Bishop sings Coalition's praises over faith schools
Malcolm McMahon, chair of the Catholic Education Service and the bishop of Nottingham, said the current Government seemed to have more ‘heartfelt sympathy’ for the aims of religious educators than previously. ‘There aren't the secularists trying to close things down,’ he said, making a reference to a law, introduced in 2007 under the Labour Government, that made it illegal for Catholic adoption agencies to prevent gay couples from adopting. ‘Ministers in the Coalition appear to understand more the role that faith plays in society,’ Bishop McMahon said. He said that 'while Labour ministers had been ‘straightforward’ and ‘fair’, the Coalition had ‘more of a general understanding of what faith means to people’ and a ‘heartfelt sympathy’ for faith schools. One of the Coalition's flagship education reforms - free schools - allows parents, teachers and charities to apply to set up their own faith, or non-faith, school. Pray: that our politicians would see the benefits of religious education for our children. (Dt.4:9) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/feb/23/faithschools-schools
Government urged to clear up confusion over Big Society
A week after Prime Minister David Cameron re-launched the initiative, the Jubilee Centre warned that the Big Society would be judged a failure if all it accomplished was the proliferation of charities and volunteers while poverty, inequality and crime remained high. The Centre said that 'the Government should not be allowed to sidestep its responsibilities by passing them on to third sector organisations. I In particular, the Centre pointed to the need to promote religious freedom as it warned that red tape was preventing people from volunteering, particularly people of faith. ‘In reality it is therefore highly unlikely that any Big Society ambitions can succeed without the help of faith groups,’ the Centre said. (See Prayer Alert 3010) Pray: against confusion and pray for clarity and understanding. (Gal.5:10b)
EU: Concern over violence towards Christians
EU foreign ministers have issued a statement condemning violence against Christians and calling upon states to protect freedom of worship. The statement was issued after the Foreign Affairs Council Meeting in Brussels on Monday. The foreign ministers said: ‘The Council expresses its profound concern about the increasing number of acts of religious intolerance and discrimination, as epitomised by recent violence and acts of terrorism in various countries against Christians and their places of worship, Muslim pilgrims and other ‘religious communities’ which it firmly condemns. The ministers expressed their condolences and ‘solidarity’ with the countries where religious violence was being experienced, as well as with the victims’. They went on to affirm the EU’s ‘strong commitment’ to the promotion and protection of religious freedom and called upon states to protect their citizens, including members of religious minorities. Pray: that this statement will be taken seriously by all the states within the EU. (Pr.10:6) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/eu.expresses.profound.concern.over.violence.towards.christians/27565.htm
EU: Concern over violence towards Christians
EU foreign ministers have issued a statement condemning violence against Christians and calling upon states to protect freedom of worship. The statement was issued after the Foreign Affairs Council Meeting in Brussels on Monday. The foreign ministers said: ‘The Council expresses its profound concern about the increasing number of acts of religious intolerance and discrimination, as epitomised by recent violence and acts of terrorism in various countries against Christians and their places of worship, Muslim pilgrims and other ‘religious communities’ which it firmly condemns. The ministers expressed their condolences and ‘solidarity’ with the countries where religious violence was being experienced, as well as with the victims’. They went on to affirm the EU’s ‘strong commitment’ to the promotion and protection of religious freedom and called upon states to protect their citizens, including members of religious minorities. Pray: that this statement will be taken seriously by all the states within the EU. (Pr.10:6) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/eu.expresses.profound.concern.over.violence.towards.christians/27565.htm
