Update on the Bill in the Lords

The following comes from the Coalition for Marriage whom you can support by donations and by sharing on your social networking page, as well as by word of mouth. Contact them by post at: Coalition for Marriage, 8 Marshalsea Road, London, SE1 1HL or by telephone: 0207 403 7879

Dear marriage supporter,

I thought you would appreciate an update on what has been happening with the same-sex marriage Bill in the House of Lords. There has been lots going on.

The Bill has now completed its Committee Stage. As is usual, there have been no votes during Committee Stage. The Bill now moves to Report Stage, scheduled to take place on 8 and 10 July, when we expect there will be votes on key amendments.

During Committee Stage, many Peers have been pressing for a long list of protections for people who believe in traditional marriage, including:

· Protecting people at work from being disciplined just because they voice support for traditional marriage.

· Stopping local authorities using the Public Sector Equality Duty to ban a church from hiring public facilities just because the church disagrees with same-sex marriage.

· Protecting foster carers from being blacklisted by social workers just because they believe marriage is the union of a man and woman.

· Giving couples the option of marrying according to the real definition of marriage, rather than being forced to marry according to the new genderless definition.

· Protecting the right of teachers to express support for traditional marriage without risking their careers.

· Making clear that freedom of speech about marriage should not be restricted by equality laws.

There have been some passionate and excellent speeches from Peers who support these protections, including from a number of the country’s top legal experts. A former Lord Chancellor and two former senior judges lent their voices to the call for civil liberty safeguards.

The Government has promised to change the criminal law so that criticism of same-sex marriage won’t be, of itself, a hate-crime. We welcome that reassurance, but our primary concern lies with civil, not criminal, law. For example, employment law and discrimination law – where the problems are most likely to arise – are part of civil law. Here, the Government has stubbornly refused to give an inch on safeguarding the freedom of people who believe in traditional marriage.

They even went as far as saying people who work in the private sector – let alone public sector – should be fired if they refuse to provide services for a same-sex wedding. As far as the Government is concerned, there should be no liberty of conscience in those circumstances.

That shows what we’re up against, but we have no intention of backing down. We will be working hard to call for safeguards for people – like you – who support traditional marriage.

This is important work, but we haven’t stopped defending the principle of real marriage. We always said the Government would tie itself in knots trying to redefine marriage, and here is just one example: in the official Explanatory Notes which accompany the Bill, the Government says:

The terms “husband” and “wife” here refer to a person who is married for the purposes of paragraph 1(2)(c) of Schedule 3. This means that “husband” here will include a man or a woman in a same sex marriage, as well as a man married to a woman. In a similar way, “wife” will include a woman married to another woman or a man married to a man. The result is that this section is to be construed as including both male and female same sex marriage. (Read it for yourself, see p29)

In other words, under this Bill, a woman can be a “husband” and a man can be “wife”. It just shows that words lose all meaning when politicians meddle with marriage

Flaws in the 'Same-Sex Marriage' Bill & the Government's Stance

	The Government is blocking protections
	Dear marriage supporter, The Coalition Government has agreed to change the criminal law to put it beyond doubt that disagreeing with same-sex marriage is not a hate crime. That should send a helpful message to those who throw around the ‘bigot’ label far too freely. However, Government ministers are being advised by officials in the equalities office to block any other protections in the civil law. We think reasonable changes need to be made to employment law and equality law to protect people like you – people who believe in traditional marriage – but the Government is not listening. The House of Lords is currently examining the Bill line by line. The legislation is getting the kind of prolonged scrutiny that the Government did not permit in the Commons. In the Commons the Government guillotined debate and stacked the committee with the Bill’s supporters, but they can’t do that in the Lords. Now that the Bill is under the spotlight in the Lords, gaps are beginning to show. Faithfulness ‘not necessary’ Astonishingly, the Government says fidelity is not a necessary part of any marriage. The exact quote from the Government minister is: “In terms of the law, marriage does not require the fidelity of couples. It is open to each couple to decide for themselves on the importance of fidelity within their own relationship.” In other words, under the Bill, the Government doesn’t think faithfulness is important in marriage. This is because it wants to avoid the legal problems which would otherwise be created if it introduced laws about adultery or consummation for same-sex marriage. That shatters the argument that this Bill will strengthen marriage. No, it will wreck marriage. Job losses Up until now, officials in the equalities office have been telling Government ministers that the Bill won’t harm the liberty of people who disagree with it. But after pressure in the House of Lords, Government ministers have admitted they want commercial companies to be able to sack staff who refuse to be involved with same-sex marriages. The Government thinks commercial chauffeurs who object to a same-sex marriage should be dismissed. By the same logic, florists, photographers and cake makers would also be in the firing line. We want a reasonable accommodation for such workers, a bit of flexibility which takes account of people’s sincere beliefs. But so far the Government has stubbornly refused. We are also calling for protections for public sector workers like teachers and chaplains; and we want to make sure that local councils can’t penalise organisations who disagree with same-sex marriage. So far, the Government won’t give way. But the Lords are putting the Government on the spot, making life very uncomfortable for them. We are working very hard to defend traditional marriage. We will continue to do so, and we value your ongoing support. Please help us by making a generous donation of £50, £100, £200 or as much as you can afford.  DONATE  Yours sincerely, Colin Hart Campaign Director Coalition for Marriage

Church of England gives up the fight over same-sex marriage

      We are clearly instructed in Scripture to obey the laws set down by our leaders, unless, that is, they contravene God's laws. Why then, I ask, has the Church of England capitulated over the question of the Redefining of Marriage Bill?
     Bishop of Leicester, who is the Convener of the Lords Spiritual, has said in an official statement that the Church of England will no longer fight the Bill to Redefine Marriage. This is tantamount to the Church of England sanctioning same-sex marriage, a matter which goes directly against God's law. This government has no mandate to put this Bill forward. It was not in the manifesto of any of the political parties, and it faces massive opposition from a huge swathe of the populace. Polls have shown that even many from amongst the homosexual members of the public see no particular reason for the Bill to be put forward. 
     It has been stated by many of the leading voices that there will be far-reaching ramifications if this Bill is passed, ranging from concerns over the ignoring of people's voice of conscience over the matter when it impacts on their employment status to the impact that it will have on pension rights. That it contravenes God's law is of no consequence to this current leadership, for it is made up of atheists and those who claim the name of Christian without the responsibility to act like one.
     Throughout the history of mankind there have been leaders who have opposed God, and history is littered with the tales of their nation's demise. Consider the great empires of the past, empire such as the Roman Empire, the Greek Empire, and of course the British Empire. All have now gone. Yes, especially the latter, for the halcyon days of the British Empire are long over, and most people would probably prefer to call this nation the United Kingdom rather than Great Britain, for the simple reason that politicians of all shades have eroded the claims to greatness that the nation once had. Even the term 'United Kingdom' refers to a dubious position, for Wales has already achieved a measure of devolution, Scotland is clamouring for independence, and Ireland is a split nation.
    “Both Houses of Parliament have now expressed a clear view by large majorities on the principle that there should be legislation to enable same-sex marriages to take place in England and Wales.

     “It is now the duty and responsibility of the Bishops who sit in the House of Lords to recognise the implications of this decision and to join with other members in the task of considering how this legislation can be put into better shape...
      “If this bill is to become law, it is crucial that marriage as newly defined is equipped to carry within it as many as possible of the virtues of the understanding of marriage it will replace.

     “Our focus during committee and report stages in the coming weeks and months will be to address those points in a spirit of constructive engagement."

You can read the full statement here >
or the report in the Telegraph here >
     This effectively signals the end of the Church of England's official opposition to the Bill.

     Even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has stated his support for the Bill in a recent statement on the subject. The Archbishop also approved of the idea of same sex relationships in his speech, contrary to the Bible's teaching on homosexuality. He said: "It is clearly essential that stable and faithful same sex relationships should, where those involved want it, be recognised and supported with as much dignity and the same legal effect as marriage".

     As the Archbishop is the head of the Anglican Communion this statement will have far-reaching implications for the Church as a whole. Over many years the Anglicans have been dealing with split opinions over many matters, but this current proposed legislation, flying in the face of God as it does, is likely to turn the split into a gaping chasm. No wonder that mainstream churches are empty on a Sunday when the leadership clearly chooses to satisfy man's cravings rather than God's teaching.

Coalition Ministers don't care about their own children

The Coalition government Ministers in the UK don't care about their own children, so why would they care about yours. If they cared then they would vote in an automatic block on internet pornography to ensure that children would be denied the easy access which currently exists, and that porn sites could only be accessed by an 'opting in' process, with those opting to view online porn having to register to do so.

Children's Charities, Child Safety campaigners and huge numbers of parents back the idea, as do much of the media. Over 40% of parents responded to the Government's own consultation in favor of such a process but, as so often is the case, their views have been ignored.

In theory, politicians are elected to put forward the views of the electorate, but in practice they tend to generally ignore them, despite the empty promises and assurances that are offered when the time comes for re-election.

What is needed is true People Power!

'Belonging' : A great anti-bullying message!

There is pain in Ricky's eyes when there should be smiles, which is sad. Bullying takes so many forms, and so often mental bullying is the worst thing for a child with a good heart, which he clearly has. It takes a special kind of person to say out loud what Ricky is saying here. I admire his courage.

This is a message which deserves to be seen by as many people as possible, so please 'like' it and share it with your friends on Facebook.

Thoughts on the redefinition of Marriage

The Government should remember that marriage, which is defined as the union of one man and one woman, was instituted by Almighty God and confirmed by the Lord Jesus Christ and no earthly government has the power to change it.

Prime Minister, David Cameron, is determined to force through the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples, despite having no mandate from the electorate and a massive chunk of the UK's citizens stating that they do not support it. 

The strange thing is, although Cameron is almost certainly trying to toady up to the 'pink vote' there are many homosexuals and lesbians who are disinterested in the whole matter.

It seems that Cameron is doing what Cameron does best --- ingratiating himself with the PC lobby whilst alienating himself from the real world and the electorate. He will discover the folly of his actions at the next Ballot Box opportunity, and have time in the near future to reflect on the mistakes which lost him the Premiership.

Marriage belongs to God, not to the people, not to the Government and not even to the church. Defend it with passion!

     The definition of marriage between a man and a woman for life is under threat in our country. In March the government will launch a consultation on how, not if, marriage should be redefined to include same-sex partners. 

     Please pray about this issue and consider signing the petition you will find at this website: c4m.org.uk. 

     I believe that as Christians who recognise the importance of marriage as central to the stability of nuclear families, a boundary around sexual expression and a safe harbour for raising children as well as God’s blueprint for family life, the time has come for us to speak out. For the sake of the nation and the future we need to stand up and be counted against this.

     Please encourage those in your churches to sign the petition, if possible this Sunday. You will be joining the ranks of those who have already made their views clear – currently just under 30,000 people on-line.

     You will, I'm sure, find the article on Real Marriage, written by the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, a very helpful article to read as you consider this important issue. I am taking the liberty of publishing the following article on this issue by Dr Peter Saunders, who is the CEO of the Christian Medical Fellowship, which you may also find helpful.

10 reasons TO RETAIN THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF marriage

Based on an article by Dr Peter Saunders, CEO of The Christian Medical Fellowship.

Britain is coming under increasing pressure to change the legal definition of marriage and Prime Minister David Cameron believes this is a good idea. A consultation on marriage closed in Scotland in December 2011 and a new consultation is being launched next month in Westminster to consider how (not if!) legalisation should proceed in England and Wales.

Many people are asking 'Why not?', but here are ten reasons;

1. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman

Throughout history in virtually all cultures and faiths throughout the world, marriage has been held to be the union of a man and a woman. Marriage existed thousands of years before our nation began and has been recognised in our laws as the ‘voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others for life’ (Hyde v Hyde 1866). The UN Declaration of Human Rights (article 16) recognises that the family, headed by a man and a woman, ‘is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State’. It is not up to governments to redefine marriage – but simply to recognise it for what it is, and to promote and protect it as a unique institution.

2. Civil Partnerships cover other forms of relationship

All the legal rights of marriage are already available to same sex couples through civil partnerships so there is no need to redefine marriage to include them. The President of the Family Division has even described civil partnerships as conferring ‘the benefits of marriage in all but name’. Such a move would also inevitably lead to calls to open civil partnerships to a man and a woman on the basis of ‘equality’. But marriage and civil partnerships have been designed for two very different types of relationship and should be kept distinct. It is not and should not be ‘one size fits all’.

3. Redefining marriage without consultation is undemocratic

None of the political leaders who are supporting change announced it as a priority in their election manifestos. There is already a huge amount of opposition to the move and pressing ahead with legalisation will lead to considerable dissension and division. Broadening the definition of marriage to appease a small minority is wrong and it should not be imposed on the without proper consultation about ‘whether’ rather than just on ‘how’ it should be done.

4. Equality does not mean uniformity

In a free democratic society we accept that many human activities are not open to everybody. Not everyone is allowed to drink alcohol, drive a car, buy property, cast a vote, own a firearm, attend university, visit Buckingham Palace or participate in a 100m women’s Olympic event. This does not mean that those who are not eligible for these activities are in any way denigrated or demeaned, but just that there are eligibility criteria. Same sex couples do not fulfil the eligibility criteria for marriage, which should be reserved for the voluntary union of one man and one woman for life.

5. Protecting traditional marriage safeguards children and society

Stable marriages and families headed by a mother and a father are the bedrock of society and the state has a duty to protect the uniqueness of these key institutions. Though death and divorce may prevent it, children do best when raised by a married mother and father. Whilst single parents and many others do a good job in raising children, social policy has to be concerned with what is normally the case, and children have a right if at all possible to have a married mother and a father involved in their upbringing. In general the evidence shows that marriage provides stability for adults and children which is hard to beat in terms of outcomes. There is considerable evidence to show that marriage leads to better family relationships, less economic dependence, better physical health and longevity, improved mental health and emotional well-being and reduced crime and domestic violence. By contrast sexual freedom and relationship breakdown costs Britain £100 billion annually and other models of the family have not been shown to have nearly the same stability as traditional marriage. Same sex marriage, in comparison with marriage, is an unproven and experimental social model.

6. Marriage is a unique biologically complementary relationship

Marriage is the only legal union which can naturally lead to children. It takes both a man and a woman to produce a baby. The fact that there is a natural link between sexual intimacy and procreation is what makes marriage distinctive and different. Redefining marriage will undermine this distinctness and difference and risks normalising the technological instrumentalisation of reproduction and increasing the number of families where there is confusion of biological, social and family identity.

7. Redefining marriage will be complex and expensive

Redefining marriage could cost billions and involve amending hundreds of pieces of government legislation. The word 'marriage' appears 3,258 times in UK legislation, which underlines the central role the institution plays in national law. Introducing same sex marriage is a legal can of worms which cannot be achieved without changing the common and legal definition of the word marriage and other words which define it (e.g., ‘husband and wife’, ‘consummation’ and ‘adultery’). These changes will inevitably change the definition and nature of marriage for opposite sex couples by trying to accommodate these two very different kinds of relationship under one legal umbrella. According to an assessment done for gay rights group Stonewall by a former civil servant, the cost of implementing one favoured option would be around £5 billion. This figure relates to a theoretical increase in straight couples taking up the opportunity of civil partnerships, with knock-on implications to their entitlement to pension and tax benefits. This is simply not a priority for government at a time of economic recession as it will confer no new rights.

8. Schools will be forced to teach about the new definition of marriage

Under existing education law schools will be required to teach children that marriage can be between a man and a woman, between two men or between two women. This will confuse children whose parents may wish to teach them according to their own values and worldview. Those parents who object could be undermined in their children’s eyes, stigmatised as homophobics and bigots and prevented from full involvement in schools. This will also be a problem for many church schools and their governors.

9. Redefining marriage will not stop will be a ‘slippery slope’ to all sorts of other arrangements

In Mexico same sex marriage was followed by two year fixed term marriage. In Canada legalising same sex marriage has led to supporters of polygamy demanding in the courts for their unions to be recognised. If the legal definition is changed to accommodate same sex couples other minority groups with a vested interest (e.g., Muslims, Mormons, Bisexuals and Polyamorists) will have a much stronger case to argue for the legalisation of polygamy and group marriages. The best defence against this is to keep the legal definition of marriage unique and distinct – ‘one man, one woman, for life’.

10. Redefining marriage will lead to faith-based discrimination

We have already seen a rising tide of discrimination against people who support traditional marriage as a result of the legalisation of civil partnerships coupled with new equality legislation. If same sex marriage is legalised faith-based employers who provide special health benefits to married employees would be required by law to extend those benefits to same-sex ‘spouses’. They would also face lawsuits for taking any adverse employment action - no matter how modest - against an employee for the public act of obtaining a civil ‘marriage’ with a member of the same sex. Faith-based adoption and fostering services that place children exclusively with married couples would be required by law to place children with persons of the same sex who are civilly ‘married’. Marriage counsellors from faith backgrounds would be denied their professional accreditation for refusing to provide counselling in support of same-sex ‘married’ relationships. All these moves would place faith groups in the invidious position of being forced to act against their consciences or face marginalisation, exclusion and litigation and would further fuel social fragmentation, sectarianism, antagonism and civil unrest.

Consultation on ‘Gay Marriage’ - URGENT

The following arrived on my desk from Christian Voice, and I share it here because of the importance of this issue. I am on record as stating that I believe that the state of marriage can only exist between a man and a woman, no matter how many governments try to enact laws to claim the contrary. I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage only, and that means that

I do not accept the relationship of two men or two women as being marriage. I accept that there are many same-sex couples who have deeply loving relationships, and many of those will last the course, but this does not make it marriage in the Biblical sense.

     Next month the UK Government will be consulting on gay marriage.  They will only consult on how to make the change, not on the principle at stake!  So Christians must stand together in the power of Christ to affirm the God-given foundation of human society.

     Christian Voice believes marriage is not a man-made negotiable construction, but the first social institution of Almighty God.  Our Petition wording reflects this Christ-centred approach:

     “We the undersigned believe that marriage was ordained by God to be the union of one man and one woman and that marriage between two persons of the same sex can not and should not be legalised by any earthly government.” (Sign by clicking on the text)

     Here is what the Lord Jesus said about the creation ordinance of marriage (KJV):

     Matt 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.

     Becoming one flesh in that full sense is something a pair of homosexuals can never do.  To be valid in law a marriage has to be consummated.  How do the Government propose a pair of lesbians or two men should do that?  There will be much to do when the consultation is published to oppose this measure in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Please make a start now by signing the petition above.

     PRAY: That there will be a tremendous response from Christians on behalf of our mighty God, that we will go forth under Christ’s banner alone and that the designs of the wicked will come to naught.

Yours in the mighty name of Jesus.

Stephen Green,

National Director, Christian Voice.

The Problem of Afghan Paedophilia

http://www.examiner.com/law-enforcement-in-national/afghan-pedophilia-a-way-of-life-say-u-s-soldiers-and-journalists?CID=examiner_alerts_article
Afghan Paedophilia: A way of life, say U.S. soldiers and journalists
Jim Kouri
Law Enforcement Examiner 

Apologists say that Bacha Bazi or 'Boy Play' is a very old cultural practice in Afghanistan and part of that nation's mainstream.
     Citing the Afghanistan strategy review, Vice President Joe Biden reported "great progress" in the counter-terrorism effort that has significantly degraded al-Qaeda and the Taliban, particularly their leadership. Lagging behind, he said, is progress on the counterinsurgency front – eliminating terrorist safe havens in Pakistan and building a stable Afghan government.
     However, not once did Biden – nor Defense Secretary Leon Panetta -- mention Afghanistan's dirty secret – a large number of pedophiles and pederasts among the Afghan male population.
     Paedophilia is a widely-accepted practice in southern Afghanistan, where "boys are given to older men for the sexual gratification of the elder and the sexual education of the child," say many returning U.S. troops.
     Afghans say pedophilia is most prevalent among Pashtun men in the south who comprise Afghanistan's most important tribe.
      Apologists say that Bacha Bazi or 'Boy Play' is a very old cultural practice in Afghanistan and part of that nation's mainstream.
     When U.S. officials such as President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta discuss the war in Afghanistan and make claims of success in that fledgling democracy, one issue that's avoided is the widespread sexual intercourse between Afghan men and young boys. In non- diplomatic terms, Afghanistan is a haven for child rape, according to several American military officers just returning from the front lines of the Global War on Terrorism.
      In a country that is considered overly repressive due to its adherence to the precepts contained in the Muslim religion's Koran, it's difficult for American service members and diplomats to understand the fact that a large portion of the Afghan male population are paedophiles (adults who enjoy sexual contact with prepubescent children) or pederasts (adults who enjoy sexual relations with pubescent or post-pubescent children).
     While Muslims in Iraq have on several occasions stoned homosexuals for their sexual activities, not all Muslims believe pedophilia is a violation of Sharia law. Those who believe in the sacredness and infallibility of the Koran adhere to the teaching that women are sub-human and quasi-slaves, and therefore Muslim men will look for relationships -- even sexual relationships -- with others of their own gender.
     According to Reuters, there is a lot of homosexuality going on in Afghanistan, but those engaging in it don't think of themselves as gay, so that makes it okay since Islam officially disapproves of the gay and lesbian lifestyle.
     "They regard themselves as non-gay because they don’t “love” the sex object so Allah is happy. These are the men who avoid their wives as unclean. Apparently there is very little love of any kind in Afghanistan, which explains a lot," according to Reuters.
     “Having a boy has become a custom for us,” Ena Yatullah, a 42-year-old in Baghlan province, told a Reuters reporter. “Whoever wants to show off should have a boy.” [. . .]
      Sociologists and anthropologists say the problem results from a perverse interpretation of Islamic law. Women are simply unapproachable. Afghans cannot talk to an unrelated woman until after proposing marriage. Before then, they can't even look at a woman, except perhaps her feet. Otherwise she is covered, head to ankle, according to columnist Joel Brinkley, a professor of journalism at Stanford University, and a former Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent for the New York Times.
     In Kandahar, a city with a population of about 500,000, and other towns, dance parties are a popular -- often weekly -- pastime. Young boys dress up as females, wearing makeup and bells on their feet, and dance for a dozen or more leering middle-aged men who throw money at them and then take them home.
     A recent State Department report called “dancing boys” a “widespread, culturally sanctioned form of male rape.” If women dressed and behaved in such a way, they would surely be punished by Muslim men.
      Even after marriage, many men keep their boy-lovers, according to former U.S. military personnel who served in Afghanistan. That helps explain why women are compelled to wear clothing that hides their faces and bodies and if they "sin" they are stoned to death in accordance with Islamic law. That same law also forbids homosexuality, but the pedophiles explain that it's not homosexuality since they aren’t in love with their boys only fulfilling a bodily need.
     Paradoxically, the Taliban frown on sexual relations between men and boys and enforce Sharia law to the letter. Are the followers of Islam, who adopt a more "liberal" approach to practicing their religion, perhaps responsible for the widespread rape of male children in Afghanistan?
     So, why are American military forces fighting and dying to protect pedophiles and pederasts in a country considered by many to be the pedophilia capital of Asia?
      Why is there hesitation on the part of Obama, Clinton, Panetta and others to discuss the widespread sexual assault of male children in Afghanistan? Could it be that it is politically incorrect to discuss any immoral and unlawful behavior on the part of Muslims? It's quite evident that U.S. politicians may bash Christians without fear of adverse effects on their political careers. But these same leaders will behave as if they are walking on egg shells to avoid even the hint of criticizing Muslims.
     In addition, there is always a hesitation to discuss man-on-boy sexual relationship for fear of mentioning the obvious: such a relationship is homosexual in nature.

Barnabus Launches the 'Proclaim Freedom' Campaign

Sign online Download PDF

31 January 2012

Barnabas launches Proclaim Freedom campaign; sign our petition

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

If you believe in the cause of freedom, then proclaim it, live it and protect it, for humanity’s future depends on it. Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (1912-1983), US Congressman and Senator

Barnabas Fund last week launched a petition as part of our 2012 Proclaim Freedom campaign, which seeks to put pressure on governments to take resolute action on behalf of persecuted Christians around the world.
Christians are one of the largest and most persecuted groups in the world, yet they are often neglected in Western governments’ foreign policy.
The Proclaim Freedom petition, which was launched at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Exeter, England, last Wednesday (25 January), calls on governments to pursue decisive policies aimed at putting pressure on states that persecute or condone the persecution of Christians, and assist other countries to improve conditions for all minority groups – especially Christians – within their borders.
Today, we are launching the online version. It can be signed online or downloaded and printed. Please promote this petition within your church and community. 
The Proclaim Freedom campaign will run various initiatives throughout 2012 to raise the profile of the persecuted Church around the world. It has two specific aims:

• to press governments to be active in promoting human rights in other countries for all minorities, but especially religious freedom for the roughly 200 million Christians living under the shadow of persecution, discrimination and disadvantage
• to press governments to work to ensure that other countries bring to justice citizens who either incite anti-Christian hatred or engage in anti-Christian violence

Western governments have significant potential influence with other countries through the direction of foreign aid, diplomatic relations, bilateral ties, security arrangements and agreed international commitments to human rights.
Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said:

It is time for Christians in the West to take a stand and speak out for our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering for their faith. We can no longer allow the governments that represent us to turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in their dealings with countries where this is a widespread problem.

Please Pray

Thank God that the Proclaim Freedom petition generated a great deal of interest at the Christian Resources Exhibition last week and pray that it will attract significant further support over the coming months. Pray that Western governments will be moved to use their influence with other countries for the improvement of conditions for all minority groups, especially Christians who are persecuted for their faith.

Share this article

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all the information included on our website, we acknowledge that even our most reliable sources and careful interpretations can occasionally be wrong. We apologise for any errors of fact and will be grateful to receive corrections.

Misinformation and Flights of Fancy

     It is ironic that the author of the column below that recently appeared in the Washington Post is also the author of “Holy Ignorance.”
     How else to explain how someone can be so blind to what is happening in countries like Egypt? Has he not read the polls taken in Egypt over the past few years, showing strong support for sharia law?
     Does he really believe that the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist political parties, which won over 2/3 of the seats in Egypt’s parliamentary elections, were elected simply because they promised a better economy?
     Does he really believe the Muslim Brotherhood would support the right of Muslims to convert to Christianity?
     There are those who see what they want to see, in spite of all evidence to the contrary. Many of them are in our government, in the media, in academia. We, too, would be delighted to see a reformed Muslim Brotherhood, one that, according to the author below, is “middle class bourgeois.” One that has given up its aspirations for worldwide Islamist rule.
     But we can’t afford to engage in such flights of fancy.

---

A new generation of political Islamists steps forward
By Olivier Roy, Published: January 20
Olivier Roy is a professor at the European University Institute in Florence and the author of “Holy Ignorance.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/muslim-brotherhood-other-islamists-have-changed-their-worldview/2012/01/10/gIQAZgjoEQ_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines
     Everywhere, the Muslim Brotherhood is benefiting from a democratization it did not trigger. There is a political vacuum because the liberal vanguard that initiated the Arab Spring did not try, and did not want, to take power. This was a revolution without revolutionaries. Yet the Muslim Brothers are the only organized political force. They are rooted in society, and decades of opposition against authoritarian regimes gave them experience, legitimacy and respect. Their conservative agenda fits a conservative society, which may welcome democracy but did not turn liberal.
     Under these circumstances, the ghost of a totalitarian Islamic state is raised, with the specter of imposing sharia and closing the short democratic parenthesis. But such an outcome is unlikely.
     The Islamists have, in fact, changed: They are more middle-class “bourgeois,” and they benefited from the liberalization of local economies during the last decades of the 20th century, especially in countries with no oil rent. The Islamists have also drawn lessons from the failure of ideological regimes and from the success of Turkey’s AKP party. They are no longer advocating jihad and understand geostrategic constraints, such as the need to maintain peace, even a cold one, with Israel. Realism is the starting point of political wisdom.
     The Islamists have been elected with a clear agenda: stability, good governance and a better economy. If they have been able to reach a larger constituency than the hard-core supporters of sharia, it is precisely because they can combine such a reformist agenda while talking about religion, values, identity and tradition. The Nahda party won the majority of the votes cast at the Tunisian consulate of San Francisco, although Tunisian expatriates in Silicon Valley are not known for their Islamic fundamentalism.
     This mix of technocratic modernism and conservative values is their brand, and to turn their back on multipartism and legalism would alienate a large portion of their constituency, at a time when they have no means to confiscate power. They have neither military forces nor oil wealth to bypass the people: They have to negotiate and deliver. Their electorate wants stability and peace, not revolution.
     They are stepping into a new political landscape: a democracy, although a fledgling and fragile one. The only way to maintain their legitimacy is through elections. Even if their pristine political culture is not democratic, they are formatted by the democratic landscape, much as the Roman Catholic Church ended up accepting democratic institutions. But it will take time.
     Another important change, if we refer to the “revolutionary” period of the 1970s and 1980s, is that the Muslim Brothers do not monopolize Islam in the public sphere. In fact, the religious revival that has engulfed Arab societies led to a diversification and an individualization of the religious field. Religious state institutions such as Al Azhar, so recently discredited, are regaining autonomy after so recently being discredited. Al Azhar’s dean, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, openly spoke in favor of democracy and of separating religious institutions from the state. A new phenomenon is the decision of the Salafis, an ultraconservative Sunni sect, to establish political parties. On the one hand they will push for a more Islamic agenda, trying to outbid the Muslim Brothers on Islam, but this will force the Brotherhood to clarify its own position and to find a way to distance itself from the call for sharia.
     To do that, the Muslim Brothers have to turn purely Islamic norms into more universal conservative values — such as limiting the sale and consumption of alcohol in a way that is closer to Utah’s rules than to Saudi laws and promoting “family values” instead of imposing sharia norms on women.
     In the coming months the hot issue in Egypt, beyond the status of women, will be religious freedom. Not in the sense that Coptic Christians will have less freedom to practice — there were a lot of limitations under the so-called secular dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak — but in defining religious freedom as not merely a minority right but an individual human right, implying the right to convert from Islam to Christianity.
     The issue is institutionalizing democracy, not promoting liberal policies. Democracy could take hold only if it is based in well-established values. Liberalism does not precede democracy; America’s Founding Fathers were not liberal. But once democracy is rooted in institutions and political culture, then the debate on freedom, censorship, social norms and individual rights could be managed through freedom of expression and changes of majorities in parliament. However, there will be no institutionalization of democracy without the Muslim Brothers.

Teaching Muslim Children to Hate; Stealing Their Innocence

Muslim Children in America are Being Taught to Hate

Dave Gaubatz January 18, 2012

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.11242/pub_detail.asp
     In the last five years I have personally visited over 250 Islamic Centers, Mosques, and Islamic Schools throughout America. The goal of my research has been to determine what Islamic leaders are teaching the young and innocent Muslim children. The findings are abhorrent, sad, unbelievable, frightening, and most disturbing is the fact our government is keeping this dangerous fact from the American people. Muslim children attending mosques and Islamic schools are being taught to hate America, our government, our military personnel, and its non Muslim population. In this article I will identify three significant mosques in America that are leading the way in teaching Muslim children to hate and to influence them to commit violent acts inside our country. 
     In America we have been programmed by the media and political leaders to believe violent teachings of Islam are only being taught to children in Palestine. We have watched the Muslim Palestinian children spew their taught hatred of the Israelis. What Americans are not being shown (due to political correctness) are that Muslim children throughout the world and specifically inside America are being taught violence and hatred in mosques, Islamic schools and Islamic Centers.
     Children as young as 7 years old are being taught that to assimilate with America is to disrespect and dishonor Islam. They are being taught our military personnel are the enemies of Islam and it is justifiable to kill anyone who dishonors or oppresses the Islamic ideology.
     During my research I have identified numerous mosques that are teaching young Muslim children to hate America and are leading them to commit future violent acts against our country and innocent people. I would like to focus on three such mosques. They are:


1. Dar al Hijrah, Falls Church, VA

2. Al Farooq, Nashville, TN

3. At Taqwa, Brooklyn, NY

Anwar al-Awlaki was an imam at the Dar al Hijrah Mosque from January 2001 until 2002. Three of the 9/11 hijackers, Khalid al-Mihdhar, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Hani Hanjour, attended some of Awlaki’s sermons at this mosque.
     My researchers and I spent several weeks at the Dar Al Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, VA. Almost immediately we were informed to obtain our study material from the Halaco Bookstore which is located nearby the mosque. It was very apparent upon entering the store and reviewing the materials that the bookstore provides materials for the Sunni (Wahhabi) Muslim population across the U.S. and specifically for Dar Al Hijrah. I was able to spend many hours talking with store personnel and was invited to the home of one employee to discuss Islamic issues. There is a large section in the store dedicated to the education of the Muslim children. I discovered materials that are being sent to Islamic schools across America. Much of the material deals with Sharia and Jihad. One of the DVD’s and books I obtained was by an Islamic scholar Ahmad Sakr. Sakr travels the U.S. visiting Islamic schools and educates them in Sharia law. I have watched one of his videos in which he tells the young children our government is evil and not to follow the laws of our country and Americas government leaders will all go to hell.
     The material provided by Dar Al Hijrah and their selected Islamic bookstore also was filled with violent Jihad. There were manuals informing the readers how to destroy America and how to kill anyone who oppresses Islam. They are told how to obtain weapons to include weapons of mass destruction. Although all of the above is very disturbing and should (and actually is) against the law, the Muslim leaders of Falls Church, Val are allowed by our government to indoctrinate the Muslim children into future violence against our country. The next mosque (Al Farooq/Nashville, TN) is even more disturbing.
     My research team and I spent two weeks at the Al Farooq mosque in Nashville, TN. The mosque was Sunni and had the typical violent books and DVD’s/videos pertaining to the overthrow of any government system that oppresses Islam. They also had numerous teachings from current Islamic leaders operating in America who are teaching the Muslim population to hate our country and its people. Although this should frighten all concerned citizens, there was even sadder and disturbing intelligence collected at this mosque. Lately we have all read about the child brides and forced marriages in Afghanistan and in Saudi Arabia. What most Americans do not realize is that child marriages are occurring throughout our country and specifically in Nashville, TN.
     One young 7 year old Muslim girl at Al Farooq talked to our researcher about being beaten (MP3 file) by her Islamic leaders and being married (MP3 file) to a Muslim man. I reported the matter to the Nashville authorities but almost from the beginning they were reluctant to intercede because this was a religious institution and more importantly to them it was Islamic. Senior law enforcement authorities of the Nashville police department informed me they were afraid of being sued by Islamic organizations such as CAIR if they got involved and it would be a political nightmare to get anything done at the mosque. What bothered me most of all is the fact I contacted Islamic organizations to help this innocent Muslim child and they also balked. This reinforced to me that Islamic law (Sharia) is alive and very active inside our country, to include child marriages. The next mosque I am going to discuss is led by an Islamic leader I have previously described as the most dangerous man in America.
     At Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, NY is led by an Islamic scholar who is not only a major fundraiser for CAIR (terrorist supporter) but travels throughout the U.S. teaching his violent ideology of Islam. He is Imam Siraj Wahhaj. For those who have never visited the Islamic district of Brooklyn it would come to a surprise to many that the area around At Taqwa is similar to the Wahhabi land of Saudi Arabia. I have previously described Wahhaj as the most dangerous man in America. I have reviewed hundreds of his Friday (Juma) mosque lectures.
     In this speech (MP3) he tells his followers that around the world Muslims will wake up and say:

“I don’t want to follow the way of the colonial masters any more. I want the Sharia. I want Islam. We want to be ruled by Islam. And all we have to do is go back to that golden generation.”

     He routinely called America an evil country and is a strong leader in developing Sharia law inside our country. His violent lectures are available to the adult and child Muslims throughout America. 
     "Those who struggle for Allah, it doesn't matter what kind of weapons, I'm telling you it doesn't matter! You don't need nuclear weapons or even guns! If you have faith in Allah and a knife!! If Allah wants you to win, you will win! Because Allah is the only one who fights. And when his hand is over your hand. whoever is at war against my friends, I declare war on them."

From a video by Sirah Wahhaj called "The Afghanistan Jihad," Toronto, Canada, of a sermon from Sept. 28, 1991.
	“If we go to war, brothers and sisters – and one day we will, believe me – that’s why you’re commanded [to fight in] jihad. When Allah demands us to fight, we’re not stopping and nobody’s stopping us."

Sermon by Siraj Wahhaj entitled “Stand Up to Justice,” delivered on May 8, 1992 and distributed as a video. Islamic teachings such as this are what led the Major Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood Murderer, to commit his acts.
     Although I have only focused on three mosques that lead the way, introducing Muslim children to violence and hatred, there are hundreds scattered across the U.S. Few states are immune from this growing threat. The violence spewed by these Islamic leaders will ultimately lead to more violence in the name of Islam. I have witnessed firsthand the violence being taught. There are numerous such Islamic centers in NC, FL, VA, NY, and CA.
     Unless Muslim parents decry the violent teachings of Islam to their children, there will continue to be more and more Siraj Wahhaj type Islamic leaders in America. The ultimate result will be the suffering of our country as we now see in France, Britain, and Canada.

The Unacceptable Face of Islamic Militant Terrorism Strikes Again

CALL FOR PRAYER AND INCREASED SECURITY FOR NIGERIA’S CHRISTIANS AFTER CHRISTMAS BOMB ATTACKS

     Release International has called for prayer and tighter security for Nigeria’s Christians after Islamist militants bombed churches for the second Christmas running. Some observers warn that Boko Haram, which wants to impose strict Islamic law in the country, is trying to spark a sectarian civil war.

     In the second wave of attacks within a week Boko Haram planted bombs at churches in Madalla, near the capital Abuja, and in Jos and Gadaka. The bomb in Madalla went off as worshippers packed the church for the Christmas service, killing around 35 and injuring at least 50 others.

     Gadaka is in Yobe state in the north, where Islamic law has already been imposed, but where a Christian minority remains. Jos is in Plateau state, the dividing line between the largely Muslim north and the mainly Christian south.

     Partners of Release International, which serves the suffering church worldwide, believe the Islamists’ aim may be to tear the country in two, creating a separate north ruled by strict Sharia law.

     Release CEO Andy Dipper, says: ‘Please pray for those whose family members have been killed and injured as they celebrate Christmas. Pray that in their grief they will know the presence of Jesus, who is both Emmanuel, God with us, and the Prince of Peace.

     ‘Pray that Christians will not allow themselves to be provoked into retaliation, and that the government will protect Christians where they are in a minority and deal effectively with the terrorist threat to their nation.’

     Through its international network of missions Release International serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and working for justice.