An attempt to exempt Catholic adoption agencies from gay rights laws failed this week when the leaders of the three main political parties united to deny peers a vote. An amendment tabled by four senior members of the House of Lords to Harriet Harman's Equality Bill aimed to overturn a regulation banning the religious adoption agencies from rejecting gay couples and cohabitees as adopters and foster parents. Led by Baroness Williams of Crosby, the peers claimed their move had the support of the majority of the House. But the amendment was dropped after the ‘usual channels’ - the leaders of the major parties in the Lords and their whips - ruled that it could not be moved on a technicality. Baroness Williams said she felt that the abuse scandal convulsing the Church in Ireland and Germany had undermined the support her amendment might have generated. (See Prayer Alert 1210)
Pray: for the freedom of charities to organise themselves in such a way that their activities are consistent with their religious beliefs when clearly providing public services. (Ro.12:2)
More: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/articles/a0000780.shtml
Teaching of Christianity in schools
31 Oct 2010
The former Bishop of Rochester is urging Education Secretary Michael Gove to restore the teaching of Christianity in Britain's schools. Writing in Standpoint magazine, the Rt Rev Nazir-Ali welcomed the move to end what he calls Britain's ‘collective amnesia’ about its Christian heritage. He said Christianity was the most significant link in the story of Britain and that education should look at the vital role played by reformers in the struggle for the freedoms he says shaped the British nation and are now under threat. He wants to see schools teach children about the link between Britain today and its foundations in the Judeo-Christian traditions of the Bible. He particularly mentions the role of Christians in abolishing the slave trade, introducing universal education, improving working conditions, and caring for the sick. ‘I am glad that the Minister is setting out to remove our collective amnesia. This will also have to mean the rediscovery of our spiritual and moral identity’. Pray: for the renewal of Christian faith and values in all aspects of public life including our schools. (Isa.41:1) schools/26959.htm
Teachers to ask 11-year-olds if they are gay
05 Apr 2011
A report commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) recommends that children should be asked if they are homosexual from the age of 11 and that records should be kept of those unsure about or ‘questioning’ their sexuality. The report was conducted in an effort to encourage teachers, nurses and youth workers to start monitoring the development of young people’s sexual identity. The aim of the monitoring would be to ‘shed light on the complexities of young people’s developing sexual orientation and how this may disadvantage them.’ The report suggested that it is both ‘practically and ethically’ possible to interview children as young as 11 about their sexual orientation, if necessary without parental consent. The report has prompted concern in some quarters. Pray: for the authorities and there seeming obsession with sexuality especially with the young. (1Cor.6:12&6:18) More:http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/sexual-orientation/equality-commission-wants-teachers-to-ask-children-if-they-are-homos
Teachers say bad behaviour in schools rising
29 Mar 2013A survey of teachers suggests a rise in the number of pupils with emotional, behavioural and mental health issues. Over half (56%) of the 844 teachers surveyed said behaviour in the classroom had deteriorated in the last five years. 62% said problematic behaviour was worse now than two years ago. The survey was carried out by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. A majority of those surveyed said they had been forced to deal with at least one challenging or disruptive pupil in the last year. Over three-quarters (77%) reported verbal aggression, followed by physical aggression (57%). Two in five (41%) said they had experienced bullying, while just under a quarter (23%) reported students breaking or ruining the belongings of others. Teachers reported being spat at, kicked, punched and scratched by pupils. Nearly 80% of teachers felt the rise in bad classroom behaviour was down to a lack of boundaries being set by parents in the home.
Pray: that the lack of discipline within schools will be overcome and the authority of the staff and parents will lead to an improvement in behaviour.(Job.38.33)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/articleteachers.say.bad.behaviour.in.schools.rising/31938.htm
Teachers risk facing the sack
07 Feb 2013Over 40,000 teachers have said they would risk being dismissed from their jobs by refusing to teach children about samesex ‘marriages’ in schools. According to a new ComRes poll released this week, one in ten teachers said they would refuse to cover same-sex ‘marriages’ in their lessons, while 74,000 - one in six - said they ‘wouldn’t be happy about it.’ Commenting on the survey, Campaign Director for the Coalition for Marriage, Colin Hart, said: ‘As this recent poll shows, tens of thousands of teachers face the real prospect of being disciplined, or sacked, over the Government’s proposals to redefine marriage, creating a poisonous atmosphere in every staffroom in every school.’
Pray: for this situation and others that are likely to occur following Tuesday's vote that these potential consequences will not materialise.
Teachers attack ‘rebranded’ sexism
02 Apr 2013Teachers are warning that young people are being damaged by an over-sexualised culture. The National Union of Teachers annual conference heard claims that sexism is being “rebranded” as something fashionable and mainstream. Delegates criticised the “raunch culture” of lap-dancing clubs and pole dancing saying it can have a “disastrous effect on the self-image of girls”. They said that old-fashioned sexism has not gone away, but has been re-invented into something that appears to be “ironic or empowering”.There are concerns that pupils are growing up in a culture where pornographic images are widely available, cosmetic surgery is advertised and there is a “fixation” with staying slim. Teachers fear this can undermine young women’s self-confidence and contribute to problems such as eating disorders and anxiety about their appearance. This can disrupt both girls’ school work and their social life, say teachers.
Pray: for the creeping tide of the sexualisation of young people to be turned back. (Th4:3-5)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21990043
Schools will be within their statutory rights to dismiss staff that wilfully fail to use stories or textbooks promoting same-sex weddings, it is claimed. Aidan O’Neill, a senior QC and expert on religious freedom and human rights, also warned that parents who object to gay marriage being taught to their children will have no right to withdraw their child from lessons. In a
report he said that any decision to redefine marriage would have far-reaching consequences for schools, hospitals, foster carers and public buildings. The most serious impact is likely to be felt in the church where vicars and priests conducting religious marriage ceremonies could be taken to court for refusing to carry out a gay wedding, he said. The conclusions - in legal advice commissioned by the Coalition for Marriage - come amid continuing fall-out over Government plans to tear up the centuries-old law on marriage.
Pray: for all those who are being challenged for their faith in the workplace. (Mt.10:20)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9531803/Teachers-face-sack-for-refusing-to-endorse-gay-marriage.html
Teacher probed over her gay marriage views
23 Jun 2013A Christian teacher from London is under investigation because she refused to give a lesson telling children that all opponents of gay marriage are homophobes. The unnamed teacher didn’t think that it was a “fair characterisation of the debate”, she says, but is now under investigation at her school. She is also under suspicion for being a member of a church, and a colleague is demanding to know whether it impacts her job. ’The head teacher investigated the incident and concluded there was no case to answer. Another colleague, who is also a union rep, then followed up the complaint, and has formally raised additional concerns about the teacher's Christian beliefs and her membership of a church demanded an investigation into whether membership of the church had any negative impact on her job as a teacher. That investigation process is currently underway.
Pray: for the teachers currently being investigated and that this case will very quickly be rejected as spurious and that there is no case to answer. (Matt.5:10)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/video-teacher-probed-over-her-gay-marriage-views/