Christian settles with NHS in dispute over anti-abortion booklet; Christian Aid steps up Sahel food appeal; Churches more confident after London 2012; New logo for Mission Aviation Fellowship; House of Commons: Same-sex marriage and civil partnerships; Witchcraft child abuse
Christian settles with NHS in dispute over anti-abortion booklet
Telegraph – Margaret Forrester, a Roman Catholic, was dismissed after a dispute which stemmed from her giving a colleague an anti-abortion booklet.
She was told that the booklet, highlighting potential physical and psychological damage some women suffer after an abortion, amounted to “offensive” material.
Miss Forrester, 40, from Battersea, south London, lodged a High Court action against her former employer, the North West London NHS Trust, accusing it of breaching her human rights.
She claimed that the NHS had become “dangerously totalitarian” on the issue of abortion.
She was also due to go to an employment tribunal later this year alleging unfair dismissal, religious discrimination and religious harassment.
But the Thomas More Legal Centre, the charity representing Miss Forrester, announced that both cases had been settled for an undisclosed sum.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9475907/Christian-settles-with-NHS-in-dispute-over-anti-abortion-booklet.html
Christian Aid steps up Sahel food appeal
Christian Aid has ramped up its Sahel appeal as it seeks to address the escalating food crisis.
The development agency warned that the situation in the west African region was “deteriorating fast”.
It has raised £475,000 since the launch of its appeal in March but is asking supporters and major donors to consider giving more to deal with the scale of the crisis.
Food aid for nearly 250,000 Malian refugees in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and neighbouring states is set to run out in weeks, the World Food Programme has warned.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.aid.steps.up.sahel.food.appeal/30483.htm
Churches more confident after London 2012
In the same way that Great Britain has gained a fresh sense of confidence through delivering a highly successful 2012 Games, the same is true for thousands of churches.
This is the view of David Willson, chief executive of More Than Gold – the agency at the heart of helping churches and Christian volunteers serve their communities and welcome visitors during the Games.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.more.confident.after.london.2012/30486.htm
New logo for Mission Aviation Fellowship
“From the wings-and-Bible emblem used in some parts of the world, to the dove used by MAF in the United States, the MAF logo has long been a symbol of hope and help to isolated people in remote corners of the globe,” said John Boyd, president and chief executive of MAF-US. “This new logo continues that proud tradition.” MAF serves in 32 countries and uses aviation to share the Gospel and bring vital resources to regions cut off by natural disaster or remote areas that are not easily accessed by road.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.logo.for.mission.aviation.fellowship/30484.htm
House of Commons: Same-sex marriage and civil partnerships
The House of Commons Library has published a briefing note, dealing primarily with the situation in England and Wales, and summarising published responses to the recent government consultation on equal civil marriage. It gives a good deal of space to the arguments put forward in the official Church of England response.
http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/005628.html
Witchcraft child abuse: social services and police ‘cowed by political correctness’ claims minister
Telegraph – ‘Political correctness’ is preventing police from stopping child abuse by parents and church leaders who believe in witchcraft, a minister warns.
Tim Loughton, the children’s minister, said that a “wall of silence” was obscuring the full scale of cruelty in some communities where beliefs in evil spirits was common.
He was speaking as the Government announced plans to introduce new training for social workers, teachers, police and church members to combat the abuse.
It follows the conviction earlier this year of Eric Bikubi a London football coach, and his partner Magalie Bamu, for torturing and murdered a 15-year-old boy because they believed he was practising witchcraft.
The couple, whose families came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, subjected Bamu’s brother Kristy to a three-day ordeal because they were convinced he was practising “kindoki” or sorcery.
The case had echoes of that of Victoria Climbié, the eight-year-old girl who was murdered by her guardians who believed she was possessed by demons.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9475115/Witchcraft-child-abuse-social-services-and-police-cowed-by-political-correctness-claims-minister.html