In Europe An Octopus Now Has More Rights Than An Unborn Baby

What do you call a continent which cares more about the rights and wellbeing of crabs, lobsters, and even the common octopus, than it does about unborn babies? Just in case you cannot come up with anything, let me suggest a few possibilities: deranged, degenerate, despicable and delirious. And just to keep the alliteration going: dumb, really dumb.

This is how the New Scientist begins its coverage of this bizarre story: “Animal welfare legislation generally applies only to vertebrates. There are, however, moves to include invertebrates. Proposed changes to European law, for example, would extend welfare laws to crabs and lobsters. Up to now the only invertebrate protected is the common octopus.

“‘Invertebrate rights’ has become a campaigning issue. Advocates for Animals recently produced a report which concludes that there is ‘potential for experiencing pain and suffering’ in crustaceans. The group is particularly concerned about boiling lobsters alive. The wider public is also showing interest. Research supposedly demonstrating that hermit crabs feel and remember pain received worldwide news coverage” (more…)

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Pursuing The Churches Over Human Rights Is Contradictory

Peter CostelloPeter Costello

July 29, 2009 – The Age

A proposed charter may be used to curtail religious freedom.

WHAT happens when equal rights between men and women are so widely accepted that mainstream Australia hardly thinks about it? Surely it is time to acknowledge that anti-discrimination statutes have done their job?

Not according to the Victorian Government. It harbours the view that discrimination has got sophisticated – so hard to find under current law – that we must widen the law to catch more of it. One area in the State Government’s sights is religious bodies, and their schools. (more…)

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Religious Exceptions – Church v State

The CrossWith the Victorian government currently considering all the ‘exceptions’ and exemptions’ in Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act, things are starting to heat up!

The religious exceptions in the Act are causing a great deal of concern among many Christian groups.

Section 75 covers churches and religious schools, Section 76 covers religious schools and Section 77 covers individuals.

The exceptions say that religious bodies and so on are excepted from the anti-discrimination laws. They mean, for example, that Christian schools can specify that those they employ have Christian beliefs and lifestyles that are consistent with their Christian beliefs.

The Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee put out an Options Paper in May 2009 and asked for submissions. Over 1,000 were received and the Committee is now analysing them.   (more…)

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Atheist Father’s Prayers Answered; Now He’s “Considering Going To Church And Being A Believer”

Ava IsabellaBy Teresa Neumann – Breaking Christian News

“I was an atheist. Now I’m considering going to church and being a believer. There’s got to be someone up there who’s saving our little daughter.”

(Buffalo, NY)—Miracle baby, one-week-old Ava Isabella Stinson weighs only 2 pounds 4 ounces, but the tiny tike is already changing the lives of the people around her. Like her parents, Natalie Paquette and Richard Stinson.

It all started when Natalie went into labor three months before her due date and found there was “no room at the Inn” for hospital care for the premature Ava in her hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, where a shortage of neonatal beds is an ongoing problem. (more…)

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Sri Lanka Peace-Building Mission Learns About Humanitarian Needs, Encourages Christian Leaders, Builds Bridges Of Understanding

Sri LankaBy Michael Ireland – ASSIST News Service

From a variety of meetings with government leaders, human rights lawyers, leaders of Civil Society the statement was consistent: “the Christian Church must lead us in reconciliation.”

(Sri Lanka)—The aftermath of Sri Lanka’s three decades-old armed conflict has displaced more than 300,000 people who are in desperate conditions.

A team of diplomats, business leaders, and church leaders from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States recently visited the island on a fact-finding mission.

Its mission was to learn about Sri Lankan humanitarian needs, to encourage fellow Christian leaders, and to build bridges of understanding with non-evangelical Christians, other faiths, and governmental leaders.

The June 1-5, 2009 mission was organized by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), an association of national alliances in 128 countries, in response to an invitation by Christian leaders in Sri Lanka. (more…)

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Police Officers In Fiji Share Jesus Christ With Squatters

Labasa, FijiBy Teresa Neumann

“We can’t just preach about Jesus from the pulpit or during crusades and not demonstrate his love to our neighbors. This is the first time for the officers to go out and give food and clothes to members of the community and we will continue to do it.”

(Fiji)—The Fiji Times reports that as part of their community policing crusade, police officers in Labasa—joined by church pastors—donated food and clothes to residents of Namara squatter settlement and shared the Gospel of Jesus with them at the weekend.

Regional Police Commander Northern Senior Superintendent Isikeli Ligairi was quoted as saying officers needed to show people that Jesus cares. (more…)

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Increased Faith

Indian Christians: \"Attacks have increase our faith\"Indian Christian: Attacks have increased our faith

By Dibin Samuel

Indian Christians in Orissa state were attacked by Hindu radicals in the wake of their leader’s death in August 2008.
(AP)

The wave of attacks on churches in Karnataka, India, have only “increased our faith and brought us together,” says Archbishop Bernard Moras, whose initiative has united churches of many denominations.

On June 19, over 200 Christians from various denominations gathered at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Bangalore. They came together under the banner of Karnataka United Christians Forum for Human Rights (KUCFHR).

Addressing the gathering, Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras said, “God has the power to bring good even from evil. The formation of this forum is a testimony to that.” (more…)

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When Color Trumps Christianity

By Star Parker

President Obama hosted a reception at the White House celebrating LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Pride Month. Black Christians should take note and learn a few things about our black president.

As they say, we are what we do.

It tells us something that Mr. Obama had no time to host an event for the National Day of Prayer.

Nor did he have time to accept the invitation to convey greetings and a few remarks to the couple hundred thousand who came to Washington, as they do every January, for the March for Life.

However, the LGBT Pride event did make it onto the president’s busy schedule.

Here are parts of his remarks I think noteworthy for black Christians:

First, we now know that Mr. Obama buys into reasoning equating the homosexual political movement to the black civil rights movement: “… it’s not for me to tell you to be patient any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half century ago.” (more…)

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Reached Out To Gospel Star

Andrae CrouchDid Michael Jackson repent, accept Christ?
Pop idol reached out to Gospel star Andrae Crouch before death

Gospel superstar Andrae Crouch and his twin sister, Sandra, confirm meeting with Michael Jackson and praying and singing with him weeks before his death.

Jackson, raised as a member of the Jehovah’s Witness sect Michael Jacksonand reportedly a convert to Islam last year, sought out the Crouches for inspiration for his upcoming tour, for which he was unprepared, according to a report in Assist News Service.

But while some blogs have reported that meeting led to a spiritual conversion by Jackson, the Crouches say they are not certain.

“Not sure where that came from,” said Sandra Crouch on her Facebook page. “We loved and respected Michael and will continue to pray for his family. All the extra is not from us.” (more…)

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Pastor Danny Interviewed on 2 CC Radio in Canberra regarding Chasers on ABC TV

Click the following link to listen to Pastor Danny's recent radio interview with 2CC Radio in Canberra regarding the recent Chasers program on ABC TV. http://www.radio2cc.com/podcasts/59-mike-welsh-podcasts/215-you-know-youre-famous-when-the-chser-is-on-your-front-lawn.html We thank God that…

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Britain Has 85 Sharia Courts: The Astonishing Spread Of The Islamic Justice Behind Closed Doors

Islamic Leaders Rule On DisagreementsBy Steve Doughty

At least 85 Islamic sharia courts are operating in Britain, a study claimed yesterday.

The astonishing figure is 17 times higher than previously accepted.

The tribunals, working mainly from mosques, settle financial and family disputes according to religious principles. They lay down judgments which can be given full legal status if approved in national law courts.

However, they operate behind doors that are closed to independent observers and their decisions are likely to be unfair to women and backed by intimidation, a report by independent think-tank Civitas said.

Commentators on the influence of sharia law often count only the five courts in London, Manchester, Bradford, Birmingham and Nuneaton that are run by the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal, a body whose rulings are enforced through the state courts under the 1996 Arbitration Act.

But the study by academic and Islamic specialist Denis MacEoin estimates there are at least 85 working tribunals. (more…)

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Pastor Danny On Chasers ABC TV

Dear Friends and Family in Christ,
 
We Aussies love a bit of humor and thought that the following segment of Chasers on ABC TV trying to have a go at Pastor Danny will interest you.
 
Although we do not in any way support them and we strongly disagree with their regular content, interestingly enough, this particular program focuses on Pastor Danny receiving a warning dream from God four months before the recent bushfires in Victoria.
 
Click the following link to watch the broadcast posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEiu-UN7s24

(more…)

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Praying For Iran And North Korea Situations

Iranians protestBy Aimee Herd – CBN News

“Freedom for the people. The right to vote. The right to have a fair election. Things that we sometimes take for granted in this country, they’re dying for. People my age, 24 years old, losing their lives.” -Iranian protestor in America

With the ongoing protests by the people of Iran against their country’s disputed election results, a cry for freedom from tyranny has been heard throughout that land. (Photo: CBN News)

As we watch the news reports on our TVs, let’s keep Iran’s situation in prayer; that the people there will not only come to know freedom within their society, but also the true freedom which is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. (more…)

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Marching For Jesus In Secular France

At The MarchIn France, a country known for its secularization and growing Islamic population, tens of thousands of Christians will take to the streets for a March for Jesus on Saturday, which is being held at the same time as the nation’s annual gay pride parade.

An estimated 30,000 Christians will parade through the streets of Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes and Paris, France, distributing 100,000 Bibles and 20,000 gospel tracts. Representing at least 70 different churches, marchers will carry signs proclaiming Jesus as Lord as they sing worship songs.

Parade participants also hope to be able to share their faith with the estimated 800,000 people who will gather for the nation’s annual gay pride parade, whose route will intersect with the March for Jesus. Christian marchers have been prepped to pray and witness to the homosexuals without fear.

“It would be such a great privilege to be praying for all of the thousands of homosexuals that will be marching on the streets,” said Christine Thabot, an event organizer and co-pastor of Temple de Paris with her husband, David. “We’re not afraid. They need love, and we are there to bring them the love of Christ.” (more…)

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Prayer Assault Against The Bill of Rights

United Prayer

Dear family & friends in Christ,
 
Thank you for your valued support to all of you who have sent submissions to the government in response to the several emails we and others have sent over the last few months regarding the proposed Bill of Rights.
 
I have had a few people ask me how we can pray against the Bill of Rights. Following are my thoughts and suggested prayer points. 

 

(more…)

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