Big response at festival to child trafficking campaign
Some 4,000 children have been protected from trafficking following Tearfund's 'No Child Taken' campaign at this year's Big Church Day Out at Wiston House, Steyning, West Sussex. The festival, now in its sixth year, partnered with Tearfund to raise awareness and generate support to prevent the unlawful trafficking of children across the globe. Big Church Day Out continues to grow each year and focuses on gathering people from across the church family, along with attracting increasing numbers of non-churchgoers because of its value as a great family day out. Crowds of more than 20,000 gathered on the Bank Holiday weekend and were greeted with a mixture of rain and glorious sunshine, classic festival weather. The incredibly varied line-up included artists from all over the world, with genres ranging from Latin rock to R&B, bluegrass to gospel choirs, and much more. It was attended by families and church groups, all connecting with each other on their journey of faith.
NSPCC changes stance on those who cover up child abuse
Peter Wanless, chief executive of the child protection charity NSPCC, has said people who cover up child sex abuse should be prosecuted, and there should be a duty on institutions like hospitals, children's homes and boarding schools to report abuse. He said, ‘If someone consciously knows that there is a crime committed against a child, and does nothing about it because they put the reputation of the organisation above the safety of that child, that should be a criminal offence.’ Until now the charity has opposed all forms of so-called mandatory reporting, but Mr Wanless said the NSPCC would be open to discussions about what form a new law should take. He is currently heading an inquiry about whether the Home Office failed to act on allegations of child sex abuse handed over in the 1980s by former Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens. Another independent inquiry, looking at historical sexual abuse and institutions' protection of children, will be led by retired senior judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss.
Down’s Syndrome shouldn’t be feared, says mum
The mother of a seven-year-old girl with Down’s Syndrome, who hit the headlines for appearing in Sainsbury’s clothing adverts, has said there had been an ‘assumption’ she would abort her daughter. Hayley Goleniowska, 43, and her husband Bob, 59, told the Daily Telegraph they have no limits on their expectations for their daughter Natalia (Natty), who swims, rides horses and is in mainstream school. Hayley said there is a ‘conditioning to fear Down’s syndrome’ and an ‘assumption’ that if the baby tests positive for the condition, you will ‘automatically’ have an abortion. But, she said, ‘we knew who she was - our daughter, not a set of symptoms or predictions for the future’. Hayley has started a blog offering advice and support for parents of children with Down’s Syndrome, which gets 30,000 hits a month. She said, ‘when a family or a mum tells us ‘Your blog has thrown me a lifeline; now I can see what the future could hold’, then we know we’re doing the right thing’.
Scottish parliament and secular humanist groups
The Edinburgh Secular Society (ESS) claims official guidance was breached when Evangelical Alliance Scotland (EAS) hosted a reception in Holyrood marking the publication of its manifesto ‘What Kind of Nation?’ ESS called the reception (endorsed by a government minister) a ‘book launch’ in the Scottish Parliament which broke the rules. The EAS said they were aware of the rules and denied any breach, saying ‘It was not a launch. We published the document earlier in the week. It was on our website.’ Prayer Alert notes that the attempts to promote secularism within the Scottish Parliament have escalated recently, but we give thanks that the Education and Culture Committee have not taken forward two Secular Humanist groups' petitions. One was for opt-in Religious Observance in schools, and the second was to stop the automatic inclusion of faith members on Council Education Committees. However, there has now been another petition submitted for an increase in Humanist speakers to lead Time for Reflection. See also http://www.ppscotland.org/
