Porn, young people and the church; Economics should not dictate sports provision; Connor clergy Training Day; Bishop inspires blogspot
Porn, young people and the church
Of 2,731 Year 11 (4th Form) students surveyed this year, 48.4% of males are accessing porn at least weekly and 24% daily.
The sex industry in Northern Ireland earns more that our two leading companies.
The Porn Industry is worth £63 billion globally and in the UK it is worth £660 million.
These statistics are truly shocking. What is important to remember however is that behind these figures are real lives, real families, real relationships. Where do they go for support? For guidance? For help? Who do we want to teach them relationships and sexuality? The Church, or the porn industry?
Porn Scars is a ONE DAY conference, repeated over 2 days, on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May 2013. It will be held in Lisburn Cathedral. Tickets are £15 and include lunch.
The organisers comment –
Hosted jointly by Big House, Love for Life and Urban Saints, the conference is aimed at church leaders, youth leaders, parents, and grandparents. Basically anybody (over 18) who cares about the effect that pornography has, and will continue to have on young people.
The purpose of the conference is to raise awareness of the issues, reflect on an appropriate Christian response, resource people with tools for support and demonstrate that there is hope.
The scale of the problem
Thanks to the internet, our boys and girls are the first children to grow up with free, round the–clock access to hardcore pornography. Porn has become part of the adult mainstream, colouring everything from advertising to best–selling books like Fifty Shades of Grey. (The Telegraph 27 January 2013)
Further research shows that calls to Childline in last year have increased by 34%, as young people are worried that they are becoming addicted to porn. Girls say they feel they are being coerced to re–enact scenes. 1 in 3 10 year olds have seen pornography online, 17% (13% females v 24% males) of year 11 students have used their phone to send or receive an inappropriate image.
What is becoming clear is that Pornography is a huge issue for our young people. It has the potential to be addictive and destructive. It is having and will continue to have massive ramifications on relationships today and in the future.
Let’s do something!
It would be easy to feel helpless as we read this information. To think we can’t to anything to change this culture. As the Church, not only can we do something but we must do something. As people who believe in God’s heart for His people and that He wants us to experience the very best in our relationships we have a message of hope and love and grace to share with society.
The full programme for the day is available online www.pornscars–ireland.com and ticket scan be purchased on line or by contacting Barbara at Love for Life on 028 38820555.
Economics should not dictate sports provision
Economics should never dictate whether or not a child can take part in the sport of his or her choosing, the congregation at the annual Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Sport was told. The CEO of Paralympics Ireland, Liam Harbinson, addressed the service, which took place in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, on Sunday April 14. He said that over the last few years our country had taken a battering but sport had been a great source of pride and enjoyment for the nation and must continue to be nurtured.
Mr Harbinson said sport had the capacity to unite people as nothing else could and highlighted the great joy the nation felt during Italia ‘90 and Katie Taylor’s Olympic Gold Medal win.
Having been involved in the paralympic movement for 17 years, he said one of the most important moments of his life was to be appointed Chef de Mission for the 2012 London Paralympics. He spoke about the four pillars of paralympics: courage, determination, equality and inspiration.
The collection from the service is traditionally donated to charity and this year’s chosen organisation was the Blackrock and Harold’s Cross Hospice. Mo Flynn spoke to the congregation about the service they provide and said that while many thought of the hospice as dealing with end of life, they focused on living life to the fullest, right up until the end whenever that might be.
The event was the 64th service of thanksgiving for the gift of sport to take place in Dublin.
The idea arose following discussions between the Revd George Crummy and Bob Graves, the Irish Rugby internationl. It was decided to hold an annual church service and the first took place in St Peter’s Church, Aungier Street, in 1949 and was supported by the Association of Schools’ Unions.
The service continues to be the focus of thanksgiving for all men, women and young people whose lives have been enriched and blessed by the gift of sport, whether through active participation, patronage or through the medium of radio, television or attendance at sporting events. This year the Belvedere College Chamber Choir, directed by Ruaidhrí Ó Dalaigh, accompanied the service.
Connor clergy Training Day
80 Clergy from across Connor Diocese came together for a Training Day on April 11 organised by the Bishop, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy.
Keynote speaker was the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Rev Steven Croft, and the topic of the event, held in Lisburn Cathedral, was ‘Engaging Culture,’ one of the strands of the diocesan vision strategy.
Bishop inspires blogspot
Interesting Blogspot inspired by Frederick Hervey, the Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry. Good photographic coverage of Drumachose Parish Church – Limavady.
http://fredrickhervey4thearlofbristol.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Organ.%20Royal%20Navy