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Laws originally designed to protect basic freedoms are instead being used to strip British society of its Christian foundations while upholding the rights of minorities. The warning, from a prominent Church of England bishop, comes as part of a landmark case on religious freedom in Britain to be heard at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg next week. In a powerful submission to the judges, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, warns of a distorted “human rights agenda” which he likens to the atheist communist regimes in Eastern Europe which also suppressed Christianity by preventing public manifestations of faith. Unless basic Christian values are upheld, human rights will become “another inhuman ideology”, like the totalitarian regimes of the past, suppressing individuals, he says. The case is being brought by four workers including Shirley Chaplin, and Nadia Eweida, who were denied the right to wear a cross at work as a visible manifestation of their faith.
Pray: for this case and that the references to religious freedom in Human Rights will be reasserted (Jos.24:15)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9511836/Human-rights-agenda-is-new-totalitarianism-bishop-warns-judges.html
African churches in Britain are learning how to safeguard children's rights against exploitative pastors. Monday’s ‘Dispatches’ programme on Channel 4 highlighted the harm caused to children in the UK, mainly from an African background, by church pastors who are apparently labelling them as witches or as in some way ‘possessed’. Enormous strides have been made recently in building relationships with African churches, many of whose members do not speak English as their first language. To that end, the Child Protection Advisory Service has already trained more than 5,000 church leaders and volunteers in the optimum standards of child protection. The practices of a minority of ‘rogue’ churches and pastors are being challenged by African communities. This voice has been strengthened by community-led meetings and training for parents and young people. Specialist training has improved social work and health practitioners' knowledge and understanding of harmful cultural practices, which is critical to improved identification of abuse linked to spirit possession and witchcraft. Pray: for the complete eradication of child abuse linked to these ‘cultural practices’. (Dt.18:10) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jul/27/religion-witches-africa-london-exorcism
Hospital managers wanting to ban bedside Gideon Bibles have been attacked by religious leaders who warned that sick people will be deprived of spiritual comfort when it is most needed. The ban, at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, is intended to reduce levels of infectious superbugs such as MRSA on the grounds that the Bibles are hard to clean. They want all bedside areas in Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital kept tidy to stop deadly viruses breeding. Christian protesters said the holy texts pose a ‘minimal’ risk of infection and called for the plans to be scrapped. A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham said: ‘For many patients Bibles have been a source of comfort and support through uncertainty and illness. It is unsatisfactory that patients may now have to ask a nurse for a Bible’. Hospital officials are now consulting staff, patients and chaplains before bringing in the ban. Pray: that a way is found for these Bibles to remain to support for patients without any health risk. (Jn.1:1) More: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/189145/Bashing-for-hospitals-over-ban-on-the-Bible
11 hospital trusts are being placed in special measures because of major failings, the Government has announced. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the trusts, among 14 investigated for high death rates, had problems so entrenched that tough action was needed. He cited examples of staffing problems, poor care and weak leadership as he announced the move in Parliament. The other three trusts investigated were also told to make improvements following the review. But the Health Secretary said investigators had confidence the leadership at those trusts was capable of making the changes needed. As part of the process of special measures for the other 11, teams of external experts will be sent into the organisations to work with the senior management team. Regular updates on their progress will also be given, while unsafe practices have been stopped immediately. For example, two operating theatres have been closed at one site because of inadequate maintenance records.
Pray: for those charged with the task of achieving improvements to the NHS. (Ps.8:4)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23315869for-justice-and-peace
Staffing levels on hospital wards across England are unsafe and could put patient’s lives at risk, a group of senior nurses has warned. Wards across the country often have just one registered nurse looking after eight patients, The Safe Staffing Alliance (SSA) has said. There is a worry that this ratio could be regarded as the minimum acceptable of staffing when it in fact puts patients at risk, warned the alliance which was formed last summer. The SSA says research shows that when nurses are asked to look after more than eight patients there is an increased in risk of harm or death. The warning comes as a poll for the Sunday Mirror and the Nursing Standard journal found that more than three quarters of nurses believe a scandal similar to that in Mid-Staffordshire could happen again. In the poll of 2,000 nurses, 40% said on their last shift there were not enough staff to provide a safe level of care.
Pray: for the NHS to take such warning seriously and that all parties will work together to ensure high quality patient safety and care. (Col.3:23)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10051983/Hospital-staffing-levels-unsafe-senior-nurses-warn.html
New Wine and Christian Vision for Men have formed a new partnership aimed at stemming the continuing departure of men from the church. They are joining forces to host events specifically geared towards men who do not feel the Gospel or existing church models are for them. The initiative is being pioneered under the title ‘Iron Sharpens Iron’, and will bring together experts in evangelism and male spirituality to head up seminars and talks. The first event was held just before the New Year at the Soul Survivor Church in Watford and attracted an audience of 700 men. Last Saturday’s event in Manchester was also a full house. Rev Carl Beech, CVM Director, said: ‘Our movement exists to see millions of men in this country encounter the message of Jesus.‘We are hugely excited to be in partnership with New Wine to reach men. We both see reaching men as fundamental.'
Pray: for the success of this partnership in bringing the Gospel message to men in an appropriate and meaningful way. (Ro.1:17)
Share Jesus International, Hope and Fusion will be touring the UK this autumn to help churches stay at the heart of their communities. The Time of Our Lives tour is heading to Weymouth Prayer-house and New Covenant Church on 17 October, with more dates to be announced. It has been a bumper summer for the UK, with the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and Paralympics. The events saw thousands of Christians get stuck in to serve their local communities with free family events, festivals and live screenings. The tour will give churches advice on how they can create a 'rhythm of mission' throughout the year using key seasons in the church calendar. The organisations will share simple steps for engagement with some of the big national events on the horizon, including the Commonwealth Games in 2014, Hope 2014, Pentecost Festivals 2013 and 2014, and the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
Pray: that the Hope and Fusion tour will encourage the Church to link mission and community activities to large national events. (Gen.28:3)
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone disclosed that homosexual couples may be permitted to use ‘religious readings, music and symbols’. She said that the Government would now hold talks with those with a ‘key interest’ in the issue. Unlike in civil marriages, there is little leeway for heterosexual couples to stamp their own mark on the Church wedding vows in a Christian ceremony. Such heterosexual couples tying the knot at Church of England or Church in Wales weddings essentially make the same pledges to one another. Lord Tebbit said: ‘I wouldn’t want anything done to add to the pretence that a civil partnership is a marriage. That’s the key thing.’ Andrea Williams of Christian Concern for our Nation says: ‘It is vital to safeguard traditional marriage for future generations and for the benefit of society. When society has been described as ‘broken’, we need to restore a Christian moral framework and family values.’ Pray: that Marriage continues as a gift of God in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God. (Jer.29:6) More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=8133&this=Homosexuals_could_marry_in_religious_ceremonies
On 20 January a Christian counsellor will be summoned before a Professional Conduct Panel for giving therapy to a homosexual man who pretended to be a Christian. Lesley Pilkington, a counsellor with over 20 years of experience, is defending herself against a formal complaint by Patrick Strudwick, a homosexual journalist who secretly recorded two therapy sessions with her. He published an account of the sessions in The Independent and has since received the award of journalist of the year by the homosexual-rights organisation Stonewall. Those offering such counselling have been increasingly targeted by the homosexual lobby, many of whom do not accept that people can change their behaviour. But in 2006, the homosexual rights activist Peter Tatchell wrote in the Guardian: ‘Much as I would love to go along with the fashionable ‘born gay’ consensus (it would be very politically convenient), I can't. The evidence does not support the idea’.
Pray: that the charge will be dismissed on the basis of entrapment and natural justice. (Ac. 24:1)
An innovative college for homeless people in London, the first of its kind in the country, is attracting hundreds of students. Recovery College, set up in Southwark by St Mungo's charity, is providing courses which improve practical skills and help to rebuild confidence. There are no charges, no entry requirements and students help to design and deliver the course ranging from help with literacy and music to raising self-esteem. There are courses for tough lives on the streets - overdose awareness, first aid and how to feed yourself on a small budget. They include what volunteers can offer, such as singing lessons arranged through the Guildhall School of Music. Each night the charity looks after about 1,700 people in London and the South East of England - and most of these will previously have been sleeping rough. Cold weather brings homelessness into sharper focus. The makeshift bedding around the warmth of buildings seems more brutal and isolated as temperatures fall.
Pray: that this initiative will lead to many needy being equipped for life beyond homelessness. (Ps.9:18)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21236680