Pope's visit ‘challenges stereotypes’
After all the fears expressed before the Pope left Rome of a possible debacle - street protests and a poor turnout - there was a tangible sense of relief, even of euphoria, among Pope Benedict's entourage during the return flight. The Prime Minister, Mr Cameron, said the Pope had challenged the whole country ‘to sit up and think’ about the relative roles of religion and politics. The Pope had talked about ‘the development of a healthy pluralistic society’. He expressed his admiration for Britain's ‘instinct for moderation’ which found an echo in the Prime Minister's vision of a country that is ‘deeply but quietly compassionate’. The Pope's triumph was really his speech to leaders of civil society at Westminster. One politician said that his performance had been ‘sheer magic’. Pray: that the Papal visit will leave a long-term legacy in the role of the Christian faith in this country. (Phm:20)
Police need to reclaim streets
Police have ‘given up’ on the street and are failing to take problems caused by anti-social behaviour as seriously as victims do, a police chief says. About 45% (3.5m) of police calls relate to anti-social behaviour, but Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Denis O'Connor said officers did not regard it as real crime and were slow to act. He warned cutting spending on the issue would be ‘a very significant mistake’. Police chiefs say they are deeply aware of the impact of anti-social behaviour. Home Secretary Theresa May said the report was a ‘damning indictment of Labour's failure to tackle anti-social behaviour’ and the government was reviewing the tools the police needed to deal with anti-social behaviour because Asbos were ‘clearly not working’. The work of Street Pastors www.streetpastors.co.uk and Street Angels www.streetangels.org.uk/ have contributed to crime reduction in many of the areas where they serve. Pray: that the Police, together with the Church and all peace-makers, would reclaim the streets bringing law and order and God’s new life. (1Jn.5:5)
Threat to end dialogue with Anglicans
The Russian Orthodox Church has threatened to withdraw from dialogue with Anglicans because of the ‘liberalism and relativism’ of some Anglican Churches, and the development of women bishops in the Church of England. In a speech at Lambeth Palace a week ago, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk attacked the Anglican Church for what he described as ‘betraying our common witness by departing from traditional Christian values and replacing them by contemporary secular standards’. He urged the Archbishop of Canterbury to resist pressure from liberal Anglicans. His prolonged attack on liberalism in the Anglican Church stunned Dr Williams, onlookers said. He said ‘The abyss that exists today divides not so much the Orthodox from the Catholics or the Catholics from the Protestants as it does the ‘traditionalists’ from the ‘liberals’. Pray: that fundamental reconciliation between the two churches may be reached to promote the Kingdom. (Mt 5:24)
Church coalition at party conferences
Five denominations have formed a coalition to raise their shared concerns with the three main parties during conference season. The coalition is formed of senior leaders from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church, the Quakers, the Salvation Army and the United Reformed Church. They hope to keep the Government’s Big Society initiative, affordable housing and poverty on the agenda when they attend the conferences of the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative parties during September and October. These denominations are encouraging members of the public to attend the fringe events that they and Christian political fellowships are staging alongside each of the conferences. The Rev Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Conference said: ‘Some people believe that politicians don’t ‘do God’ and that the churches shouldn’t get involved in political life. Our delegation demonstrates that the churches value the vocation of those who work to improve our society through political life’. Pray: that our politicians will take into account our Christian values when planning change. (Ps.103:6) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.form.coalition.at.party.conferences/26752.htm
