Save Our Forests

From a campaign email received today, "this Wednesday there is a crunch vote in Parliament. MPs will vote on a motion demanding a rethink of plans to sell our national forests. If enough of us contact our MPs now, we've got a real chance of winning this vote!"

Please Email your MP to save our forests.

Parliamentary interference in the Christian faith

According to The Telegraph "A group of influential MPs will tomorrow call for Parliament to intervene over the historic reform as fears grow that the Church will reject plans allowing female bishops." For 'intervene' read 'interfere'. I am not surprised to see Sir Peter Bottomley involved. He lost my respect some time ago but I am disappointed to read that Frank Field has tabled an early day motion, which could abolish the Church's current exemption from equality laws relating to gender discrimination and ultimately force it to consecrate women.

Why is it that MPs tread so softly on the faith of Muslims yet when it comes the Church of England some see the Vicar as someone doing just another job in the workplace? Men and women are equal in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church but not interchangeable. Faith in Christ's example, the tradition of the church and the overwhelming opinion of Christians is not discrimination. That is something manufactured by Women and the Church (WATCH) to suit their cause. MPs should know better.

"We are all in this together" (11)

Announcing their sale, the government insists that it would allow communities continued access and greater involvement in their woodlands

Update

God bless 'em, the National Trust "is promising to 'play its part' in protecting England's ancient woodlands if a planned sell-off of publicly-owned forests goes ahead." As anger at the proposal grows, over 295,000 people have signed a petition against the sell-off while Lib Dem MPs threaten rebellion.

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Wot Christian Unity!

Today marks the close of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity although most attention has been focused abroad. 

Closer to home, instead of unity arguments rage on in the Anglican church. Particularly contentious is the setting up of an Ordinariate in England and Wales although in practice many in England will not, at least in the early stages, have a group near them while in Wales traditionalists find themselves in a desert. With no pastoral oversight, there is a leadership vacuum although there has been a tentative testing of the waters. Also slow off the ground is the much pilloried Mission Society of St Wilfred and St Hilda with much of the criticism coming, unfairly in my view, from Ordinariate enthusiasts apparently blind to the difficulties many face through personal circumstances and geography. Accordingly I am happy to provide links to both.


Humble pie remains off the menu but hope is not lost. As Christians we are united in the body of Christ through baptism but Eucharist separates us. In many Anglican churches people of good standing in their own faith are welcomed to the altar. If God finds them worthy should His servants find them any less?


There is little point in praying for Christian Unity and expecting a thunderbolt to achieve it - although many think Pope Benedict's offer comes close. Some people like elaborate worship using all the senses of sight, sound, smell and touch while others find God in utter simplicity. If only we could recognise that and attend any Christian church in humility we should make much more progress.

FOR SALE

Back in 1985 Harold Macmillan likened Margaret Thatcher's policy of privatisation to selling the family silver. Much of Britain's infrastructure is already in foreign ownership and in 2010 the Office of Fair Trading set up its first UK stock-take to see who owns Britain. Now our ancient woodlands are under threat.

We are assured that protective measures will be put in place to protect woodland trees and guarantee public access leaving one to wonder why anyone would want to buy the woodlands if they are unable to profit from their investment. A YouGov poll found that 84% of people agreed the woods and forests should be kept in public ownership for future generations, while only 2% disagreed. The Big Society has spoken. Is the Government listening?  

Government washing hands of responsibility?

According to a report in The Guardian today, the Head of the Civil Service has ordered an inquiry into the government's localism reforms amid growing concerns that its "big society" plans risk eroding the basic democratic principles of transparency and ministerial accountability.

About time too. Shifting responsibility from Whitehall to local councils, GP's and voluntary groups all seems designed to ensure that Ministers cannot be held to account. Added to their plan for reducing the number of MPs to increase their parliamentary majority, the government must be hoping for an extended period of power without responsibility.

Islamophobia 2

In a comment on my previous post tsavogadfly said...  "I want the whole world to think about the phrase you put so neatly, regarding the merits of pen versus the sword to express disagreement." The illustration above is one of many which neatly emphasises the problem facing us in the free and democratic society radical Muslims seek to exploit.

The reaction to Baroness Warsi's claims of Islamophobia suggest that we may have reached a watershed. Islam claims special privileges under the cloak of persecution while preaching hatred and supremacy. Why is this tolerated? Previous warnings were ridiculed. Politicians must grasp the nettle before it is too late. The spread of Islam must be stopped to protect our democracy.