A Christian doctor who was sacked because he emailed a prayer to his colleagues has claimed hospital managers targeted him as an NHS whistleblower after he lost an appeal against his dismissal. Consultant paediatrician Dr David Drew, 65, sent a 16th-century prayer by St Ignatius Loyola around his department in April 2009, hoping it would be motivational. Dr Drew, who had an unblemished 37-year career in the NHS, was told to ‘keep his religious beliefs to himself’ by a review panel, which was called to investigate his conduct in March 2010. After refusing to accept their findings, he was sacked from Walsall Manor Hospital, where he worked as a clinical director. Today the father-of-four, who lives in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, with his wife Janet, 63, said the email had been used as a smokescreen to push him out of his post. (See also Prayer Alert 14-2012)

Pray:    for Dr Drew and pray that his faith will stand firm against those who wish to get him dismissed. (Ps.119:84)

More:    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2431814/Christian-doctor-sacked-emailing-prayer-colleagues-cheer-loses-appeal-dismissal.html

A Christian doctor is suing his employers for unfair dismissal after being sacked following his sending of a motivational prayer e-mail to colleagues and a Christmas text message to one individual. Dr David Drew’s employers at Walsall Manor Hospital complained that his behaviour was inappropriate after he e-mailed a prayer by St Ignatius Loyola to colleagues for motivation. The employment tribunal in Birmingham heard that his bosses also complained that he sent a Christmas text message to a colleague which read ‘have a peaceful Christmas’. Dr Drew started having problems with his employers after he complained about patient care at Walsall Manor Hospital. He claims that his employers responded to his complaints by accusing him of forcing his religion on colleagues. He was told that unless he agreed to the recommendations and accept them without questioning then he should resign. The hearing continues and is expected to last for three weeks.

Pray: for all involved in this dispute that they will recognise that Dr Drew has not acted inappropriately. (Ps.103:6)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/christian-doctor-sacked-following-prayer-e-mail

Christians are being unfairly treated for expressing their beliefs, campaigners have complained, after a housing manager was demoted for speaking out on gay marriage on his own Facebook page. Adrian Smith, a Christian, posted in his own time a response to a news story on the Government’s plans to allow gay weddings in church. The posting, which was only available to his friends, questioned whether the plans were ‘an equality too far’. Mr Smith said the comments, posted on a page which identified the user as a housing association employee, were against equal opportunities policy. Mr Smith is threatening to take the housing association to court claiming damages equivalent to his lost pay. Mike Judge, a spokesman for the Christian Institute, said it is the latest case of a public servant being targeted for their beliefs.

Pray: for Mr Smith and others like him as they stand up for their faith when challenged. (1Cor.16:13)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8844445/Christian-demoted-for-views-on-gay-weddings.html

Christian pharmacists fear they could face the sack if they refuse to hand out morning-after pills, under new guidelines issued by a medical regulator. Many pharmacists have conscientious moral objections to dispensing emergency contraception and have in the past refused to do so because the drugs work by preventing a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb. Some chemists and lawyers say the guidance circulated last week by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) effectively strips them of their right to object on religious grounds to handling such drugs. Many Christian, Jewish and Muslim pharmacists object to the drugs. The guidance will also compel pharmacists to make drugs available for IVF, to which some object because of the high numbers of embryos created then destroyed in the process. For the first time under the guidelines, pharmacists are told that their right to conscientious objection on religious grounds is secondary to the contractual demands of employers, such as the NHS.

Pray: for all those who stand up for their faith that God would give them the ability to stand firm. (2Cor.1:21)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8688899/Christian-chemists-will-be-forced-out-under-morning-after-pill-rules.html

The Archbishop of Canterbury is warning the payday lender Wonga he plans to force it out of business. He says the Church of England will compete against it, by putting credit unions on its sites. Payday lenders give short-term loans but they come with high interest rates, and are often blamed for leading people into more debt. The Archbishop's comments have received widespread support from within the Christian community. Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children's Society, said: "The Archbishop of Canterbury should be applauded for taking such a bold stance to tackle the scourge of high cost payday loan companies. "Many charge eye-watering rates of interest and drag people into a vicious spiral of debt and despair." John Kirkby the founder of Christians Against Poverty. He told Premier's Marcus Jones on the News Hour it's great to see the Archbishop speaking out.

Pray: for all measures that will bring an end to usery style loans to break the vicious circle of debt. (Ez.22.12)

More: http://www.premier.org.uk/news/current/Christian%20charities%20support%20Archbishop%20over%20payday%20loans.aspx

Fears about restrictions for Christian campaigning have not been eased by Government changes to the controversial Lobbying Bill, critics have warned. The Electoral Commission, the body that will have to enforce the new rules, said that a key Government amendment ‘does not materially reduce the scope of what is covered by the Bill’. Ros Baston, a solicitor specialising in election law, said the Bill still catches issues-based campaigning and some of the amendments actually result in ‘new uncertainties’. Several faith groups, including the Evangelical Alliance, World Jewish Relief, Muslim Council of Britain and others, have raised fears that the Bill could have 'unintended consequences'. An open letter to David Cameron and Nick Clegg warns that the Bill will ‘curtail’ legitimate campaigns. It said: ‘We are concerned that this Bill does not adequately safeguard the activities of religious organisations and that there is a very real risk that non-biased political activity will be captured by the resultant Act.'

Pray: that the concerns shared following the changes to the Bill will be listened to and safeguards accepted. (Pr.12:15)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christian-campaigners-still-in-danger-from-lobbying-bill/

A Christian movement to end poverty has spoken out against tax evasion by wealthy people.The group Micah Challenge is calling upon church leaders to hold the super-rich to account after a report by the Tax Justice Network suggested that up to $20trillion was being siphoned off by the world's wealthiest people into tax havens. The movement says that Jesus would have hit out at such excessive greed, especially at a time when millions remain in extreme poverty and without access to basic health care. The campaigners are urging churches the world over to raise their concerns with politicians. ‘Once again
the poor are paying the price of the greed of the wealthiest,’ said Head of Campaigns Amanda Jackson. ‘The money being siphoned off to tax havens is more than the American and Japanese GDPs put together. Yet millions of the world's poorest are suffering. It is so wrong.’

Pray: that greed will not govern the hearts of men and for the poor to be treated fairly. (LK.12:15)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.campaigners.hit.out.tax.evasion/30336.htm

The annual fundraising event Christian Aid Week has got off to a ‘tremendous start’, say supporters in churches and communities across the country. Christian Aid is a UK-based churches' international relief, development and advocacy agency. It acts on behalf of over 40 denominations and church bodies - but its ethos is to carry out anti-poverty work alongside partners of all faiths and none, in many parts of the world. Its emphasis is on ground-up solutions. In 2011, Christian Aid Week is aiming to raise more than £13 million for poor communities across the globe. Around 200,000 people are expected to take part all over Britain, going door-to-door collecting, joining in with sponsored events, holding novel fundraisers or simply donating online. Many Christian Aid supporters also try to raise awareness as well as funds - though in an economically constrained environment, bringing money to the cause obviously remains vital. For information and resources follow link: See 

Pray: that people would be generous in proportion to their resources. (Pro.22:9)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14775