‘Atheism seen as cool’ - Archbishop Rowan Williams
The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted the Church of England is struggling to counter the image of atheism as ‘the new cool thing’. Dr Rowan Williams argued it has become difficult for the Church to convey its message because of the popularity of non-believers such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. He said attempts to reverse the decline in worshippers had begun but that there will be ‘no quick fix’. His remarks came despite new research, released by the Roman Catholic Church, suggesting that the Pope's visit to Britain a year ago has brought a lasting rise in the level of spiritual and religious feeling in the country. The archbishop said that Christian witness is the strongest argument the Church has to rebut the claims of atheists such as Dawkins. He said the evolutionary biologist would struggle to explain the growth of the Church in Zimbabwe, for example, in the face of constant brutality and harassment.
Pray: that the testimony of believers would lead to an understanding that rebuts atheism. (Mt.24:14)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8770929/Atheism-is-cool-says-Archbishop-Rowan-Williams.html
Dale Farm Travellers - background story
Dale Farm near Wickford in rural Essex is one of the largest Gypsy and Traveller sites in Europe. Ray McKay, spokesman for Basildon council said travellers would get more sympathy if they were poor, but they aren’t. The Bishops of Brentwood, Chelmsford, and other Catholic and Anglican clergy have all visited Dale Farm. There is a small cabin there for meetings plus IT and literacy classes with the blessings of the local Catholic parish priest. A Catholic nun and social worker working with the travellers for eight years said, ‘Irish Travellers are the smallest ethnic UK group: more than 20% are homeless. Most are illiterate. Their life expectancy is 20 years lower than the national average. They are often the target of abuse and blamed for everything from fly-tipping to petty crime. Some do misbehave, but the majority are law-abiding. Many families have to move every few days. The children have no chance to stay in school for long.'
Pray: for facilities for Travellers to be established across the UK, and for more churches and authorities to unite in their work for and with these communities. (Mt.25:34-40)
More: http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=18803
BBC star calls RC Church ‘evil’ for defending marriage
BBC actor John Barrowman has launched a blistering attack on the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland for defending the traditional definition of marriage. Earlier this month the Scottish Government, led by the Scottish National Party, launched a consultation on whether to redefine marriage but the proposal has met fierce opposition from senior figures within the Church. Now Mr Barrowman, who plays the main character in BBC One’s Torchwood, said that he was ‘horrified’ that church groups were ‘prepared to ruin lives’. He added: ‘That’s not being Christian at all. In fact, I think it’s evil. Being gay is not, as they claim, against the laws of nature. I was born this way.’ The actor, who has been in a civil partnership since 2006, made the comments after the Archbishop of Glasgow and the Bishop of Paisley warned against meddling with the definition of marriage. (See last week’s Prayer Alert)
Pray: that the Church would continue to speak up boldly for the sanctity of marriage. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/bbc-star-calls-rc-church-evil-for-defending-marriage/
Austria and Hungary seek EU help on human trafficking
Austria and Hungary are asking the EU to help them guard the Schengen border to the Balkans after an alleged increase in human trafficking. The issue will be discussed today (22 September) when interior ministers are likely to bin a proposal to give the EU commission a say in re-imposing border checks and on enlarging the border-less zone to Bulgaria and Romania. In a joint letter seen by EUobserver, the Austrian and Hungarian interior ministers are asking for ‘common action’ in securing the Hungarian-Serbian border which allows traffickers to bring Arab and Asian migrants into western Europe. ‘In Austria and in Hungary we have recently seen a significant increase in the number of interceptions of illegal migrants, most of them smuggled into the country. These people, above all citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Somalia, Iran and Iraq, are being smuggled into the European Union under inhuman conditions, most often in converted buses, lorries or cars,’ the letter reads. Pray: for all those caught up in this trafficking problem to be set free. (Is.42:7)
