Society & Politics
Worrying approach of UK courts to abortion: Christian Concern have looked in depth at how courts in the UK are dealing with cases of abortion in the light of a recent case in Northern Ireland, in which Sarah Ewart challenged the law after she was denied a termination. Read more here.
- Continuing battle over abortion in Northern Ireland: A recent survey has revealed that a clear majority in the Province oppose the imposition of new abortion laws. Read more here. Also here.
- Pushback against abortion in Scotland: Under quite heavy attack, a pro-life SNP MSP, John Mason, has recently tabled a motion to reduce the abortion limit from 24 weeks to reflect recent medical advances. Read more here.
- Criminalising parents: Plans to prosecute parents in Scotland for smacking their children moved a step closer this week after a majority of Assembly Members voted in favour of controversial legislation on a ban. Read more here.
- Protest over sex education in Scottish schools: Parents in Scotland have been pushing back against the content and scope of a new relationships, sexual health and parenthood curriculum. Read more here.
- Persistent spread of transgender ideology: The Office for National Statistics have been given the go-ahead by MPs to allow everyone to choose their own sex in the 2021 national census. Read more here. This news comes amidst other reports that hundreds of young people are now regretting ‘gender switch’ and girls are increasingly skipping school rather than using gender-neutral toilets. Read more here and here. You may also wish to consider signing this petition here.
- Dr David Mackereth responds to Employment Tribunal ruling: Christian doctor, Dr David Mackereth, whose dismissal for conscientious objection to transgenderism was upheld recently, has said it is “beyond reason” to force people to lie. Watch him speak here.
- Witchcraft in Britain: A concerning matter for much prayer is the news that the largest witchcraft festival in the world – ‘Witchfest’ – is scheduled to be held in Croydon on Saturday 9 November 2019. More details can be found by an internet search, if the Lord leads you to investigate further.
- Positive news for free speech: The Government’s Counter-extremism tsar, Sara Khan, has said its definition of extremism is too broad and restricts free speech. Her comments have been welcomed by free speech campaigners. Read more here.
- Ongoing Brexit developments: The EU, the Republic of Ireland and the UK are in intensive talks to see if a deal can be reached by 31 October. Brexiteers are concerned however that this may prove to be a rehash of Theresa May’s earlier draft withdrawal agreement and are pressing for a clean break. Read more here and here.
World Scene
- A green light to euthanasia in Italy: The Italian constitutional court has handed down a landmark judgment stating that anyone who helps a patient to kill themselves should not be punished, if that patient is believed to be suffering from an irreversible condition and is in “intolerable” pain. 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.
- Violent attacks on believers in Sri Lanka: Targeted attacks on Christians continue to occur in different parts of the country. Most recently 6 believers were badly beaten on their way to church in one village. Read more here.
- Young believer kidnapped in Pakistan: The Christian parents of a 20-year-old woman in Pakistan have appealed to the country’s PM, Imran Khan, to help find her. She went missing on 4 July, believed kidnapped. Read more here.
- Forgiveness from a murder victim’s family in the US: An ex-police officer, Amber Guyger, who was found guilty of killing a youth pastor in Dallas, Botham Jean, was publicly forgiven in court recently by Jean’s family and urged to turn to Christ. The presiding judge was also moved and gave Guyger her Bible, which has since drawn criticism from secularists. Read more here and here.
Israel & Middle East
- Tensions between the USA and Turkey: President Trump Administration has promised to “wipe out” the Turkish economy if Turkey does the same to the Kurds in Syria following Ankara’s recent incursion there. Read more here.
- Thousands gather in Jerusalem for Yom Kippur: Around 100,000 Jews gathered at the Western Wall for prayers on Tuesday evening this week before the beginning of the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. Read more here.