Ban on teacher upheld in name of ‘British tolerance’
A Science teacher who was barred from teaching after expressing his beliefs on sexual ethics in the classroom has lost his case in the High Court. Robert Haye (43) was dismissed from Deptford Green School after he commented that homosexual practice was a ‘sin’ when responding to questions posed by his Year 11 pupils. The Teaching Agency subsequently placed an indefinite bar on Mr Haye from teaching at any school or sixth form - a ban that was later upheld by Education Secretary Michael Gove. In the first case of its kind, the High Court rejected Mr Haye’s appeal against the ban stating that his comments were ‘inappropriate’ and that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. In delivering the judgment, Mr Justice King said that the school had a policy requiring teachers to present positive information on homosexuality ‘to enable students to challenge derogatory stereotypes and prejudice.’
Pray: for Christian teachers that they will be able to uphold their beliefs in the classroom without prejudice. (2Th.2:13)
Abortion on the basis of gender
Birth statistics in the UK show that abortions on the basis of gender could be taking place in some communities. The findings were made after Government officials analysed the boy-girl ratios of births between 2007 and 2011 and found women in certain communities were giving birth to an unusually higher number of males than females. The Department of Health has refused to release information on the nationalities of such women, stating ‘ it was not in the public interest to do so’. Last week a Ten Minute Rule Bill calling for the Government to monitor the sex of aborted babies was presented jointly by Conservative MP Fiona Bruce and Labour MP Jim Dobbin, with its aims being supported by more than 50 MPs. During the debate, Mrs Bruce said, ‘What should cause real distress is that babies are being aborted because they are the wrong gender. The most dangerous place for girl should not be in her mother’s womb. A second reading on the Bill will take place on 26th April
Pray: for the Department of Health and the Government to open up an evidence based dialogue and then take appropriate action.
Sinn Fein backs the ‘Turn off the Red Light Campaign’
CARE in Northern Ireland was very pleased to see Sinn Fein overwhelmingly back a campaign to make buying sex a criminal offence at its Ard Fheis (Party Conference) on Saturday evening. Sinn Fein members voted to support the ‘Turn Off the Red Light Campaign’ - a coalition of organisations including political parties, Trade Unions, Christian Organisations and civil society groups seeking to criminalise the purchase of sexual services in the Republic of Ireland (http://www.turnofftheredlight.ie/). Its decision has made Sinn Fein the 67th organisation to join forces with the campaign. Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Sinn Fein’s spokesperson for Justice and Equality, said following the vote: ‘There are as many as 1000 women and girls for sale for sex in Ireland today. Prostitution is not a real choice for the vast majority of these women. The ‘Turn off the Red Light’ campaign argues that the most effective solution is to tackle the demand for paid sex that fuels prostitution and trafficking.’
Pray: that the campaign to tackle trafficking and prostitution would not just reduce the problem but stopping it. (Hos.5:4)
Anglicans gather to plan new partnerships with health services
Nearly 200 church leaders and medics gathered in Birmingham, England, this week to plan new initiatives in health care. Against the backdrop of rising chronic illness in the UK, churches and Christian general medical practitioners (GPs) will outline their initiatives to reverse this trend. Conference convener, and coordinator of the Anglican Health Network, Revd Paul Holley, said, ‘Whilst the UK’s National Health Service delivers medical services, people’s mental and physical health depends far more on their lifestyles. Poor diets, lack of exercise and relentless stress are taking their toll. More people live alone and lack the support of intimate and community relationships to promote wellbeing’. Mr Holley pointed out that churches have supported people in their various circumstances through prayer, ‘but now they are increasingly taking practical action to tackle these causes of poor health. The conference will make visible the wide range of activity already in play.’
Pray: for the opportunities that the Church has in partnering health services bringing God‘s perspective and the power of prayer into health care. (3Jn.1:2)
More: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2013/4/23/ACNS5384
