Patrick

Nov, 09:03 PM

Quote:

 

A group of 52 biblical “specialists” have released a new version of the Bible in which inclusive language and “political correctness” have replaced some “divisive” teachings of Christianity in order to present a “more just language” for groups such as feminists and homosexuals.

Derekap

Nov 23 2006, 09:28 PM

Rose. Would you retranslate the rest of the Bible?

Derekap

Nov 23 2006, 10:17 PM

The invitation to the wedding banquet! I always pity the man whose wife wont let him come.

Independent Catholic News

 

Cambridgeshire church cancels Christmas crib

The Sacred Heart Catholic church in St Ives in Cambridgeshire, has cancelled its annual 'Live Crib' event in protest against the Israeli wall being built around Bethlehem. In place of the popular tableau, complete with live animals, there will be a life-size replica portion of the 'Separation Wall; that has been built around Bethlehem. Large protest banners and photographs will show passers-by the current situation in the Holy Land.

Parish priest Father Paul Maddison said: "The lives of the ordinary citizens of Bethlehem have been devastated by the building of the wall. It affects every aspect of their lives; friends and family are separated, earning a living becomes more and more difficult, access to health care is severely restricted all in the town of Bethlehem that we sing about at this time of the year. If we can provide them with a few extra basic provisions and give them a little financial support, we can help make their lives more bearable."

The Church of the Sacred Heart in St Ives is twinned with the Catholic parish in Aboud Village on the West Bank. Since 2003. Fr Maddison, along with groups from St Ives and other places in East Anglia, has made regular visits to take donations and lend support to the Aboud villagers, who are Christians and Muslims. He has seen first-hand the suffering and increasingly worsening plight of the families who live there.

To support their project send donations to: Holy Land 2003, PO Box 140, St Ives, PE27 9AP (cheques made payable to Holy Land 2006)

Independent Catholic News

 

LONDON - 15 December 2006 - 600 words


London council bans Christian prayers from community centre


A family centre for Eastern European migrants in London, has been told that unless it agrees to renounce all expression of Christianity from the voluntary services it provides, they will lose their council funding.

The threat came after the centre sought to change its name from 'The Polish Drop-In Centre' to 'The Polish and Eastern European Christian Family Centre'. Haringey Council explained that the use of the word 'Christian' could damage the funding that was currently provided.

Organiser Gosia Shannon set up the voluntary centre, including mother and toddler groups, in order to support Eastern European migrants working in London.

The letter from Haringay Council to the chair of the centre's management committee follows:

Dear Ewa

I am writing to you in your role as the chairperson for the management committee for the Eastern European Society Development.

Recently Gosia Shannon copied me in to the proposal she is making that the organization change its name to the Polish and Eastern European Christian Family Centre. I responded to alert Gosia to the issues this could cause for your ability to retain the funding we provide for the Polish and Eastern European Drop-in group for families with children under 5, and to raise funding for your activities in general. This is because labeling the organization in this way implies that your activities are religious in nature, and many of the larger funding sources do not allow funding to go to faith groups.

Gosia's response to my concerns prompted me to enquire further about the way that the group we fund is being run currently. We expect all our ervices to be inclusive and without religious content, so I was concerned to learn that Gosia leads the singing of a song about loving Jesus in every session. I asked Gosia to leave this song out in future, but Gosia has refused to do so.

Recently we received a formal complaint from an attender and an ex-attender of the group about the religious content. I also understand that other families have expressed concern about this, although Gosia says she is unaware of others' concerns.

Additionally, Gosia's attitudes toward gay parents worry me, both from comments she made when we met two weeks ago, and from a letter that I understand she wrote to committee members recently which included negative comments about homosexuality. [In Gosia's own words "We don't promote homosexuality but we welcome homosexuals" - note, this section in square brackets was not contained in the letter sent by Haringey council, it is merely included for explanatory purposes].

For the funding from Noel Park Children's Centre to continue, I need to ask you and the committee to consider whether you are happy to endorse and implement the following:

1. Whatever is decided about the change of name for the organization, the activities of the Polish and Eastern European drop in group will in future be strictly of a non-religious nature.

2. The constitution for the organization will be altered to read: "Consistent with the objects of EESD, aims shall include provision of quality activities open to children and families and elderly East European people regardless of race, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, disability or means."

If the committee and/or Gosia are not happy to make these changes, then I will be recommending that our funding be withdrawn, from 31.12.2006. If that happens, we will be looking at other options to ensure that alternative services are made available for the families currently attending the group.

If it would be helpful to meet or for me to attend your upcoming committee meeting I would be more than happy to do so.

Yours sincerely

Debbie Biss
Head of Centre
Noel Park Children's Centre

CARLO

Dec 17 2006, 02:00 PM

Rose

Let us dismiss those responsible with the contempt they deserve and carry on regardless.

CARLO

Quote:

 

OUTRAGE AS HEAD BARS THE VIRGIN
By Tom Carlin
A SCHOOL head was slammed last night after removing the word Virgin from Mary's name for Christmas celebrations - so as not to upset Muslim pupils.

Sarah Watson said the move was needed to "tread a line between two faiths" at Walter Street primary in Brierfield, Lancs, where 90 per cent of 370 pupils are of Pakistani descent.

Mrs Watson said: "We cut the name to just Mary because Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, not son of God."

But Christian and Muslim leaders branded the move absurd.

Canon Chris Chivers, head of inter-faith relations in East Lancs, said: "It's religious paranoia."