Super User
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur
Schools will be within their statutory rights to dismiss staff that wilfully fail to use stories or textbooks promoting same-sex weddings, it is claimed. Aidan O’Neill, a senior QC and expert on religious freedom and human rights, also warned that parents who object to gay marriage being taught to their children will have no right to withdraw their child from lessons. In a
report he said that any decision to redefine marriage would have far-reaching consequences for schools, hospitals, foster carers and public buildings. The most serious impact is likely to be felt in the church where vicars and priests conducting religious marriage ceremonies could be taken to court for refusing to carry out a gay wedding, he said. The conclusions - in legal advice commissioned by the Coalition for Marriage - come amid continuing fall-out over Government plans to tear up the centuries-old law on marriage.
Pray: for all those who are being challenged for their faith in the workplace. (Mt.10:20)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9531803/Teachers-face-sack-for-refusing-to-endorse-gay-marriage.html
A Christian teacher from London is under investigation because she refused to give a lesson telling children that all opponents of gay marriage are homophobes. The unnamed teacher didn’t think that it was a “fair characterisation of the debate”, she says, but is now under investigation at her school. She is also under suspicion for being a member of a church, and a colleague is demanding to know whether it impacts her job. ’The head teacher investigated the incident and concluded there was no case to answer. Another colleague, who is also a union rep, then followed up the complaint, and has formally raised additional concerns about the teacher's Christian beliefs and her membership of a church demanded an investigation into whether membership of the church had any negative impact on her job as a teacher. That investigation process is currently underway.
Pray: for the teachers currently being investigated and that this case will very quickly be rejected as spurious and that there is no case to answer. (Matt.5:10)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/video-teacher-probed-over-her-gay-marriage-views/
Christian social policy charity CARE has criticised the ‘unfair’ treatment of married couples in the tax system. In an analysis, the organisation raises concerns over the tax burden on families where one parent stays at home to look after the children. The tax burden on such families stands at around 39% higher than that on comparable families in the other 33 countries in the OECD. The organisation puts the increase down to changes to the tax system introduced by the Coalition, including its decision to lower the higher rate threshold and scrap child benefit for families where one parent earns more than £42,000 a year. While the tax system protects the poorest, it said the changes would disproportionately hit married couples on modest incomes. ‘This failing is damaging family life, trapping children in poverty and hitting those on middle incomes the hardest.’ says CARE Chief Executive Nola Leach. Pray: that the government would be granted wisdom and fairness in the treatment of married couples. (Pr.29:14)
Church representatives delivered a letter to Chancellor George Osborne on Monday asking the Government to tackle tax avoidance in order to ‘close the gap’ between the rich and the poor in the UK. Among the signatories was the President of the Methodist Conference, the Rev Leo Osborn. While welcoming the Coalition Government’s commitment to protect the poorest and most vulnerable people from the impact of the current spending cuts, Church leaders said they were concerned that the cuts were nevertheless having a ‘severe impact’ on many of the people they worked with on a daily basis. ‘In this climate, as Churches, Christian organisations and individual Christians, we are increasingly concerned about the impact that tax avoidance and tax evasion are having on the public purse,’ they said.
Pray: that tax avoidance will be tackled by the Chancellor and Government. (2Cor.8:13)
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has come to the defence of a Christian housing manager who was demoted over remarks he made on Facebook opposing same-sex marriages. (See Prayer Alert 43-2011) This is the fourth time that Tatchell has come to the defence of Christians who have become embroiled in controversy. Last year he spoke in defence of Dale McAlpine a street preacher. He also opposed the prosecutions of Harry Hammond and Shawn Holes. In the latest case, Adrian Smith, a Christian, was found guilty of gross misconduct by the publicly funded Trafford Housing Trust saying that allowing gay weddings in churches was ‘an equality too far’. Also at the weekend another gay rights group criticised Trafford Housing Trust and urged the Trust to give Mr Smith his job back. The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said: ‘Trafford Housing may have acted with the best of intentions here, but we believe they have overreacted.’
Pray: with thanks for those who have spoken out against the overreaction by many under the guise of equality and that Adrian Smith would redeem his rightful seniority. (Ps.66:1-3)
Church Mission Society is looking for 1,000 people to make Kingdom-minded resolutions this New Year. The ‘We Are Saying Yes’ campaign is being launched to inspire people to make resolutions that put a bit more of God’s mission into their everyday life. Some of the suggestions on the campaign website including praying for the person in front in the supermarket queue, joining a campaign, making friends with someone of another faith, and fasting from impulse buys. CMS web manager Jeremy Woodham said: ‘So many people have given up making resolutions because they think they’ll never keep them. We’re giving people the chance to make a resolution that matters – and providing a space for them to share tips, ask for prayer and tell their stories. We think the impact of 1,000 people taking a small step in mission could have a fantastic ripple effect.’
Pray: for many more than 1,000 people to commit to this original approach to mission. (Is.48:15)
Campaigners against sex trafficking have warned that unless there is a crackdown on brothels in Britain sex trafficking will rise in the UK. The Poppy Project has urged police to prioritise brothels as an urgent target because they create an environment where trafficking can thrive. The call comes after a Romanian father and son, Bogdan and Marius Nejloveanu, were jailed recently for trafficking five young women to England. The son, Marius, was given 21 years for repeatedly raping and beating the women, the longest sentence for trafficking in the UK. The Poppy Project’s spokesman, Abigail Stepnitz, called on police to urgently target brothels masquerading as saunas, massage parlours and private flats. According to the Observer, almost 6,000 have been identified in England and Wales. There are 17,000 migrants working in UK brothels, according to a report completed by the Association of Chief Police Officers last year. Pray: against the evil that seeks to make profit from this form of human slavery. (Ps.34:16) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/target-brothels-to-combat-trafficking-say-campaigners/
Backed by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, the Fairness Commission has been launched in an effort to ensure the wellbeing of every resident in the city and to ensure no-one is left out of a job. Dr Sentamu opened the first of a series of public meetings for the new organisation this week. The meeting gave an opportunity for key stakeholders across the city to give their views. The Archbishop said that a society can be judged by how it looks after the poor and vulnerable. He added: ‘I am so encouraged by the establishment of this Fairness Commission for York – and so proud to be its patron. ‘Indeed, it is a great privilege to be asked to open this ‘Fairness debate’ in this great city of ours. As our country goes through tough economic times we need to remember that not all in our society are greatly privileged.
Pray: for the Commission, all who will contribute to it and the success of its work. (Job.5:16)
Swimming lessons in some Staffordshire schools should stop during Ramadan to ensure Muslim pupils ‘do not swallow water’ suggests Stoke-on-Trent City Council in an 11-page Ramadan Guide. It says swimming is acceptable to Muslims but poses a high risk of swallowing water that may break a fast. It also suggests re-scheduling sex education classes during the holy lunar month, as Muslim followers who have reached puberty are required to avoid sexual thoughts during this period. Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society said the guidance is out of proportion.’Surely it should be possible for Muslim pupils to be withdrawn from those elements of the school day that they don't want to participate in without imposing these restrictions on everybody, Muslim or not. Rearranging the whole school routine for a whole month to satisfy the religious needs of a few is totally. Pray: that the city council will think again even as the National Secular Society suggests.
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10596808
Viewers find violence on TV ‘acceptable' according to a BBC poll of a mere 300 people, including children of 11. The poll claims that sexual violence on screen is seen as ‘part of life' as long as it is not ‘gratuitous'. These findings are based on flimsy evidence but will feed into programme makers' guidelines. Ofcom has been accused of giving broadcasters a green light to swear after consulting only 130 people. Its study included special input for minority groups like those who are transgender or travellers and suggested that people were willing to tolerate various swear words on TV throughout the day. (See Prayer Alert 1910) Vivienne Pattison, Head of Mediawatch UK, said: ‘No one has ever complained to me there is not enough violence on the telly. But I hear a lot from people who think there is too much.' She condemned the decision to consult children: ‘Big themes should be decided by people who are at least old enough to vote’. Pray: that planners portray the role models shown on TV to inspire audiences to follow God's way. (Mt.4:10) More: http://www.mediawatchuk.org.uk/