Electrician faces sack for displaying cross in his van
An electrician faces the sack for displaying a palm cross in the window of his company van. Colin Atkinson, 64, from Wakefield, has been called to a disciplinary hearing at the housing association where he has worked for 15 years. His bosses at the publicly funded Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) have demanded he remove the eight inch long cross made from woven palm leaves that sits on his dashboard. The organisation claims the cross may cause offence but says it strongly promotes ‘inclusive’ policies and allows employees to wear religious symbols at work. It has provided stalls at gay pride events, held ‘diversity days’ for travellers, and has allowed other staff to display photographs of Che Guevara, the revolutionary leader, in their office. Mr Atkinson, who is a regular worshipper at church, said: ‘I have worked in the coal mines and served in the Army in Northern Ireland and I have never suffered such stress'. Pray: for Mr Atkinson and for WDH to withdraw their discriminatory action. (Ps.40:10)
The collapse of family life
The astonishing speed at which traditional family life has collapsed is laid bare in a recent report. Shocking figures reveal that births outside marriage are at their highest level in two centuries and nearly half of children can expect their parents to separate by the time they turn 16. Nine out of ten couples now live together before -or instead of – marriage, earlier it was considered shameful to have a child outside of wedlock, now it has become the norm. Some 46 per cent of children are born to unmarried mothers, according to research by the Centre for Social Justice. The think-tank said a child growing up in a one-parent family is 75 per cent more likely to fail at school, 70 per cent more likely to become a drug addict, 50 per cent more likely to have an alcohol problem and 35 per cent more likely to be unemployed as an adult. Pray: for the Church to respond and support those adversely affected and to promote strong, loving stable marriage. (Heb.13:4 )
Kate Middleton's confirmed belief
There was no pressure for Kate Middleton to get confirmed - she did it because she wanted to. Confirmation is a public declaration of a Christian faith, so for once it is possible to talk about something Kate Middleton has done without having to rely on ‘friends’ and ‘palace insiders’. The latest generation of royals seem openly less religious than their parents. But this is evidence that Kate's confirmation really means something to her, rather than the contrary. She didn't have to do it, and seems quite capable of resisting any pressure to conform/confirm from those around her. It's not a big story - young woman indicates that she believes in God - but intensely irritating to those who tend to lump all their authority hate-figures together, especially if Kate continues to develop into a role model. Pray: for Kate as she declares her faith, enters into marriage and starts what will be a demanding public life. (1Co.16:3 ) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/apr/14/kate-middleton-confirmed
Euthanasia video for pupils features Dr Death
School children are being taught about euthanasia using a video that includes demonstrations by a notorious assisted suicide campaigner nicknamed Dr Death. Pupils as young as 14 are being shown the 20-minute film which features Dr Philip Nitschke showing the machine that is used to deliver lethal injections. There is also footage of him giving workshops on assisted suicide methods. Psychologists have warned that the film could encourage vulnerable teenagers to end their lives. Earlier this week the BBC was accused of being a ‘cheerleader for assisted suicide’ after filming a documentary that showed a man killing himself at a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland. See link Dr Nitschke, the founder of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International, caused controversy two years ago as he arrived to give his first UK suicide workshops. In them he demonstrates devices people can use to end their lives - including an ‘exit bag’, drugs from Mexico, and ‘peaceful pills.’ Pray: that the showing of this video and other material to school children will be blocked. (Job.3:20-23)
