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Teachers have branded more than 20,000 primary school children racist or homophobic following spats in the playground, figures have disclosed. Even some toddlers in nursery schools have been reported to local authorities for so-called hate speech. Critics have hit out at local authorities saying they are overreacting about playground squabbles. Under the 2000 Race Relations Act schools are obliged to report all ‘hate speech’ incidents to local authorities. Adrian Hart, of the Manifesto Club, called for the Government to ditch the policy of ‘hate speech’ reporting in schools. He said: ‘Children need space to play and to learn the meaning of words, without being reported to the local education authority. These policies are an inappropriate intervention into playground life, and undermine teachers’ ability to set a moral example to children and to teach them right from wrong. There is a world of difference between racist abuse and primary school playground spats.’
Pray: for a more moderate, sensible approach to managing ‘playground’ behaviour. (Ps.32:8)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/toddlers-among-thousands-of-children-branded-racist/
Responses to a public consultation on cosmetic surgery have shown strong support for a ban on cut-price deals and aggressive selling. A summary of responses from patients, the public and industry has been published as part of the review set up after the PIP breast implant scandal. Cosmetic surgeons said procedures should not be sold as 'a commodity'. GP Dr Rosemary Leonard, the BBC Breakfast doctor and review committee member, said patients should always talk to a doctor first. 'It is wrong that the first consultation is with a sales person rather than a medical professional,' she said. 'Surgery - indeed any cosmetic intervention - is a serious step, and a patient must be told about the immediate side effects after surgery as well as any potential long term effects on their health.' A final report, by Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS medical director leading the English review, is due in March 2013.
Pray: for a greater acceptance of one's own body and that poor practice in cosmetic surgery be eliminated. (Php.2:3-4)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20850284
The Russian Orthodox Church has threatened to withdraw from dialogue with Anglicans because of the ‘liberalism and relativism’ of some Anglican Churches, and the development of women bishops in the Church of England. In a speech at Lambeth Palace a week ago, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk attacked the Anglican Church for what he described as ‘betraying our common witness by departing from traditional Christian values and replacing them by contemporary secular standards’. He urged the Archbishop of Canterbury to resist pressure from liberal Anglicans. His prolonged attack on liberalism in the Anglican Church stunned Dr Williams, onlookers said. He said ‘The abyss that exists today divides not so much the Orthodox from the Catholics or the Catholics from the Protestants as it does the ‘traditionalists’ from the ‘liberals’. Pray: that fundamental reconciliation between the two churches may be reached to promote the Kingdom. (Mt 5:24)
Last weekend thousands of people marched in Glasgow protesting against government cuts and calling for a just UK-wide economic policy. The People First rally brought together politicians from a range of parties, trade unionists and faith groups campaigning to protect those hardest hit by service and benefits cuts across Britain. The march included a range of fringe events in places of worship, student unions and hotels across the city. The aim was to send a clear message to the coalition Government of the need for a Plan B to avoid recession, rising poverty and damaging cuts in services.
Pray: for Chancellor George Osborne and the coalition as they develop strategies to close the economic gap between rich and poor. (1Sa.2:8)
The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court admits Service Personnel, many of them recovering from injuries sustained whilst deployed on operations. The aim of rehabilitation is to restore a patient’s lost function and maximize their capacity and independence. DMRC Headley Court has extensive gardens and orchards and a large greenhouse. A Christian physiotherapist Major has obtained permission to use a small part of this area for horticultural therapy. The Headley Walled Garden project seeks to broaden and diversify the rehabilitation already on offer, creating a space where physical, psychological, cognitive and neurological rehabilitation can occur in synchrony.
Pray: for courage and energy for the patients as they work to return to ‘normal’ life; for their families as they adjust to life with a severely disabled family member; that through the gift of creation and growth, God’s message of hope will speak out to the patients involved in the Walled Garden project. (Is.40:31)
More: http://britisharmy.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/reality-check/
A think tank has criticised the Government’s record on supporting marriage and the family. The Centre for Social Justice gave the Government a score of just two out of 10 for its efforts to reverse high and damaging levels of family breakdown. Its new report has been published to coincide with the first anniversary of the formation of the Coalition. It says that pre-election promises by Prime Minister David Cameron to reinstate a tax break for marriage have ‘moved off the radar’ as a result of deals done with the Liberal Democrats. ‘Some of the vital measures committed to by the Conservative Party in opposition appear to have been watered down during Coalition negotiations,’ the report says. The report describes as ‘paltry’ the £7.5 million committed to relationship support, in spite of the evidence linking marriage and positive child development.
Pray: that the government would reconsider its strength of support for marriage and family. (Jer.29:6)
A leading independent think tank has claimed that the Government is failing to sufficiently support marriage and the family. The Centre for Social Justice, set up by Iain Duncan Smith, has published a report detailing the Governments progress in family-related policies. The report gives the Government only four out of ten for its family policy, stating that, ‘There is still no solid commitment to actively prevent family breakdown or recognition of the important contribution of marriage to stability.’ The report suggests, ‘strong, stable families are central to improving outcomes for our children – and what children want most is to live with both their parents if possible. Strengthening families requires supporting marriage, helping people build strong relationships and providing coordinated help for our most chaotic families. Changing the culture so that family stability is valued by society requires strong governmental leadership and bold decision-making.’
Pray: for the hundreds of Christian initiatives supporting parenting and families and similar proposed government initiatives to make a positive impact on our nations values.(Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/think-tank-claims-government-is-failing-families
Members of the UK's biggest Bible translation organisation, Wycliffe Bible Translators, hiked Mount Kilimanjaro last month on a 'Prayer Climb' for the 800 African languages still awaiting the Bible. Nearly 2,000 language groups in the world are without a single verse of the Bible in their heart language - meaning over 200 million people cannot access Scripture in their own tongue. Karen Floor, Wycliffe South Africa Director, started the hike up Mount Kilimanjaro on 14 September alongside two Wycliffe supporters. During the hike, they carried a prayer banner with the collective prayers of God's people for the Lord to bless the spreading of his word through Bible translation. After completing the hike, Karen explained how the physical challenge of the Kilimanjaro climb acted as a metaphor for the wider challenge of Bible translation. She explained: ‘It was through grappling with the difficulty of communicating the immense challenge of bringing God's Word to millions of people through Bible translation that we began to use the mountain metaphor.’
Pray: that the prayers of the Wycliffe supporters and the work of the translators will be blessed. (Ps.88:2)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/theres.a.mountain.to.climb.in.bible.translation/34318.htm
A Christian psychotherapist is the subject of a professional conduct inquiry in London for supporting therapy for those with unwanted feelings of same-sex attraction. Dr Davidson is a trainee with the British Psychodrama Association (BPA) and also a director of Core Issues Trust, a non-profit Christian ministry supporting men and women with homosexual issues who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression. He took part in a BBC local radio broadcast in January 2012. As a result of comments he made about homosexuality, the BBC interviewer - among others - complained to Dr Davidson’s professional body. In response to a question, Dr Davidson said: ‘Yes I do believe homosexuality is a sin.’ The initial charges against Dr Davidson were purely against the expression of his views and therefore an issue of free speech .
Pray: for Dr Davidson that his expression of beliefs will not lead to expulsion. (Pr.8:13)
In an open letter published in the Observer on Sunday, 18 bishops ask for amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill now going through Parliament. The letter says that as a result of the proposed cap on benefits, an estimated 210,000 children may be pushed into ‘severe poverty’ and another 80,000 made homeless. The bishops write: ‘Such an impact is profoundly unjust.’ The letter follows reports that millions of benefit claimants are likely to lose between £50 to £100 each next year if the historic link between the rate of inflation and welfare payments is broken. This hits the youngest in families on the breadline the hardest. As the bishops write, they ‘have no voice’. In a time of austerity, the Observer believes it is a valid exercise to prioritise which aspects of universalism to retain but it is essential that the principle itself continues to dominate the shape of our welfare state.
Pray: that the government would consider the needs of the young plus the elderly and not emphasise one over the other. (Ph.4:19)