Canon David Porter will take up the new role at Lambeth Palace in early May. He takes over from Kay Brock who retires this month after four years in the job . David is currently in the Lambeth Palace leadership group working as the Archbishops’ Director for Reconciliation. Originally from Belfast, David comes with experience in several Christian organisations at senior staff, CEO and board levels. He has long experience in public affairs, and was a member of the Northern Ireland Civic Forum and Community Relations Council. Before joining the Lambeth Palace team in 2013, he was the Canon Director for Reconciliation Ministry at Coventry Cathedral.
A bomb exploded earlier this week underneath a van being driven by a prison officer in Belfast. Police Service of Northern Ireland Superintendent Darrin Jones said, ‘This could have been a fatal attack and we condemn it in the utmost circumstances. The people who did this set out to kill. Thankfully, on this occasion they weren't successful, but they may be next time. There is a severe threat in Northern Ireland, which means that an attack is highly likely. We believe that in the runup to Easter, there are people in dissident Republican groupings who want to try and kill police officers, prison officers or soldiers.’ This Easter is the one hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising, when Irish Republicans enacted an armed rebellion against British rule. It was one of the most significant events historically in the establishing of an independent Irish Republic.
Kenny left school with no understanding of politics, but politics affects his life: the cost of transport, his chances of getting a mortgage, and how much he would be taxed when starting work. Like other teenagers he doesn’t understand how, as a citizen, he could shape the country in which he lives. He says, ‘So many people have left school without knowing they must be on the electoral roll to be able to vote, improve their credit rating, be called for jury service, and become a vote worth winning by decision-makers. Despite citizenship education being on the national curriculum since 2002, not much has changed for young people leaving school. I regularly visit schools and colleges across the country, and I am shocked by the number of young people who are disillusioned with politics and who complain that their citizenship education classes are squeezed into registration time. It’s just not taken seriously as a school subject, therefore students struggle to take politics seriously themselves.’
Freedom of speech
11 Mar 2016
A Christian student has been removed from a university social work course after he made comments on his personal Facebook page in support of biblical teaching on marriage and sexual ethics. Following a 'Fitness to Practice Committee' hearing at Sheffield University, second year Masters student Felix Ngole, 38, was ‘excluded from further study on a programme leading to a professional qualification’ and is ‘no longer recognised as a University student.’ Mr Ngole was told that the committee believed that by posting his comments on Facebook, he may have caused offence to some individuals and had transgressed boundaries which are not deemed appropriate for someone entering the profession. His opinions would have an effect on his ‘ability to carry out a role as a social worker,’ the committee said. Mr Ngole is appealing the decision and is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre.
Turkey: freedom of press
11 Mar 2016
An Istanbul court has ordered the newspaper Zaman, Turkey's best-selling daily newspaper, into administration, which is ‘deeply concerning’. Zaman is linked to a US-based preacher who is the arch-enemy of the Turkish president. The newspaper has a readership of 63,000+ and is strongly critical of the government. Its sister Today's Zaman is one of a few newspapers printed in English on paper and online. This latest action by a Turkish court, just months after the media conglomerate Koza Ipek was seized by authorities, has raised further alarm regarding press freedom in Turkey and the limitations placed on Turkish journalists. Last week, two opposition newspaper journalists were released from prison after being arrested for spying, when they reported that in January 2014 Turkey’s intelligence agency sent weapons to Islamist rebel groups in Syria, which were intercepted by security forces. Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul still face life sentences as they await their trial on 25 March.
On Tuesday an illegal Palestinian killed an American tourist and injured ten other people, five critically, in a stabbing spree at the Jaffa Port and along the Tel Aviv beach promenade. The next day, police arrested hundreds of illegal Palestinian workers, and dozens of Israelis who employed them, in a series of raids across the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a series of measures following bloody attacks by Palestinians who are in Israel illegally. The measures include repair work to seal gaps in the security barrier near Jerusalem, harsher punishments for those who help Palestinians to enter Israel illegally, and the shutting down of Palestinian media channels that broadcast incitement. Israel Defence Forces troops arrested family members of the terrorist who carried out Tuesday’s deadly stabbing spree. Israel currently uses home demolitions against families of attackers, saying the measure is meant to deter attacks. Yisrael Katz (Likud) submitted a bill to the Knesset to deport families of Palestinian terrorists to the Gaza Strip.
Syria: peace talks in Geneva on Monday
11 Mar 2016
A partial ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and the US, finally came into force at the end of February. It does not apply to terrorist groups operating in the country. Despite alleged breaches on both sides and intense clashes between Kurds and other Syrian opposition groups, renewed peace talks are due to begin in Geneva. The substantive part of the talks will begin on Monday 14 March and will not last beyond the 24th. Riyadh-Backed Syrian opposition groups have yet to decide on joining these talks. It is hoped that they will be primarily focused on issues of new governance, the constitution, and the future elections of both president and parliament. The issues of ceasefire and humanitarian access will be discussed by specialised task forces rather than at these talks.
China: persecution increases
11 Mar 2016
The attitudes of Chinese local authorities towards Christians have turned sharply negative recently as the Christian population has grown. Authorities have been removing hundreds of crosses from churches, saying they violate building codes. Bao Guohua, a Chinese pastor, who opposed the campaign, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, and his wife to 12 years. In January authorities demolished a church in Fujian. Last month authorities opened a corruption probe into Pastor Gu Yuese, who had spoken out against the clampdown on Christian activity. China Aid said, ‘The government's criminal prosecution against Christianity is religious persecution.’ The clash over Christians' religious rights is being complicated by overseas organisations giving Christians support. The Chinese government is sensitive to foreign meddling in domestic affairs. In the past year, China's government has relentlessly pursued and jailed human rights lawyers receiving training and funding from foreign sources. See