On 27 July Victoria Wasteney attended court in the next stage of her long legal battle. As head of forensic occupational therapy at a London hospital she was suspended for 'gross misconduct' for nine months and received a written warning, following allegations of 'harassment and bullying' by a Muslim staff-member. She appealed to the Employment Appeal Tribunal when the judge recognised the significance of her case in protecting religious freedom. The judge said that the tribunal should consider whether the original ruling had properly applied the European Convention on Human Rights' strong protection of freedom of religion and expression. When she lost her appeal, Victoria applied for permission to appeal the tribunal's decision to the Court of Appeal, but this was refused. She is now seeking to challenge this, with support from Christian Concern.

Care of the vulnerable is a measure of a civilised society. Care home placements for adults with complex needs are assessed and funded according to the nature and severity of mental/physical disability. T is unable to speak, has severe autism and epilepsy, and has been assessed as lacking the mental capacity to make decisions. He needs specialist care. He was stabbed 20+ times by another resident in his previous accommodation and had been moved to Hillgreen. JL, by contrast, is a predatory sex abuser, has mild learning disabilities, no mental disorder and a long history of sexual offending. He was transferred to Hillgreen while awaiting trial, charged with raping an autistic woman in his previous home. The two should never have been living under the same roof. Everyone at Hillgreen was aware of the risk JL posed. Outside the care home he was permanently under supervision. Inside, despite many warnings, he was subject to no such restrictions. JL raped T.

A new immigration system will be in place by March 2019 when the free movement of people between the EU and the UK ends, said immigration minister Brandon Lewis, as the government commissioned a detailed assessment of the costs and benefits of EU migrants. That report is expected in September 2018, six months before Brexit. Home secretary Amber Rudd has promised business there will be no ‘cliff edge’ on immigration; the government's final EU migration policy will be drawn up after the committee has produced its report. In the meantime there will be an ‘implementation phase’ which will involve new EU workers registering their details when they come to the UK. Immigration was one of the central topics of last year's EU referendum campaign. Pray for God to be in the midst of all the extensive consultations that will need to take place as government ministers listen to the views of businesses, unions and universities.

Holiday venues: pray for God to pour out his blessings on all the Christian summer camps for youth and adults during the next few weeks. Pray for protection from terror attacks wherever people gather this season. French politics: may God give grace to President Macron, who secured a majority in the National Assembly last month. He must seize a small window of opportunity for radical economic change, while not falling into the same trap as President Sarkozy, who faced a wave of paralyzing strikes after unveiling his first radical proposals. Pray for Macron to reverse France’s decline through wise management of the National Assembly. Migration crisis: pray for European and African ministers trying to regularise the flow of refugees from Africa to Europe, coupled with a much tougher strategy to deport illegal migrants from Italy and break up smuggling rings. See: