christian community leaders were forced to sign a contract agreeing pay a special tax (known as jizya). They were only allowed to have Christian meetings behind closed doors so as to be neither visible nor audible to Muslims, and Christians were to adhere to Islamic commercial, dress code and dietary regulations.)
Pray that those who have chosen to remain in the cities would not be subjected to violent or unjust treatment.
Pray that Christians will not be discouraged and will continue to unite in authoritative prayer for their nation.
Pray that Christians throughout Iraq will know the peace and presence of Jesus each day, and will remain faithful to him and clear in their testimony.
Mosul and the surrounding Nineveh plain is the traditional heartland of Iraq's Christian communities. Many Christians fled to this region when forced to leave Baghdad and other areas in recent years. Christians are alarmed at the ISIS take-over bid for Iraq and fearful that this will further accelerate the decline of the Christian presence in Iraq.
Pray that God will bring about His purposes for this nation and the surrounding areas. Pray that those who are perpetuating the conflict will know the Spirit's conviction of sin and come to understand the depth of Jesus' forgiveness.
A pastor from Iraq sent the following:
‘The terrorists have captured many towns, killing and destroying many buildings, burning anything they come across. The internet connection is very slow and sometimes disconnected. Huge numbers of families have already left their residences heading for nowhere. There is a huge need for food, blankets, shelters, medication, care for elders and children. There is a lack of everything. At least a couple of million people are homeless in an extremely hot season topping 122 F. Many have fasted and prayed all day Wednesday for the intervention of the Lord to stop this unrest.’
Pray for the millions of refugees that need shelter, food, and water; for a swift and well-co-ordinated response from the government, international community and humanitarian organisations.
Sources:
www.prayer-alert.net
www.meconcern.org
www.ipcprayer.org
www.bbc.co.uk