Displaying items by tag: respect

The owner of a card company has said Christmas is not just about religion after producing a range of cards which mock Christianity. One card reads, ‘Mary just needs to admit she slept with someone else’. Another one says, ‘Sorry your December birthday is overshadowed by a bloke who wore socks with sandals’. Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) said, ‘The cards are deeply offensive to many Christians and they highlight a fundamental hypocrisy, that Christianity is seen as fair game to mock, disparage and insult. As Christians we believe it is vital to exercise respect when sharing our views and listening to what others think. These cards are the opposite of respectful. Sadly, this happens every Christmas, which is such an important time in the Christian calendar. It is just another sad example of the kind of “under the radar” discrimination Christians around Europe are currently facing.’

Justin Welby has tweeted that it is easy to tell MPs how badly they are doing and abuse and threaten. Instead of that, he urged people to pray for them, because as they have to decide for us they deserve our respect. He said, ‘Let us pray for them, for a decision that has widespread support, and for a process that brings national agreement.’ He has told the House of Lords that ‘there is a requirement for national reconciliation’. He has also urged Remainers and Brexiteers to get together this weekend. The CofE wants to get people who disagree over membership of the bloc to ‘chat over a cup of tea and pray for our country and our future’.

How communities treat our elderly is a measure of worth and moral integrity. 300 people attended the first community consultation by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Adult children and spouses of those in care want compassionate staff, not harsh, poorly trained, temperamentally unsuited people working in the sector. Commissioner Lynell Briggs spoke of creating a culture of dignity and respect after hearing harrowing tales, including that of a woman's mother in care being regularly left for hours to lie in her own mess. When she died, the facility operator told the daughter that her mother had been ‘taking up too much of the staff's time’. Upon complaint, the regulator turned on the daughter. The consultation heard much first-hand evidence of elder abuse. Victoria’s assisted dying legislation comes into effect on 19 June. There are fears that no euthanasia or assisted dying scheme can effectively screen for elder abuse and coercion.