Godbaby – the must-have Gift this Christmas; Back to school – with two new Eucharistic Prayers for children; Online Safety – Let’s Put Children First – Archbishop; How can it be a hate crime to show your faith in Christ? – Lord Carey
Godbaby – the must-have Gift this Christmas
A very different image of baby Jesus is due to hit the streets this Christmas, with the new Godbaby poster from the Churches Advertising Network, http://churchads.net/
Back to school – with two new Eucharistic Prayers for children
Two new Eucharistic Prayers for school and church use are published – both composed to involve children and capture their imaginations as fully as possible in the preparation and celebration of Holy Communion. They are available alongside practical guidance from the Liturgical Commission helping celebrants turn an ordinary school room into an exciting place of worship; and they are available in a range of print and digital formats to suit schools and churches. For further information, see end of briefing or go to: http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/09/back-to-school-%E2%80%93-with-two-new-eucharistic-prayers-for-children.aspx
Online Safety – Let’s Put Children First – Archbishop
The Archbishop of York has written in the Daily Mail about the importance of protecting young people using the internet. His article states…
This week, on 6th September, the Government consultation into Parental Internet Controls will officially close.
This is our last chance to put across to Ministers our concerns about the growing amount of inappropriate material on the internet being accessed by children and young people.
Firstly, I want to thank Tim Loughton and Lynne Featherstone for holding this consultation and giving people the chance to air their views on this serious issue.
The internet can be a wonderful educational tool. It is good that a growing number of children have access to the internet – but it is important that this is done in a safe and controlled environment.
99% of people aged 7-16 have used the internet – when this is done in a public environment such as a school or library, it is usual that a certain amount of safeguards are put in place.
http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2605/online-safety-lets-put-children-first
How can it be a hate crime to show your faith in Christ? – Lord Carey
For most of my lifetime, the beliefs of the four Christians involved in today’s case would have earned widespread respect. Each of them would have been regarded as pillars of the community.
Now, however, they and many others are the new heretics. Indeed, it seems the secular equivalent of the Inquisition will brook no dissent from the reigning orthodoxy of diversity and equality.
The past three Prime Ministers – David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair – have all loudly lauded tolerance, which they name as chief among the British virtues.
In fact, during all their premierships, the number of new laws concerning hate speech and equality regulations have shot up – thus shrinking the space for public debate.
Chillingly, Christians like those who go to Strasbourg today above have been sacked and disciplined for expressing their views. Roman Catholic adoption agencies have been forced to close or conform under the notorious Sexual Orientation Regulations of 2007, which decreed that Catholic adoption agencies could no longer follow their faith convictions by placing children with married couples, and have to allow homosexual couples to adopt, too.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2197862/How-hate-crime-faith-Christ.html