Cross community campaigners for social cohesion in Newham have condemned the decision of a government planning inspector to allow Islamic group, Tablighi Jamaat, permission to breach planning laws. In a ruling, the inspector authorised the radical group to continue using the current temporary mosque on the site of their proposed Olympic mega-mosque at West Ham. Local opposition association Newham Concern say the decision will provide succour to Islamic radicals. ‘For years Tablighi Jamaat have deliberately flouted building regulations and planning laws’, said Alan Craig, Newham Concern’s campaign director and former leader of the Opposition on Newham Council for the Christian Peoples Alliance party: ‘After much delay and procrastination Newham Council at last took the right action and told them to move off site. But the Planning Inspector has overturned this and apparently decided that illegality pays. They can now stay on site with temporary planning permission for a further two years.’ (See Prayer Alert 06-2011)

Pray: that this decision will be over-ruled. (Pr.29:26)

More: http://www.cpaparty.org.uk/?page=news&id=383

In an article in the British Medical Journal two medical ethicists said doctors should be allowed to kill disabled or even unwanted newborn babies because they are ‘not actual persons’. They argue that parents should have the choice to end the lives of their children shortly after they are born because, at this stage, they are morally irrelevant’ and have ‘no moral right to life.’ And, ‘Infanticide is no different morally to abortion since both a foetus and a newborn baby were only ‘potential persons’. Rev Joanna Jepson said the article highlights ‘false ethical assumption made by many pro-choice groups, that abortion was morally justified because the child was still in the womb.’ Lord Alton said it is profoundly shocking to see how opinion-formers within the medical profession have ditched the professional belief of the healer to uphold the sanctity of human life for this impoverished and inhumane defence of child destruction.

Pray: for people to recognise the distorted thinking in the justification of post-natal abortion and to reject it completely. (Mt.19:14)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/christians.reject.afterbirth.abortion/29416.htm

A GMC Investigatory Committee has decided to continue to pursue the case against Dr Richard Scott, the Kent GP accused by a patient of sharing his faith in a one-to-one consultation, despite the witness not being at the hearing and showing an ‘unconditional disinclination to attend’. The case has now been temporarily adjourned by the GMC's Investigatory Committee whilst another attempt is made to get the complainant to attend. With no witness at the hearing this week, Dr Scott was not able to cross-examine and challenge the evidence of the complainant on what was allegedly said between the two individuals in the consulting room. Concerns have been raised that without the chance to cross-examine, any doctor would be made extremely vulnerable to allegations. (See Prayer Alert 21-2011)

Pray: for Dr Scott and pray that the GMC would be granted true wisdom. (Ps.89:21-22)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/gmc-medical-council-case-dr-richard-scott

An “unhealthy ‘me, me, me’ culture” which grew up in the 1980s is still “poisoning” community life in Britain, according to the Archbishop of York. In a reference to Margaret Thatcher, Dr John Sentamu said: “There is such a thing as society, and we all have our small part to play in making things better. We are interdependent beings living in community.” Dr Sentamu made his remarks as he launched a new book, “John Sentamu's Faith Stories” which follows 20 people who have made major contributions to their local communities. He said people should follow their example and “stop moaning and start doing something positive”. He added: “The unhealthy “me, me, me” culture that grew up in 1980s, has threatened to poison our relationships and our sense of community ever since. “The only way to build a wholesome society with a future, is for people to live differently, unselfishly and with hope in their hearts.

Pray: for all of us to recognise our role in a caring society. (Gal.5:14)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9873943/Me-me-me-culture-of-the-1980s-poisoning-society-warns-Sentamu.html

Married couples will be in the minority in little more than a generation, a new report has claimed. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found marriage was increasingly the preserve of the middle and upper classes, while only about 50 per cent of new parents on low incomes were married this rose to nearly 80 per cent for couples earning £21,000 By 2050, families headed by married couples will be in the minority, according to the think tank set up by Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary. The CSJ criticised the Government’s ‘failure’ to do more to tackle family breakdown, saying it was ‘deeply dismayed by the lack of progress’ since the Coalition was formed in 2010. Tim Loughton, until recently Minister for Children, said ‘the Government needs to get family policy back on track and ‘rediscover’ its commitment to family stability. ‘We fail to do so at our peril, socially and economically.’

Pray: for the ‘family’ as a unit and for the Government to provide much stronger support for families. (Pr.18:22)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9593369/Married-couples-will-be-in-the-minority-by-2050.html

The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has praised the institution of marriage, and warned of the danger of it being hidden away ‘for fear of offending or sounding self-righteous’. Writing in the Telegraph, in advance of the Royal Wedding, the Archbishop also warned that more and more people seem to be wary of the commitment which marriage requires. Commenting on the growing trend of cohabitation before marriage, the Archbishop said it is common in these times and, quoting his daughter, people ‘want to test whether the milk is good before they buy the cow.’ He said: ‘Discovering the depth and enduring meaning of love is the goal and prize of every relationship. Marriage in Britain, whether in church or a register office, is a pact for life made between one man and one woman’. Dr Sentamu said he had married many cohabiting couples and emphasised that married couples are more likely to stay together than cohabiting couples.

Pray: that marriage would once more be acknowledged as central to family life. (Heb.13:4)

More: http://www.ionainstitute.org/index.php?id=1436

Current marriage tax break proposals could be seen as an ‘empty gesture’ and should be paid at a much higher rate, a group of faith leaders and political activists have warned. In a letter to the Sunday Telegraph, politicians have been urged to back the transferable tax allowance as ‘a sensible first step’ to counter the ‘devastating trend of family breakdown’. But the leaders, Bishop Nazir-Ali, Lord Singh, director of the network of Sikh organisations, Robert Woollard, chairman of Conservative Grassroots and others, called for all political parties to ensure the tax break is ‘meaningful’ by making it worth more than the ‘low level’ of £150. The letter said the introduction of the marriage tax break is ‘long overdue’. The Conservatives promised to bring in a transferable tax allowance, which would save married couples £150 when one spouse stays at home, in their election manifesto in 2010.

Pray: that the government will look closer at the decisions to bring in a transferable tax allowance. (Pr.2:9)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/marriage-tax-break-at-150-not-enough-say-faith-leaders/

Marriage is not dead but a force for good in society, and something which churches should do their bit to support, according to the secretary of state for work and pensions. Speaking at the launch of Marriage Week UK on Tuesday, the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP called marriage ‘our most basic institution’ and said it was now an important political topic not to be shied away from. He said: ‘The financial costs of family breakdown are incredibly high. But what is most painful to see is the human cost - the wasted potential, the anti-social behaviour, and the low self-esteem.’ Speaking at the launch at the House of Commons, Mr Duncan Smith added: ‘The commitment of two people to put selfish interest to one side for the sake of each other and the children they raise is simply the very best of us as human beings’.

Pray: for all the activities promoting Christian marriage during this Marriage Week. (Heb.13:4)

More: http://www.eauk.org/articles/marriage-week-2011.cfm

A new poll has found that most young people do not plan to get married before starting a family. Their thinking has been put down to uncertainty over the cost of living and the current job market and reflects a very different understanding of settling down to that of their parents. 54 per cent say they do not expect to be married before having their first child, according to the research by Santander Insurance. Only 45 per cent believe they will own their own home before having children and only four in ten expect to begin parenthood with a secure job or a regular income. Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, commented: “The link in people’s minds between marriage and having children has been severed. This is not for the best. Research, such as that done by the Centre for Social Justice, has repeatedly shown that family breakdown is far less likely when parents are married.

Pray: for a wider understanding of the benefits of marriage particularly in family life. (Eph.5:33)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/family/marriage-not-a-priority-for-prospective-parents

On Wednesday, the House of Lords voted against a motion which would have vetoed the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill by 390 votes to 148. Whilst this is disappointing, there are grounds for hope as we approach Committee Stage. Many Peers said that although they had serious misgivings about the Bill they did not feel able as members of an unelected House to vote it down at this stage. However, some of these Peers indicated support for amendments and did not write off the possibility of voting against the Bill at a later stage. Far from being the end of the battle in the Lords, Wednesday's vote was just the beginning. We were very grateful for some excellent speeches on Monday and Tuesday. Please click on ‘More’ to see an analysis of the vote and excerpts from some of the speeches given by Peers supporting the current legal definition of marriage.

Pray: for the ongoing work of parliament as it seeks support for amendments. (Job.12:12)

More: http://www.care.org.uk/public-affairs-news/marriage-bill-moves-to-committee-of-the-whole-house?utm_source=impactdirect&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=id070613