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The Protestant Federation of France General Assembly on 21 and 22 January in Paris examined the issues chaplains face in hospitals, prisons, and the military and urged member churches to take steps to support chaplains' work. A key concern was the tensions in some sectors between Protestant chaplains and those from the Catholic Church, as the number of practicing Catholics is declining andtheir Church is losing its traditionally dominant position in the area of chaplaincy. 64 percent of French people identify themselves as Catholics, but less that 10 percent practice their religion. three percent identify as Protestants. Protestant Hospital Chaplains visit patients, counsel the dying and contribute to ethics policies as they work alongside representatives of the Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faiths. They are hoping for greater teamwork. ‘Spirituality is a great part of health-care, and we want to put in place meetings between the national chaplaincy services’ said a spokesperson for the Assembly.
Pray: for God’s blessings to be poured over the hospitals, prisons, the military and wherever people are in stress, pain and trauma, that they might turn and focus on the living God. (Ps.3:8)
The French Prime Minster has told his parliament that marriage will be redefined and same-sex adoption brought in by the ‘first half’ of 2013. Under the previous administration redefining marriage was voted down, but the recent elections saw a change in power with the Socialist Party now holding a majority. Newly-elected President François Hollande, of the Socialist Party, made an election pledge to redefine marriage. In the UK the Westminster Government is ploughing on with plans to redefine marriage – despite it not being in any of the major parties’ manifestos. There has also been massive opposition to the plans. The French Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, told parliament: ‘In the first half of 2013, the right to marriage and adoption will be open to all couples, without discrimination’. Last year members of France’s lower house voted 293 to 222 in favour of traditional marriage.
Pray: that the traditional form of marriage will once again be upheld. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/france-wants-to-redefine-marriage-by-next-year/
French President Francois Hollande has said that he is taking threats made by al-Qaeda against his country seriously. He was responding on Tuesday to threats made by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in a video message posted on April 25. ‘We are taking seriously the threat by AQIM,’ Hollande said in Paris, adding that despite considerable losses inflicted on Islamists in Mali, ‘the terrorist threat has not disappeared’. So we believe we must continue the operation in Mali for as long as it takes, even if we reduce our presence, and stay vigilant around Mali to continue the fight against terror.’ So we believe we must continue the operation in Mali for as long as it takes, even if we reduce our presence, and stay vigilant around Mali to continue the fight against terror’. Hollande said he had ordered measures to protect French installations abroad.
Pray: that those who threaten peace will be thwarted. (Act.4:29)
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/05/201357201852923861.html
France has banned child beauty pageants in a bid to curb the ‘hyper-sexualisation’ of children. The new law decrees it illegal for anyone to organise a beauty pageant for under 16-year-olds, with a penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine equivalent to £25,000. French Senator Chantal Jouanno, who authored the report ‘Against Hyper-Sexualisation: A New Fight For Equality’, proposed an amendment to an equality bill introduced by women’s minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem. Senator Jouanno said: ‘Let’s not let our daughters think from such a young age that they will be judged according to their appearance. Let’s not let commercial interest impact on social interest’. The amendment received 196 votes for and 146 against. But an amendment pushing for better regulation of child models was rejected. Senator Jouanno was said to be particularly concerned about a Vogue magazine shoot in 2010 which featured provocative pictures of a ten-year-old girl.
Pray: that this move will lead to children being freed from sexualisation. (1Pet.3:3-4)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/france-bans-childrens-beauty-contests-to-curb-sexualisation/
Christians who lost employment tribunals for discrimination in the workplace took their fight to the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday. Their stories centre around whether religious principles have a place in the modern British workplace. When civil partnerships were legalised in 2004, Marriage registrar Miss Lillian Ladele refused to conduct them saying it was against her religious beliefs. Relationship councillor Mr McFarlane was sacked by Relate after objecting to giving sex therapy guidance to same-sex couples. Ms Eweida went home from a job with British Airways after she refused to conceal her silver cross necklace which breached uniform policy. Former nurse Mrs Chaplin was also asked not to display her cross necklace by the NHS Trust because the necklace breached health and safety guidelines. Mrs Chaplin had worn the cross necklace on the wards for 30 years.
Pray: that the judgement of the European Court will be led by the Holy Spirit and not by man. (Pr.1:5)
Europe’s first Christian Share Index was launched lat week by Stoxx Limited, a global index provider and creator of the leading European equity indices. The Stoxx Europe Christian Index will measure the performance of 533 companies selected from the Stoxx Europe 600 Index according to the values and principles of the Christian religion. According to The Financial Times, companies in the index include HSBC, Nestlé, Vodafone, Royal Dutch Shell and GlaxoSmithKline. It has been formed to enable investors to participate in the performance of European companies which are compliant with Christian moral and social doctrines. ‘With the launch of the index, Stoxx acknowledges the growing number of Christian market participants who wish to invest in accordance with their religious beliefs,’ said Hartmut Graf, CEO. ‘The new index provides a broad representation of European companies who act responsibly on an ethical, environmental, social and economical level; and are therefore inline with Christian values.’
Pray: for Christians everywhere that they will be wise with their finances as thay seek God’s guidance. (Pr.1:5)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/first.christian.share.index.launched/25798.htm
The Samson Committee investigating the abuse of children in state care in the Netherlands since 1945 is accusing the entire system - from the government to the foster care service to care homes themselves - of failing to do enough to protect children against sexual abuse. In releasing its final report on Monday, tellingly titled ‘Surrounded by care, still not safe‘, the committee said it would send 42 sexual abuse files to public prosecutors for consideration - this out of the 800 claims it received in the two years since it’s been investigating sexual abuse cases of children in care. ‘We don’t have any insight into the criteria they used for sending cases to the public prosecutor, but they must have reason to think they can still make cases after all these years,’ says Jolien Verweij, spokesperson for the Dutch NGO Defence for Children International. ‘But any chance to do something is good.’
Pray: that the care system in the Netherlands would be upgraded to enable it to meet the needs of those they serve. (1Pe.5:2)
More: http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/final-report-care-system-failed-protect-dutch-children-0
Hundreds of delegates from 154 countries will meet in Krakow, Poland, not to discuss politics or finances, but to discuss Jesus. Three or four student and leader delegates from each of 150 student movements in the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) meet every four years as part of the week-long World Assembly. IFES was founded in 1947 as a way to gather student ministries together into one world mission. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is just one of the dozens of student movements involved in IFES and represented at the World Assembly this week. ‘Everybody goes home with new ideas and strategies for ministry and evangelism on their campuses,’ explains Grahm Bob Grahmann, director of the IFES ‘So the end result of this World Assembly will be more, and better, and deeper, and more effective evangelism to students in universities around the world.’
Pray: that this conference would be led by God’s Spirit to be more effective in evangelising university students. (Jn.17:23)
This summer, some 100,000 young people from around the world – mostly between the age of 15 and 30 – will gather outside a village in the middle of France. They've been arriving here since June, to pitch tents, strike up friendships, enjoy plenty of music, and they'll continue to come until September. But this isn't some Gallic Glastonbury – it's a Christian community, and the crowds will sing psalms, not pop songs. At the heart of Communauté de Taizé, named after the small village near the site, are over 100 monks, who live together very simply, in a life devoted to prayer, singing and silence. Drawn from over 30 different countries, the community is ecumenical, with Catholics and Protestants worshipping together. When asked why so many young people come, Brother David said ‘It's not to tell them what they should or should not do, it's to let them have that time of meeting with themselves, with others, and with Christ.’
Pray: for the Taizé community and the many visitors that they may learn more about and grow closer to Christ. (1Co.14:26)
Faith leaders gathered in Brussels have expressed their readiness to work with the European Union institutions to promote fundamental freedoms. This was the seventh in a series of annual meetings aimed at keeping dialogue open with churches and communities of conviction. The President of the European Council spoke of humanity’s shared historic march toward freedom and justice, values rooted in the European Treaties. It was underscored that cooperation with religious groups in an effective EU neighbourhood policy has a vast scope — from education and health to rebuilding post-conflict societies.
Pray: for the continued cooperation and understanding between religious groups. (Ac.2:44)
More: http://www.euronews.net/2011/05/30/eu-faith-leaders-reconfirm-cooperation/