Clergy told to take on the 'new atheists'
The Church of England will this week vow to fight ‘new atheism’ in an attempt to combat the rise of secularism and defend Christianity in Britain. Clergy are to be urged to be more vocal in countering the arguments put forward by a more hard-line group of atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, who have campaigned for a less tolerant attitude towards religion. A report endorsed by Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, warns that the Church faces a battle to prevent faith being seen as ‘a social problem’ and says the next five years are set to be a period of ‘exceptional challenge’. It expresses concern that Christians are facing hostility at work and says the Church could lose its place at the centre of public life unless it challenges attempts to marginalise religious belief. Pray: for a new vision to ensure a strong future for the Church. (Ac.18:9)
Church has ‘God-given duty’ to shape Britain’s moral order
Sentamu may not be welcomed or applauded for it, but the Archbishop of York said on Tuesday that the Church of England must continue to shape the debate on Britain’s moral order and proclaim the good news to the nation. In his presidential address to the General Synod in London, Dr Sentamu said the ‘urgent conviction’ of the Church’s calling to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God must underpin its work. He admitted that there was a ‘pressing need’ to equip the Church ‘confidently to discharge that calling’ in the face of the economic uncertainty, high levels of unemployment, the widening gap between rich and poor. The Archbishop spoke of the need to ‘assert the value and importance of the contribution of trust in God to our national life. We must actively continue to seek to influence the terms of the national debate on key issues affecting our society,’ he said. Pray: that the Church would claim the moral ground and proclaim the good news. (Pr.2)
Churches invited to celebrate lives of autistic adults and children
Autism Sunday takes place on February 13 this year and cathedrals and churches are being asked to get involved in the day. Also known as the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism Sunday has received the support of Prime Minister David Cameron. He said: ‘I would like to express my support for Autism Sunday. As many as one in a hundred people could be affected by some form of autism and it is important that we recognise and raise awareness of the difficulties and challenges that they can face.’ Autism Sunday was founded in 2002 by Ivan and Charika Corea, whose 15-year-old son has autism. ‘We urge cathedrals and churches of all denominations to celebrate the lives of all children and adults with autism on Sunday 13 February.’ Pray: for those who are autistic and all with learning disabilities and for a positive response by church communities. (1Co.12:22)
CARE campaign to protect families online
The campaign coincides with the EU-wide Safer Internet Day and seeks to help families protect themselves from inappropriate content, including pornography, violence in video games, films, the promotion of alcohol or tobacco, and other age sensitive content. The campaign highlights the changing nature of technology from passive radio and TV to handheld mobile phones and the challenge of a new and largely unregulated environment in which content is increasingly consumed by users online. The Protecting Families Online campaign is calling for the introduction of measures to give parents greater parental control, including robust age verification to access age sensitive content and opt-in/opt-out filters that can stop certain content coming into the home via the internet. It is encouraging parents to make use of family protection resources and put into place the proper restrictions on computers, mobile phones, games consoles and other devices that have access to the internet. Pray: that this campaign will be effective in challenging parents to protect their children from inappropriate internet content. (Ps.5:11) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.campaign.to.protect.families.online/27489.htm
