A Christian couple whose adopted children were taken into care have been granted permission for their case to be heard in full before the Court of Appeal. At the conclusion of a hearing Lady Justice Black ordered the case to proceed to a full hearing for a review as to whether the Family Court had taken the right factors into account when deciding the boys’ future, and whether they had given proper weight to the good parenting given to the children for three years prior to their forced removal. They had provided a loving home for the two boys who had come from highly traumatised backgrounds. The Christian Legal Centre said they are dealing with an increasing number of cases where children are separated from parents and because of the closed nature of the Family Court system it is difficult to expose such heartbreaking injustice. This has to change.
http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/
21 May 2015
Britain’s counter-terror chief, Mark Rowley, said he will fight for police to be kept on the beat, amid fears that budget cuts will see fewer officers gathering vital intelligence needed to thwart a growing tide of people trying to stage terrorist attacks. His comments came as he warned that hundreds of people who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State had returned to Britain, and there is a growing threat of attacks (several plots to kill were foiled recently). There are five Government counter-terrorism threat levels. They indicate the stages of security needed to protect our nation. They range from LOW - an attack is unlikely - through to SEVERE - an attack is expected imminently. The current threat level from international terrorism is SEVERE. Terrorism in the UK remains real and serious. An attack could take place at any time and any organisation could be directly or indirectly affected. See also
Teenage gangsters drawn to terrorism
21 May 2015
Britain’s counter-terror chief, Mark Rowley, said he will fight for police to be kept on the beat, amid fears that budget cuts will see fewer officers gathering vital intelligence needed to thwart a growing tide of people trying to stage terrorist attacks. His comments came as he warned that hundreds of people who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State had returned to Britain, and there is a growing threat of attacks (several plots to kill were foiled recently). There are five Government counter-terrorism threat levels. They indicate the stages of security needed to protect our nation. They range from LOW - an attack is unlikely - through to SEVERE - an attack is expected imminently. The current threat level from international terrorism is SEVERE. Terrorism in the UK remains real and serious. An attack could take place at any time and any organisation could be directly or indirectly affected. See also
TIME TO SOUND THE ALARM FOR OUR NATION
27 May 2015
Our nation is in pain with abused children, broken families, lonely elderly, community tensions and youth with a sense of hopelessness. The Church is called to stand in the gap for change in our communities. The World Prayer Centre, Birmingham believes it’s time for our nation to ‘sound the alarm’ and proclaim the Good News to the nation. They are inviting all Christian believers to come to a National Day of Worship and Prayer at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Saturday 4 July 2015. Religions and ideologies are rushing to fill a spiritual and moral vacuum created by a society that says, ‘We don’t do God and we don’t need God’. This ‘TRUMPET CALL 2015’ National Day of Worship and Prayer is a day when we can stand together in humility and unity to declare the Lordship of Christ over our nation. Purchase tickets from here or call 0121 633 7393.
Christians urged to pray for new Government
13 May 2015
The Christian Institute is encouraging Christians across the UK to pray for the new Government after Thursday’s General Election results. The Bible tells us to pray for whoever is in charge and to pray that we would be allowed the freedom to live godly lives with liberty to share the gospel. Meanwhile the General Director of Evangelical Alliance issued a call for Christians to pray for the Prime Minister and his Government, and ensure the church holds him and his cabinet accountable for their policies in the coming days, weeks and months. Also, Dr Jonathan Oloyede of the National Day of Prayer and Worship perceives a Prayer-Storm blowing across the British Isles and urges us to pray for politicians and leaders serving in our local areas, to link up with their staff, and pray and act with wisdom, humility and knowledge.
Scotland - after the election
13 May 2015
The political landscape of Scotland has been recast. Many MSPs are no longer in parliament, and we can pray for them and their families as they come to terms with the disappointment and change. The Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill is due to have its First Stage debate in the Scottish Parliament by the end of May. We are asked to pray for Michael Matheson MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, to include the criminalisation of payment for sex as a key aspect of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Bill. Also the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland meets in Edinburgh from 16 to 22 May. Commissioners are expected to make a final decision on the long-running issue of whether to allow the ordination and induction of ministers and deacons in same sex civil partnerships. This has already been approved by presbyteries, with 31 for and 14 against.
Northern Ireland crime increase
13 May 2015
Crime across Northern Ireland has risen. In 2014/15 there were 94 victims as a result of paramilitary-style attacks, 24 more than the previous year. Drug seizure incidents increased, by 5.8%, and 2,831 people were arrested for drug offences. There were also increases in hate crime: for example, racist incidents increased by 374, from 982 to 1,356. Northern Ireland’s Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris said, ‘We have seen a slight increase of 2.3% in recorded crime for 2014/15, which unfortunately is similar to the wider trend that is being experienced right across the UK. Like all public sector organisations, we are operating in an environment of reduced budgets and fewer personnel to deliver against the same volume of calls for service.'
An adult with Learning Disabilities (LD) is a vulnerable adult aged 18 years or over, who may be in need of community care and unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation. Over the years most institutions have closed and vulnerable people have moved into more independent living. This carries risks. People with LD often live in blocks of flats in gang areas. It's like walking around with a label saying 'I'm a vulnerable person'. Mencap say that adults with LD are four times more likely to suffer sexual abuse. Police chiefs and disability groups are aware that people with LD are at risk of being targeted by groomers. Unfortunately, should friends or relatives of a victim of abuse alert social services or police on behalf of the victim, they are told, ‘We cannot do anything because the victim is an adult and can make their own choices’.