AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

* NEW BRITISH LAW WILL FORCE CHURCHES TO EMPLOY HOMOSEXUAL STAFF

* INDIA: CHRISTIANS BREATHE EASIER AFTER ELECTIONS

* EMERGENCY PRAYER ALERT FOR SOMALIA

* MORE AMERICANS PRO LIFE THAN PRO CHOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME

* CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

* CALL TO PRAY FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN LEBANON

NEW BRITISH LAW WILL FORCE CHURCHES TO EMPLOY HOMOSEXUAL STAFF

Religious groups are to be forced to accept homosexual youth workers, secretaries and other staff, even if their faith holds same-sex relationships to be sinful. Christian organisations fear that the tightened legislation, which is due to come into force next year, will undermine the integrity of churches and dilute their moral message. It comes amid growing concern that Christians are being unfairly targeted by discrimination laws, following a number of high-profile cases of courts finding against believers who stand up for their faith.

Religious leaders had hoped to lobby for exemptions to the Equality Bill but Maria Eagle, the Deputy Equalities Minister, has now indicated that it will cover almost all church employees. "The circumstances in which religious institutions can practice anything less than full equality are few and far between," she told delegates at the Faith, Homophobia, Transphobia, & Human Rights conference in London. "While the state would not intervene in ritual or doctrinal matters, faith communities cannot claim that everything they run is outside the scope of anti-discrimination law.

Under existing legislation, any roles deemed to be necessary "for the purposes of an organised religion" are excluded from gay rights protection. But the Equality Bill, which is currently before parliament, for the first time defines this as applying only to those who lead the liturgy or spend the majority of the time teaching doctrine - essentially just ministers, bishops and their equivalents in other faiths. Other positions must be open to all applicants on a non-discriminatory basis. Many churchgoers have expressed deep concerns about the bill and accused politicians of hypocrisy.

"It would be absurd to pass a law demanding that the Labour Party employ card-carrying Conservative members, but that is effectively what churches are being told to do. We just want the same exceptions as political parties," he said. "Christians are sick to the back teeth of equality and diversity laws that put them to the back of the queue. We are quite prepared to accept that people will take a different view to use on moral and ethical questions, but that should not mean we have to withdraw from public life."

Recent cases including the nurse suspended for offering to pray for a patient and the British Airways worker sent home for wearing a visible cross have left many believers afraid to go public with their faith at work. Neil Addison, a Roman Catholic barrister and expert on religious discrimination law, said that the new legislation would leave churches powerless to defend the fabric of their organisation. "This is a threat to religious identity. What we are losing is the right for organisations to make free choices," he said.

Source: Telegraph UK

INDIA: CHRISTIANS BREATHE EASIER AFTER ELECTIONS

Christians in India are heaving a sigh of relief after the rout of a Hindu nationalist party at the recent Indian elections. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA), a secular coalition led by the left-of-centre Congress party swept the elections winning a second term at the national level. In State elections in Orissa state, a scene of anti-Christian arson and carnage last year, the ruling centrist party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), won a second term, but concerns over persecution of minorities remain.

The election result is a strong rejection of extremist religious programs and persecution of non-Hindus according to commentators. Over 80 percent of the more than 1 billion people in India are Hindu. Christians form around 2.3 percent of the population, and Muslims about 14 percent. The BJP’s defeat at the national level is expected to compel the party to decide whether it turns to moderation in its ideology or more desperate extremism. The BJP now faces a dilemma. Its appeal for Hindu nationalism stands rejected by the electorate. Where does the party go from here?

Father Emmanuel of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese is hopeful. “Let’s hope the new government works harder to protect all minorities, particularly with regard to religious freedom,” he said. Father Joseph of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India said, “The Indian bishops are confident that the Congress Party-led UPA government will keep its promises of safeguarding the country from communal and divisive forces and restore confidence among all sections of people, particularly among the religious minorities by providing a stable, secular and democratic government.”

The defeat of the BJP which came as a surprise, may not however bring much respite to those facing persecution at the hands of Hindu nationalist groups. “One would expect a lessening in persecution of Christians and other non-Hindus – however, extremist groups often step up activities to garner funds and patronage when they are on the retreat,” warned Simha. There are already some within BJP who feel the organization is too “moderate” to be able to establish a Hindu nation.

In the Federal Parliament, 262 seats went to the UPA. an Alliance led by the BJP, got 160, while the Third Front, a grouping of smaller and regional parties led by communists, bagged only 79. The UPA has the support of 315 Members of Parliament, far more than the 272 needed to form government. Meanwhile in state elections in Orissa, the BJP which had openly supported the spate of attacks on Christians in Kandhamal district last year, faced a debacle. Of the 147 seats, it won only seven. The BJD swept the polls with 109 seats. The Congress Party managed to get 27.

Source: Intercessors Network

EMERGENCY PRAYER ALERT FOR SOMALIA

Somalia has been without a central government since 1991 when then President Barre was overthrown by rival clans. Decades of deadly conflict between opposing warlords have resulted in anarchy. Today, the capital city of Mogadishu is considered to be one of the deadliest places on earth. Ongoing violence has forced thousands to flee across the borders into Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. It is estimated that l million people have died in recent years as a result of famine and disease. A full third of the population is dependent upon international food aid.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is a $30 million a year business. The motivation behind these crimes is not simply greed, but a desire to escape from a life of insecurity and bloodshed. In Somalia there is no policing that could effectively disrupt pirate operations. Fuelling this sense of lawlessness is Sheikh Aweys, head of the Islamic Courts Union. Re-appearing after two years in exile he is challenging the newly installed president, Sheikh Sharif. Aweys has publicly criticized the president and is reportedly conspiring with terrorist group al-Shabaab to drive out the administration.

Al-Shabaab (“the Youth”) has continued to violently oppose any form of government and now controls much of the southern region of the nation. These terrorists are actively attempting to overthrow the President and have been seizing territory by force. Ethiopian troops finally left Somalia in January 2009 after three years of supporting African Union and United Nations forces fighting Islamic extremists. In May 2009, however, they moved back across the border into Somalia, apparently in response to al-Shabaab’s movements.

Pray:

* for the spirit of lawlessness to be driven out of Somalia and for peace to return to this war-torn land. Pray for Somalis living in refugee camps who are suffering from a lack of adequate medicine, food, and clean water and for Christian humanitarian groups to be able to provide for their physical and spiritual needs.

* for an immediate end to the piracy in the waters off of Somalia. Pray for the Lord to change the hearts of the pirates, using their desperate search for stability and safety to draw them into relationship with Christ. Pray for them to find the hope and future they need in Him.

* for Sheikh Aweys to have a life-changing encounter with the Lord of Hosts. Pray for him and the other members of the Islamic Courts Union to realize the futility and destructiveness of their aims and surrender their hearts to the only true and living God. Pray also for the enemy to release his grip on “the youth” of Somalia. Pray for God to wrench them from Satan's hand and channel their zeal for violence into a fiery passion for His Son.

* for the protection of soldiers who are entering Somalia to attempt to restore order. Pray for Ethiopian and Somali leaders – especially President Sharif – to be given supernatural wisdom to deal with the many challenges to their efforts to maintain a functioning government.

* for President Sheikh Sharif and his administration to be set free from the political and spiritual bondage of Islam and to have their minds opened to the reality of Jesus Christ. Pray also for all the people of Somalia that many will accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Source: Windows International Network

MORE AMERICANS PRO LIFE THAN PRO CHOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME

A new Gallup Poll has found 51% of Americans now call themselves "pro-life" against 42% who identify as "pro-choice". This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking the question in 1995. The results represent a significant shift from a year ago, when 50% were pro-choice and 44% pro-life. The source of the shift in abortion views is clear in the survey. All of the increase in pro-life sentiment is seen among self-identified conservatives and moderates; the abortion views of political liberals have not changed.

The swelling of the pro-life position since last year is seen across Christian religious affiliations, including an eight-point gain among Protestants and a seven-point gain among Catholics. About as many Americans now say abortion should be illegal in all circumstances (23%)

as say it should be legal under any circumstance (22%). The dominant position on this question remains however the middle option, with 53% currently say abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances.

With the first pro-choice president in eight years already making changes to the nation's policies on abortion and expressing his support for the Freedom of Choice Act, and moving toward rescinding federal job protections for medical workers who refuse to participate in abortion procedures, Americans, and in particular Republicans, seem to be taking a step back from the pro-choice position. The retreat is evident among political moderates as well as conservatives. While Democrats may support Obama on these issues, it may be driving others in the opposite direction.

Source: Gallup Poll

CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

The constitutional amendment voted in by Californian constituents last year will stand. The state's Supreme Court ruled that the amendment which defines marriage as being between "a man and a woman" would remain, with the exception of allowing those same-gender couples who were "'married' under an earlier court opinion,"to retain those licenses." Mathew D. Staver, Dean of Liberty University School of Law, who argued the case at every stage of the litigation, commented: "The people of California have spoken by affirming traditional marriage. It is time to move on.

Mr Staver went on to say, "The Court has reaffirmed the historic and common-sense definition of marriage, and the people have restored common sense and the rule of law to California. This is a great day for traditional marriage and the family. We have fought this battle to defend traditional marriage in California for nearly 5 years . Today is a day of celebration. Political leaders who say that we should give up the battle on traditional marriage are out of touch with the American people. Our future leaders must be strong advocates of traditional marriage and family."

Source: Liberty Counsel

CALL TO PRAY FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN LEBANON

On Sunday, June 7th, the Lebanese Parliamentary Elections take place. Sometimes described as a “neighbourhood of gangs,” Lebanon is a small country characterized by religious and political diversity. Religion and politics run deep in Lebanon. They determine who people are, who they associate with, and how they live. Due to generations of violence between groups in Lebanon, her people are increasingly committed to their own allegiances while still longing for change. Many Lebanese are becoming numb to the constant chaos that these divisions create.

Parliamentary Elections in Lebanon occur every five years, but this election on Sunday, June 7th, is especially significant because it has the potential to make the divisions in Lebanon grow even sharper. Cry out that God’s will be done in Lebanon as it is in heaven during these important elections. Christians across the world are encouraged to pray that the elections in Lebanon will be peaceful and that a spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness would sweep through Lebanon.

Source: Intercessors Network