Children's worker forced to resign over Sunday working
A 57-year-old children's worker who was forced to resign over her desire not to work on Sundays appeared before an employment tribunal on Monday. Celestina Mba worked for over three years at the Brightwell Children's Home in Morden, a respite home for children with disabilities. She was forced to resign in 2010 after her employer chose to no longer accommodate her Christian beliefs. Her beliefs were initially respected by her employer, the London Borough of Merton, who were informed before she started the job that she would have difficulties working on a Sunday. But the Council later changed its mind and she was forced to choose between her job or her faith. Andrea Williams, Director of the Christian
Legal Centre said: ‘This is another case where we see intolerance towards the Christian faith and a lack of willingness to make accommodation for it.’
Pray: that the ruling by the employment tribunal will be reversed and justice would prevail. (Job.9:19)
Support for traditional marriage gathers
A petition calling upon the Government to maintain the existing definition of marriage has notched up over 18,000 signatures in just one day after it was launched. www.c4m.org.uk The petition was launched by the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) in opposition to the Government's attempts to redefine marriage to include same sex unions. The coalition has the support of MPs and church leaders, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey. Lord Carey claimed the proposal to change the status of marriage ‘constitutes one of the greatest political power grabs in history’. The Government is due to begin its consultation on the introduction of same-sex marriage next month and has indicated its support for the change. A poll conducted by ComRes for C4M has found that the majority of people in Britain (51%) want the existing definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman to remain. Only a third (34%) said they supported the proposed change.
Pray: that this petition and the support given by MPs and church leaders will reverse the current trend against the existing definition of marriage. (Heb.13:4)
Welsh church leaders defend positive impact of faith communities
Welsh councils havw been told to spend two minutes thinking about the positive impact of faith in their communities. 'Start your next meeting by silently reflecting on the contribution made by the Christian voluntary sector to your community'. This is the challenge being sent by a Welsh church leader to town councils in Wales after the High Court’s decision to ban prayers within council meetings in Wales and England. It is thought that as many as half of UK local councils are believed to hold prayer sessions as part of their formal proceedings. Elfed Godding, National Director of Evangelical Alliance Wales said: ‘Thousands of Christians and adherents of other religions in Wales initiate, fund and voluntarily staff hundreds of projects that benefit the public of Wales. It would be a shame if this High Court ruling undermined this generous and sacrificial service. The joy of serving others is central to the Christian message.’ (See praise item)
Pray: for town councils throughout Wales and the UK to take seriously the proposal to consider the impact faith has in their communities. (Ps.85:8)
Men 'plied girls with drink and drugs for sex'
A group of 11 men plied girls as young as 13 with drink and drugs so they could use them for sex, a court has heard. The offences are said to have happened in and around Rochdale, Greater Manchester, in 2008 and 2009. Liverpool Crown Court heard how the men, aged between 22 and 59 and from Oldham and Rochdale, ‘acted together to sexually exploit the girls’. All deny conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16. Rachel Smith, opening the case for the prosecution, said: ‘No child should be exploited as these girls say they were.’ The Court heard that some of the girls were raped and physically assaulted and some were forced to have sex with ‘several men in a day, several times a week’. Miss Smith said the girls were given alcohol, food and money in return for sex and there were times when violence was used. The Court was told that some of the defendants also took payments from other men to whom they supplied the girls for sex.
Pray: that the authorities and the justice system would come down hard on the perpetrators of this crime. (Ps.96:13)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-17117530
