Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has attacked David Cameron for doing more than any other recent political leader to feed Christian anxieties that they are part of a persecuted minority. In an article for the Daily Mail he wrote: 'I like David Cameron and believe he is genuinely sincere in his desire to make Britain a generous nation where we care for one another and where people of faith may exercise their beliefs fully. But it was a bit rich to hear that the Prime Minister has told religious leaders that they should 'stand up and oppose aggressive secularisation' when it seems that his Government is aiding and abetting this aggression every step of the way.’ He added ‘many Christians’ doubted the sincerity of Mr Cameron's pledge to support their rights, with a recent poll showing two-thirds believed they are now part of a ‘persecuted minority’.
Pray: for our PM and other politicians that they will stand against Christian persecution. (2Cor.2:17)
Dale Farm Travellers - background story
22 Sep 2011Dale Farm near Wickford in rural Essex is one of the largest Gypsy and Traveller sites in Europe. Ray McKay, spokesman for Basildon council said travellers would get more sympathy if they were poor, but they aren’t. The Bishops of Brentwood, Chelmsford, and other Catholic and Anglican clergy have all visited Dale Farm. There is a small cabin there for meetings plus IT and literacy classes with the blessings of the local Catholic parish priest. A Catholic nun and social worker working with the travellers for eight years said, ‘Irish Travellers are the smallest ethnic UK group: more than 20% are homeless. Most are illiterate. Their life expectancy is 20 years lower than the national average. They are often the target of abuse and blamed for everything from fly-tipping to petty crime. Some do misbehave, but the majority are law-abiding. Many families have to move every few days. The children have no chance to stay in school for long.'
Pray: for facilities for Travellers to be established across the UK, and for more churches and authorities to unite in their work for and with these communities. (Mt.25:34-40)
More: http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=18803
Cuts spell end for Cardiff Street Pastors
10 Mar 2011
A successful Street Pastors team in one of the UK's busiest cities is set to fold at the end of the month through lack of funding. The scheme costs approximately £25,000 to run and is largely supported by the Home Office, although it raises some of its own funding. The Street Pastors are accountable to the police and local authority as well as the Welsh Assembly Government. 'Like everyone, we're feeling the economic pinch,' explained Gary Smith, who runs Cardiff Street Pastors. 'It really is a huge shame because we believe we've done a significant work to help reduce crime on our city centre streets to its lowest figure for 25 years.' They have full support from the police, who have been actively, but as yet unsuccessfully, seeking new areas of funding', said Mr Smith. Inspector Tony Bishop, who is responsible for policing Cardiff city centre, described the Street Pastors' presence as 'invaluable'.' Pray: for new funding and reorganisation that will allow the Street Pastors to continue their important work in some form. (Pr.12:14)
Cumbria first ecumenical county in England
25 Nov 2011On Sunday 27th November 2011 at 3pm Church leaders from the Methodist, United Reformed and Anglican Churches in Cumbria will sign an historic ecumenical Declaration of Intent. Supported by the other five main Christian denominations in Cumbria (Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, Baptist, Quaker and Church of Scotland) this declaration will mean that Cumbria becomes the first ecumenical county in England with churches agreeing on a county-level to work more closely together for the sake of unity. The service in Ambleside on 27th November will be attended by Church Leaders from all 8 denominations in Cumbria, and by representatives from the national churches involved. A message of support from the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dr Fykse Tveit, will be relayed during the service. Rt Rev James Newcome, Anglican Bishop of Carlisle said: ‘I am personally thrilled that we are taking a significant step towards an Ecumenical County’.
Pray: for the new concept of an ecumenical county, that it will become a tool empowered by God to spread the Gospel message.pray also that it will prove to be the first of many more. (1Cor.14:26)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=544
For the people of west Cumbria, the events of this week will be almost impossible to comprehend. In this part of north west England, shootings are rare and major crime is almost unheard of. But in the past nine months, the communities here have endured a succession of severe incidents, natural and man-made. People are still homeless from last year's floods.The Keswick school bus crash 10 days ago in which three people died is still recent and raw. But the shootings will eclipse those, both in terms of violence and the shock that will reverberate throughout the remote area where these killings took place.
Pray: for all the people involved with this and other tragedies that God would minister to them in their need. (Rev.22:17)
Cross-party support for free speech amendment
26 May 2011
Prominent MPs have signed an amendment to improve the law on free speech – offering more protection for Christian street preachers. The amendment would remove the word ‘insulting’ from Section 5 of the Public Order Act. In recent years a number of street preachers have been unjustly arrested because someone claimed to be ‘insulted’ by their message. The Government is so far resisting the change, arguing that the problem can be solved by better police training. But Simon Calvert, The Christian Institute’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, says the law needs to change. Genuine Christians don’t want to insult anyone. But insult can often be in the eye of the beholder. Too many Christian street preachers have been unjustly silenced by the police and even arrested simply because someone doesn’t like what they are saying. The amendment is expected to be debated in the House of Commons next month.
Pray: for Parliament to agree to this proposed amendment to the law. (Job.9:35)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/cross-party-support-for-free-speech-amendment/
Critics have hit out at a barrister who called for the age of consent to be lowered to 13, saying her comments were “foolish” and “despicable”. Barrister Barbara Hewson said a change in the law would end the “persecution of old men”, in the wake of recent high-profile arrests over alleged historic sex offences but lawyer Malcom Underhill, writing for The Daily Telegraph, said the call is “one of the most foolish proposals on the issue of child welfare that has been laid before the public”. Mr Underhill warned that in lowering the age of consent, the risk of paedophiles “taking advantage of innocent children for their iniquitous ends will become even greater”. He added, “this proposal must be snuffed out as quickly as possible, to protect the most vulnerable in society”. But gay-rights activist Peter Tatchell says there should be a serious debate about the issue,
Pray: for all parties to recognise the danger to our youngsters inherent in this proposal . (Gal.5:19)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/critics-pan-barristers-call-to-lower-age-of-consent-to-13/
More British children are being raised in one-parent families than in any other major European country because the tax and benefit system ‘encourages transient shack-ups’. One in five British children live with a single mother or father. This figure is some 35 per cent higher than in Germany and 50 per cent higher than in France. Researcher and author Patricia Morgan points out that these are the countries whose tax and benefits systems reward parents who stay together. She said: ‘You can look at these figures and see immediately which countries help couples through tax and benefits. In France, people get help if they draw up legal family contracts. In Germany, Holland and Italy, married people get tax relief and tax relief for children.’ Recent studies highlight that a child brought up by one parent is much more likely to underachieve at school and grow up to suffer drug, alcohol, behavioural and employment problems.
Pray: that the government would look again at the benefits of marriage support. (Pr.27:12)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/critics-blame-tax-system-for-number-of-single-parents/