Basic care for the elderly in their own homes in England is so bad it breaches human rights at times, an inquiry says. The home care review by the Equality and Human Rights Commission highlighted cases of physical abuse, theft, neglect and disregard for privacy and dignity. It said on many occasions support for tasks such as washing and dressing was ‘dehumanising’ and left people ‘stripped of self-worth’. The findings have added weight to calls for a complete overhaul of the system. Campaigners described the situation as ‘shameful’, while councils, which are in charge of providing such services, said without urgent reform services would just get worse. There are currently nearly 500,000 people who are getting council-funded support in their own homes.

Pray: that the elderly will be shown respect and honour in their old age. (Lev.19:32)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15836500

The UN's emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos is in Syria to discuss ways of getting aid to the estimated two million people caught up in the country's conflict. Diplomats warn that unless the violence eases it will be impossible to get emergency relief to the worst affected areas. Syria's PM Riad Hijab has spoken out for the first time since his defection last week – saying the regime controls no more than 30% of the territory, and he calls on the opposition abroad to unite and on the Syrian army to stand alongside its people. He said, ‘Syria is full of officials and military leaders who are awaiting the right moment to join the revolt.’ Baroness Amos said around 2.5m people across the country are now in need of assistance. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19262815

Pray: that God would implement His way forward through Baroness Amos and others working for justice and peace for the people of Syria. (Ps.5:7,8)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19252811

An Ofsted report last year stated the quality of RE lessons at many primary schools was ‘not good enough’ and ‘only six out of 10 schools are ‘satisfactory’ in teaching RE'. In response to this Barnabas Fund has launched a new resource pack to enrich teaching of Christianity within Religious Education called, ‘Assisting Christianity Teaching in Schools (ACTS)' and they are asking Christians to donate packs to local schools. Ofsted said ‘In many cases, the study of Jesus focused on an unsystematic collection of information about His life, with limited reference to His theological significance within the faith.’ The pack aimed at ages 7 to 11 covering basic Christianity, Bible reference, character development, the life and teachings of Jesus through children’s fiction and biographies, posters, maps, Bible guides, fact books, Bible story books, time lines, animated DVDs, activity workbooks and presentation slides.

Pray: that many churches will be able to step into this opportunity to meet educationl need. (Ps.34:11)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/barnabas.fund.seeks.to.boost.teaching.of.christianity.in.schools/28250.htm

Barclays and Coutts have announced that they will withdraw their support for Stonewall's Awards event unless the homosexual campaign group drops the 'Bigot of the Year' category. Coutts and Co stated: ‘We have advised Stonewall that we will be withdrawing our support of the awards unless they remove this category.’ Barclays' Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion stated: ‘Barclays does not support that award category either financially or in principle and have informed Stonewall that should they decide to continue with this category Barclays will not support this event in the future.’ However, according to a newspaper report today (Wed), http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/30/stonewall-bigot-award-banks-sponsorship?newsfeed=true Stonewall has indicated that it will not scrap the Award, even if that means losing sponsorship for the event. We give thanks to God for the many taking action by contacting these banks leading to these developments. Meanwhile, we still don't know where PwC and Google, two other big-name supporters of the event, stand on the issue.

Pray: that following the actions by the banks other sponsors will take a stand on this issue. (Pr.12:7)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/sexual-orientation/barclays-and-coutts-tell-stonewall-remove-%E2%80%9Cbigot-award%E2%80%9D

Metal theft from Baptist churches has risen to record levels this year. By the end of October Baptist Insurance had received 110 claims for theft of metal, already 25 more than it handled in its previous worst year. In 2008 it dealt with nearly 90 claims from the churches it insures. The total cost of the metal theft claims for 2011 stands at more than £160,000, again a record. The theft of metal from churches is linked directly to the price of lead, which rose sharply at the start of 2011. 'We have seen a huge increase in theft of metal,' said Katri Link, Baptist Insurance press officer. ' This year has been the worst year for metal theft, both in terms of number of claims and cost of claims. At the start of the year we saw the price of metal go up - the demand in the market from the Far East is high - and there is a direct correlation.' Churches everywhere have been suffering, although 2008 remains the worst year across all denominations.

Pray: for the protection of church buildings from this kind of crime and increase of police and community awareness. (Dt.5:19)

More: http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/news1.htm

Websites which fail to stop children accessing pornography will have payments to them blocked by banks and credit card companies as part of a government plan to help clean up the internet. Purveyors of explicit images will be starved of paying customers under the proposals, even if the material itself is not illegal. It is thought to be the first time banks have been asked effectively to police the internet in such a way. A ‘summit’ between financial organisations and the video services regulator will be held next month in an effort to finalise the agreement. The move is intended to address the growing exposure of under-aged children to legal but highly explicit internet pornography, which David Cameron has said is ‘corroding childhood’. Restricting such exposure is a priority for Downing Street. (See Prayer Alert 30-2013)

Pray: that this move will lead to a blocking of this form of pornography. (Col.3:23)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10322072/Banks-to-block-internet-pornsites.html

MPs want to block an American TV show, which entices drunken girls on the street to strip off and perform lewd acts in front of the cameras, from coming to the UK. The show, called Girls Gone Wild, is produced by a Californian company that also makes pornographic films. Its producers want to bring a tour bus to Britain. MPs from around the UK have called it ‘exploitative’ and want the Home Office to ban the production company from operating here. A spokesman for the show claims participants have a good time and the show is a ‘fun celebration of freedom and youthful expression’. Ian Mearns, MP for Gateshead, has tabled a motion in Parliament, which concludes ‘this is a form of demeaning, exploitative and casualized prostitution; and urges the Government to examine, as a matter of urgency, how it can protect young women and halt this attempt at sensationalist entertainment.’

Pray: for the Home Office to respond quickly to concerns from many people and to ban this type of activity. (Ro.13:13)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/ban-%e2%80%98girls-gone-wild%e2%80%99-filming-in-uk-say-mps/

A Science teacher who was barred from teaching after expressing his beliefs on sexual ethics in the classroom has lost his case in the High Court. Robert Haye (43) was dismissed from Deptford Green School after he commented that homosexual practice was a ‘sin’ when responding to questions posed by his Year 11 pupils. The Teaching Agency subsequently placed an indefinite bar on Mr Haye from teaching at any school or sixth form - a ban that was later upheld by Education Secretary Michael Gove. In the first case of its kind, the High Court rejected Mr Haye’s appeal against the ban stating that his comments were ‘inappropriate’ and that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. In delivering the judgment, Mr Justice King said that the school had a policy requiring teachers to present positive information on homosexuality ‘to enable students to challenge derogatory stereotypes and prejudice.’

Pray: for Christian teachers that they will be able to uphold their beliefs in the classroom without prejudice. (2Th.2:13)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/ban-on-teacher-upheld-in-name-of-british-tolerance

A judge has upheld a government decision to ban an advert calling on Christians to report their experience of marginalisation in the work place. Premier Christian Radio and its magazine publications division CCP Ltd had challenged the decision, made by the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (RACC), on the grounds that it restricted freedom of speech. The RACC claimed the advert had a political objective and broadcasting it would infringe provisions of the 2003 Communications Act that ban political advertising. At the London High Court, Mr Justice Silber upheld the ban and ruled the original RACC decision was both ‘rational and lawful’. Justice Silber said the advert tried ‘to make changes to society’ through its request for information from the public. He also concluded that the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's stance on the issue wasn't 'anti-Christian'. Premier's Chief Executive Peter Kerridge says he's disappointed by the ruling and believes it raises more questions than answers.

Pray: that the planned appeal would lead to a reversed decision. (Is.5:16)

More: http://www.premier.org.uk/news/current/Ban%20on%20Christian%20advert%20upheld.aspx