AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER * CHRISTIANITY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY BRITISH GOVERNMENT * MUGABE TURNS ON THE CHURCH IN LATEST ATTACKS * THE DECLINING VALUES OF AMERICA * CHRISTIAN PREACHERS FACE ARREST IN BIRMINGHAM * WORLD FOOD CRISIS HITS INDONESIA * 6,000 CHRISTIANS GATHER TO PRAY FOR A REDUCTION OF CRIME IN MAJOR UK CITY ----------------------------------------------- CHRISTIANITY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY BRITISH GOVERNMENT Christianity is being discriminated against by the Government in favour of Islam and other minority faiths, according to a landmark Church of England report. The damning critique of Labour, which is endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, says ministers are only paying "lip service" to the Anglican Church while "focusing intently" on other religions. It claims Gordon Brown's Government is failing society and lacks a moral vision for the country. It says Labour is failing to acknowledge the breakdown in society and excluding vital religious voices. The report urges the Government to appoint a minister for religion, who would serve as the Prime Minister's faith envoy and utilise the untapped reserves of volunteers in churches and charities. "The Government has shown a significant lack of understanding, or interest in, the Church's contribution in the public sphere. "Indeed we are told that Government has consciously decided to focus almost exclusively on minority religions." the report concludes. The highly critical report carries significant weight as it has been endorsed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and three-quarters of the Church's bishops. It echoes claims made by the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, that the decline of Christian values is destroying Britain and has created a "moral vacuum" which radical Islam is filling. The report says that while the Government has tried to improve social cohesion, it has failed to appreciate the potential contribution of Christian groups to the "civic health and wellbeing" of society. "We were told that while capacity studies had been undertaken by Government with regard to British Islam, similar studies had not been carried out for any of the UK's largest faith communities. "If what we were told is correct, the churches simply do not register on the policy-making radar in serious terms. "The Government has focused so intensely on minority faiths that it has failed to develop a coherent evidence base for the largest religious body in the UK, the Christian church." A report published in 1985 damned Thatcherism for the growing spiritual and economic poverty in Britain. But now, in a remarkable shift in the stance of the Church, the Conservatives are praised for their "genuine thirst to understand and combat poverty". "Conservative advisors and politicians were among the most comfortable and enthusiastic in believing that Christian churches had something 'unique' to bring to the table as strong local leaders." Eric Pickles, shadow secretary for communities and local government, said: "David Cameron's Conservatives recognise that we have to tackle a damaged society and that poverty can't be cured without the help of voluntary organisations, such as the Church which plays a vital part. Source: UK Telegraph ----------------------------------------------- MUGABE TURNS ON THE CHURCH IN LATEST ATTACKS The Harare offices of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) have been raided with five staff members taken to the Harare Central Police station for questioning. The raid was carried out by Zimbabwe's riot police and it is reported that at least one staff member was assaulted in the raid. Useni Sibanda, National Coordinator for the ZCA said, 'This is pure harassment of church organisations. We are just doing our usual work and we don't understand why we should be attacked by riot police like this.' It is understood that no charges have yet been brought. A lawyer from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is in Harare to represent those detained. This raid follows the regime's recent confrontation with diplomats and the increased intimidation of civil society groups. 'We have been seeing more and more intimidation, much of it aggressive, against our church partner organisations,' says Karyn Beattie, Tearfund's Zimbabwe Disaster Management Advisor. 'However, church leaders and volunteers will continue to help the poorest in society.' In response to the latest attacks Secretaries of three world ecumenical organizations have sent a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations and other African leaders. In the letter the secretaries declared, "Zimbabwe is at a very crucial time, and action by African and international leaders at the highest levels is imperative to prevent further violence and to begin a process of breaking out of the current highly volatile stalemate." The letter was sent by leaders of the Mennonite World Conference, the Reformed Ecumenical Council and the World Evangelical Alliance. In the light of a proposed run-off election, the three asked the international community to pressure Zimbabwe to allow an international team of observers in for the election with the freedom to visit every corner of the country, the letter read. The letter also called for the international community to require the government of Zimbabwe to come to an international negotiating table to map out the future of Zimbabwe. In South Africa, Ben du Toit, convener of the Doctrine and Life Commission for the Dutch Reformed Church, also issued an anguished plea. He said the Zimbabwe situation reminded him of the Nazi era in Germany. He declared it was good that churches protested while governments remained inactive and silent, but wrote he was also looking for more costly action, for more creative ways so that we do not just salve our own consciences, but truly save people's lives in Zimbabwe. Source: Compiled by APN from various sources ----------------------------------------------- THE DECLINING VALUES OF AMERICA Three decisions made in recent weeks highlight the rapidly declining values within the Governmental leadership of the United States of America. They are indicative of a general decline across the western world which can only be turned back through prayer and decisive action as led by the Holy Spirit. As you read these stories led the righteous anger that we trust will arise within you be directed against the inroads the enemy is forging through men and women in high places who do not carry the fear of God in their hearts and have no regard for the will of the people. A court in California, has by a vote of 4-3 overturned the wishes of 61.4% of the people of California, who in a referendum held in conjunction with their last State elections voted down a bill to legalise same-sex marriage. In direct opposition to the declared wishes of the people the court has overruled the referendum and declared same-sex "marriage" is legal in California. The state's governor in expressing support for the decision predicted a booming economy saying, "everyone is going to come here and get married." Efforts are in train to appeal this court decision. Also in recent weeks the new governor of New York state (where by statute same-sex marriage is not permitted or recognized), directed that state agencies recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions. New York homosexuals need not go through lengthy residential requirements in the two states where such marriages are permitted, but can just slip across the border into Canada, get married and return home to receive complete recognition if their new status in New York state. Again steps are in train to have this decision overturned. In another decision that defies logic, the Governor of Colorado signed into law a bill passed by the legislature which blurs the distinctions between men and women by making all public restrooms in the state "gender free." To state it most clearly, anyone, regardless of their biological identity, can use either the men's or women's room. These wanton decisions which overrule the will of the majority of people cannot and will not go unchallenged. Source: Compiled by APN from information given in the EPOCH Commentary ----------------------------------------------- CHRISTIAN PREACHERS FACE ARREST IN BIRMINGHAM A police officer ordered two Christian preachers to stop handing out gospel leaflets in a predominantly Muslim area of Birmingham. The evangelists say they were threatened with arrest for committing a "hate crime" and were told they risked being beaten up if they returned. The incident will fuel fears that "no-go areas" for Christians are emerging in British towns and cities. Arthur Cunningham, 48, and Joseph Abraham, 65, both full-time evangelical ministers, have launched legal action against West Midlands Police, claiming the officer infringed their right to profess their religion. Mr Abraham said: "I couldn't believe this was happening in Britain. The Bishop of Rochester was criticised by the Church of England recently when he said there were no-go areas in Britain but he was right; there are certainly no-go areas for Christians who want to share the gospel." Last night, Christian campaigners described the officer's behaviour as "deeply alarming". The preachers were handing out leaflets when they started talking to four Asian youths. A police officer (PCSO) interrupted the conversation and began questioning the ministers about their beliefs. "He said we were in a Muslim area and were not allowed to spread our Christian message. He said we were committing a hate crime by telling the youths to leave Islam and said that he was going to take us to the police station." The preacher refused to give the PCSO his address because he felt the officer's manner was "threatening and intimidating". The ministers claim he also advised them not to return to the area. As he walked away, the PCSO said: "You have been warned. If you come back here and get beaten up, well you have been warned". West Midlands Police, who refused to apologise, said the incident had been "fully investigated" and the officer would be given training in understanding hate crime and communication. Source: UK Telegraph ----------------------------------------------- WORLD FOOD CRISIS HITS INDONESIA Against the backdrop of a rapidly worsening world food crisis, more than 91 percent of households in Indonesia's West Timor region are suffering hunger and alarming levels of malnutrition because of inadequate access to food, according to a new report by Church World Service. "Due to continued poor food production from season to season and due to poverty, households just don't have adequate access to food in either quantity or nutritional quality," says CWS Deputy Director Maurice Bloem. "In the survey, among under-five age children, we found a very high prevalence of wasting and stunting--signs of acute and chronic malnutrition," says Bloem. The survey also found a high degree of infectious diseases, particularly diarrhoea caused by poor hygiene, water and sanitation, and acute respiratory infection among small children, as a result of poor hygiene and low immune system. Church World Service is urging immediate world attention to the crisis to prevent deaths among small children and to lessen permanent developmental damage to children under age five. CWS is beginning a collaboration with the Heinz Company Foundation for provision of micronutrient supplements. CWS now supports sustainable agriculture programs, education and training in the region, including seed solutions specific to the locale, small scale irrigation, and improved drainage to improve production. Source: Church World Service ----------------------------------------------- 6,000 CHRISTIANS GATHER TO PRAY FOR A REDUCTION OF CRIME IN MAJOR UK CITY More than 6,000 Christians, including police chiefs and politicians, attended an evening of prayer for police and for a reduction in gang crime. Christians from all denominations were in attendance. Debra Green, director of City Links, the church group that organized the event, said: "Persistent prayer, over many years, has opened the way for a huge number of effective initiatives delivering benefits to people and communities far and wide." Police Chief Superintendent Neil Wain said: "By working and praying together to reduce crime and disorder we not only change the physical circumstances that affect people's everyday lives but we change the spiritual circumstances. As a police officer and a Christian I know that this work can and will impact our communities". Source: BBC
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