Welby dismisses critics' calls to stay out of politics and stick to talking about God
The Archbishop of Canterbury shrugged off calls from critics to steer clear of politics and “just talk about God” insisting that the Church has increasingly become the “glue” holding society together. The Most Rev Justin Welby used his first New Year address as leader of the Church of England to reaffirm tackling poverty as one of the biggest priorities. Archbishop Welby, a former oil executive, has drawn from his knowledge of the City as a prominent critic of practices by bankers, payday lenders and others. It was a theme he returned to in his first Christmas sermon last week when he spoke about combating “injustice” adding that politics and religion “cannot be separated”. But it led to attacks from some commentators who claimed that the Archbishop was failing to talk about faith. The Archbishop replied saying that as Christians if you love your neighbour you’re going to be deeply concerned in the things that trouble them, whether it’s about heating bills, insecurity in families and the need for good community life.
Pray: for the Church to continue its involvement in supporting so many aspects of society. (Mtt.28:18)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10546198/Welby-dismisses-critics-calls-to-stay-out-of-politics-and-stick-to-talking-about-God.html
Progress on Northern Ireland 'must not be squandered'
Amnesty International has warned that the opportunity to deal with the past in Northern Ireland must not be squandered following a lack of agreement at the end of multi-party negotiations, chaired by Dr Richard Haass. Northern Ireland’s five main political parties failed to agree to a new approach to dealing with the legacy of three decades of human rights violations and abuses, among other issues. Amnesty is calling for the publication of draft proposals from the inter-party talks and for negotiations to recommence in the New Year. The human rights group’s Northern Ireland Director Patrick Corrigan said: “We are disappointed the parties failed to reach an agreement on dealing with the past, but determined to continue to press for truth and justice for all victims in Northern Ireland. “What progress has been achieved by the parties and the Haass team towards agreeing a new approach to the past must not be squandered or obscured by disagreement on other issues.
Cameroon: Nigeria’s Boko Haram strikes again in Cameroon
In November Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan called for Cameroon’s support in combating Boko Haram. The two countries share a 1600 km border, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the South to Lake Chad in the North. Then on November 15-17, a number of incidents took place along the border. Local sources contacted by World Watch Monitor say dozens of properties, including Ewy church in Tourou (in Cameroon) were attacked while at least one church was set ablaze and destroyed on the Nigerian side of Ashigashia. At least four people were killed and many others wounded and transferred to health centres. Despite the reinforcement of security forces in the area, villagers fear continued attacks from Islamist militants from Nigeria who now consider Cameroon their second home. Northern Cameroon is a vast semi-desert area composed of three provinces (Adamawa, North and Far North), bordered by Nigeria to the West, Chad to the Northeast and Central African Republic to the West.
Pray: for governments to strategically contain the spread of terrorism. (Jer.8:15)
Nigeria: Dozens killed in fresh attacks
About 40 people were killed in coordinated attacks on four Christian-dominated villages in the central Nigerian State of Plateau. Local sources contacted by World Watch Monitor report that the assailants, believed to be members of the Fulani tribe, came at around 2am on Tuesday morning, attacking the Berom communities in the villages of Katu Kapang, Daron, Tul and Rawuru. In a statement, Captain Salisu Mustapha, Media Officer of the government's Special Task Force (STF) in Jos, said the ‘attackers killed 13 persons in Katu Kapang, eight in Daron, nine in Tul and seven others in Rawuru. About five others were also reported to have sustained injuries’. Those killed included a one-year-old boy shot at close range, a four-year old and several women and other children, villagers told local media. The Chairman of the State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Soja Bewarang, condemned in ‘strong terms’ the ‘barbarous act’ in which pregnant women and children were killed.
Pray: that solutions will be found to stop the attacks of terrorists in Nigeria. (Dt.22:26)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/dozens.killed.in.fresh.attacks.in.central.nigeria/34862.htm
Iran: US to open joint chamber of commerce
‘Iran-US chamber of commerce will be launched in less than one month,’ Abolfazl Hejazi, a member of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, told the English-language Iran Daily. In the wake of the recent historic accord between Tehran and major powers on Iran's controversial nuclear programme, Hejazi also said his country was ready to start direct flights to the United States. After the 1979 revolution in Iran, Washington severed diplomatic relations with Tehran following the seizure of its embassy in Tehran, during which Islamist students held 52 US diplomats hostage for 444 days. According to Hejazi, the project which he said had already been registered in the United States would allow the two countries to work towards restoring ties, Iran’s government has authorized the private sector to launch joint activities for Iran to establish direct flights to the United States.
Pray: these negotiations and arrangements would enable mission agencies and the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living in the US to freely travel in and out of Iran. (2Ch.15:5)
USA: Frustration - Obamacare site keeps failing
President Barack Obama has begun a new push to reshape public perception regarding his health care law while working behind the scenes to fix its problems. At a White House event Tuesday he reminded Americans that he designed the Affordable Care Act to prevent insurance discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions and to allow young people to stay on their parents' coverage until age 26. But for many Americans, the HealthCare.gov's online Obamacare website is failing many consumers attempting to sign up. It was updated last weekend but still many are still running into failures and crashes. To combat continuing concerns about HealthCare.gov, President Osama hopes to refocus the public's attention on potential benefits with the health care law in an effort to encourage more to sign up despite deep flaws with enrolment data. Insurers now say that much data they're receiving is incomplete or incorrect and could be useless. Ultimately, it may mean consumers cannot access benefits on January 1, 2014 - the date the coverage begins.
Pray: that Government administration officials, insurance company representatives and technology specialists will solve the problem. (Pr.15:22)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/December/Frustration-Continues-as-Obamacare-Site-Keeps-Failing/
Syria: 12 nuns abducted as rebels recapture Maaloula
The Vatican has reported that 12 nuns were abducted as opposition rebels captured Syria's historically Christian town of Maaloula on Monday. The majority of the town's Christian population is thought to have fled during clashes between government forces and rebels in September, leaving a mainly Muslim population behind. The 40 nuns of the Orthodox Mar Takla convent had been the major exception, until 12 were abducted on Monday. They were reportedly taken to the nearby rebel-held town of Yabroud. Febronia Nabhan, Mother Superior at the Saidnaya Convent told the Associated Press today that the nuns who left were accompanied by three other women. Nabhan said that the Maaloula convent's Mother Superior, Pelagia Sayaf, called her later on Monday and said they were all ‘fine and safe’. Maaloula, 60 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of the capital, Damascus, is a symbol of Syria's ancient Christian roots, where Aramaic – the language spoken by Jesus – is still spoken.
Pray: for the safe return of those abducted. (Is.42:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/12.nuns.abducted.as.rebels.recapture.maaloula/34910.htm
Egypt: Kidnapping of Christians seen rising
Egypt's Coptic minority has become increasingly concerned by the growing number of Christians who have been kidnapped, across the country say Christian activists. More than 30 Christians were reportedly abducted in the southern province of Minya last month alone. Local observers say the situation is especially serious in Minya, a provincial capital, which has been dubbed the ‘kidnapping capital of Egypt’. Most Christians are kidnapped for ransom, but there have also been reports that believers were abducted by Islamic hardliners, including girls who were forced to marry Muslim men. International Christian Concern (ICC), a major advocacy group, cited friends and families of some of those who were abducted as saying that even children have been targeted. ‘The kidnapping of Christians is an urgent issue that must be addressed by the political leadership.’ Christians comprise roughly 10 percent of Egypt's mainly Muslim population of 85 million.
Pray: against the kidnapping trend among Christians and pray for their safety and protection. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/31255-kidnapping-of-egypt-christians-seen-rising
Zimbabwe: 100 die from hunger in Zimbabwe's prisons
MDC-T legislator Jessie Majome has called on the government to take concrete and urgent steps to avert a "brewing humanitarian crisis" in the country's prisons. Majome made the call on Tuesday after justice ministry and prison officials revealed that at least 100 inmates have died this year at the country's 55 facilities.The deaths were poor nutrition-related, according to Virginia Mabhiza and Agrey Machingauta, from the justice ministry and prisons services. The two officials told the parliamentary portfolio committee that the country's prisons were experiencing serious food shortages because they were not receiving enough money to source food for the 18,460 prisoners. They told parliamentarians that although $1.2 million was required monthly for food for the prisoners, only $300,000 was being allocated. As a result, prisoners were no longer receiving the required three meals a day, a situation which had led to nutrition-related illnesses and deaths.
Pray: that the authorities will have compassion on the prisoners and provide necessary food. (Ps.116:5)
Ministers will order ISPs to block terrorist and extremist websites
James Brokenshire, the UK's crime and security minister, said an update on the government's plans to tackle terror content online was imminent. The government is to order broadband companies to block extremist websites and empower a specialist unit to identify and report content deemed too dangerous for online publication. The crime and security minister, James Brokenshire, said on Wednesday that measures for censoring extremist content would be announced shortly. The initiative is likely to be controversial, with broadband companies already warning that freedom of speech could be compromised. Ministers are understood to want to follow the model used to crack down on online child abuse. The Internet Watch Foundation, which is partly industry-funded, investigates reports of illegal child abuse images online; it can then ask service providers to block or take down websites.
Pray: for the success of the government's plans to tackle terrorist and extremist websites. (Pr.21:15)
More: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/27/ministers-order-isps-block-terrorist-websites