Europe
French teacher suspended for reading Bible to pupils
In France, teachers may teach about the Bible, but are strictly forbidden from proselytising or preaching. A step to keep religion out of schools was taken in 2013 when schools were ordered by…
Netherlands: a rising wave of populism
Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) is set to win the largest number of seats in the Dutch election. The current global wave of anti-establishment sentiment, and the migrant crisis has boosted support…
Germany: call to repentance and reconciliation
As we remember the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we need to make every effort to overcome the division in the Church that followed the Reformation. In the churches in Germany and Europe…
France: self-sufficiency incompatible with Christianity
Operation World reports that as Europe becomes less religious and more secular, a non-religious worldview or a mixed spirituality dominates many people's belief systems. Christians decline in number, and the rate of decline…
Refugees: who should come in?
In the wake of the closure of the Dubs scheme (see article 1 in the Europe section) allowing unaccompanied minors from Calais into the UK, the Government has come under fire. Lord Dubs…
France: child refugees and traffickers
The UK Government’s decision to refuse lone child refugees (see last week’s Prayer Alert) has been a boost to traffickers, who are ‘helping’ desperate teenagers rejected by official schemes. Labour MP Yvette Cooper,…
Spain: IS threat to tourist hotspots
IS fanatics have issued ‘direct threats’ to Spanish tourist hotspots where millions of Britons are expected to visit this year, according to a government report. The warnings were reportedly found on social media,…
Romanian parliament approves anti-corruption referendum
Following further pressure from public protests, Romania’s parliament has agreed to hold a referendum on fighting corruption. An estimated 70,000 people took to the streets last Sunday, the thirteenth consecutive night of anti-government…
Russia denies breaking treaty after alleged missile deployment
Russia has denied violating a Cold War missiles treaty, following accusations by unnamed officials in President Trump's administration that Russia had deployed a banned cruise missile. A Kremlin spokesperson said on Wednesday that…
Romania: answered prayers
Last week we prayed for a peaceful and satisfactory outcome when 200,000 people took to the streets over a government decree to free dozens of officials jailed for corruption. This week Romania's government…
