Warning over religious persecution
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe has accused the Government of double standards when it comes to religious and homosexual persecution abroad. Miss Widdecombe told a Christian charity's conference that Prime Minister David Cameron was threatening to cut aid to countries which persecuted gays but was not doing anything to help persecuted Christians. ‘If David Cameron is tough on governments which persecute gays, why can't he be tough on those who persecute Christians?’ she told the Aid to the Church in Need annual conference. ‘You stand a better chance of earnest representation if you are a hedgehog than if you are a persecuted Christian.’ Aid to the Church in Need claims 75% of all religious persecution in the world is directed against Christians with 105,000 killed every year for faith-related reasons.
Pray: that our Government would be wise in its judgements and speak out for all those who are persecuted. (1Pet.4:6)
Peer in bid to dismantle law on Christian assemblies
A Lib Dem peer in the House of Lords has tabled an amendment to remove the requirement for Christian worship in schools. Currently schools must have a daily act of collective worship. Collective worship must be ‘wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.’ Parents can withdraw their children and teachers are also permitted to opt out. But now Lord Avebury, a Liberal Democrat peer, has tabled an amendment to end the requirement for collective worship in all schools apart from faith schools. Earlier this year a secularist campaign group said that Christian assemblies should be banned because they breach children’s human rights. The National Secular Society wrote to Education Secretary, Michael Gove, demanding that the law on Christian assemblies be abolished. But a spokesman for the Department for Education said the law on Christian assemblies ‘encourages pupils to reflect on the concept of belief and the role it plays in the traditions and values of this country.’ (See Prayer Alert 36-2011)
Pray: that this further challenge to our faith would be thwarted. (Pr.6:23)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/peer-in-bid-to-dismantle-law-on-christian-assemblies/
Church helping Scotland's poorest communities
The Church of Scotland has launched a radical new regeneration programme to boost some of the poorest parts of the country. The Chance to Thrive project will work with eight communities on development initiatives over the next five years. The Church says the onus of the project will be on the hopes of the people, rather than buildings. It wants to support local people in bringing about long-term change through their own ideas rather than ‘having ideas imposed from outside’. Communities will be supported by a panel of volunteers with relevant experience as entrepreneurs, community workers, business planners, artists and architects. It is hoped that the projects will lead to the development of major new and sustainable church-based community facilities. ‘Over the last decade the Church of Scotland has doubled its commitment to Scotland’s poorest neighbourhoods.’
Pray: that this move by the Church of Scotland would lead to long-term change to some of the neediest people. (Dt.15:11)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.helping.scotlands.poorest.communities.thrive/28806.htm
Turkey: Earthquake
Tens of thousands are sleeping in tents or cars. The Turkish Red Crescent has already distributed 13,000 tents but Reuters reported tent shortages, particularly in remote villages. After announcing to the world they did not want help to deal with the earthquake aftermath, Ankara has now accepted Israel’s offer of aid and allowed their Defence Ministry to send a plane carrying 7 mobile homes to quake-devastated areas with more aid to follow. Turkey also agreed to receive relief from
Armenia, but a formal request had not been received by Wednesday, four days after the earthquake struck. Turkey is now prepared to receive relief missions from thirty countries, which earlier had offered assistance but been rejected. These countries include Russia, US, China, Japan, as well as the EU. See: http://news.am/eng/news/79414.html Aslan International, working in Turkey, said ‘The hearts of the whole nation are shaken. Let us grieve with those who have lost everything, we ask you to plead with God for mercy on the nation of Turkey.’
Pray: for all government rescue efforts, for more rescue vehicles and paramedics, doctors to get to Van quickly, for the weather - meteorologists are predicting snow. For those still trapped to be found quickly. In your mercy Lord hear our prayer.
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/call.for.prayer.as.turkey.quake.death.toll.rises/28813.htm
Turkey: Earthquake
Tens of thousands are sleeping in tents or cars. The Turkish Red Crescent has already distributed 13,000 tents but Reuters reported tent shortages, particularly in remote villages. After announcing to the world they did not want help to deal with the earthquake aftermath, Ankara has now accepted Israel’s offer of aid and allowed their Defence Ministry to send a plane carrying 7 mobile homes to quake-devastated areas with more aid to follow. Turkey also agreed to receive relief from
Armenia, but a formal request had not been received by Wednesday, four days after the earthquake struck. Turkey is now prepared to receive relief missions from thirty countries, which earlier had offered assistance but been rejected. These countries include Russia, US, China, Japan, as well as the EU. See: http://news.am/eng/news/79414.html Aslan International, working in Turkey, said ‘The hearts of the whole nation are shaken. Let us grieve with those who have lost everything, we ask you to plead with God for mercy on the nation of Turkey.’
Pray: for all government rescue efforts, for more rescue vehicles and paramedics, doctors to get to Van quickly, for the weather - meteorologists are predicting snow. For those still trapped to be found quickly. In your mercy Lord hear our prayer.
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/call.for.prayer.as.turkey.quake.death.toll.rises/28813.htm
Pope to promote peace with world religious leaders
Pope Benedict XVI has invited 300 religious leaders to a meeting in Assisi in Italy to repudiate ‘violence in the name of God’ amid growing tensions fuelled by fundamentalists across the world. The day of Inter-religious Council, which will be held today in St Francis of Assisi’s birthplace, is intended to be a ‘journey of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world,’ the Vatican said. Over 50 Islamic representatives are expected to attend the talks from several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran. They will be joined by Rabbis, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, a Zoroastrian, a Bahai and representatives of Taoism and Confucianism as well as of other traditional religions from Africa and America. For the first time, four atheists will also attend the meeting, which is traditionally organised so as not to coincide with the Muslim day of prayer on Friday, the Jewish one on Saturday or the Christian one on Sunday.
Pray: as the religious leaders gather that God would bring unity and peace among them. (Ps.34:15)
Pope to promote peace with world religious leaders
Pope Benedict XVI has invited 300 religious leaders to a meeting in Assisi in Italy to repudiate ‘violence in the name of God’ amid growing tensions fuelled by fundamentalists across the world. The day of Inter-religious Council, which will be held today in St Francis of Assisi’s birthplace, is intended to be a ‘journey of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world,’ the Vatican said. Over 50 Islamic representatives are expected to attend the talks from several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran. They will be joined by Rabbis, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, a Zoroastrian, a Bahai and representatives of Taoism and Confucianism as well as of other traditional religions from Africa and America. For the first time, four atheists will also attend the meeting, which is traditionally organised so as not to coincide with the Muslim day of prayer on Friday, the Jewish one on Saturday or the Christian one on Sunday.
Pray: as the religious leaders gather that God would bring unity and peace among them. (Ps.34:15)
Church ready to sell internet holdings unless companies curb online pornography
The Church of England may withdraw the millions it has invested in internet companies unless they take action to curb internet pornography. Senior officials are conducting a wide-ranging review of the Church’s holdings in Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which are worth tens of millions. A Church spokesman said that its Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) was considering new guidelines on pornography, which address the ease in which hardcore sexual images can be viewed through modern media. The review, which is expected to be concluded in the coming months, will recommend how part of the Church’s £5.3 billion portfolio should be invested in relation to Internet companies. The Church refuses to invest in firms that fuel problems against which Christians campaign. According to Church documents, the criteria for investing in media companies is that they have a ‘positive influence on society by educating, entertaining and uplifting individual experience’.
Pray: for the Church, through the EIAG, to bring its influence to combat the evil that pervades electronic media. (Ps.34:16)
Senior bishop criticises proposed changes to planning rules
The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, warned that the rules would allow developments when councils had not set out local plans, which would make clear where building can take place. His intervention is the first time that a senior cleric has entered the dispute over the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework. The framework distils 1,300 pages of planning guidance into as few as 52, and writes in a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’. Groups including the National Trust fear this will allow developers to build on large parts of the countryside. The bishop criticised the draft rules during a House of Lords debate. He said: ‘Just because no one has thought about a proposal before does not mean that it should automatically be granted. A default answer of 'yes’ seems to be dangerous in legislation and could well lead to problems in, for example, the proper provision of affordable housing.’
Pray: for the Government to build in safeguards to address the concerns of many who seek to protect townscapes and countryside. (Ps.72:3)
CAB dumps former SNP chief for traditional marriage views
Former leader of the Scottish National Party, Gordon Wilson, has been kicked off the board of Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) – because of his support for traditional marriage.
Earlier this month Mr Wilson responded to a Government consultation on redefining marriage, saying he was opposed to the idea. He said: ‘You attack the building block of society at your peril’ and he called for a referendum on the issue. But expressing his beliefs appear to have cost him his position at Dundee CAB – a group that offers free advice to the public about legal rights. At yesterday’s annual general meeting of Dundee CAB, members blocked his re-election as one of twelve directors. Mr Wilson was accused of being anti-equality and a total of 21 members voted against his re-election. At the meeting he pointed out the irony that CAB receives taxpayers money for tackling religious discrimination.
Pray: for Mr Wilson and his courage to speak out. Also pray for the CAB to recognise the double standards they are operating and to reconsider their action. (Dt.31:6)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/cab-dumps-former-snp-chief-for-traditional-marriage-views/