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Pray| Showing page 21 of 24 1... 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 | Last update: Wednesday 25th March |
| The leader of Coptic Catholics in Egypt has spoken of an “historic opportunity” for the people, describing how the country now stands on the brink of achieving the “dream” of a democratic system. Cardinal Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria, welcomed the interim military regime’s stated aim of dismantling the autocratic style of government built up over 30 years by Hosni Mubarak, who resigned on February 11. Signalling his strong support for the first declarations of the temporary administration which replaced Mr Mubarak, Patriarch Naguib highlighted the importance of the new commitment to a civil system of government. Speaking from Alexandria in an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Patriarch Naguib said: “Moving towards a civil, democratic government, rather than a religious or military one, has been our hope for a long time – it has been a dream.” | |
| World Issues | The Universe, February 20, 2011 |
| Calls for a fresh drive to stop a guerrilla commander from terrorising South Sudan have come from a senior bishop, who fears renewed violence may derail progress in a region preparing for independence. Reporting on an upsurge of violence by the Lords Resistance Army in Sudan’s far south-west, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio has issued an open letter pleading for renewed political pressure to bring LRA leader Joseph Kony to the negotiating table. And in an interview with Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Hiiboro said the threat of worse violence could drag neighbouring regions into the conflict, with devastating consequences for the fledgling government of what looks set to become Africa’s youngest country. | |
| World Issues | The Universe, February 20, 2011 |
| Christians in Egypt appear divided in their reaction to the fall of Hosni Mubarak. Young Christians share the enthusiasm of their Muslim contemporaries and hope for a new dawn in their country; older Christians worry that Islamists may seize power and try to enforce Sharia law now Mubarak’s restraining hand has been removed. | |
| World Issues | The Church Of England Newspaper, February 18, 2011 |
| David Cameron is ‘appalled’ the Government must reform the sex offenders register and put the rights of paedophiles and rapists above protecting the public. Thousands of sex offenders will be able to apply to have their names removed after the Supreme Court ruled it was a breach of offenders’ human rights to be on the register for life with no review. The ruling “seems to fly completely in the face of common sense”, but the Government has no choice but to act, the Prime Minister said. | |
| Politics | The Sentinel, February 17, 2011 |
| UK inflation hit double the Bank of England’s two per cent target last month as it soared to its highest level in more than two years. The Office for National Statistics said the Consumer Prices Index rate of inflation was four per cent in January as the increase in VAT and the soaring cost of crude oil pushed up the cost of living. Governor Mervyn King admitted there was a “great deal of uncertainty” over the inflation outlook and there were “real differences of view” among Bank of England policymakers. | |
| Money | The Sentinel, February 16, 2011 |
| Hundreds of migrant workers are left living in the UK illegally as the UK Border Agency puts profit before securing the country’s borders, an independent watchdog has revealed. John Vine, the independent chief inspector of the UKBA, said the perception among staff was that the agency’s emphasis “was always on income-generating work first”. Controlling immigration and the quality of decisions over cases were not as much of a priority as generating income and providing customer service, many staff said. | |
| World Issues | The Sentinel, February 16, 2011 |
| Ministers are to set out plans to make changes to the law which could enable same-sex couples to “marry” in church. The Sunday Telegraph reported that Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat Equalities Minister, is set to publish proposals to lift the ban on civil partnership ceremonies being held in places of worship. Such ceremonies could also be permitted to include for the first time religious elements which are currently banned under existing legislation. | |
| The Law | The Sentinel, February 14, 2011 |
| UCAS have reported a 5.1% increase in applications this year. With just over 400,000 places for undergraduate study, many will be disappointed. Applicants are likely trying to avoid the increase in fees expected in 2012, when universities will be able to charge up to £9,000 a year. David Willetts, the universities minister said, ‘We are opening up other routes into a successful career. Our reforms will make part-time university study more accessible and we are also investing in new apprenticeship places, with an additional 75,00 being created by 2014.’ | |
| Education | Youthwork, March 2011 |
| Skins co-creator Brian Elsley says the show ‘is actually a very serious attempt to get to the roots of young people’s lives’. The show, about the lives of teenagers from a fictitious Bristol College, has created a storm of controversy in the US, with at least five major sponsors pulling advertising around an American remake of the series. The show deals with relationships, sexual activity, drug use, death and mental health, and Elsley says ‘these are characterised from the point of view of the many young people who write the show and has a very straightforward approach to their experiences; it tries to tell the truth. Sometimes that truth can be a little painful to adults and parents.’ Meanwhile, US TV watchdog the Parents Television Council has declared that ‘Skins may well be the most dangerous television show for children that we have ever seen.’ | |
| Young People | Youthwork, March 2011 |
| An archbishop in Pakistan has urged people to respect sacred symbols – including those of the Catholic Church and Christianity – after participants in a rally supporting the country’s anti-blasphemy laws burned effigies of Pope Benedict XVI and the cross. Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore, president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said that “Islamic radicals” had attacked the Pope, accusing him of interfering in the life of the country. “They burned his effigy and the cross. For that, we are very sorry. As faithful Christians, this wounds us,” the archbishop said. In an interview with Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, Archbishop Saldanha said: “We disassociate ourselves from every act of violence and we demand respect for all sacred symbols, whatever their religion.” | |
| Religion/Spirituality | The Universe, February 13, 2011 |
| A church service in Bauchi State in Nigeria was disrupted after a man deposited a bomb at the back of the building. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports that a young man concealed the bomb in a laptop bag and left it under a pew before fleeing on a motorbike. The bomb squad later defused the large explosive device. CSW is urging people to pray for churches in Nigeria, after earlier protests in the city of Jos. Thousands of women took to the streets to protest against the violence in Plateau State and to denounce discrimination against Christians. | |
| World Issues | The War Cry, 12 February 2011 |
| A former BBC presenter has accused the corporation of bias, saying ‘Christians are fair game’ for its journalists. In his memoirs Peter Sissons, a former BBC newsreader, said: ‘Trade unions are mostly good things, especially when they are fighting BBC managers. Quangos are also mostly good, and the reports they produce are usually handled uncritically. ‘The Royal Family is a bore. Islam must not be offended at any price, although Christians are fair game because they do nothing about it if they are offended.’ | |
| Media | Salvationist, 12 February 2011 |
| Top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge will be barred from charging the maximum £9,000 tuition fee unless they accept “dramatically” poorer students, Nick Clegg has said. The Deputy Prime Minister said institutions would not be allowed to “merrily” levy the highest charge without making improvements in access. Anybody wanting to charge more than £6,000 a year will be obliged to strike an agreement with the Office of Fair Access. | |
| Education | The Sentinel, February 10, 2011 |
| The UK’s biggest banks have agreed to rein in bonuses and lend £190 billion to businesses this year after hammering out a long-awaited deal with the Government. Chancellor George Osborne unveiled details of a truce with the “big four” banks, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group and HSBC, which will see total bonus pots lower than last year and lending to small businesses increased. | |
| Money | The Sentinel, February 10, 2011 |
| Unions and voluntary groups are set to join forces today to campaign against the Government’s spending cuts, arguing that they make a “mockery” of the Government’s Big Society. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber accused ministers of driving through “savage” cuts. The union organisation said the voluntary sector was set to lose around £4.5 billion because of the Government’s austerity measures. | |
| Politics | The Sentinel, February 8, 2011 |
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