Ten Minute Rule’ bill on sex education passes
A proposal requesting that information about the benefits of sexual abstinence be included in sex education has passed its first vote in the House of Commons. The ‘Ten Minute Rule’ bill was put forward by MP Nadine Dorries. The bill requested: ‘That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require schools to provide certain additional sex education to girls aged between 13 and 16; that they must include information and advice on the benefits of abstinence from sexual activity; and for connected purposes.’ The bill comes in the light of high teenage pregnancy rates and amidst concerns that the sexualisation of Britain’s young people has been largely responsible for this state of affairs. Dorries urged the ‘normalisation’ of abstinence in schools and highlighted the relational, psychological and social benefits of a sex education programme that incorporated teaching on abstinence. The bill was passed however; the proposals are unlikely to become law without the Government’s backing. Praise: that this bill will receive continued support and will become law. (Pr.23:16)
Ten Minute Rule’ bill on sex education passes
A proposal requesting that information about the benefits of sexual abstinence be included in sex education has passed its first vote in the House of Commons. The ‘Ten Minute Rule’ bill was put forward by MP Nadine Dorries. The bill requested: ‘That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require schools to provide certain additional sex education to girls aged between 13 and 16; that they must include information and advice on the benefits of abstinence from sexual activity; and for connected purposes.’ The bill comes in the light of high teenage pregnancy rates and amidst concerns that the sexualisation of Britain’s young people has been largely responsible for this state of affairs. Dorries urged the ‘normalisation’ of abstinence in schools and highlighted the relational, psychological and social benefits of a sex education programme that incorporated teaching on abstinence. The bill was passed however; the proposals are unlikely to become law without the Government’s backing. Praise: that this bill will receive continued support and will become law. (Pr.23:16)
Nigeria: Christians fear backlash after Bin Laden's death
In the aftermath of the recent presidential election hundreds of Christians were killed and hundreds of churches and Christian business were burned down or destroyed. Now, with the death of Osama Bin Laden, Christians across northern Nigeria are bracing themselves for possible reprisal attacks by Muslim extremist who are opposed to Bin laden's death. Church members have received anonymous text messages warning them of an impending attacks due to Osama's death, and reports are coming out of five northern states that some Muslims are planning to demonstrate against the death of Bin Laden. Northern Nigerian Christians have always been at the receiving end of violence when Muslim extremists feel they have been offended.
Pray: against sadistic acts of vengeance against Christians. (Ps.20:1)
Laos: Military kill four Christian women
Alarming religious freedom abuses contine in Laos. Believers are routinely expelled, forced to relocate, pressured to renounce their faith and arrested. Several Christians were recently attacked and killed in Xiengkhouang Province. Last month troops caught a group of Christians belonging to the Hmong community, an ethnic minority and confiscated their Bibles, they shot and killed four of the women after repeatedly raping two of them. Their husbands and children were beaten, tied up and forced to witness the gruesome killings. At last report,the whereabouts of the surviving believers is unknown. The absence of free press and lack of information infrastructure in this Communist state prevents news from reaching the outside world - including that of religious freedom. This incident and other recent reports indicate a disturbing increase of repression facing Christians in the country. Pray: protection for Protestant Christians and the Hmong Christians particularly who are as a threat to Comunisim. (Heb.10:35,36)
