Catholic leader rallies Church to oppose gay marriage plans
The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales is to call upon churchgoers to take a stand against the Government’s plans to legalise gay marriage. Archbishop Vincent Nichols has outlined his opposition in a pastoral letter to be read out during mass this Sunday. It warns that the proposal ‘threatens the true meaning of a sacred union’ and signals a ‘profoundly radical step’ that will strip marriage of its ‘distinctive nature’. The letter is co-signed by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith. It argues that marriage as a union between a man and a woman should remain the ‘foundation of our society’. The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, was more scathing in his attack on the Government’s plans at the weekend. He said it was clear that the proposal was ‘not
about rights but rather is an attempt to redefine marriage at the behest of a small minority of activists’. See ‘Coalition for Marriage’ petition http://c4m.org.uk/ and last week’s Prayer Alert.
Pray: that this pastoral letter will challenge its church members to take a stand and pray that the wider church will also take up the challenge. (Heb.13:4)
Crematorium cross set to be dumped, despite no complaints
A local council is set to remove a cross from a crematorium window to make it more ‘inclusive’ – even though no one appears to have ever complained about the Christian symbol. The plan, at Haycombe Crematorium in Bath, has prompted concern from residents with one warning of ‘creeping secularisation’. One of the locals who has expressed disquiet at the proposed move is Hugh Mackay, who lives near the crematorium. He said: ‘It seems there is a determined secular campaign to try and obliterate our religious heritage in our country. The council says it is not to upset people of all faiths but I’ve talked to Hindus, Muslims and Jews and none of them have ever complained. They all respect the cross as a symbol of the Christian faith. Some of us feel very trongly that this is a deliberate attempt by the council to downplay our Christian heritage.’
Pray: for the council in this case to rethink their misguided political correctness. (Ps.105:1)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/crematorium-cross-set-to-be-dumped-despite-no-complaints/
Medics suggest legalising infanticide
In an article in the British Medical Journal two medical ethicists said doctors should be allowed to kill disabled or even unwanted newborn babies because they are ‘not actual persons’. They argue that parents should have the choice to end the lives of their children shortly after they are born because, at this stage, they are morally irrelevant’ and have ‘no moral right to life.’ And, ‘Infanticide is no different morally to abortion since both a foetus and a newborn baby were only ‘potential persons’. Rev Joanna Jepson said the article highlights ‘false ethical assumption made by many pro-choice groups, that abortion was morally justified because the child was still in the womb.’ Lord Alton said it is profoundly shocking to see how opinion-formers within the medical profession have ditched the professional belief of the healer to uphold the sanctity of human life for this impoverished and inhumane defence of child destruction.
Pray: for people to recognise the distorted thinking in the justification of post-natal abortion and to reject it completely. (Mt.19:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/christians.reject.afterbirth.abortion/29416.htm
NHS changes may increase risks to vulnerable children
The Government's NHS reform bill could increase the dangers facing vulnerable children, according to a survey of the risk assessments produced by primary care trusts in response to the legislation. The analysis of the risk assessments drawn up by the 54 PCTs, the organisations that manage and pay for patient care in England, found children in danger of being physically abused could suffer because of problems and weaknesses caused by the restructuring. They claim child protection procedures are threatened by issues such as fragmentation between new organisations that are being created in the shake-up, making it hard for staff to swap information about sensitive or complicated cases where there is suspicion of neglect or abuse by relatives or carers. The danger is classified as a 'possible' risk which, if it occurred, would have 'catastrophic' consequences. Any such failings may mean that the NHS organisations concerned were in breach of their legal duties to protect at-risk children.
Pray: for a review of this matter and that, at the very least, proper safeguards are put in place to protect vulnerable children. (Ps.12:5)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/04/nhs-health-bill-child-protection-risks
