Archbishop of Canterbury - Christians need to "witness boldly and clearly"

We who live in more comfortable environments need to bear two things in mind. One is that fellow-Christians under pressure, living daily with threats and murders, need our prayers and tangible support – by personal contact, by continually reminding our governments and media of these things. To a Christian experiencing these threats, it matters more than most of us could imagine simply to know that they are not alone and not forgotten. But the second point to remember is that we need to keep our own fears in perspective.

 It is all too easy, even in comfortable and relatively peaceful societies, for us to become consumed with anxiety about the future of Church and society. We need to witness boldly and clearly but not with anger and fear; we need to show that we believe what we say about the Lordship of the Risen Christ and his faithfulness to the world he came to redeem.

Light Bends Matter, Surprising Scientists

Live Science | Light can twist matter, according to a new study that observed ribbons of nanoparticles twisting in response to light.

Scientists knew matter can cause light to bend – prisms and glasses prove this easily enough. But the reverse phenomenon was not shown to occur until recently.

The researchers assembled strings of nanoparticles, which are tiny clumps of matter on the scale of nanometers (one nanometer is one billionth of a meter). In a darkened lab, the scientists linked nanoparticles together into ribbons. At first the nano ribbons were flat, but when a light was shone on them, they curled up into spirals.

A New Season of Activity for National Churches in the Former Soviet Union

30/03 Assist News | As spring arrived in the Midwest, Russian Ministries' Sergey Rakhuba was in Russia and Ukraine, where snow was still piled high on the sidewalks.

"Even though spring-like weather has not yet arrived in the former Soviet Union (FSU), a new season of activity has arrived in the evangelical church there, especially in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus where new, national church leadership is being elected," said Rakhuba in a ministry update to supporters.

Bombs Explode During Moscow’s Morning Rush Hour

29/03 Assist News | At 7:30 this Monday morning of Easter week, bombs exploded at two Moscow subway stations, killing at least 40 people and wounding 102 according to early reports. Two female suicide bombers carried out the attacks. The bombs reeked havoc on Moscow’s famed Metro system during the jam-packed morning rush hour.

While no group has yet to claim responsibility for these senseless attacks, officials in the Federal Security Service (FSB, which is the old KGB) quickly pointed fingers at rebels from the Northern Caucasus region. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cut short his visit to Siberia and declared that the “terrorists will be destroyed.”

UK: Street evangelist fined for homosexuality comments

Premier.org.uk | An American evangelist's been handed the largest known fine for a Christian street preacher after he told shoppers in Glasgow that homosexuality was a sin.

Shawn Holes, 47, from New York state, was on a tour of the UK with colleagues when he was arrested in Sauchiehall Street, in Glasgow city centre on March 18th.

After discussing general Christian topics, the married father-of-two, a former wedding photographer, was taking questions from the crowd.
He said that while preaching, a number of gay couples asked him about his views. He told them:

“Homosexuals deserve the wrath of God - and so do all other sinners - and they are going to a place called Hell.”

He was charged with 'uttering homophobic remarks' in a breach of the peace that prosecutors said was 'aggravated by religious prejudice' under the Criminal Justice Act, and told to pay one thousand pounds. [Audio]

UK: Christian charity welcomes prostitution law changes

Premier.org.uk | A Christian charity is welcoming new laws that make it an offence to pay for sex with someone who's been forced into prostitution.

The fixed penalty charges come into affect tomorrow.

Speaking to Premier's Lisa Mainwaring is Rachel Davies from Care. [Audio]

Members of the International Religious Freedom Caucus Have Called on the Nigerian Government to ‘Ensure Justice and Religious Freedom’

Assist News | Members of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, based in Washington, DC., has called the Nigerian Government to “Ensure Justice and Religious Freedom.”

The call was made by Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) and Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Co-chairs of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, along with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-09), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Joseph Pitts (PA-16), and Frank Wolf (VA-10), who sent a strongly-worded letter to Martin Uhomoibhi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria, in which they expressed their deep concern about the violence taking place in the West African country.

'Muslims treated better than Christians' says nurse

Premier.org.uk | Shirley Chaplin told an employment tribunal staff from other faiths were treated with greater understanding.

[Audio]

Obama signs executive order on abortion

The order was part of an 11th hour agreement with Democratic abortion opponents in the House that brought them over to Obama's side and pushed the health insurance overhaul over the top in a 219-212 vote.

Pro-life lawmakers and supporters had argued the abortion language in the Senate health care bill, which is what the House approved on Monday, did not specifically ban federal spending on abortions. The executive order was drafted to address those concerns.

..... "Throughout history, executive orders have been an important means of implementing public policy," he said. "The most famous executive order was the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Lincoln in 1863."

An executive order does not have the force of law and can be rescinded by another executive order.

Chile quake, tsunami caused $32bn damage

25/03 News.com.au | THE massive earthquake that struck central Chile last month, triggering a local tsunami, caused nearly $US30 billion ($32.64 billion) in damage, the finance ministry says.

Of the total destruction wrought by the February 27 temblor, one of the worst on record, the government will have to absorb $US9.3 billion ($10.12 billion) in costs resulting from the February 27 temblor.

Finland: Transsexual pastor to resign

Marja-Sisko Aalto, formerly known as Olli Aalto, said she felt she had not "managed to build a sufficient connection and the confidence needed" to carry out the demanding position successfully, the newspaper Etelae-Saimaa wrote on its website.

Philip Nitschke holds euthanasia workshop in UK

...Dr Nitschke, director of assisted suicide group Exit International, rejected any suggestion that those attending the meeting were vulnerable.

"They (authorities) have allowed me to come in and I'm grateful for that because we've got a growing number of members of Exit and they want choices," he said.

USA: Poll: Abortion Support Falling among Young Adults

The Christian Post | Over the last 20 years, support for legal abortion has continued to drop among young adults, a new Gallup poll shows.

In 2009, only 24 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 said abortion should be legal under any circumstances, a drop from 28 percent in the year 2000 and 36 percent in 1990.

Even compared to 30- to 64-year-olds, the young cohort is now less likely to support abortion, the Gallup survey on Friday revealed.

Young adults (23 percent) are also most likely to say abortion should be illegal in all circumstances compared to their older counterparts, including those aged 65 and older (21 percent) – who have been the most conservative in abortion views.

UK: Tories reveal 'rainbow list'

10/03 The Christian Institute | The Conservative Party has released a list of its homosexual candidates standing at the upcoming General Election. Although the party says it has 20 ‘out’ gay candidates, only eleven of them were happy to be named on the public list.

The register, which has been dubbed a ‘rainbow list’, was released to The Mail on Sunday. The newspaper had asked for more information from the Tories about a claim made by openly-gay MP Nick Herbert last month.

He had told an American audience that the party had changed its traditional base of MPs and was no longer made up of only “male, white, professional, grey-suited and straight” people.

READ ALSO: TORY CONFERENCE ADDS NEW GAY PRIDE EVENT - The Conservative Party has included a ‘gay pride’ social event for the first time in this year’s conference schedule. Conservative Pride is listed as one of just four social events announced so far for the conference in October.

Last year’s Conservative conference prompted a storm when delegates were given vouchers to visit a lap-dancing club as part of their event packs. The description of this year’s gay pride event reads: “This high profile event is expected to draw over 700 guests who’ll party the night away with surprise special guests and a senior Shadow Cabinet member speaking at the event.”

UK: Parent voices fury at explicit sex ed video

The Christian Institute | A mother has removed her seven-year-old daughter from school after pupils were made to watch a graphic cartoon showing a couple having sex.

The Christian Institute has a copy of this video but has deemed its content too graphic to show on their website.

The controversial Channel 4 sex education DVD, Living and Growing, is recommended by the Department for Children, Schools and Families according to a council education chief. The Government plans to make sex education compulsory for primary schools but to do so the Children, Schools and Families Bill must first be passed by Parliament.

The video shows a naked couple chasing each other around a bed and then having sex, while a voice-over gives a detailed description of the action. It was shown to seven and eight-year-old children at East Wold Church of England Primary School.

...“Seven to nine-year-olds should not possess this knowledge. There is no educational or psychological benefit or need for children of this age to have full knowledge of what sexual intercourse actually entails.”

Spain set to teach 'hands on' sex ed

The Christian Institute | Teenagers in southern Spain are being taught about explicit ‘hands on’ sexual activities as part of one region’s sex education campaign. The new drive, which is targeted at 14 to 17-year-olds, includes information on “sexual self-exploration”. Its slogan is: “Pleasure is in your own hands”.

... In August, it was claimed that UN guidelines on sex education say schools should be teaching children as young as five explicit details about sex.

Earlier this month Ed Balls, the Children’s Secretary, announced that all UK schools from primary upward will be mandated to teach sex education.

Parents in this country have also been told they will lose the right to withdraw their children from sex education lessons when they turn 15.

Faith schools will be forced to teach pupils about contraception and homosexuality despite their beliefs.

EGYPT: Egyptian Cleric Wagdi Ghneim onHamas' Al-Aqsa TV: 'We Pray to Allah That We Be Terrorists, If Terror Means Jihad'

MEMRI | In two recent TV interviews, Egyptian cleric Wagdi Ghneim extolled Jihad, saying: "We are a nation that excels in the production of the art of death... I will die anyway, so I should be creative to make sure my death is for the sake of Allah." Later, he said: "Brothers, we pray to Allah that we be terrorists, if terror means Jihad for the sake of Allah."

He also weighed in on the issue of women's equality, saying: "Anything you women can do, I can do better, because I am a man..." except for four things, which "even the manliest man cannot do": pregnancy and childbirth, raising and serving the children, nurturing the husband, and taking care of the home.

The two interviews aired on the Hamas Al-Aqsa TV channel on February 4 and 14, 2010.

Bulger killer Jon Venables jailed again 'for child porn'

08/03 Sky News | JON Venables, who killed two-year-old British toddler James Bulger in 1993, was reportedly sent back to jail last week on suspected child pornography offences. British newspaper the Sunday Mirror claimed probation chiefs revoked Venables' parole licence once the allegations were made, but UK cabinet officials refused to reveal the exact reasons.

The 27-year-old was recalled to prison after what Justice Secretary Jack Straw described simply as "extremely serious allegations".

Venables and his accomplice Robert Thompson were just 10 when they tortured and battered James to death in Liverpool, northern England, 17 years ago. They were both controversially released from jail on lifelong parole in 2001 with new identities after serving eight years for their crimes and were made to obey strict conditions, such as not contacting each other or returning to the city where James was killed.

Pro-Lifers Mark 37th Roe v Wade Anniversary with Gains, Growth

The Christian Post | It’s been 37 years since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a woman has the constitutional right to have an abortion for any reason up until the “point at which the fetus becomes ‘viable,’” defining viability as the potential "to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid."

...Just over half (51 percent) of Americans stand for the sanctity of human life while 42 percent consider themselves pro-choice, according to Gallup's May 2009 survey. When Gallup first began asking the abortion question in 1995, only 33 percent called themselves pro-life.

“The pro-life movement has made significant strides exposing and closing abortion clinics and shifting public opinion toward the pro-life position,” reported Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, whose organization last month revealed that just 713 abortion clinics are open today compared to the 2,200 in 1991.

SWITZERLAND: Extra small condoms for 12 year-old boys go on sale

Telegraph.co.uk | Called the Hotshot, the condom has been produced after government research showed 12 to14-year-olds did not use sufficient protection when having sex. The study, conducted on behalf of the Federal Commission for Children and Youth, interviewed 1,480 people aged 10 to 20.

It showed more 12 to 14-year-olds were having sex, in comparison with the 1990s.

The Hotshot condoms, which cost 7fr60 (£4.70) for a packet of six, have been created by Lamprecht AG, a leading condom manufacturer in Switzerland. The company has said the UK would be "top priority" if they expanded abroad, considering that it has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe.

UK: Don't let politicians bully you, Lord Carey warns Christians

Daily Mail, UK | Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey today accused politicians of trying to bully Christianity out of public life.

He complained of a 'strident and bullying campaign' to marginalise Christianity in the name of political correctness.

Lord Carey said: 'We have reached the point where politicians are mocked for merely expressing their faith.

'I cannot imagine any politician expressing concern that Britain should remain a Christian country. That reticence is a scandal and a disgrace to our history.'

... He told a meeting in the House of Lords: 'Christianity, which has given so much to our country, is now being sidelined as never before as though it is a stranger to our nation.'

Lord Carey told Christians to stand up for their faith and to be more assertive when their heritage is attacked. 'If we behave like doormats, don't be surprised if we are treated as though we are,' he said. 'It is time to return to the public square.'

Greece launches fresh round of budget cuts

04/03 News.com.au | GREECE launched a fresh round of draconian austerity measures today, winning respite on the markets and setting the scene for crucial European support that analysts say could come soon

... "These decisions are necessary for the survival of the country and the economy," Prime Minister George Papandreou said.

Warning of a "race against time" to raise money for maturing debt, Mr Papandreou also turned the heat on Brussels, saying Athens was now "justly awaiting" a positive response.

"Europe has a historic responsibility," Mr Papandreou told Greek President Carolos Papoulias, adding: "We are awaiting European solidarity, the other side of this agreement."

'No place for burqa' in Denmark, says Prime Minister

Herald Sun | THE face-covering burqa and niqab veils worn by some Muslim women "have no place in Danish society", Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen has said.

"They symbolise a view of women and humanity that we totally oppose and that we want to combat in Danish society," he said.

Denmark was "an open, democratic society where we look at the person to whom we are talking, whether it's in a classroom or on the job".

"That is why we don't want to see this garment in Danish society," he said

USA: One Judge Rules Against Religious Expression

OneNewsNow | A judge in Montana has ruled against a high school valedictorian who wasn't allowed to speak at her graduation ceremony because she wanted to give God credit for her success

Rennee Griffith is now in her second year of college. She graduated from Butte High School in 2008 as one of the valedictorians, but when she submitted a draft of her speech to school authorities, her First Amendment rights were violated.

"She was asked, as were the other valedictorians, to speak about what helped them get through school.  Some people wanted to thank the football coach or the track coach or their uncle or a particular teacher, and they were permitted to do that,"... "The only thing they would not permit, by their own admission, was...her to attribute any achievements to her belief in God."

Only three women in Denmark wear burqa

USA: American Churches reclaim Christmas from Shopping Malls

APN | A new church-based initiative which swept the USA in December has helped put 'Christ' back into 'Christmas.' The new movement, called Advent Conspiracy, helped people across the United States to dedicate themselves to rethinking Christmas—and reclaiming its original intent, according to Mike Tolson, writing for the Houston Chronicle. He said that the church-based initiative has spread like a viral video since a few Houston pastors came up with the idea four years ago, with more than 5,000 churches across the nation participating this past Christmas.

AUSTRALIA: Training tomorrow's leaders

There is a great need in this nation to assist those students and recent graduates who demonstrate a high potential to become influential leaders for Christ across strategic areas of our nation including politics, law, media, science, education, arts and philosophy.
The Compass program, an eight-day course in Christian worldview, aims to address this need.

The inaugural program kicks off this Sunday with 40 students at the University of Queensland. For more information and to register interest for 2009, please go to www.compass.org.au .

Lyle Shelton
National Chief of Staff , Australian Christian Lobby