In his most significant political intervention since taking office, the Most Rev Justin Welby has warned that “children and families will pay the price” if plans to change the benefits system go ahead in their current form. He and the Archbishop of York have backed a letter to The Sunday Telegraph written by 43 bishops who say the benefits cuts will have a “deeply disproportionate” effect on children. The move will come as a blow to Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, who is attempting to steer the reforms through Parliament. He has said the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill, which will cap benefit rises at 1 per cent a year until 2016, is needed to help get spending “back under control” and create a fairer deal for taxpayers. However, Mr Welby said the legislation will remove the protection given to families against the rising cost of living and could push 200,000 children into poverty.

Pray: for Government will ensure the most vulnerable in our society will be protected from severe hardship. (Ps.82.3)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9919844/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-attacks-Government-welfare-reforms.html

The Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken out to mark the beginning of Hate Crime Awareness Week. He said, ‘Hate crime is a fundamental challenge to an individual’s dignity and identity. As such it should have no possible place in a society that respects the dignity of all and it should find no possible justification in any kind of religious belief. Christian faith has at its core the conviction that God values each of us infinitely and it should spur us on to combat hatred and prejudice wherever we encounter them.' An act of remembrance for the victims of hate crime was held in St Paul’s Cathedral last Saturday and was supported by 17-24-30, an organisation founded to support the victims of the London nail bomb attacks in 1999.

Pray: for God to change the hearts of mankind to quench hatred and nurture caring love towards one another. (1Jn.2:9)

More: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2644/archbishops-statement-to-mark-the-beginning-of-hate-crime-awareness-week

The Archbishop of York has launched a new initiative to address homelessness in the city. Dr John Sentamu launched the 'No Second Night Out' initiative at The Salvation Army, Gillygate. 'No Second Night Out' aims to be the link between the homeless, the communities they come from, and the agencies that are able to offer help. The support includes helping rough sleepers to access emergency accommodation and healthcare, and finding long-term solutions to their homelessness. Members of the public are also being encouraged to play an active role by calling a helpline if they see a rough sleeper. The Salvation Army will then attempt to make contact with the rough sleeper and offer them support. In addition to The Salvation Army, the ‘No Second Night Out’ scheme has been developed with the Peasholme Charity, Arc Light, City of York Council, the Foundation, YACRO, Restore and Richmond Fellowship.

Pray: that the needs of the homeless in York and the many other city and town centres with initiatives by church and charities will bring relief to the needy. (Pr.14:21)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishop.launches.homelessness.initiative.in.york/31399.htm

The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched an appeal in aid of suffering Christians in the Holy Land. Dr Rowan Williams appealed to Anglicans and others to give generously towards the fund that will be used to support community projects aimed at helping to sustain vulnerable Christian communities. ‘We know our brothers and sisters there are suffering, and we don't always ask ourselves often enough what our response needs to be,’ he said. The funds will support Christian communities in the West Bank in particular. The appeal has been launched ahead of a conference next week on Christians in the Holy Land that is being hosted jointly by Dr Williams and the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols. Around 200,000 Christians live in Israel and the Palestinian Territories but many have left their homeland for a more secure life abroad. (See World article 6 below)

Pray: for our Christian brothers and sisters and God’s anointing on their work in building the Kingdom. (1Ch.22;10)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishop.launches.appeal.for.christians.in.holy.land/28288.htm

Justin Welby has used his first Easter sermon as archbishop of Canterbury to warn of the dangers of investing too much faith in frail and fallible human leaders, be they politicians or priests. Blind belief in the power of the individual to bring about true change in any sphere, he said, was simplistic and wrong, and led inevitably to disillusionment and disappointment. In a lengthy broadside against what he termed the "hero leader culture" – with its automatic expectations of quick, easy and gratifying solutions to even the most intractable problems – Welby said that only by acknowledging God and trusting in his power could human beings escape "cynical despair" and fear. "Human fallibility recognised, God's sovereignty trusted; these are also the only stable foundations for human beings in society," he said. "Setting people or institutions up to heights where they cannot but fail is mere cruelty."

Pray: for us all, including our leaders, to heed God's call and place our trust in His ways. (Ps.119:60)

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/31/archbishop-justin-welby-warns-against-trusting-leaders

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England has warned that vulnerable families may be hit worst by the Government’s welfare cuts. The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, outlined his concerns in a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith that has been seen by The Times. According to the newspaper, the Catholic leader spoke of the risk to thousands of poor families, who face being forced out of their homes as a result of cuts being made to housing benefit. He said that the loss of £93 a week for 50,000 families was a ‘significant sum for those struggling financially’. He warned that if media reports of 40,000 families being made homeless were correct ‘it would surely be a perverse result of policies aimed at reducing dependency of the ‘benefits culture’, since emergency support would immediately need to be put in place’.

Pray: for Government and Local authorities to be sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable as they plan financial cuts. (Lk.11:41)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishop.fears.impact.of.welfare.cuts.on.families/28317.htm

Archbishop Rowan Williams has spoken out against assisted suicide saying it is un-Christian and dangerous for society. To make his point heard, the spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion drew comparisons between the legalization of abortion and the possible legalization of euthanasia. According to The Telegraph, Williams told the General Synod earlier this week, ‘The default position on abortion has shifted quite clearly over the past 40 years’ and he lamented the impact that has had. Directly after abortion was legalized in the United Kingdom, abortion rates rose significantly. Abortion rates have now risen to about 200,000 a year. Williams fears a similar rise will occur in assisted dying rates if euthanasia is legalized. He also believes a rise in euthanasia holds grave consequences, saying, ‘To seek a change in the default position on the sanctity of life would be a disaster.’

Pray: for God’s guidance for all those considering any change in legislation and that the voice of the Church will be heard. (Ecc.8:8a)

More: http://global.christianpost.com/news/archbishop-of-canterbury-decries-possible-legalization-of-euthanasia-in-uk-68911/

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, preached last Friday at Westminster Abbey in a service to celebrate 200 years of church schools. He spoke of the importance of church schools in providing an environment for children to become good citizens. Preaching to a packed Westminster Abbey congregation of school children, teachers and church and education leaders, the Archbishop said that whether pupils were of the Christian faith or not church schools provided a vision for them ‘to see the biggest possible picture of humanity and the world they live in.’ Church school children from across England and Wales carried specially-made banners to celebrate the founding of the Church of England's National Society in 1811 offering education to the poor in every parish - 50 years before the state joined in. The Revd Jan Ainsworth, Chief Education Officer for the Church of England, said ‘Our task is to make sure our church schools find a place within the new system and to bring other schools into relationship with us.’

Pray: Thank God for the work of the National Society and pray for the future of our Church schools in an increasingly secular society. (Col.3:17)

More: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2219/church-schools-provide-biggest-possible-picture-for-good-citizenship

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has called for action to be taken to address UK poverty levels. He spoke out as churches up and down the country prepare to hold services marking ‘Poverty Sunday’ on Sunday 26 June. Writing for the Guardian newspaper the Archbishop said rising poverty was not necessarily linked to unemployment levels, stating there was a ‘significant problem in our country where even those who work hard are not able to put food on the table for their families’. The Archbishop said ‘I’d like to challenge people to call for justice for those living in poverty. Be generous not only with your wallet, but with your time, your words, your actions. We need to remember that poverty isolates people, reducing their ability to engage in social and community life.’

Pray: for a positive response this Sunday especially during the current economically difficult times. (1Sa.2:8)

More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2093/archbishop-calls-for-action-on-uk-poverty

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu has today called for urgent and lasting reform of the way care is funded for older people in England, stating that the system is no longer fit for purpose. Writing an open letter to the Prime Minister and his fellow Taxpayers in England, the Archbishop has asked the Government to consider a new social covenant to protect the most vulnerable in society. He said, ‘A truly caring and Christian society is one that sees older people, not as a growing and irrelevant burden, but as a rich treasure store of energy, experience and wisdom to be placed at the service of the young and of its future. Ensuring the conditions under which older people can make the special contribution of which they are capable is key to releasing this treasure. Providing a sustainable long term funding arrangement for the care of older people is a vital part of ensuring those conditions.

Pray: for a society that respects and honours its senior citizens and values their role in partnership with its younger members. (Job.12:12)

More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2278/archbishop-calls-for-urgent-action-on-funding-of-care-for-older-people-a-new-social-covenant