USA: Arizona bans abortions after 15 weeks
On 15 February the Republican-led Senate in Arizona voted in favour of a bill to ban abortion after fifteen weeks of pregnancy. Senator Nancy Barto, who sponsored the bill, said, ‘The state has an obligation to protect life, and that is what this bill is about. A 15-week-old baby in the womb has a fully formed nose, lips, eyelids. They suck their thumbs. They feel pain. That’s what this bill is about.’ Democrats argue that any abortion ban would disproportionately affect low-income and minority women who are unable to travel to other states with no such restrictions. Doctors who violate the bill could face felony charges and lose their licences. At present, the bill moves to the GOP-controlled State House, which has previously ruled against abortion. If passed, it goes to governor Doug Ducey’s desk to be signed. In the past seven sessions, Ducey, who opposed abortion, has signed every abortion-related bill that has reached his desk.
Storm Eunice: rare red warning
The Met Office released a red weather warning (the highest level) for 18 February for parts of south-west England and south Wales as there is a danger to life from flying debris. Gusts of 90 mph would cause significant disruption. Damage to homes, train cancellations and power cuts are also likely. There is a lower level warning for wind in the rest of Wales and most of England. Storm Eunice comes 48 hours after Storm Dudley caused widespread disruption and power cuts in Scotland and north England. Cornwall council warned that the winds will coincide with high spring tides along the coastline, possibly leading to flooding. The storm is likely to be as powerful as the one in 2014 which saw homes evacuated amid widespread floods.
Changing communities - prayers
In our communities we see pockets of prejudice and persecution, and in the marketplace we have to watch out for fraud and dishonesty - but, Father, we know you can bring change and establish kingdom values in our land. So we ask You to call, raise up, and anoint men and women to bring transformation to the hard places. May 2022 be the turning point as Your Church delivers love and compassion to deprived areas. Where there is despair bring hope; where there is grief, release Your healing. Father, we ask You to expel the enemy from his strongholds and flood every dark area with your light and power. Release forgiveness, reconciliation and peace to communities experiencing prejudice and animosity, and strengthen Your church as they step out in faith to proclaim freedom for the captives. Let this year be the year of the Lord’s favour as wounds within cultures are healed.
Petition about Pakistani Christian girl
Christian MP Fiona Bruce has handed a petition to home secretary Priti Patel, to raise continued concerns about a Pakistani Christian girl, Maira Shahbaz. At just 14 she was kidnapped, forced into marriage and converted; she escaped, only to be forced into hiding after her abductor accused her of apostasy. More than 12,000 people signed an Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) petition calling on Boris Johnson to grant asylum to Maira. ACN’s press officer John Pontifex said, ‘We are extremely delighted that Fiona Bruce has once again taken the trouble to reach out to Priti Patel and make this fresh appeal on behalf of Maira. I have been in touch with Maira almost every day, sometimes talking about her situation. She says to me: “I feel like I am in a prison, I can’t go out, I’m stuck, I don’t have enough to eat. What can you do to help me?”’
