An inquiry into the place of religion in modern society, chaired by senior judge Baroness Butler-Sloss, has concluded that ‘Britain is no longer a Christian country and should stop acting as if it is.’ The report calls for British public life to be systematically de-Christianised, pointing to a decline in churchgoing and the rise of Islam and other faiths. It states that a ‘new settlement’ is needed for religion, giving more official influence to non-religious voices and those of non-Christian faiths. Thankfully Cabinet ministers called it ‘seriously misguided’ and the Church of England said it has been ‘hijacked’ by humanists. But the Church needs to stand and pray against some of the report’s suggestions such as abolishing the compulsory daily act of worship in school assemblies, cutting the number of Christian bishops in the Lords to give places to imams, rabbis and others, rethinking anti-terror policy, and ensuring students can voice radical views on campus without fear of being reported.
British lorry drivers in Calais in danger
11 Dec 2015
It is being claimed that the migrant crisis is putting the lives of British lorry drivers at risk in Calais - and the government is being accused of not doing enough to protect them. Lorry driver Stephen Paul Morecroft has been describing his fear as he does his job to a BBC reporter, ‘They've got gas and knives and ammunition now. I don't know where it is going to end.’ Last month the boss of a British haulage firm claimed that the migrant crisis in Calais has descended into lawlessness and warned that it won't be long before someone is killed. One female driver said they attempted to open the doors to her vehicle and attacked the vehicle, leaving her very shaken. They are saying the situation is completely unacceptable and hauliers need someone they can go to in order to sort out this situation. To watch Mr Morecroft’s interview, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35047731
Whatever we feel about the Government's decision for military action in Syria, we must pray! Christians cannot underestimate the spiritual warfare we are now in - not demonising peoples or communities, but prayerfully intercepting the powers of darkness seeking to steal, kill and destroy. Dr Jonathan Oloyede is calling us to stand in the gap and pray protection, blessing and intervention over our streets, communities, towns and cities now that Great Britain is at war. As the Church, we are under the authority of our Lord to blow the trumpet and sound the alarm! We must ask for God to thwart the plans of those who are planning acts of terrorism within the UK and abroad, praying protection over those in our armed forces engaged in airstrikes and praying for our intelligence services, police and ancillary departments directly or indirectly involved in the safety of all peoples in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
RAF continue to bomb IS targets
11 Dec 2015
Royal Air Force aircraft have continued airstrikes against the IS terrorist network inside Syria and Iraq. RAF Tornados and Reaper drones have now been reinforced by a detachment of Typhoon fighters, which carry the same Paveway IV precision guided bombs as the Tornadoes. The deployment of the Typhoons and an extra two Tornados offers a significant increase in strike capacity to both the RAF component and the wider coalition air campaign. Pray for wisdom and accurate intelligence for those conducting these airstrikes and for protection of the innocent; for protection for the RAF pilots carrying out these raids; for the families of RAF personnel stationed in Akrotiri, Cyprus, and particularly for the families of the 300+ RAF personnel deployed at short notice, who remain at home in the UK.
Flood defences
11 Dec 2015
It is going to be a grim Christmas for many in Cumbria as they clean up after the floods. Those who were also affected by the 2009 floods might not be inclined to believe the ‘once in a lifetime’ mantra which accompanied last weekend’s weather. The Met Office’s chief scientist suggested that all the evidence points to a link between climate change and our record-breaking winter rainfall, and new methods of prevention and cure must be found and funded. As a nation of islanders we may have to rediscover a lost resilience in our relationship with water. Many are now saying that councils should utilise the skills of those who know the countryside best - and pay farmers appropriately to take natural flood management seriously. Pray for wise land management of the large swathes of north-west England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland that are vulnerable to flooding.
EU meeting to discuss UK proposals
11 Dec 2015
On Thursday and Friday next week a meeting of the EU Council will be held in Brussels. David Cameron was warned that a central demand to curb immigration might be asking too much. Donald Tusk, president of the council, will chair the first detailed talks on the issue between Cameron and his 27 peers. He sent EU leaders a progress report after Cameron laid out the reforms he wants if he is to campaign for continued EU membership in a referendum due to take place in 2017. Mr Tusk said, ‘We have made good progress, but have to overcome substantial political differences on the issue of social benefits and free movement.’ Many governments are willing to make changes to keep Britain in the Union; however the main stumbling block is Cameron's pledge to cut immigration to Britain by denying benefits to workers from other EU states for four years after they arrive. The draft agenda for the meeting on 17-18 December 2015 can be seen on: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2015/12/17-18/
EU says IS has chemical and biological weapons
11 Dec 2015
Islamic State is armed with biological and chemical weapons but Europeans don’t take the existential threat seriously, according to a European Union parliament document. Also, Israeli experts say IS is armed with weapons forbidden by the Geneva Convention and that it is a state in every sense of the word, with its own currency, a university and even licence plates. The EU report said that chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear substances (CBRN) have been carried undetected into the European Union. Interpol’s monthly CBRN intelligence reports show numerous examples of attempts to acquire, smuggle or use such materials. The report also said, ‘At present, European citizens are not seriously contemplating extremist groups using chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials in Europe. Under these circumstances, should it occur, it would be even more destabilising. See: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2015/572806/EPRS_BRI(2015)572806_EN.pdf
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Dominican Republic: pro-life landmark victory
11 Dec 2015
The constitutional tribunal of the Dominican Republic has issued a landmark ruling overturning a law pushed through by President Danilo Medina. The new law, which had been personally advocated by the president as part of a broader revision of the criminal code, introduced a paragraph that would have allowed abortion to be legalised in cases of rape or incest, or when doctors deemed the preborn child to be suffering from illnesses or disabilities which rendered them ‘incompatible with life.’ After the president signed the law, two non-profit organisations filed a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality, arguing that it violated the constitutional protection of Article 37 of the Dominican Republic's constitution, which guarantees the right to life as inviolable from conception to death.