EU motion promoting abortion, homosexuality and paedophilia defeated
uesday heralded a human rights victory when the European Parliament decided by 351 to 319 votes with 18 abstentions to refer the controversial ‘Estrela-Report’ (named after its author, the extreme left-wing MEP Edite Estrela from Portugal), back to the parliamentary committee that originated it. A resounding victory for the pro-life cause, given that there is a structural majority in the European Parliament of members belonging to socialist, communist, green, and liberal parties, who usually vote in favour of anything that presents to promote ‘women’s rights’. The vote still needs to be carefully analysed; however, many socialist and liberal members refused to go along with their official party line. Formally speaking, the result of today’s vote is not that the Estrela draft is dead - it has been referred back to the Committee and could resurface at a later stage. The task is now for the Committee to come back with something less controversial, and more worthy of consideration than Mrs Estrela’s draft.
Pray: for the proposed report to be permanently adjourned and receive a silent burial.
EU motion promoting abortion, homosexuality and paedophilia defeated
uesday heralded a human rights victory when the European Parliament decided by 351 to 319 votes with 18 abstentions to refer the controversial ‘Estrela-Report’ (named after its author, the extreme left-wing MEP Edite Estrela from Portugal), back to the parliamentary committee that originated it. A resounding victory for the pro-life cause, given that there is a structural majority in the European Parliament of members belonging to socialist, communist, green, and liberal parties, who usually vote in favour of anything that presents to promote ‘women’s rights’. The vote still needs to be carefully analysed; however, many socialist and liberal members refused to go along with their official party line. Formally speaking, the result of today’s vote is not that the Estrela draft is dead - it has been referred back to the Committee and could resurface at a later stage. The task is now for the Committee to come back with something less controversial, and more worthy of consideration than Mrs Estrela’s draft.
Pray: for the proposed report to be permanently adjourned and receive a silent burial.
Young net users engage in 'risky' behaviour
Many children aged nine to 11 are indulging in very risky behaviour online, suggests a survey. Many are sharing personal information and playing games rated for much older children, fhe survey drawn up by the ISC2 IT security group found in addition, 18% of the 1,162 children queried said they had arranged offline meetings with friends made via the web. Meanwhile, a second survey suggests 55% of young people in England accept cyber-bullying as part of everyday life. Security experts have urged parents to help their offspring stay safe by being more involved with what they do online. ‘Many primary school children know far more about the internet than their parents do,’ said Tim Wilson, an information security worker who carried out the survey for the ISC2 organisation which helps schools educate children about web safety. In total, 15 schools in south-east London, Kent and Guernsey took part in the survey.
Pray: for our young people that they will be protected against the evil elements that pervade the internet. (Am.5:14)
Churches challenged over money and ethics
With church investments in the national spotlight, a website launched on 17 October will provide church groups and individual believers with a host of new resources to make ethical and spiritual decisions about their use of money. Your Faith Your Finance website – www.yourfaithyourfinance.org – contains facts, links and case-studies covering issues ranging from banking and shopping to biblical parables about money. The new website provides quotes and explains a range of different views on the subjects in question and includes resources for personal reflection and group discussion. The site was launched at an Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR) debate on church investment. It has been developed jointly by ECCR and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW). They aim to meet the growing demand from faith groups for help with the complex ethical and practical questions around the use of money.
Pray: that this new website will provide insight in making ethical and spiritual decisions about the use of money. (Ps.37:30)
Archbishop of Canterbury attacks over '' price rises
The recent energy price hikes make people understandably angry, says the Archbishop of Canterbury, who called on big power companies to be ‘conscious of their social obligations’. Justin Welby insisted the Big Six power companies had an obligation to behave morally rather than just maximising profit. Last week Scottish and Southern Electricity announced an 8.2 per cent price rise, and British Gas followed that with the announcement that its electricity prices were to surge by 10.4 per cent and its gas prices by 8.4 per cent from 23 November. The rises would mean £125 a year added to the bills of almost eight million customers. Whilst blaming a range of external factors, the company said it ‘understood the frustration’ of consumers. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Welby said: ‘The impact on people, particularly on low incomes, is going to be really severe'.
Pray: that the energy firms will consider their moral obligations rather than just maximising profit. (Lk.12:15)
Britain’s jails facing ‘growing problem’ of forced
British prisoners are increasingly being forced to convert to Islam by their fellow inmates, the prison officers’ union has warned. Muslim gangs are growing in power and influence among prisoners and there are concerns that they are targeting vulnerable new arrivals – making prisons a breeding ground for extremism. ‘It is a concern, and there’s been clear evidence from a variety of different incidents. Young men are being targeted and then coerced into converting to Islam,’ the association’s general secretary, Steve Gillan, told Sky News. One woman, whose brother is being bullied by a gang trying to force him to convert, told the broadcaster: ‘He just looks like a broken man, he's tearful on visits. I'm just really scared for him. He's been physically assaulted. He's had black eyes. In the shower, he got threatened with a knife. He's not going to back down. He's not going to convert for anyone.’
Pray: against the growth of Muslim extremism in our prisons and the pressure they exert to convert to Islam. (Mt.23:15)
Police bribe mother to drop assault case
Hayley Clayton spent a night in hospital with ten stitches to a serious head wound following an unprovoked attack. Three weeks later police told her they had found the culprit but would not prosecute because ‘it would be a waste of taxpayers’ money’. She was offered £100 and an apology from her attacker or have the offender cautioned by police. She found both offers unacceptable. She didn’t want the money she just wanted justice and the offender punished so she would learn the error of her ways and not go on to hurt somebody else. The compensation offer was increased to £150. She refused the offer. Last year 7,243 criminals with more than ten previous convictions only received a caution or warning for a serious offence. A spokesperson for the Centre for Crime Prevention said, ‘Most police have no confidence that serious repeat offenders will get a proper prison sentence if they go to court, so there is no point in going through all the paperwork.’
Pray: that the Ministry of Justice would clamp down more severely on simple cautions and short cuts to avoid paperwork. Pray for a justice system in which both the public and victims can have confidence. (Dt.27:19)
Christian woman to sue for right not to work on Sundays
Celestina Mba, 58, from south London was forced to leave her job after refusing to work Sundays. She told Merton Council she was unable to work Sundays before accepting a job but she was later told she would have to work full weekend shifts, so she resigned. Merton Council said it required carers who were ‘available to provide round the clock care over the weekend’. Ms Mba hopes to overturn an employment tribunal ruling which said she was not constructively dismissed. Ahead of the hearing she said, ‘I gave my life to Jesus when I was 19 and that was my commitment and I've lived it. To start changing my faith to line up with what the employer wants is not possible because my faith is who I am and I'm not prepared to compromise on that.’ She told the tribunal she was prepared to work night and Saturday shifts, or to have accepted less pay, to be able to observe Sunday as a day of rest.
Pray: that Ms Mba would be able to explain clearly to the Court of Appeal that an employer has a duty to ‘reasonably accommodate’ the beliefs of a Christian employee. (Gen.2.2)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24609584
Scotland Pastor forgives his families’ killers
A Church of Scotland pastor who lost his mother and close relatives in a suicide attack on a Pakistani church said he forgives their killers. Reverend Aftab Gohar's 79-year-old mother, nephew, niece, two uncles and other friends and relatives were among the 171 people killed in the September 22nd blasts at Peshawar's All Saints Church. On Sunday, October 20th Gohar resumed his duties at Abbotsgrange Church in Grangemouth after making an emotional statement about the militants linked to one of the deadliest attacks against Pakistan's minority Christians. ‘It is wrong what these people did but I forgive them. Forgiving is what we learn from the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why I forgive,’ He added, ‘We pray that they may one day develop the wisdom to understand that it is not right to kill children and other innocent people.’
Praise: God for Gohar’s faithful witness; ask God to continue to strengthen him and all who are affected by terrorism and persecution. (Ma.5:11)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/30958-scotland-pastor-forgives-his-mothers-killers-in-pakistan-blasts
Scotland Pastor forgives his families’ killers
A Church of Scotland pastor who lost his mother and close relatives in a suicide attack on a Pakistani church said he forgives their killers. Reverend Aftab Gohar's 79-year-old mother, nephew, niece, two uncles and other friends and relatives were among the 171 people killed in the September 22nd blasts at Peshawar's All Saints Church. On Sunday, October 20th Gohar resumed his duties at Abbotsgrange Church in Grangemouth after making an emotional statement about the militants linked to one of the deadliest attacks against Pakistan's minority Christians. ‘It is wrong what these people did but I forgive them. Forgiving is what we learn from the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why I forgive,’ He added, ‘We pray that they may one day develop the wisdom to understand that it is not right to kill children and other innocent people.’
Praise: God for Gohar’s faithful witness; ask God to continue to strengthen him and all who are affected by terrorism and persecution. (Ma.5:11)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/30958-scotland-pastor-forgives-his-mothers-killers-in-pakistan-blasts