David Cameron speaking at a national parliamentary prayer breakfast has praised the role of Christianity in society, but an Oxford professor says many Christians feel marginalised. The Prime Minister told delegates at the prayer breakfast, held in Westminster Hall: “It is encouraging that Christianity still plays such a vital role in our national life. He said: “It has had an immense historic influence in the development of our culture and institutions and it motivates British people to wonderful acts of service and self-sacrifice. We are a country with a Christian heritage and we should not be afraid to say so.” John Lennox, an Oxford University maths professor pointed to a “vocal minority of influential minds” which he says mocks and ridicules the faith. He said: “Although we no longer burn the Bible in this country, a vocal minority of influential minds mock and ridicule it”.
Pray: for Mr Cameron's words to be reflected in the legislation and work of Parliament. (Eph.5:6)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/pm-praises-christianity-but-admits-there-are-challenges/
PM on collision course with Church
03 Aug 2012The Prime Minister David Cameron said he is absolutely determined that the Coalition Government would be ‘legislating for gay marriage in this parliament.’ He went on to say, ‘The promise I can make you is that this coalition government is committed both to changing the law and also working to change the culture and the Conservative party absolutely backs that. This is something that I personally feel very passionately about.’ In a separate development the Scottish Governmen intends to bring forward a bill introducing same-sex marriage in spite of strong opposition. The PM's claim of support from the Conservative party stands at odds with the public statements of various MPs, including Cabinet ministers who oppose the plans. On Friday leading Evangelical Christian groups released a written prayer for marriage' to be used throughout the nation. See: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christians-urged-to-pray-for-marriage/ The call for prayer has been jointly issued by CARE, Christian Concern, the Evangelical Alliance and The Christian Institute.
Pray: for the debate on marriage in society to be bathed in prayer - and for David Cameron to perceive God’s unique way forward. (Ps.119:18)
PM challenged to support prayer for Britain
11 Sep 2011In the midst of another wave of recession and record prison figures following the riots, and an onslaught of bad news in the media, one thousand leaders from across the UK will gather at Wembley Stadium's Great Hall next week to ask God to heal battered Britain. The Carry The Torch leaders prayer summit on September 17, coordinated by the Global Day of Prayer London, comes at a very strategic time as the UK faces several challenging social issues. GDOP London was even mentioned in Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons this week, when Member of Parliament for Enfield-Southgate David Burrowes said: ‘In the wake of the riots, Is this not a good time to support the forthcoming Global Day of Prayer, which in London is going to be taking place at Wembley Stadium?’ Prime Minister David Cameron responded by commending all combined efforts of communities in response to the riots.
Pray: for the prayer summit and that God will empower and inspire all those attending. (2Co.9:8)
Please will you pray earnestly as we enter a crucial period in the campaign to defend the true meaning of marriage? And can you encourage your church to join our national day of prayer for marriage on Sunday 3 February? Any day now, we expect the Government to introduce its Bill which seeks to redefine marriage. The Government may very well go on a charm offensive, telling the media that people who believe in traditional marriage have nothing to worry about. But we know that’s not the case. European judges have recently shown that people who believe in traditional marriage can be forced out of their jobs. On Tuesday 5 Feb, we expect MPs to have the first opportunity to debate and vote on the Bill. We don’t need an outright win at this stage – so don’t worry if the Bill passes this first hurdle – but it is important that as many MPs as possible vote “no”.
Pray: that marriage will not be redefined, and that real marriage will be promoted in society for the good of all. ( Mtt.18:19-20)
More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2013/01/27/please-pray-for-marriage-on-3-feb-as-campaign-reaches-crucial-period-2/
Plans to outlaw Christian street preachers
16 Nov 2013This Government is fast becoming the most authoritarian threat to our liberties of the modern era. The Home Secretary Theresa May is intent on outlawing anything that people may find 'annoying'. John Bingham writes in the Telegraph - Christian preachers, buskers and peaceful protesters could effectively be driven off the streets under draconian new powers designed to clamp down on anyone deemed ‘annoying’, according to a former Director of Public Prosecutions. Lord Macdonald QC said Theresa May, the Home Secretary’s plans for a new civil injunctions to replace Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (Asbos) amount to ‘gross state interference’ with people’s private lives and basic freedoms. The proposed safeguards to prevent abuse of the new system are ‘shockingly’ weak, he writes. Under proposals currently before Parliament, Asbos are to be scrapped and replaced with wide-ranging new orders known as Ipnas (Injunctions to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance). The draft bill was first read in February this year, and was less threatening to Christian values, see: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhaff/836/83605.htm
Pray: that the bill in its present format will not be enacted. (Ps.103:6)
More: http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/theresa-may-seeks-to-outlaw-christian.html
Plans for mega-mosque re-launched
13 Sep 2012An Islamic group has re-launched its proposals to build a 12,000 capacity mega-mosque at West Ham, close to the site of the Olympic Park. The proposed development includes a large mosque with 40 ft high minarets, a library and a visitor centre. Tablighi Jama'at, the Islamic sect behind the plans, continued to use the site after permission from Newham Council expired in 2006. The council issued an enforcement notice in 2010 but this was successfully appealed by the group. 5,000 people a week currently use the site for worship. A spokesman for Newham Council’s planning department said: ‘We are expecting another application by the end of this week and will then start a formal consultation process.’ But the plans have been opposed by campaigners who argue that Tablighi Jama’at is a ‘sect’ which preaches ‘separation and segregation.’ Two of the London 7/7 suicide bombers, Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer,reportedly prayed at a Tablighi mosque in West Yorkshire.
Pray: once again that those who have the authority to allow Tablighi Jama'at to build this mosque will be guided by God’s wisdom and not by those with extremist beliefs. (2Th.2:13-14)
Plan to weaken gambling laws come under fire
26 Jul 2012Betting shops should be allowed to install more high-stake gambling machines, according to a committee of MPs. The machines, dubbed the crack cocaine of the high street, allow players to place bets of up to £100 with prizes of up to £500. An editorial in one national newspaper said it was ‘appalled that a Conservative-led group of MPs is seeking to revive the liberalisers’ discredited agenda’. The report, by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, suggests that strict rules on gambling machines should be relaxed. The report, an investigation of the 2005 Gambling Act, recommends raising the number of high-stake (B2) machines in casinos from four to 20. And it says that local authorities should be free to allow betting shops to install more than the current maximum of four if it would prevent betting shops clustering together.
Pray: against this move to legalize further higher stakes gambling machines. (Pr.1:15)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/mps-plan-to-weaken-gambling-laws-come-under-fire/
Labour MP Chris Bryant successfully pushed for an emergency commons debate into calling for a public inquiry into phone hacking. The Speaker John Bercow granted the rare emergency debate which resulted in David Cameron agreeing to hold a full public enquiry into allegations against journalists hacking phones and subsequent police investigations. Pressed by Ed Miliband to conduct the full public inquiry, the Prime Minister agreed that it was important that the inquiries should be ‘public, independent, and have public confidence’ adding that the inquiries could not be started immediately because of the major police investigation currently under way, though it may be possible to start some of the work earlier. He said the two vital areas were why the original police inquiry failed to ‘get to the bottom of what happened’, and the behaviour, practices and ethics of journalists and media organisations.
Pray: for all that is hidden to be revealed. (Ps.45:4)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/06/david-cameron-phone-hacking-inquiry