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Highland Council has removed prayer from its formal meeting agenda after secularists threatened legal action. The decades-old tradition will now be held prior to the formal meeting, in a move criticised by one Councillor as a ‘manifestation of political correctness’. The National Secular Society (NSS) wrote to the Council in the summer calling for the saying of prayers to be dropped or face legal action. A note was then written to all 80 Councillors in the Highlands stating that,‘Time for Prayer and Reflection will be undertaken at 10.30am in the chamber in future for those who wish to attend. This will be preceded by the bell to signal commencement. A second bell will ring to inform Councillors the meeting is about to start, five minutes later than normal, at 10.35am’. But Inverness Councillor Roddy Balfour criticised the move although he said the authority’s hand had been forced. (See Prayer Alert 28-2012)
Pray: that despite the move by the Highland Council these developments will be reversed in answer to our prayers. (Ps.119:169-170)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/scots-council-removes-prayer-from-agenda-after-legal-threats/
Margo MacDonald's ‘End of Life Assistance (Scotland)’ Bill is due to have its first reading on 24 November (the debate may take place earlier). It is vital the Bill is stopped at the first reading. If it progresses to the next stage then some form of euthanasia is likely to be legalised in Scotland. We are asked to pray and/or write to MSP’s to encourage them to vote against the bill. In February the Scottish Parliament established the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill Committee, to consider the general principles of Margo MacDonald's Bill and report on them to the Scottish Parliament. In March the Committee launched a public call for evidence, inviting individuals and organisations to make written submissions with their views on the Bill. The consultation is now closed. Of the 601 people and organisations who gave written evidence to the consultation on the Bill, only 6.5 per cent (39) were in favour of it. Pray: for God inspired decisions regarding this bill, and for the precious gift of life to be protected. (Mt.10:30,31)
In 2010 and 2011 there were 693 charges aggravated by religious prejudice in Scotland. This means a nearly 10 per cent increase in a year and the highest level in four years. 95% of this violence was directed against Christians. Statistics published by the Scottish Government today provide new detail on the scale of religious hate crimes across Scotland. The information has been made available following a pledge made by the First Minister. The data shows that in 2010-11 58 per cent of charges related to offences which were derogatory towards Roman Catholicism and 37 per cent of charges related to offences which were derogatory to Protestantism. 2.3 per cent related to Judaism, and 2.1 per cent related to Islam. There were charges with a religious aggravation in 27 out of Scotland's 32 Local Authority areas.
Pray: for a reversal of these trends; and that God will restrain the hand of the enemy. (Pr.10:11)
The Scottish government said levels of cocaine use had been falling as Scotland has again topped the world league for cocaine consumption. Figures published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) show 3.9% of Scottish residents aged between 16 and 64 used the drug in the past year. That was a higher proportion than in any other country and compares to 2.5% for England and Wales. The figures also showed Scotland with a rate of heroin use twice that of the rest of the United Kingdom. The UN's annual World Drug Report was published in New York as part of the organisation's attempt to understand the trans-national nature of the drug trade which, it says, requires to be tackled globally. Pray: for the authorities to get a grip of this problem. (1Jn.2:26)
Scotland for Marriage is a campaign to support marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This definition has served Scotland well down the centuries. We argue the case for marriage. We draw on a well-researched evidence base which shows that, although death and divorce may prevent it, children do best when raised by their married mother and father. We know that many ordinary Scots whatever their religious beliefs or lack of them, will agree with and lend support to the Scotland for Marriage campaign. Scotland for Marriage – which is supported by some religious groups – opposes the Scottish Government’s proposal to extend the definition to same-sex couples. The campaign said it hoped to leaflet every house in Glasgow and had put the cost of doing so at £15,000. Advertising vans will also be used to put across the opposition to same-sex marriage.
Pray:that this campaign will lead to increased support for marriage.
More:http://scotlandformarriage.org/about-us/
Ofsted’s study suggests that teachers in English schools pay more attention to other faiths and that Christian pupils are being sidelined in class. It has found that the quality of RE in secondary schools is worse than it was three years ago when the last analysis of the subject was carried out, with inadequate teaching in nearly a fifth of lessons. Changes to the curriculum in the early years of secondary school, introduced by the Labour government to increase ‘flexibility’, were having a negative impact on RE; in some schools it has been amalgamated with other lessons and had all but disappeared. The report suggests that other religions are treated more seriously in RE classes. In non-faith state schools, Christian assemblies are being dropped in favour of multi-faith worship, despite a legal requirement for Christian collective worship, and children are no longer taught the Lord's Prayer. A recent survey of more than 500 12-year-olds found that only 54% knew that Christians celebrated the Resurrection at Easter. Pray: that those responsible for our education syllabus re-assess RE teaching to support Christianity. (Ac.3:18)
Two schools in Staffordshire have been accused of trying to ‘silence Christianity’ by banning the Gideons from offering children a free Bible. Despite thousands of schools welcoming the respected group each year, Abbot Beyne School and Paget High School claimed the offer of a Bible was inappropriate. Critics say the schools are being overly sensitive and questioned whether they may be pushing an agnostic agenda. Each year the Gideons offer copies of the New Testament and Psalms to children in thousands of British secondary schools. The Bible Society’s Canon Dr Ann Holt said: ‘I have never met a single person of another faith in this country who objected to distribution of Bibles and the robust teaching of Christian Faith. They expect it. Such actions tend to come from white agnostics with an agenda of their own, or from people who really do not know how to manage the co-existence of a number of faiths.’ Pray: for a change of heart from the school leaders at these schools. (2Sa.22:31) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/two-schools-block-gideons-offering-bibles/
A school receptionist, Jennie Cain, who sued her employers for religious discrimination after a row over her Christian faith has reached an out-of-court settlement. Mrs Cain, who was suspended for nearly four months last year before receiving a written warning, lodged a complaint with Exeter employment tribunal. The case was due to be heard at the end of last month, but the school council and Mrs Cain came to a financial agreement on Tuesday. They said all parties ‘jointly acknowledge that all faiths, including Christianity, must be treated equally and with sensitivity while also recognising the freedom of ‘individuals to hold, talk and write about their beliefs. My family and I look forward to getting on with our lives and putting this matter behind us’. She has decided to resign from the school.
Pray: for Jennie as she tries to return to normal life after this difficult time and having resigned her post. (Eze.37:14)
Hundreds of primary school children breaking up for the summer were encouraged to ‘go for it’ in life and look after others. A special service at Llandaff Cathedral before the start of the school holidays was led by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, and the Assistant Bishop of Llandaff, David Wilbourne. The service was attended by year 6 pupils from 21 Church in Wales primary schools across the Diocese of Llandaff who will be starting their secondary schools in September. They were joined by their parish priests who are regular visitors at the school, helping out in lessons and with services and assemblies. Bishop Wilbourne said ‘So in life, go for it. Be bothered, go for every opportunity you are handed and wherever you arrive, make sure you share and look after others.’ After the service, the pupils were each handed a bookmark as a symbol of the diocese's love and care for them.
Pray: for all year 6 pupils around the country who have left their primary schools and will be starting their secondary education in a few weeks time. (Heb.12:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/school.children.encouraged.to.try.their.best/33284.htm
Governments need to spark a lightweight revolution in the way things are made so the world can keep up with the demand for resources, say scientists. They say homes will have to be built with less cement; cars with less steel; and gadgets with less plastic. And it will need to be done in a way that radically cuts emissions from producing the materials, they add. These are among the conclusions presented in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. The journal tackle the dual problem created by the increased demand for goods as people grow richer and population increase, coupled with the threat of climate change. It warns that unless demand for materials from UK primary industry is reduced, Britain will need the equivalent of a four-fold increase in nuclear power or a 40-fold increase in wind power to meet its target of a 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 from pre-industrial levels.
Pray: that we will manage the resources provided by God is a responsible way. (Gen.1:28)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21203336