Church publishes prayers for voters ahead of the General Election
The Church of England has published prayers to help voters as they consider their options in the forthcoming General Election. The prayers remind voters that they can make a difference, ask that the concerns of all may be heard and seek protection from despair and cynicism. The prayers, for personal use or during church services, were specially written by the Mission and Public Affairs Division and the Communications Office in association with National Worship Development Officer the Rev Peter Moger. They are published on the web alongside details of relevant debates in the General Synod over the last five years.
Pray: that through the Holy Spirit these prayers will have the power to encourage those who use them. (Ep.6:18)
Technicality halts efforts to reverse adoption agency ban
An attempt to exempt Catholic adoption agencies from gay rights laws failed this week when the leaders of the three main political parties united to deny peers a vote. An amendment tabled by four senior members of the House of Lords to Harriet Harman's Equality Bill aimed to overturn a regulation banning the religious adoption agencies from rejecting gay couples and cohabitees as adopters and foster parents. Led by Baroness Williams of Crosby, the peers claimed their move had the support of the majority of the House. But the amendment was dropped after the ‘usual channels’ - the leaders of the major parties in the Lords and their whips - ruled that it could not be moved on a technicality. Baroness Williams said she felt that the abuse scandal convulsing the Church in Ireland and Germany had undermined the support her amendment might have generated. (See Prayer Alert 1210)
Pray: for the freedom of charities to organise themselves in such a way that their activities are consistent with their religious beliefs when clearly providing public services. (Ro.12:2)
More: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/articles/a0000780.shtml
Serbia: Parliament apologizes for Srebrenica massacre
Serbia's Parliament has apologized for the massacre of 8,000 Muslims by Bosnian-Serb forces in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in 1995. But, the declaration does not directly call the crime ‘genocide’, as survivors had demanded. After 13 hours of debate Serbia's Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Europe's worst massacre since World War II. Two-thirds of the lawmakers voted for a declaration that analysts said ends years of denial by Serbian politicians about the scale of the killings. About 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed after Bosnian-Serb forces overran the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in 1995. The text of the resolution says, ‘The Parliament of Serbia strongly condemns the crime committed against the Bosnian-Muslim population of Srebrenica in July, 1995.’ Lawmakers also expressed ‘their condolences and an apology to the families of the victims because not everything possible was done to prevent the tragedy.’
Pray: that this apology will bring a start to the healing process for all those affected. (Ps.79:8-9)
Serbia: Parliament apologizes for Srebrenica massacre
Serbia's Parliament has apologized for the massacre of 8,000 Muslims by Bosnian-Serb forces in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in 1995. But, the declaration does not directly call the crime ‘genocide’, as survivors had demanded. After 13 hours of debate Serbia's Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Europe's worst massacre since World War II. Two-thirds of the lawmakers voted for a declaration that analysts said ends years of denial by Serbian politicians about the scale of the killings. About 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed after Bosnian-Serb forces overran the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in 1995. The text of the resolution says, ‘The Parliament of Serbia strongly condemns the crime committed against the Bosnian-Muslim population of Srebrenica in July, 1995.’ Lawmakers also expressed ‘their condolences and an apology to the families of the victims because not everything possible was done to prevent the tragedy.’
Pray: that this apology will bring a start to the healing process for all those affected. (Ps.79:8-9)
