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Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe has accused the Government of double standards when it comes to religious and homosexual persecution abroad. Miss Widdecombe told a Christian charity's conference that Prime Minister David Cameron was threatening to cut aid to countries which persecuted gays but was not doing anything to help persecuted Christians. ‘If David Cameron is tough on governments which persecute gays, why can't he be tough on those who persecute Christians?’ she told the Aid to the Church in Need annual conference. ‘You stand a better chance of earnest representation if you are a hedgehog than if you are a persecuted Christian.’ Aid to the Church in Need claims 75% of all religious persecution in the world is directed against Christians with 105,000 killed every year for faith-related reasons.
Pray: that our Government would be wise in its judgements and speak out for all those who are persecuted. (1Pet.4:6)
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the up, official statistics show, with experts blaming reckless men and women in their early 20s and men who have sex with men. A separate report says that 70 per cent of single women regularly have unprotected sex, and 18 per cent are often too drunk to use contraception. The Health Protection Agency (HPA), which was behind the figures, warned ‘too many people are putting themselves at risk of STIs and serious health problems by having unsafe sex’. Commenting on the Health Protection Agency’s figures, Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at the HPA, said they ‘are a matter of concern regarding young heterosexuals and men who have sex with men’. She continued: ‘We anticipated some increase in diagnoses due to improvements in testing in recent years, but not on the scale seen here. People should consider reducing the number of partners they have and reduce overlap in their sexual partnerships.’
Pray: for people especially young adults to take a more measured approach to their sexual behaviour. (1Co.7:2)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/warning-over-reckless-young-adults-as-stis-rise-in-england/
UK’s largest children’s charity has revealed new data showing that children are being damaged due to huge delays in the courts in England and Wales. A five-year-long pattern of deterioration has led to family courts taking up to 65 weeks to rule if it is safe for children to stay with their parents, says Barnado's. Vulnerable children are waiting on average more than a year (57 weeks) in unstable family homes or emergency foster placements before a county court decides if they will be taken into care, says the charity. In the family proceedings (magistrates) court the average time is 45 weeks. Martin Narey, Barnardos chief executive, said: ‘The courts need urgently to reflect on the damage these delays are having on extremely vulnerable children. A year of a child’s life is an inordinate amount of time for them to be trapped in desperate limbo, unclear of their future and very possibly at risk. Pray: for court procedures to be sped up and also for the vulnerable children caught up in the system. (Jn.17:15)
The postbags of MPs are dominated by correspondence over same sex marriage from constituents asking them to oppose David Cameron’s plan to redefine marriage. According to the findings by ComRes, same-sex ‘marriage’ is one of the primary concerns mentioned in both letters and emails to MPs. Among Tories, 45 per cent say that letters and emails opposing same-sex marriage are the number one item in their postbag and email accounts. MPs from all parties revealed that constituents were ‘overwhelmingly’ against the measure, with 19 per cent generally opposed and 55 per cent strongly opposed to the measure. Just 16 per cent of those who are in touch with their MPs support the plans. The poll also found that only 4 per cent of MPs believe that redefining marriage is a main priority for the general public. Andrew Hawkins, Chief Executive of ComRes, said: ‘Clearly this issue has touched a raw nerve with the public, and not in a positive way.’
Pray: that the message opposing same-sex marriage will reach our Government loud and clear. (Jer.29:6)
More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=8841&this=Voters_bombard_MPs_over_same_sex_marriage_
Church members will be among those rolling up their sleeves to clean up an estate in Ipswich over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Neighbours will be joining forces to clear rubbish and disused furniture from the town's Queesnway estate. Ten skips have been positioned around the estate and leaflets have been distributed asking residents to give up four hours of their time on Bank Holiday Monday. ‘Carry the Can’ has been organised by the Christian Noisy Group, which has worked to make a difference on the Queensway estate for the last 13 years. The group is led by Mick Earrey, who lives on the estate. He said: ‘It is really great to see the local churches, businesses and community all working so well together to make positive improvements.’ The initiative has the support of local councelors.
Pray: that the witness the church gives by this initiative will lead to many blessings. (Ez.10:4)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/volunteers.get.cleaning.in.ipswich/32108.htm
A top fashion magazine has sparked outrage by publishing images of a ten-year old girl wearing heavy make-up and posing like an adult model. Paris Vogue’s disturbing images of child model Thylane Blondeau have brought strong criticism from parents’ groups and politicians. In a 15-page spread in the December/January issue, she is wearing heavy make-up and gold stilettos. Last week the Mothers’ Union issued strong criticism of the pictures. ‘We have grave concerns about the modelling agency which clearly does not know if it represents a child or an adult,’ it said. ‘Photo shoots requiring her, a ten-year-old-girl, to dress in full make-up, teetering heels and a dress with a cleavage cut to the waist across her prepubescent body deny Miss Blondeau the right to be the child she is.’ A summit called by Prime Minister David Cameron and the Mothers’ Union to address the sexualisation of children in advertising and the media will be held in October.
Pray: for an end to the sexualisation of children by the fashion industry and in the media. (Ps.34:11)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/vogues-disturbing-fashion-images-of-girl-aged-ten/
Tens of thousands of school pupils were suspended from English schools last year for attacking their teachers or classmates. Almost 17,000 of these suspensions involved primary school pupils aged 11 and under, and over 63,000 of them involved children in secondary schools. The Department for Education’s statistics also revealed that there were 1,240 cases of children aged four and under being suspended for a variety of reasons during 2008/09. According to the report, boys are three times more likely to be suspended than girls, and three and a half times more likely to be permanently excluded. Schools minister Nick Gibb has responded by reiterating the Government’s commitment to improving behaviour in schools and raising academic standards. He said: ‘We will introduce further measures to strengthen teacher authority and support schools in maintaining good behaviour’. In February a survey revealed that one in four parents avoid disciplining their children because they want an ‘easy life’ and fear upsetting them. Pray: that all families of disaffected pupils are granted strength to instil respect for those in authority. (Ex.20:12) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/over-80000-suspensions-for-violence-at-school/
Business Secretary Vince Cable has condemned corporate tax avoidance as ‘completely unacceptable’, saying there are ‘appalling stories of abuse’. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show UK authorities should do more to stop it. However, he said that tackling the issue required international agreement as well as domestic action. His comments came after executives from Starbucks, Google and Amazon were grilled by MPs, although the firms say they operate within the tax rules. The executives were questioned earlier this month by the Public Accounts Committee about how they used favourable European tax jurisdictions for their UK businesses. Starbucks, for example, has made a taxable profit only once in its 15 years of operating in the UK. As a consequence, the company is thought to have paid just £8.6m in corporation tax over the period. Mr Cable told Andrew Marr: ‘The best off in society have got to contribute more, and that includes companies.’
Pray: that our Government will be successful in dealing with companies who avoid their full corporation taxes. (Mk.12:14)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20384428
The Bishop of Hereford has asked people to think about who and what they value most in the light of recent headlines. Responding to the abduction of April Jones and reports of abuse by Jimmy Savile, Bishop Anthony Priddis said the terrible headlines underlined the need for people to love and care for each other, particularly the young. ‘So often we can give the impression that money or material things or fame come first, rather than people,’ he said. ‘Few of us really believe that, but we can easily live as though that appears to be the case.’ He urged people to put others first and do everything they can to let them know how valued and loved they are. ‘This is the responsibility and joy for all of us as parents and grandparents, but it needs us also to care for those not just in our own families but among our friends and wider community,’ the bishop said.
Pray: for the Bishop’s words to be heeded and that we will all more openly practice such values in our daily lives. (Mtt.6:19)
Former Premiership footballer Linvoy Primus believes churches can use football to reach out to their communities just as they did when the first teams and leagues were formed in the 1800s. Many famous clubs have their roots in churches, like Aston Villa, Everton and Southampton. Speaking at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) this week in Esher, Surrey, Primus told his personal story of how he found fame and money through football but still felt that something was missing. He encouraged churches to get more involved in football because people come together around sport, especially young men. "If we are to reach our communities we must do it with an agenda that meets a need in the community," he explained. Primus is using the beautiful game to reach young people through the charity he supports, Faith and Football. The charity uses football as a platform for building relationships and providing young people with positive role models.
Pray: for the charity Faith and Football that they will extend the Gospel message through football. (Isa.55:11)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/using.the.beautiful.game.for.gods.purposes/32548.htm