On July 21 it was reported that an undisclosed abortion facility is to close as a result
of pro-life campaigning. The move has been
described by Britain's largest private abortion provider BPAS as a ‘first in the UK’.
Despite posting the news, BPAS refuses to
name the clinic. It denies ownership of the
clinic
in question. A June 22 Early Day
Motion (EDM 162), sponsored by Diane
Abbott MP, cites news of the closure and also
suggests other clinics have been prevented
from opening as a result of ‘local fears about
anti-abortion activity’.
Porn regulation
streamed online. Daily Telegraph / CARE
New polling over 10 –12 July for social
policy charity CARE
(Christian Action
Research and Education) demonstrates
strong public support for the government’s
commitment to regulate all websites with
pornographic content.
74% of
the public believe
the UK
Government should require sites that provide
porn to the UK – regardless of whether or
not they are actually located in the UK – to
put in place age verification checks. A further
73% also said that age verification should
apply
to 18 as well as R18-rated
films
General Synod elections
Church of England, Christian Concern
Elections
for
the 2015–2020 General
Synod are taking place between now and
mid-October (exact dates vary by diocese).
The General Synod plays a significant role
in the governance of the Church of England
and will be the scene of critical debates over
the next five years. Any serving clergy or
retired clergy with permission to officiate in a
diocese, and any communicant lay person
who is on a church electoral roll (or cathedral
roll) who is 18 or above is eligible to stand.
Underage girls implants
CARE
Over the last four years more than 33,000
girls under the legal age of consent have
been provided with contraceptive implants
or hormonal injections on the NHS.
The
figures were
compiled
by
the
Government’s Health
and
Social Care
Information Centre (HSCIC.) 5,400 girls
under 16 were given
the contraceptive
implant without parental consent. Of those
1,800 were aged 14 or under.
Shari’a law or British law?
Christian Concern
A summary published in May collating various surveys suggests that 29% of British
Muslims would prefer to live in this country
under shari’a law rather than British law.
31% agree
that Muslim conversion
to
another religion is ‘forbidden and punishable
by death’ and 17% believe it is appropriate that
Muslims who convert to other religions are cut
off by their families. Up to 20% say there is a
clash between Islam and British values.
Pro-lifer cleared
The Christian Institute
Pro-life campaigner Bernadette Smyth has
been cleared of harassing a pro-abortion
activist on 29 June, following an appeal.
In November last year Smyth was found
guilty of harassing Dawn Purvis on
two
occasions earlier in the year. She was given
100 hours of community service and a five
year
restraining order
stopping her
from
approaching Purvis or anyone seeking to
enter the Marie Stopes clinic. She learned
that her appeal against the conviction was
successful due to insufficient evidence.
Secularists back preacher
The Christian Institute
The National Secular Society have spoken
out against the prosecution of a Northern
Irish preacher who criticised Islam.
They say taking the case against James
McConnell is ‘palpably harmful to religious
freedom and the fundamental right to freedom of expression.’ McConnell
is being
prosecuted for comments made in a sermon,
which was available online, in which he said:
‘Islam
is heathen...
satanic... a doctrine
spawned in hell.’ The 78-year-old is being
prosecuted under the Communications Act
2003.