Society & Politics

Continuing battle over abortion in Northern Ireland: Former and current midwifes in the province have issued strong warnings against decriminalising abortion there and have urged politicians to continue to protect the unborn. Read more here.

• Victory for parents in Scotland: The Scottish Government has agreed to end the Named Person scheme under which every Scottish child would have been assigned a “named person”– a state employee – to watch over their ‘wellbeing’. Read more here.
• Rights of parents under attack in Wales: Plans to criminalise parents for smacking their children moved a step closer this week after a majority of Assembly Members voted in favour of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill. Read more here.
• Relationships and Sex Education: The Christian Legal Centre have looked in depth at the effect of the new RSE laws and regulations. Parents and schools can see their considered response here. You may also read more on RSE here.
• Persistent spread of transgender ideology: Draft wording is being considered by the Office for National Statistics to allow everyone in England and Wales to choose their own sex in the 2021 census. Read more here.
• Pushback against euthanasia: There have been strong calls of late by concerned individuals and campaigners for the law to uphold life and protect the vulnerable for the good of society. Read more here.
• Opposition from senior police officer to drug legalisation: The Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Andy Cooke, has warned that legalising drugs will not stop drug abuse or gang-related violence. Read more here.
• Ongoing Brexit developments: The EU and UK are in intensive talks to see if a deal can be reached before 31 October. Brexiteers are concerned however that this may prove to be a rehash of Theresa May’s earlier draft withdrawal agreement. Read more here and here.

Church Issues

• ‘Christophobia’: Christian Concern have published their written evidence previously submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee, following the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians. Read more here.
• Koran read at Westminster Abbey: Britain’s coronation church permitted a Koranic reading by the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina from its lectern at a recent Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Paddy Ashdown, the former Liberal Democrat leader and UN high representative. Read more here.

World Scene

• Children saved in Myanmar: 39 Christian children have been helped by Barnabas Fund-supported ministry to escape from war zones or refugee camps, and have been settled in safe villages. Read more here.
• Persecuted believers in Burkina Faso: Consider supporting efforts to help faithful Christians in Burkina Faso suffering violent attacks by Islamist terrorists. Read more here.
• A win for religious liberty in the USA: The Arizona Supreme Court ruled this week that the city of Phoenix cannot force two Christian artists to design and create same-sex wedding invitations. Read more here.
• Horrors of the abortion industry coming to light: An expert witness testified to a San Francisco court hearing this week that fetal hearts used in research are harvested from living babies. Two investigative journalists are facing criminal charges for undercover videos exposing trafficking in baby body parts. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• Tensions between the USA and Iran: The Trump Administration is holding Tehran responsible for the recent attacks on oil fields in Saudi Arabia and has declared America’s readiness to respond as appropriate. Read more here and here.
• Israel in impasse after election results: With more than 99 percent of the vote counted, it appears that Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud will finish a close second to Benny Gantz’ Blue and White alliance. Both have hopes of building a coalition but the situation is fluid and far from straightforward. Read more here, and this week’s article on this topic here.

Events

• Abortion: Killing off the human race? Saturday 21 September (central London): Join Voice for Justice UK and speakers including the Rt Hon Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP in calling for a reduction of the time limit for abortion. The Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, 10am-5pm, tickets £30 (concessions £15). Click here to find out more and to register.
• Abortion: Choice, Necessity or Injustice? Thursday 26 September (Bristol): Join the Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform at their Bristol launch for an evening of inspiration, education and activation on this vital issue. Buckingham Chapel, 7:30pm. Click here to find out more and RSVP. The following day there is also opportunity to join apologetics training and take part in an educational street display in the city centre.
• ‘Our kids are being taught WHAT?!’ Saturday 12 October (north-west London): A one-day conference to discuss the Government’s new RSE curriculum. Hear from expert speakers and receive practical advice on how to respond. Masons Avenue, Harrow, 10am-6pm. Tickets £25 (£10 concessions). Click here for more information and to book.