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The Christian owner of a printing firm in Northern Ireland faces being hauled to court over his refusal to print a gay magazine. Nick Williamson, who is being advised by The Christian Institute, says printing the material would go against his religious beliefs. But the editor of MyGayZine, Danny Toner, has approached a solicitor and referred the matter to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Mr Williamson was asked to provide a cost estimate for printing the magazine, timed to coincide with a gay rights march in Belfast. But in an email to Mr Toner, Mr Williamson said he did “not feel comfortable” taking the job on because it “would be in contradiction to my own faith”. Mr Williamson had initially explained: “Unfortunately due to the nature of the magazine we are unable to give a quote.” But Mr Toner said “If we can take the printer to court, we will”.
Pray: for understanding and respect of each others views that will resolve this matter without litigation. (Ro.8:7)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-printer-faces-being-sued-by-gay-magazine/
A Scottish court has fined a street preacher £1,000 after answering a question about homosexuality. Shawn Holes, who is American, was kept in a police cell overnight and then charged with a breach of the peace. The accusation was that he had used ‘homophobic remarks’ that were ‘aggravated by religious prejudice’. Freedom concerns have been raised that this case shows religious liberty is under threat. One commentator described the charges against the preacher as ‘grotesque’. Shawn Holes was in Scotland with a group of American colleagues preaching on a wide variety of topics. ‘I was talking generally about Christianity and sin’, he said. He continued: ‘I only talked about these other issues because I was specifically asked. Mr Holes later commented: ‘It felt like a set-up by gay campaigners.’ Mr Holes’ lawyer said: ‘This case raises important issues about the interface between the criminal law in Scotland, freedom of speech and religious freedom.’
Pray: against the progressive limitation on free speech and religious freedom as shown in this incident. (Ga.5:1)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-preacher-fined-for-speaking-on-homosexuality/
A Christian nurse who refused to remove her crucifix at work has told an employment tribunal she felt ‘persecuted’ because of her faith. Shirley Chaplin, who has worn her cross every day for 30 years, said she felt that Muslim members of staff were treated with greater understanding when it came to outward symbols of their religion. The 54 year-old was banned from working on hospital wards and moved to an office job by Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust after she failed to hide the cross she wore as a necklace. She is now suing her hospital employers. Mrs Chaplin is supported in her case by seven
leading bishops who have written a letter to The Sunday Telegraph published on 28 April. DailyTelegraph In the letter, the Bishops express their deep disquiet at the double standards of public sector employers, claiming that Christians are punished while followers of other faiths are treated far more sensitively. (See Prayer Alert 3909)
Pray: for all those whose faith is challenged in the workplace. (Ps.109:28)
The Christian Legal Centre (CLC) pledged to stand up against what it feels is the growing problem of traditional Christian views being ‘silenced or sidelined’ in modern Britain. Weeks after concluding a high-profile battle to allow an electrician to display a palm cross in his company van, the CLC said it had more than 50 similar cases on its books as a growing number of Christians seek to fight employers who they feel do not respect their faith. Andrea Williams, CLC chief executive, said she had been ‘inspired’ by groups like the US-based Alliance Defence Fund (ADF), which seek to raise a ‘new generation of lawyers to defend Christianity in the public sphere’. With the help of the ADF, the CLC and its partner organisation, Christian Concern For Our Nation, have set up a new Academy aimed at teaching the skills necessary for ‘servant-hearted, Christ-centered leadership in public life’.
Pray: for the new Academy; that it will be better able to defend those who wish to ‘stand up and be counted’ as Christians in an increasingly secularist society. (Pr.31:8)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8486552/Christian-lawyers-step-up-court-campaign.html
In a new case of shocking intolerance a Christian mental health worker has been effectively suspended by her employers because she expressed her opinion in a private conversation with colleagues and showed them a booklet containing stories of women and the devastating impact of abortion on their lives. Margaret Forrester has worked for Central North West London Mental Health Trust for over two years and the NHS for over 7 years. Earlier in November she was on a temporary secondment and sat next to two health workers whose job is to advise women on abortions. She felt that women seeking abortions were not given all of the alternatives available to help them make an informed decision, so she gave a small booklet to her co-workers which documents the testimonies of women who have been impacted by abortion. She faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for ‘distributing materials some people may find offensive’ and may well be sacked.
Pray: for all Christians in the workplace as they face challenges over their faith that God will guide them. (Ps.20:6)
Christians have defended their work in schools following strong criticism and accusations of proselytisation from the National Secular Society. The NSS claims in its new report, 'Evangelism in state schools', that publicly funded schools are being ‘targeted and exploited’ by evangelical Christian groups with the aim of converting young people to the faith. ‘We do not doubt that pupils' education can be enhanced by the input made by external contributors, but it appears clear from the evidence that many external school visitors are primarily concerned with evangelisation rather than education,’ the report states. The NSS says parents and schools should be ‘deeply concerned’ by evangelical Christian groups providing religious education, school worship, pastoral work, prayer spaces and Bible-based clubs in state schools ‘without parents' knowledge and with little, if any, opportunity for withdrawal’.
Pray: that the work of Christians will not be stopped because of the NSS claims but that God will continue to bless them. (Ps.67:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.contribution.to.schools.defended/34345.htm
The Head of a Christian advocacy group says Christians must resist attempts to broaden the definition of marriage. However, Simon Hughes, Deputy Liberal Democrat leader, and who is a Christian and admitted previously to being bisexual, said he believed the Government would make it possible for the term ‘civil marriage’ to apply to same-sex couples before the next General Election. ‘It would be appropriate in Britain in 2010 and 2011 for there to be the possibility of civil marriage for straight people and gay people equally,’ he said, adding ‘That’s different of course from faith ceremonies which are matters for the faith communities they have to decide what recognition to give.’ Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and director of Christian Concern for Our Nation, said: ‘We should resist this attempt to undermine marriage at the heart of our society and fight to retain the traditional status of marriage as that between a man and a woman.’ Pray: that the explicit purposes of matrimony being procreative and unitive are recognised by all. (1Co.16:13)
Christian Concern is taking the Law Society and a government-owned conference centre to court after they cancelled the group's marriage conference. The conference was organised by Christian Concern and the World Congress of Families to debate the nature and role of marriage in light of the Government's consultation on legalising same-sex marriage. The Law Society cancelled Christian Concern's conference booking on the grounds that it breached their equalities policy. The group then booked the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, opposite the Houses of Parliament. However, the booking was cancelled by the conference centre the day before the conference was due to start on 23 May. At the time, Christian Concern sought an emergency injunction overnight but as no lawyers from the Treasury Solicitors Office were available, the injunction was unable to proceed. Despite the last-minute cancellation at the QEII Centre, the conference was able to go ahead as scheduled after an alternative venue was found.
Pray: that moves by organisations to hold back discussions on marriage be thwarted. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.group.goes.to.court.over.cancelled.marriage.conference/30188.htm
A Christian councillor has spoken of her disappointment as she faces dismissal from the Green Party for opposing gay marriage. Christina Summers, a member of Brighton and Hove Council, was investigated by the Party after she spoke and voted against a motion in support of the Government’s plans to introduce same-sex marriage during a council meeting in July. She did so on grounds of her Christian belief that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. A disciplinary inquiry panel was set up by the Green Party to carry out the investigation. The panel recommended on Monday that Councillor Summers be expelled from the Party. Councillor Summers said that although she had still not been formally dismissed yet, it was unlikely that the Party would change its mind following the public announcement of the panel’s recommendation. The panel has no authority to enact the recommendation, which must instead be put to Green Party Councillors to vote on and ratify.
Pray: for those in public office that they will speak out their Christian beliefs boldly and not hold back. (Jn.7:18)
A graphic designer has claimed that he was denied a job with a county hotel near Colchester simply because of his Christian faith. Jamie Haxby (24) was invited for an interview with Prested Hall Hotel after applying for a job to design the venue's advertising and promotional material. But after discovering that he was a Christian, manager Celie Parker said that he could not be considered for the role because his beliefs would upset atheist employees. Mr Haxby says that the interview was going well until Ms Parker saw his portfolio which contained samples of work that he had done for his local church and a Christian charity. Just over halfway through looking over my portfolio, Celie stopped me and said she did not think we needed to go any further. She then explained that she thought my work was brilliant, but that she and others on her team were atheists.
Pray: for believers as they face challenges to their faith especially when it has nothing to do with what they are involved in. (1Cor.16:13)