Disappointment after Queen’s speech neglects aid
10 May 2012Christian Aid has expressed its disappointment after the Queen’s Speech failed to make mention of legislation on aid spending. The Government has pledged to raise the aid budget to 0.7 per cent of gross national income from 2013, but Christian Aid’s chief political adviser, Sol Oyuela, is concerned by the delay to legislating on the commitment. ‘We welcome the Government’s commitment to raising the aid budget to 0.7 per cent from 2013, but we are very disappointed that it has yet to live up to its pledge to legislate on this,’ she said. All three parties promised to make the 0.7 per cent aid commitment a legal obligation in their manifestos at the last election. It was also mentioned in the Coalition Agreement between the Tories and the Lib Dems.
Pray: that our government would keep its pledges and remember those who are needy. (Pr.14:21)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/disappointment.after.queens.speech.neglects.aid/29844.htm
Disabled people call for new deal
22 Dec 2012Disabled and sick people, including actor and comedian Francesca Martinez, have launched a petition calling for an end to what they call the 'War on Welfare' (WOW) being waged by their own Government. The campaigners want an independent, cumulative impact assessment of the Coalition's controversial Welfare Reform Act, which has attracted massive opposition from charities, experts, peers, community groups, disability organisations, churches and civic groups. The activists include people with learning and mental health difficulties, their families and carers. ‘The welfare budget, and particularly benefits going to sick and disabled people, has been heavily and unfairly targeted for cuts,’ says War on Welfare. Spearheaded by actress and comedian Francesca Martinez the WOW petition aims to get 100,000 signatures to end this War On Welfare by the Government. A remarkable 2,000 people had signed the petition on the Government's own e-democracy website within a little over four hours of its launch.
Pray: that this initiative will result in an end to this war on welfare for the needy. (Ps.9:18)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17654
Shadow health minister Dianne Abbott has called for a purge of sexualised imagery from public spaces in the UK. "I think it has reached a point where we need to detox our High Streets, and make Britain a family-friendly country again," she told the Mumsnet website. She also blamed a "disturbing" trend for online bullying of young women on a "crisis in masculinity". Ms Abbott plans to make a speech on the issue. "I think we need to clear our public spaces of worst elements of unrestrained markets - including addressing music videos that blare out at us, and our children. The online bullying including problems around 'sexting' and 'slut-shaming'; the huge billboards that have very sexualised images of women that loom over our public spaces, and the sexualised figures of women in films that are now commonplace. For me the key, is putting parents back in control, and also putting open-minded family values back in our public spaces."
Pray: for significant progress to be made on this issue with a cross-party response in Parliament. (Gal.5:19)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21878027
Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott has called for a purge of sexualised imagery from public spaces in the UK. ‘I think it has reached a point where we need to detox our High Streets, and make Britain a family friendly country again,’ she told the Mumsnet website. She also blamed a ‘disturbing’ trend for online bullying of young women on a ‘crisis in masculinity’. Ms Abbott plans to make a speech on the issue. ‘I think we need to clear our public spaces of the worst elements of unrestrained markets - including addressing music videos that blare out at us and our children. The online bullying including problems around 'sexting' and 'slut-shaming'; the huge billboards that have very sexualised images of women that loom over our public spaces and the sexualised figures of women in films that are now commonplace. For me the key is putting parents back in control and also putting open-minded family values back in our public spaces’ Ms Abbot says.
Pray: for significant progress to be made on this issue with a cross-party response in Parliament. (Gal.5:19)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21878027
DFID launches faith collaboration document
28 Jun 2012The Department for International Development (DFID) yesterday announced a major new document setting out its relationship with faith groups. The 'Faith Partnership Principles' were launched by Secretary of State, Andrew Mitchell, at the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Palace. The document has been produced by DFID to build greater common understanding, mutual respect and cooperation in overcoming poverty. Writing in the foreword, Mr Mitchell acknowledged that faith was making an important contribution to development. ‘Faith groups are doing excellent work in providing not only humanitarian relief, but delivering health, education and other services in some of the most troubled parts of the world,’ he said. ‘I look forward to the closer partnership with people of faith who play a unique role in fighting poverty.’
Pray: that there would be a growth in common understanding, respect and cooperation between faith groups in overcoming poverty. (3Jn.1:8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/dfid.launches.faith.collaboration.document/30152.htm
The Archbishop of Canterbury admitted today that it will be ‘desperately difficult’ to keep the Church of England unified in light of its schismatic vote on women bishops. In a heartfelt appeal for unity after a particularly fraught week Dr Rowan Williams called on Anglicans to push ahead with the consecration of women bishops despite the fact that a minority of traditionalists, conservative evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics have threatened to leave the church over the issue. The beleaguered church leader suffered an ignominious defeat on Saturday evening when the General Synod rejected his personal appeal for a series of safeguards that would have provided a separate class of male-only bishops to administer to those who remain vehemently opposed to female leadership in the Church. Father David Houlding summed up the feeling of many conservative clergy members who will feel compelled to leave the Church if the ordination of women bishops goes ahead. 'There are just scraps left of the table and we are beginning to starve,' he said, his voice cracking. 'The door is being slammed in my face.' Pray: for unity in the Anglican Church as it seeks to resolve this key issue. (Jn.17:23)
Derry priest in Mass attack
19 Nov 2010
On Sunday Fr Dermott Harkin of at St Brigid's Church, Londonderry used Mass to attack republican gunmen believed to be responsible for shooting one of his parishioners. The victim, a convicted sex offender, was beaten and then shot in the legs. Fr Harkin said the attack was ‘not to be tolerated, and doesn't reflect the feelings of the vast majority of people in this area. He said that no-one has the right to take the law into their own hands, that all violence is wrong that all forms of abuse and cruelty meted out to any human being is against God's law and an insult to a good and decent community of people. The priest said he got a very positive reaction from his parishioners. Pray: that people would continue to move away from vigilante type activity and for peace to reign in North and South Ireland. (Ps.133:1) More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11755636
Demoted for expressing views on marriage
01 Nov 2011A public sector employee in Manchester has been demoted after he posted comments on his private facebook page questioning the idea of homosexual ‘marriages’ taking place on religious premises. Adrian Smith, an employee of tax-payer
funded Trafford Housing Trust, posted a comment in response to a BBC news headline about civil partnerships taking place on religious premises, saying that this was an ‘equality too far.' The comment, written outside of working hours, appeared on his private page and could only be seen by Mr Smith’s friends. A work colleague posted a comment in reply, asking if Mr Smith disagreed with the government’s proposal. He responded, saying: ‘No, not really. I don’t understand why people who have no faith and don’t believe in Christ would want to get hitched in church. The Bible is quite specific that marriage is for men and women.'
Pray: for Christians everywhere that they would continue to speak out boldly for our Christian beliefs. (Ac.4:29)