ONE OF US CAMPAIGN – SIGN BEFORE NOVEMBER
The One of Us Campaign (a European Citizens’ Initiative) aims to ban European funding for any activity that damages or destroys the human embryo.
A million signatures are needed from across Europe before 1 November 2013 to ‘invite’ the European Commission to propose legislation. Currently, the campaign has achieved more than 856,300 signatures, but the UK is lagging behind in its contribution.
Source: CARE
POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS OUT ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
Pope Francis has said homosexual people should be integrated into society and not marginalised. He told reporters on a flight back from Brazil: ‘We must be brothers. If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge him?’
He reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church’s official belief that homosexual orientation is not sinful but homosexual acts are.
Source: Bible Society
CHURCH OF ENGLAND’S FREE ALTERNATIVE TO LOANS
The Archbishop of Canterbury hit the headlines when he declared ‘War on Wonga’, the payday loans company, wishing to offer a church-backed alternative.
Although there was embarrassment when it was revealed that the Church of England indirectly invests in the company, the media interest led to large articles in the newspapers and an interview with pugilistic John Humphrys on Radio 4’s Today programme.
The Telegraph reports that, “By offering a free market alternative to payday loan companies, the Archbishop of Canterbury shows a willingness to engage with the world.”
The Church of England plans to sponsor credit unions to put pay-day lenders out of business. It is currently backing a bid for more than 300 RBS branches.
The article says: “Archbishop Welby has not attacked these companies simply because they are not very nice. He has recognised that there is a need for short-term borrowing for people who have to meet a sudden cost but are on a low fixed income.”
Source: Bible Society
PRAYERS REMOVED FROM PLYMOUTH COUNCIL MEETINGS
Plymouth’s Labour administration has removed prayers from formal council meetings in a move that has been described as a “thoughtless rush for change.”
Labour leaders said that the decision was “part of the process of modernisation” and was aimed at “accommodating” the growing audience of online webcast viewers. But Conservative Councillor Ted Fry criticised the decision saying: ‘This is Plymouth, a city where tradition matters to our citizens. Let there be public debate and reflection by decision makers before they decide.”
Source: Christian Concern