Atheist help for clergy closet unbelievers
Atheists recently went public with a new website aimed at creating a community for clergy who have lost their faith. The Clergy Project has grown to nearly 100 members since the launch of a private, invitation only, website in March. The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Science and Reason and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have now made the project public in hopes of drawing more pastors, priests, rabbis and other religious leaders who have chosen to ‘move beyond faith’. ‘We know there must be thousands of clergy out there who have secretly abandoned their faith but have nowhere to turn,’ said Dan Barker, a former evangelical preacher who now serves as co-president of FFRF. ‘Now they do have a place to meet, a true sanctuary, a congregation of those of us who have replaced faith and dogma with reason and human well-being.’
Pray: for all clergy who are finding faith challenging and pray that the Holy Spirit would bring fresh revelation. (Eph.1:17)
New website to report inappropriate TV programmes
This will be followed up by an Ofcom investigation. (See Prayer Alert 41-2011) The site is being launched by David Cameron as part of his drive to end the sexualisation of children in Britain. It was one of several recommendations to come out of a government review led by Mothers’ Union chief executive, Reg Bailey, which concluded that today’s children are being surrounded by a ‘wallpaper’ of sexual imagery that is robbing them of their childhood. Other measures being introduced by Mr Cameron include a ban on sexually explicit advertising near schools and under-15s being ‘brand ambassadors’ for certain products.
Pray: that,as this new website is launched that it will lead to many successful challenges to media excesses. (Pro.4:5)
Children's Society condemns child border detention
In May 2010 the Government announced that it would end the immigration detention of children, but it is failing to do so say the Children's Society. Between May and the end of August 2011,in agregate 697 children were held at Greater London and South East ports. Almost one third were unaccompanied children. This could mean as many as 2,000 children could be detained each year. Shockingly the Home Office is not collecting information on the length of detention or reasons why the children have been detained. In December 2010 the Government published details of its new policy to end the detention of children; within this, the Government retained the right to only hold a few dozen families each year in border cases. The Children’s Society welcomed the progress made by the Government in response to the ‘Outcry!’ campaign; a joint initiative between The Children’s Society and Bail for Immigration Detainees to end the immigration detention of children.
Pray: that the authorities will stand by their promises. (Ps.36:3)
Polish TV bows to church demands
Poland's state TV network has given in to demands by the Roman Catholic Church and promised not to re-employ a ‘death metal’ rock star on its most popular music talent show. ’ Polish TV's president, Juliusz Braun, issued the following statement on 13 October ,‘In connection with press reports about Adam Darski's behaviour during a recent Warsaw club concert provocatively showing a lack of respect for religious convictions, as well as for the sick and handicapped,. The statement was issued after reports that Darski, whose stage name is Nergal, had appeared as a priest and pretended to cure a handicapped person during a Warsaw concert by his band, Behemoth. When it was announced Darski would appear on Voice of Poland, several church leaders and Catholic organizations threatened to withhold their licence fees. Darski's concert stunts have included tearing up a Bible and describing the Roman Catholic Church as a ‘criminal sect.’
Pray: as the church makes a stand against the behaviour of ‘death metal’ bands that the media would hold back from promoting such behaviour. (Jas.1:27)
