Getting One's Priorities Right!

Last night on Question Time the former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, joked about missing the House of Lords vote on the new casino law proposals. Yesterday’s vote in the Lords went against the Government’s proposals for a new Super Casino and several other large casinos across the UK by only 3 three votes. Considering such a tight margin in the Lords, Carey was asked how he had voted but said that he had not been in the Lords at the time of the vote. When questioned further about why he was not in the Lords at the time Carey said that he was watching the film Amazing Grace. Meanwhile, Carey’s successor, Archbishop Rowan Williams, had been standing up in the Lords speaking out against the casino proposals, specifically on the tenuous link between casinos and regeneration. Although the film about William Wilberforce is probably worth a watch it’s a pretty poor reflection of Careys priorities, particularly as he was speaking against casinos on Question Time and has been given the opportunity and responsibility to vote in the Lords. This could raise further questions by those who believe that there should not be non-elected bishops in the House of Lords and even disestablishment.

Aidan Liriano, CPF Co'Ordinator

Apologies and the slave trade

First published on Paul Burgin's blog.

It's good that this weekend has been spent remembering the 200th anniversary of the vote to abolish the slave trade (more of my thoughts on this can be read here), but the question has arisen as to whether it is right to apologise, considering it happened so long ago and those responsible are long since dead! I certainly question paying reperations as where does the money go?The honest answer is I don't know, but I do believe it is right to have a statement of sorrow and regret at the very least as to do otherwise at this time would be a bit crass and it is at least a sign that we have moved forward in attitude.

CHURCHES TO TACKLE CAUSES OF GUN CRIME

Councillor Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance group on Newham Council, has spoken out against the government, but in praise of churches, in looking for solutions to tackle the causes of gun crime and gang culture. Cllr Craig said that the authorities have run out of ideas and solutions. “While the government buries its collective head in the sand and claims the recent spate of teenage killings is nothing more than isolated incidents, it is time for the churches to step back into the public arena to promote their distinctive people-centred approach to young people.and youth issues,” argued Cllr Craig. “Many churches are already bursting with people and activities that offer proven solutions to these intractable problems.” In Cllr Craig’s local area he highlighted the work of a Christian football academy, Saturday supplementary schools, a Street Pastor scheme, a young leaders academy, and the Peace Alliance.Although he is part of the political establishment, Cllr Craig said that, “The police and local authorities can now be declared officially bankrupt of any meaningful solutions to youth violence in our capital. It is time for the churches to ignore the authorities, to step into the breach and to take a lead in serving the community in their distinctive way in order to combat gang culture.”

The Latest on Zimbabwe

(BBC Online)

(Originally published on Paul Burgin's blog)

In the past week, the situation here has been tipping to the point where it is fair to ask: "Is Robert Mugabe coming to the end of his dictatorship?"

First there were the attacks on opposition leaders after a prayer meeting, then the African press started to attack Mugabe (unheard of until now), then South Africa (previously an ally) started to criticise Mugabe's regime, at the same time the President of the African Union calling Mugabe's actions "very embarrassing"

This has been followed by opposition members in Zimbabwe prevented from leaving the country and Mugabe threatening to expel western diplomats who criticise his regime. On top of all this, the country is undergoing economic meltdown, with inflation higher than anywhere else in the World.

Mugabe looks like a man who is becoming increasingly desperate to hold on to power whatever the cost. If he resigns, he knows there is a strong chance of being charged with a no of crimes pertaining to his regime. He can also feel the heat of other countries, previously silent, starting to attack him.

The UK are calling for widespread sanctions and the prevention of travelling abroad of 125 Zimbabwean officials and their families. In the meantime he is trying to encourage stronger relations with China, who have so far not criticised his regime and who are keen for a more predominant influence in the Third World.

There are two approaches to take on this, one is to take a prayerful and reflective view on how to resolve this issue without causing any damaging rifts with other African countries, the other is not to back down now. More people are attacking Mugabe and his language is becoming more hostile, this is the sign of a man rattled and losing his grip on power.

March-June edition of IMPACT

The latest edition of the Christian Political Forum's IMPACT e-zine was published this week. In this quarter's edition there are articles on the gay rights debate within the church, the slave trade and Freedom Day, and how a local church initiative is helping homeless people. If you would like to receive future editions of IMPACT please email us at cpf-online@excite.com (with 'CPF' in the email title) and we will add you to our e-mailing list.

Reform of the House of Lords

Originally posted on Paul Burgin's blog:

As time goes by, some changes are made to Britain's unwritten constitution that will be beneficial or unhelpful, but in both cases painful for a number of people.
Last night's vote on the House of Lords future was one of those times. For me it is a change I fully endorse, although that is not a view I held a number of years ago, for the simple reason that "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!". For me the Commons was what mattered, being the primary legislator, and given the uneven composition of the Lords, one could hardly call it a politically biased chamber (For those who have accused it of being piled full of Tories, remember it wasn't exactly a friend of Margaret Thatcher's and could be obstructive during the 1980s). But the first wave of reform and the "Cash for Peerages" allegations have changed all that! The exclusion of most of the heriditary peers has meant that most of them can apply not only for election to the House of Commons, but if a heriditary peer dies, election as one of the 100 or so left in the Lords. That is elitist and unfair.
Then we have the "Cash for Peerages" allegations. To become a member of any legislature in the world is open to abuse, but the Lords in this case has hardly any democratic accountability. Political institutions must not only be clean of sleaze and corruption, they must appear to be as well, and whilst that is difficult in itself, significant reform of the Lords may well help restore people's faith in the political process, depending of course on how it is handled from now on!

FREEDOM DAY!

In the third and final extract from articles for the forthcoming IMPACT e-zine, this article looks at slavery past and present, in the lead up to Freedom Day:

The film Amazing Grace will help us to understand the efforts that Christian campaigners like William Wilberforce made to abolish the transatlantic slave trade, but we must not forget that Christians also made efforts to maintain slavery.The work of Christians who sought to liberate people from slavery isn’t over. In the 21st century modern day slavery continues. Worldwide there are 12.3 million victims of forced labour, and 2.4 million people are trafficked each year, 1.2 million of whom are children. People are trafficked into many different situations including prostitution, begging, forced labour, military service, domestic violence, forced illegal adoption, and forced marriage.

You can read the full article in the March edition of IMPACT, which will be distributed to those on the CPF e-mailing list on Monday 12th March. It is free to add your name to the mailing list and you can do this by emailing us at cpf-online@excite.com. Please put 'CPF' in the title of the email.

A WHIFF OF HYPOCRISY

In the second of our extracts from articles for the forthcoming IMPACT e-zine, Paul Burgin looks at both sides of the argument on gay rights in the church in his article 'A Whiff of Hypocrisy':

"Liberals are angry because they feel hurt at what they see as the actions of a few bigots who have an unsophisticated view of scripture and using it to give vent to prejudice - either that or they are blind. On the other hand, evangelicals are distressed at what they see as the actions of people who are flouting Biblical teaching and trying to twist the Bible around to suit their lifestyle or the lifestyle of their friends. No one is prepared to listen to each other, or consider each others views, and some extremists on both sides see this as an opportunity to ‘purify’ the Church and wish to see an inconvenient group of people leave."

You can read the full article in the March edition of IMPACT, which will be distributed to those on the CPF e-mailing list on Monday 12th March. It is free to add your name to the mailing list and you can do this by emailing us at cpf-online@excite.com. Please put 'CPF' in the title of the email.

PAKISTAN ALLOWS CHURCH IN UNIVERSITY

High Court permission has been given for the reconstruction of a church in the campus of the University of Peshawar, according to reports from The Barnabas Fund.The church had been attacked and ransacked in the 1980s by Islamic extremists. After building work began in December 2006 two Muslim students filed a petition against the church, stating that minority religious groups could not be allowed to build places of worship within institutions which were Muslim majority, and that to allow the church would give rise to an "unending series of demands" by other minorities, which they contended could be a trigger for sectarianism among the students.However, only a few weeks ago the High Court in Peshawar gave the decision that the construction of the church should not be stopped. The Court held that there were no legal obstacles to building places of worship and pointed out that Pakistan's constitution protects religious minorities. The Court also highlighted that Muslims can build mosques and spread their faith without obstruction in non-Muslim countries."It has been a miracle indeed," commented the Bishop of Peshawar. There are 38 mosques on the University campus; the church, once rebuilt, will be the only church, serving 1,500 families.

CHURCH UNITY HELPS HOMELESS

In anticipation of the publication of the March edition of IMPACT (the Christian Political Forum quarterly e-zine) we are publishing a series of extracts from articles that will appear in IMPACT this quarter. The first is from the article "Church Unity Helps Homeless", in which the CPF interviews Paul Ware, Co-ordinator for Croydon Churches Floating Shelter, on the continuing success of the shelter.

“A guest from our first season stayed with us for about 6 weeks. He had lost his job in the city, his flat and his girlfriend through alcohol. At the end of the shelter he entered a rehabilitation centre in Scotland. After 6 months treatment and much encouragement he made contact with his estranged family. He obtained employment and was reunited with his girlfriend. He contacted me a few months ago to say he was now married with an 18 month old son, in regular employment and lives locally. This turn around in his life was due to the help we had given him and he felt it was ‘pay back’ time. He is now a volunteer at one of the churches on a regular basis.”

You can read the full article in IMPACT, which is going to be distributed on Monday 12th March. You can receive IMPACT via the CPF e-mailing list. Join the mailing list by emailing us at cpf-online@excite.com. Please put 'CPF' in the email title.