The mother of a seven-year-old girl with Down’s Syndrome, who hit the headlines for appearing in Sainsbury’s clothing adverts, has said there had been an ‘assumption’ she would abort her daughter.  Hayley Goleniowska, 43, and her husband Bob, 59, told the Daily Telegraph they have no limits on their expectations for their daughter Natalia (Natty), who swims, rides horses and is in mainstream school.  Hayley said there is a ‘conditioning to fear Down’s syndrome’ and an ‘assumption’ that if the baby tests positive for the condition, you will ‘automatically’ have an abortion. But, she said, ‘we knew who she was - our daughter, not a set of symptoms or predictions for the future’.  Hayley has started a blog offering advice and support for parents of children with Down’s Syndrome, which gets 30,000 hits a month. She said, ‘when a family or a mum tells us ‘Your blog has thrown me a lifeline; now I can see what the future could hold’, then we know we’re doing the right thing’

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the child protection charity NSPCC, has said people who cover up child sex abuse should be prosecuted, and there should be a duty on institutions like hospitals, children's homes and boarding schools to report abuse. He said, ‘If someone consciously knows that there is a crime committed against a child, and does nothing about it because they put the reputation of the organisation above the safety of that child, that should be a criminal offence.’  Until now the charity has opposed all forms of so-called mandatory reporting, but Mr Wanless said the NSPCC would be open to discussions about what form a new law should take.  He is currently heading an inquiry about whether the Home Office failed to act on allegations of child sex abuse handed over in the 1980s by former Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens. Another independent inquiry, looking at historical sexual abuse and institutions' protection of children, will be led by retired senior judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss.

Mobile phones or tablets with flat batteries will not be allowed on flights as part of new security restrictions. All air passengers flying into or out of UK airports must ensure their electronic devices are charged, following updated guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT).  Advice issued at the weekend concerned passengers flying to the United States, but on Tuesday that instruction was widened to affect anyone flying into or out of the UK.  No specific routes have been highlighted, and the DfT spokesman said they hope to ‘minimise disruption as far as possible’.  The heightened security comes amid reports that two terror networks are working together on a bomb that could evade existing measures.   Last week Prime Minister David Cameron said decisions had been made based on ‘the evidence in front of us’ and in co-operation with America.  ‘The safety of the travelling public must come first. We mustn't take any risks with that,’ he told the BBC.

This week, beginning on Friday 11 July, the Church of England’s General Synod will be meeting in York.  This is always an occasion for the media to highlight debates or decisions which are seen to be controversial or eye-catching.  The main item on the agenda is the legislation to consecrate women bishops, which was narrowly defeated at the last Synod meeting in November 2012.  This time it is expected to be passed, mainly because of a great deal of behind-the-scenes consultation with those who were opposed on principle, to improve the wording.  Tom Sutcliffe (Diocese of Southwark) said, ‘The Measure which is before us this month makes much better provision for most of those who don't believe women can or should be bishops and priests. . . If this Measure were to fail, I think it would be a total disaster.’

The Salvation Army is 149 not out - and is using sport to help vulnerable people suffering from addiction problems and homelessness. The Salvation Army, which last week celebrated 149 years since it was founded by General William Booth, believes sport is a powerful tool in helping people recover from addiction problems and homelessness. The organisation has a number of programmes to get people involved in sport, including Partnership Trophy, a football tournament for homeless men and women, summer camps, weekly football matches, hill walking, badminton, tennis and many more. Captain Nick Coke, a Salvation Army minister, is working with people of all ages and backgrounds in east London, teaching them key life skills though sport. He explained: ‘Sport gives confidence, tackles stress, helps in treatment of people with addiction problems, and brings people into their community as well as keeping them healthy. We support them to get back on their feet and help them stay there; sport is a perfect tool for doing this.’

Just 20 years ago, Islam was a little known religion to most people in Western nations. At that time there were about 1.1 billion Muslims and efforts on the part of Christians to share their faith with them were scarce. Today, the number of Muslim people is estimated at 2.1 billion and endeavours to reach Muslims have increased ten-fold. From 28 June till 27July, Muslims all around the world will set aside thirty days to intentionally seek their god by abstaining from earthly pleasures. During this month of Ramadan, they will seek Allah, pursuing forgiveness and cleansing of their souls while fasting from sunrise to sunset and refraining from bad habits and spiritual distractions. Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for God to speak and move in the lives of millions of Muslims, introducing His son Jesus, their Saviour. Theological arguments or political manipulation may not impact Muslims, but we know prayer will.  See the thirty day prayer guide and other resources at http://www.30-days.net/ and the more link.

David Cameron has praised same-sex marriage as a ‘huge, historic change’ in a new video released last weekend. He was speaking to coincide with Pride – an annual homosexual event taking place in London. Mr Cameron said: ‘Since I recorded last year’s message there has been one huge, historic change in Britain: the institution of marriage is now open to all. Whether you’re a man and a man, a woman and a woman or a woman and a man, your love for one another is equal in the eyes of the law.’ He also said ‘the Foreign Office was pushing for pro-gay changes in other countries, and that Britain should ‘encourage the rest of our world to take our lead’. The Prime Minister also spoke of his desire to export same-sex marriage around the world at a Downing Street party last year.

A Christian health worker has begun a legal challenge after being disciplined by the NHS for praying with a Muslim colleague. Victoria Wasteney, a senior occupational therapist in one of the country’s most racially diverse areas, was also accused of bullying the colleague. In addition, senior managers told Miss Wasteney that it was inappropriate to invite the woman to a community sports day organised by her church. The complaints led to Miss Wasteney being suspended on full pay for nine months. A disciplinary hearing at her work in February found her guilty of three charges of misconduct – praying with the colleague, giving her the book and inviting her to church events. Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the case demonstrated that ‘the NHS is increasingly dominated by a suffocating liberal agenda that chooses to bend over backwards to accommodate certain beliefs but punishes the Christian’.

In his inaugural address as President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Kenneth Howcroft spoke of the ‘desperate need’ for the Church to ‘speak biblically to serve the present age.’ He encouraged Conference representatives to turn outwards to face the world with renewed self-confidence in their Methodist identity. Addressing the opening of the annual Methodist Conference in Birmingham, Mr Howcroft spoke of the challenge of communicating the Gospel in contemporary society, saying; ‘We seem less and less able to speak the languages of the people and cultures round us. We are communities of very different people, sometimes multi-cultural and sometimes multi-national. We are for holiness and mission, and have been given the grace by God to speak biblically in order to serve the present age. Can we go on doing it? Since God has not given up on us yet, by God's grace yes, we can!’