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The Home Office is currently consulting on whether to remove the word ‘insulting’ from section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. This consultation is extremely important because a number of Christians, including street preachers, have been arrested under section 5. It represents a continuing threat to freedom of speech and the word needs to be removed to prevent further persecution of Christian evangelism on our streets. The Home Office consultation on police powers to promote and maintain public order closes on Friday 13th January 2012
Pray: for every detail of this consultation to be resolved according to God’s purposes for Britain. (Ps.2:8)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/sites/default/files/Section%205%20Consultation%20response.pdf
A consultation is underway on whether civil partnerships should be allowed to be registered in churches and other religious buildings. Under current law, civil partnerships can only be registered at secular venues and the ceremonies do not contain any religious elements. The Government wants to implement a section of the Equality Act 2010 that would allow civil partnerships to be registered in religious venues. Equality Minister Lynne Featherstone said: ‘The government is committed to advancing equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people and to ensuring freedom of religion or belief for all people. While the Quakers and Unitarian Church support a change, most Christians are strongly opposed to the move. The Evangelical Alliance, Christian Concern and Reform are among the groups raising concern over whether a change to regulations will lead to discrimination against Christians. Pray: for a huge response by church and other Christian groups to influence the course of these proposals. (1Co.2:6) More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/government.launches.consultation.on.civil.partnerships.registrations.in.
Condom use and their promotion in TV ads only helps to promote risk-taking behaviour in young people - behaviour that contributes to the spread of sexually transmitted disease and teenage pregnancies, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has said in a new campaign. The condom ads on UK television, which were approved by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority in March this year to be shown during children’s peak viewing hours, are ‘priming’ children to have sex in their teens, SPUC says. Also increased condom use has resulted in ‘shamefully high rates’ of sexually transmitted disease among young people, and creates a ‘false sense of security’ for teens. A briefing by another organization, the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute, says that advertisers should not be allowed to promote condoms to children. The authors quote the BBC’s own editorial guidelines that state, ‘Programmes broadcast between 5:30am and 9pm must be suitable for a family audience including children’. Pray: for the protection of young children from unnecessary and premature sexualisation. (Lev.18:21) More: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10102203.html
Housing Justice, a Christian homelessness charity has spoken out against plans by Westminster Council to introduce restrictions to rough sleeping and food distribution for the homeless in the area. The Council has just opened a four-week consultation on a new bylaw that will fine people in the area around Victoria Station if they ‘lie down or sleep in any public place’, ‘deposit bedding’ or distribute free food and drink. This includes charity soup runs and food distribution schemes which have come up against strong opposition from Westminster Council. The Council tried in 2007 to ban soup runs in central London on the grounds that they put local residents at risk by attracting large numbers of homeless people to the area. It was forced to back-track on its plans, however, after they were met with public outcry. Alison Gelder, director of Housing Justice, believes the proposals are unnecessary. Pray: for the many charities that reach out to the homeless that their work will not be interrupted and the council make wise decisions. (Jas.3:13) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/concerns.for.homeless.as.westminster.moots.restrictions/27590.htm
Young people are increasingly using online supermarket delivery services to buy alcohol, figures show. A total of 21% of 14-15-year-olds questioned for the Alcohol Concern Cymru Wales-wide survey said they had bought alcohol online. The charity surveyed nearly 1,000 teenagers aged 14-17. Calls for procedures to be toughened have been made but retailers have said they take their responsibilities seriously. The Alcohol Concern Cymru survey found that 15% of all respondents said they had successfully bought alcohol online while 7% had tried to buy alcohol online but were unsuccessful. Mark Leyshon, policy and research officer for Alcohol Concern Cymru, said young people regarded internet shopping as an ‘easy’ way to buy alcohol. ‘Retailers offering home delivery services need to toughen up their processes to ensure that children and young people are prevented from accessing alcohol through this channel,’ he said.
Pray: that the authorities will be able to find ways to stop this form of alcohol abuse. (1Sam.23:21)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23124507
Christian and pro-life groups are alarmed by proposals to allow assisted suicide for terminally ill people in England and Wales. The change is proposed in a report published today by the Commission on Assisted Dying, chaired by former justice secretary Lord Falconer. The report recommends allowing doctors to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients who wish to die and have less than 12 months to live. The patient would have to be over the age of 18 and not deemed to be mentally impaired. The approval of two independent doctors would also be required. Dr Peter Saunders, Campaign Director of Care Not Killing said the investigation was ‘biased’ and the resulting report ‘seriously flawed’. ‘These recommendations if implemented will place vulnerable people under increased pressure to end their lives so as not to be a burden on others,’ he said. ‘The so-called right to die can so easily become the duty to die.’
Pray: for God’s guidance as this matter is debated and that the vulnerable will be protected. (Pr.13:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/concern.over.proposed.changes.to.law.on.assisted.suicide/29121.htm
Children are receiving text messages with advice on sex from a taxpayer-funded service, in a scheme which has been accused of sidelining parents and undermining the age of consent. The free service is aimed at 13 to 25-year-olds, according to a national newspaper, and works by replying to messages young people send in. Norman Wells, Director of Family Education Trust, said: ‘Not only does it undermine parents by presenting itself as an authoritative source of advice on sex, relationships and sexual health, but it also fails to respect the age of consent by offering a service to children under 16.’ Mr Wells added: ‘the information provided is not even accurate. The website fails to tell visitors that condoms provide
much less protection against sexually transmitted infections than they do against pregnancy, and says nothing about the health benefits of keeping sex within a lifelong, mutually faithful relationship with an uninfected partner’.
Pray: for a more tightly regulated and sensitive service providing better quality care and advice. (Ps.103:18)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/concern-over-nhs-backed-sex-text-message-service/
The Christian Institute has voiced concern over sexually explicit advertising after a perfume advert for Beyoncé’s new perfume was deemed unsuitable for daytime television. Mike Judge, of The Christian Institute, raised concern over the effect of such adverts on young girls. ‘As Christmas approaches we are bombarded by inappropriate perfume adverts on TV, the high street and in our shopping centres,’ he said. ‘These ads only contribute to society’s sexualisation, which more and more people are speaking out against. Sexualisation damages all in society but in particular it puts pressure on young girls and women to conform to a ‘perfect’ body image.’ He added: ‘The Advertising Standards Authority took action against this advert after 14 people made complaints, which shows it only takes a handful of people to say something is inappropriate, and it can make a real difference.’ Pray: for a wider recognition of the damage sexually explicit adverts and pop videos can do to our young people. (Ps.7:14) .tv/27103.htm
Most Brits feel that marriage's fall from grace has not been good for society, a new survey has found. In a poll by the Centre for Social Justice, 60% agreed that marriage has become less important and that this is a ‘bad thing’ for Britain. Over half (55%) said there was at least one area close to where they lived that was affected by serious social problems like broken families, poor schools and crime. Most of those surveyed (85%) felt that family and parenting were key to mending broken society. When asked what they felt was the most important for children to have when growing up, 46% said a safe community and environment, followed by having two parents at home (31%). The findings were released as the CSJ prepares to launch Breakthrough Britain II, a major study into the causes of poverty and social breakdown that will run until 2014.
Pray: that the recognition of the importance of marriage in our society be realised and once more become central. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/brits.concerned.about.marriage.breakdown/31136.htm
Pray: for Elizabeth as she takes up this challenging role to to care for our youngsters. (2Ti.1:14)
More: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/prsafeguardingadviser.html