Head’s job in peril
Council bosses are investigating a head teacher who urged school girls to show more modesty in how they wear their uniform. Robert Kelly, rector at Berwickshire High School in the Scottish town of Duns, said flouting uniform rules by wearing short skirts and half-buttoned blouses would encourage inappropriate thoughts among boys. But some parents thought he was blaming girls for unwanted male attention, and he is now under investigation by the Scottish Borders Council. Union leader Ken Cunningham said: ‘There will be a lot of sympathy for Mr Kelly as it’s a difficult issue that affects schools around the country – there’s no way he should lose his job and I hope common sense will prevail. ‘I’m very worried about sexualisation, particularly of young girls, which I think has got worse. Parents and schools have a duty to ensure that dress is sensible – common sense is the key factor.’ Pray: for God’s guidance to all involved in this matter and for common sense to prevail. (1Ti.2:9)
Clergy battle against sham marriages
Rev Tim Codling, Rector of St John the Baptist, Tilbury Docks, in Essex, has said his church has been ‘violated’ by fraudsters targeting it for sham marriages. The diocese has admitted that the problem has become unmanageable. Mr Codling has referred 64 marriages in the past three years to the Police and Immigration Authorities, after becoming suspicious. Once married, non-European nationals can apply for British citizenship. Mr Codling said that he has undoubtedly married bogus couples. On four occasions he interrupted wedding ceremonies and escorted couples from the building. On one occasion he inserted the names of railway stations into the vows to catch out a bride who failed to notice the interpolation. His church may have been targeted because of its good links to Stansted and London City airports. ‘When a couple come with a bishop’s licence you’re in a difficult position. You assume everything is in order.’ Pray:for divine protection for vicars and their families from dangerous criminal gangs orchestrating sham marriages.
Archbishop Rowan Williams responds to Hawking
Belief in God is not about plugging a gap in explaining how one thing relates to another within the universe, the Archbishop of Canterbury said, responding to Professor Stephen Hawking’s assertion, in his new book, that there is no place for God in theories of the creation of the universe. Professor Hawking contends: ‘Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist’. Dr Williams told The Times that belief in God: ‘is the belief that there is an intelligent, living agent on whose activity everything depends for its existence. Physics on its own will not settle the question’. Former Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, said that it was right to ask where the laws of the universe came from. ‘As I understand him, the professor claims that gravity brought everything into existence. But again, where did that come from? On what was it acting? Nothing plus nothing cannot equal something.’ (See Prayer Alert 3610) Pray: that the Church’s voice is strengthened and empowered to overcome doubting messages. (Job11:4)
Real IRA says it will target UK bankers
Banks and bankers are now potential targets for the Real IRA, its leaders have warned in an interview with the Guardian. Despite having only 100 activists they also said that targets in England remained a high priority. One element in the Real IRA's recent activity has been a wave of so-called ‘punishment’ shootings and beatings of those they deem ‘antisocial elements’ in nationalist working class areas. In Derry alone they have shot around two dozen men over the last 18 months. Its leadership was unapologetic over what its critics have described as ‘rough justice’. The group believes such attacks are popular and can garner support in areas where the communities were previously alienated from the police. They dismissed Sinn Féin's claims that its electoral strategy would ultimately yield a united Ireland despite the majority of nationalists in Northern Ireland still voting for Sinn Féin and an overwhelming majority backing the peace process. Pray: for the forces of law to defeat criminals operating as self-appointed community leaders. (2Co.6:14) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/14/real-ira-targets-banks-bankers?dbk
