More on the Pope’s visit
During his weekly general audience at the Vatican Pope Benedict XVI declared: ‘I can't wait to undertake my trip to the United Kingdom’. He said he was aware that preparation for the controversial visit had required ‘a vast amount of work by Catholics, the British Government and local authorities in Scotland, Birmingham and London. The Pope said it would be ‘a particular joy’ to beatify the Anglican convert Cardinal John Henry Newman. ‘This truly great Englishman lived an exemplary clerical life and through his many writings made a fundamental contribution to the Church and society,’ Pope Benedict said. The Pope will beatify Cardinal Newman at Cofton Park, Birmingham, on Sunday Sept. 19, bringing the 19th century clergyman a step closer to sainthood. The Pope begins his visit in Edinburgh where he will be received by the Queen before celebrating mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. Pray: that the Pope’s visit will raise the spiritual awareness of the UK population. (2Sa.22:26)
Call for overhaul of Gift Aid system
The public policy think tank ResPublica has called for a ‘radical’ overhaul of the Gift Aid system to bring it up to speed with the digital age. It said the system was ‘antiquated’ and ‘bureaucratic’ and that it was ‘an anomaly in this day and age’ that charities are still unable to claim Gift Aid online. A new report warned that charities were losing out on as much as £750 million each year because of the current paper-based system. It claims that the current system places unnecessary burdens on HMRC and individual charities and is so inefficient that the cost to the taxpayer of processing each claim amounts to around £5. The think tank said that the high administrative costs had created a ‘perverse disincentive’ for the Treasury to encourage more people to use Gift Aid on their donations. It wants the current system to be digitised to make it easier for charities to claim Gift Aid. Pray: for more efficient systems to ensure a greater part of donations being effectively used. (2Cor.8:20-21)
Archbishop of York on sex trafficking
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has spoken out on the issue of sex trafficking, criticising the Government for opting out of an EU directive on the issue. Speaking in the Yorkshire Post he said: ‘According to the International Labour Organisation there are at least 2.45 million people in forced labour globally as a result of people trafficking. A large proportion (43%) is trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation, and an overwhelming majority of those sold into this sex trade (98%) are women or girls. Sex trafficking is nothing more than modern day slavery. This is women being exploited, degraded and subjected to horrific risks solely for the gratification and economic greed of others. I am therefore stunned to learn that the Government are ‘opting out’ of an EU directive designed to tackle sex trafficking. We need to join with our European brothers and sisters and put an end to this evil trade.’ Pray: for the Government to take a more pro-active role with Europe to stamp out this vile trade. (Isa.1:4)
Broadcasting a Back to Church welcome
The Church of England is advertising Back to Church Sunday 2010, September 26, on the radio stations Classic FM and Heart FM, to deliver a message of welcome into the homes of 1.3 million people. The adverts will support 400,000 personal invitations that members of over 4,000 churches will send to their friends, when the friend-inviting-a-friend initiative enters its seventh successive year of allowing people to rediscover and explore churchgoing with a very warm welcome. The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge, whose diocese is one of those investing in the advertising, said: ‘We’ve chosen these two stations as they get to places we can’t and talk to some of those we’ve lost touch with via the unique relationship people have with radio. Some three million people said they would go back to church if invited - and the adverts are helping us give the people we’re missing that warm invitation.’ Pray: for those who receive or hear this invitation that they will be greatly encouraged to return to church. (Isa.44:22)
