STI increase - questions sex education
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) reported 482,696 cases of sexually transmitted infections in UK health clinics in 2009, a 3% increase on 2008, with teenagers and young adults accounting for the majority. According to HPA young women aged 19 and men aged between 20 and 23 are at the greatest risk and of the 12,000 additional cases reported last year over two thirds were women under 25. The figures also revealed that re-infection is a serious issue, with at least 11% of women and 12% of men aged 16 to 19 becoming re-infected with an STI within one year of being treated for a previous one. Despite the increase in infections, which many attribute to an increase in sex education, there have still been calls to increase sex education in schools. Helen Jenkins from Marie Stopes International, stated: ‘We fear that STI rates may continue to rise without increasing access to comprehensive sex and relationships education in all British schools’. Pray: for our young to be strengthened morally by the examples of parents and respected teachers. (Mt.19:16)
Alcohol fuelling abortions
New research suggests that women with a high level of alcohol intake are more likely to take the morning after pill or have an abortion. According to the University College London study, women who binge drink have a 40 per cent higher chance of having at least one abortion in the past year. Furthermore, the research found that women who exceed the recommended weekly alcohol limit were 80 per cent more likely to have used the morning after pill. Commenting, Norman Wells, director of the Family Education Trust, said that the findings show that alcohol consumption should not be underestimated. ‘The importance of a stable family background and responsible parenting can never be overstated.’ Meanwhile, plans to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in the Greater Manchester area have received support from Prime Minister David Cameron. Pray: that the legal framework encouraging binge drinking may be changed to discourage it. (Lk.11:53) More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=8174&this=Alcohol_fuelling_abortions,_study_suggests
Budget creating 'huge hardship'
Church Action on Poverty has voiced concern over the impact of George Osborne’s Budget one day after a respected think tank warned that financial cutbacks were hitting the poor hardest. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the Budget had been ‘clearly regressive’ and was hitting low earners more than those in the upper income brackets. Niall Cooper, CAP’s Coordinator, said ‘the IFS’s report had confirmed the group’s worst fears that the Budget was hitting those already struggling to get by and least in the position to cope with cuts to income, welfare and services. They are people who are already just keeping their heads above water and struggling to keep up with their debt repayments and living costs. Even a five per cent loss of income may not sound like very much but it is enough to tip some people over the edge. The cuts are creating huge hardship.’ he said. Pray: that the government will seriously consider the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/budget.creating.huge.hardship.church.group.warns/26584.htm
France: Church anger over Roma policy
French government policy towards the Roma community has provoked the anger of the Catholic Church – from the Vatican itself to individual priests like Father Arthur Hervet. A renowned defender of Roma rights, Father Arthur is returning the Order of Merit he was awarded by way of protest. Describing current policy he said: ‘For the last three months this minority has had a real war being waged against it.’ Pope Benedict XVI has also spoken out. Although he did not actually name France, he chose to make the following address in French: ‘Scripture tells us again and again that all men are called to salvation, and the Scriptures are also an invitation to receive amongst us all legitimate human differences, as did Jesus who gathered together people of all nations and all languages.’ The French government has intensified its deportation of illegal Roma people since a violent incident involving the Roma community last month. Pray: that this policy will not be forced upon them but the authorities would show compassion. (Eph.4:32) More: http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/23/church-anger-over-french-roma-policy/
France: Church anger over Roma policy
French government policy towards the Roma community has provoked the anger of the Catholic Church – from the Vatican itself to individual priests like Father Arthur Hervet. A renowned defender of Roma rights, Father Arthur is returning the Order of Merit he was awarded by way of protest. Describing current policy he said: ‘For the last three months this minority has had a real war being waged against it.’ Pope Benedict XVI has also spoken out. Although he did not actually name France, he chose to make the following address in French: ‘Scripture tells us again and again that all men are called to salvation, and the Scriptures are also an invitation to receive amongst us all legitimate human differences, as did Jesus who gathered together people of all nations and all languages.’ The French government has intensified its deportation of illegal Roma people since a violent incident involving the Roma community last month. Pray: that this policy will not be forced upon them but the authorities would show compassion. (Eph.4:32) More: http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/23/church-anger-over-french-roma-policy/
Czech Republic: Controversial homeless plan
Organizations working with the homeless, the country's largest opposition party, the political party likely to lead Prague after autumn elections and homeless people themselves are all speaking out against the plans by City Hall to build an ‘integrated assistance centre’ for the homeless on the outskirts of the city. Plans approved by the City Council last week will see a new centre being built within six months in Malešice, an industrial area on the eastern edge of the capital. Facilities planned for the centre are described as ‘an oasis’ for the homeless. Homeless people would be registered but would not be required to live in the new space but would be encouraged to go there. Ilja Hradecký, chairman of a Christian charity that works with the homeless, described the idea as ‘absolutely misconceived’ and would either see people leaving the camp each day after being taken there against their will or being ‘interned’, something that he termed a violation of human rights. Pray: for wisdom to result from the debate over Prague’s homeless. (2Cor.8:9) More: http://www.praguepost.com/news/5501-outcry-as-city-approves-controversial-homeless-plan.html
Czech Republic: Controversial homeless plan
Organizations working with the homeless, the country's largest opposition party, the political party likely to lead Prague after autumn elections and homeless people themselves are all speaking out against the plans by City Hall to build an ‘integrated assistance centre’ for the homeless on the outskirts of the city. Plans approved by the City Council last week will see a new centre being built within six months in Malešice, an industrial area on the eastern edge of the capital. Facilities planned for the centre are described as ‘an oasis’ for the homeless. Homeless people would be registered but would not be required to live in the new space but would be encouraged to go there. Ilja Hradecký, chairman of a Christian charity that works with the homeless, described the idea as ‘absolutely misconceived’ and would either see people leaving the camp each day after being taken there against their will or being ‘interned’, something that he termed a violation of human rights. Pray: for wisdom to result from the debate over Prague’s homeless. (2Cor.8:9) More: http://www.praguepost.com/news/5501-outcry-as-city-approves-controversial-homeless-plan.html
Muslims lobbying to worship in Spanish Cathedral
While the dispute over the proposed Cordoba House near New York City’s Ground Zero has been highly publicised over the past few months, less known is the debate over Spain’s Cordoba Cathedral, which was formerly the Great Mosque of Cordoba. For some time now, Muslim groups have been trying to convince leaders of the Cathedral of Cordoba in southern Spain to allow the Catholic Church to be used for both Muslim and Christian worship as the site still remains significant for many Muslims. The Bishop of Cordoba, Demetrio Fernandez, says sharing the space with Muslims would be like a man sharing his wife with another man. Built in the 8th century after the Moorish invasion of Spain, the Cordoba house of worship was transformed from a mosque into a cathedral in 1236 when King Ferdinand III captured the city of Cordoba from the Moors. Pray: for Christians everywhere that they will hold fast to the ground that God has given and be wise in their deliberations. (Ps.107:43)
Muslims lobbying to worship in Spanish Cathedral
While the dispute over the proposed Cordoba House near New York City’s Ground Zero has been highly publicised over the past few months, less known is the debate over Spain’s Cordoba Cathedral, which was formerly the Great Mosque of Cordoba. For some time now, Muslim groups have been trying to convince leaders of the Cathedral of Cordoba in southern Spain to allow the Catholic Church to be used for both Muslim and Christian worship as the site still remains significant for many Muslims. The Bishop of Cordoba, Demetrio Fernandez, says sharing the space with Muslims would be like a man sharing his wife with another man. Built in the 8th century after the Moorish invasion of Spain, the Cordoba house of worship was transformed from a mosque into a cathedral in 1236 when King Ferdinand III captured the city of Cordoba from the Moors. Pray: for Christians everywhere that they will hold fast to the ground that God has given and be wise in their deliberations. (Ps.107:43)
Cross is point of contention in Poland
Supporters of the late president Lech Kaczynski of Poland are refusing to take down a cross they placed outside the presidential palace in Warsaw, a move that is igniting political tensions between secularists and nationalists. The 13 feet high cross was put up soon after the crash on April 10 of the presidential plane killing the president, his wife and 94 others. Calling themselves Defenders of the Cross, many who have gathered around the cross belong to the nationalist Law and Justice party. The party is led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of the late president. With important local government elections due in the autumn, analysts say, Law and Justice is trying to recover its popularity. The church has refused to be dragged into the controversy. On Thursday, it took the unusual step of calling on all sides to find a compromise in a dispute it claimed was being exploited for political reasons. Pray: that the Cross might unify rather than divide. (Mt.5:9) More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/world/europe/14poland.html?_r=1&ref=europe