Charity begins at home?
Marolin Watson of Hope UK has expressed concern that we are quick to support international outreach, but may be neglecting the needs on our own doorstep? Children and young people in Great Britain are losing their way for want of spiritual guidance and direction. Many children and young people have little more than a rudimentary understanding of the Bible. A recent article in the Telegraph (Prayer Alert 2410) reported an Ofsted finding that ‘Schools are neglecting to teach children the core beliefs of Christianity in religious education lessons’. This is illustrated in the article by a recent survey of more than 500 12-year-olds which revealed that only 54% knew that Christians celebrated the Resurrection at Easter. Is it any wonder, then, that practically a whole generation have no core values by which to order their lives and their behaviour? Marolin writes ‘The Church must do more to help save this generation.’ Pray: for our young people and for the many initiatives that are beginning to address these concerns. (Jdg.2:10) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/charity.begins.at.home/26496.htm
Two registrars subjected to investigation over beliefs
Two registrars at Lambeth Council are under investigation because they swapped shifts in order to accommodate their religious beliefs over homosexual civil partnerships. The informal arrangement came to light when it was praised as an example of good practice during a diversity training seminar. But a homosexual colleague complained, and the pair are now being formerly investigated by council bosses. Other councils have chosen to accommodate the religious beliefs of registrar staff by not forcing them to conduct civil partnership registrations against their will. But some, such as Islington Council, have chosen to discipline registrars who don’t fall in line. The complaint against the Lambeth registrars was taken up by Brian Palmer, a homosexual Liberal Democrat councillor, who described their actions as ‘grossly offensive’ and ‘wholly unacceptable’. Steve Reed, the Labour leader of the Council, responded by saying that the Council ‘does not tolerate bigotry for any reason’. Pray: for the council to avoid bigotry themselves and accept this arrangement as ‘good practice’. (1Pe.3:15)
Anger at ‘Bibles for the courts’ campaign
The Scottish Bible Society (SBS) has come under fire from the National Secular Society for sending thousands of Bibles to Scottish law courts and judges. The campaign was launched in July by the organisation’s honorary president, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, to make the Bible readily available to judges as a reference book. Terry Sanderson of the National Secular Society said the campaign ‘could put the Sharia laws of the Middle East to shame.’ SBS is sending Bibles to judges in the Court of Session and each of the Sheriff Courts in Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates Library, the Crown Office, and countrywide offices of the Procurator Fiscal Service. SBS has produced a pamphlet, entitled The Bible in Scots Law: A Guide for Legal Practitioners, to accompany the Bibles. In it, Lord Mackay, a former Conservative Cabinet member, speaks of how ‘vitally important’ the Bible is in giving guidance for daily living. Pray: that this initiative will help Judges understand the Biblical foundations of Scottish law and its relevance today. (Heb.4:12)
Catholic adoption agency faces closure
The last remaining Roman Catholic adoption agency to resist Labour’s equality laws is facing closure, after the charity watchdog ruled that it could not avoid considering same-sex couples as potential parents. Catholic Care had been given hope earlier this year that it could get around the controversial anti-discrimination rules that forced other agencies either to close down or sever their links with the church. In March a High Court judge had ordered that the Charity Commission consider whether to allow the agency's request to continue refusing to consider same-sex parents, thanks to a loophole intended to protect homosexual charities. Catholic Care had argued that a clause inserted to ensure gay organisations could not be sued for discrimination, entitled it to change its ‘charitable objects’. But in a judgement published on Thursday, the quango has ruled that it will still not allow Catholic Care to restrict its services to heterosexuals only. (See also Prayer Alert 1110 & 2010) Pray: that even at this late stage the authorities would reconsider. (Pr.21:30)
