The Christian Institute Plans to Ban Smacking in Scotland and Northern Ireland Protect Yourself from the New EU Employment Directive
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Issue 1 institute November 2001 UpdateThe free UK-wide newsletter of The Christian Institute Plans to ban smacking in Scotland and Northern Ireland Protect yourself from the new EU employment directive Gay rights teachers code delayed in England defending the family November 2001 Update 1 WELCOME Updateinstitute inside Defending the family Local success Welcome to the first edition of Update. The aim Church minister wins local sex education of this magazine is to let campaign...p5 you – our supporters – know what The Christian Institute has been working Red-light zone on, and to encourage you in your own efforts to be Residents force removal of “tolerance zone”...p7 salt and light in this world. At the moment there is, in particular, a great need Harm reduction for Christians to defend Mike Judge, marriage and the family. Publications Manager The dangers of one of the most damaging Explicit sex education, approaches to modern moral issues ...p8 plans to ban smacking, and genuine concern to calls for gay marriage and maintain this grace. gay adoption are all Of course, marriage and uncovered in this edition the family are more than Employment law of Update. These issues just beneficial, they are How you can prepare yourself for the effects of rewrite the basis of inextricable linked to the the EU employment directive ...p9 marriage and the family. most basic morality: But marriage and the Marriage for one man and family are not arbitrary one woman is the only constructs. They do not context for sexual activity; Smacking changes need rewriting. They were parents have a moral duty Plans to ban smacking in Scotland increases created by God for the to raise their children with pressure for change in the rest of the UK ...p11 benefit of man. It should be loving discipline; and no surprise therefore to children should honour find research showing their father and mother. married families are by far As Christians with a Sex shop blocked the best for children and legitimate voice in a A Christian Institute supporter thwarts plans for a adults alike. democracy we cannot be sex shop in Worthing ...p13 The Government rightly silent when public policy or recognises that marriage is our Government “the surest foundation for encourages behaviour raising children”. So, it is which is not only harmful Gay marriage entirely right for public but also plain wrong. With Legitimising homosexual ‘partnerships’ ...p14 policy to promote marriage calm and courageous and the family. Marriage words, Christians – young should be privileged in law and old – must speak out. and public policy. People may not listen. Whether people believe They may go their own in God or not, society way. But whether battles nevertheless benefits from are won or lost, it is the married family. This is important that there is a The Christian Institute, 26 Jesmond Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PQ. par t of God’s common witness to the Truth. Our Tel 0191 281 5664 Fax. 0191 281 4272 grace to all people. For the The Christian Institute is a company limited by guarantee and a charity registered concern is to be salt and for the promotion of the Christian faith throughout the United Kingdom. sake of our neighbour, light. We must defend the Registered charity No. 100 4774. Christians should have a family. 2 Update November 2001 BOOK REVIEWS aroundthenation Outstanding Books Christians throughout the Christian teachers, UK have had the governors and parents opportunity to hear about about important issues in Responding the work of The Christian education. People in Cardiff, Institute first hand. Bath, Coventry, Chessington to the culture In the last few months and Keswick came to hear staff at the Institute have practical advice on how to of death be salt and light in their travelled throughout A primer of bioethical Scotland, Wales, Northern local schools and issues Ireland and England to communities. By John R Ling encourage local supporters General meetings, giving Day One Publications information about the as they take a stand for ISBN 1 903087 26-0 Christian values where they Institute’s work and are. encouraging local This excellent book There has been an Christians have taken place provides a good extensive series of in Gorran Haven, Matters of Life introduction to many of Birmingham, Bromley, and meetings around Scotland the complicated Liverpool. drawing attention to the and Death bioethical issues that we Institute’s sex education The Institute has also By John Wyatt are faced with in the campaign. People in Perth, been represented at Inter-varsity Press world today. Edinburgh, Inverness, conferences in Belfast, ISBN 0-85111-588-8 John Ling starts by Keswick, Swanwick and at Dundee, Motherwell, laying out a strong the Christian Resources Blairgowrie, Falkirk and This outstanding book biblical framework and Kirkcaldy have heard the Exhibition in Birmingham. approaches the ethical goes on to look in detail story behind the campaign issues surrounding the at such important issues and have had a chance to start and the end of life as abortion, IVF, embryo see for themselves the from a solid Biblical, yet experiments, cloning, actual sex education deeply personal genetic engineering, teaching materials meetings perspective. euthanasia and controversially Wyatt, a leading surrogac y. recommended by the far & neonatal paediatrician in The book provides a Scottish Executive. The the UK, examines biblical clear Christian analysis of Institute has also wide perspectives on recent trends in medicine held a number of ‘humanness’ and clearly and science. It is both specialist lays out the details of the informative and practical, education ethical dilemmas urging us to take action meetings, currently facing the against the ever-growing informing medical profession. ‘culture of death’. This is not, however, a book of dry philoso- phical argument. The complexity and pain of the issues are not dodged. In the words of Wyatt: ‘We must wrestle with these ethical dilemmas not with anger, hatred or judgment in our voices, but with tears in our eyes. For empathy is the way of Christ’. These books can be ordered from The Christian Institute November 2001 Update 3 SEX EDUCATION Abstinence sex education almost adopted in Cornwall The abstinence approach County Council should Community Standards precious – they are not to sex education continues adopt an abstinence Association and Christian there to be exploited.” to gain ground. programme was defeated Institute supporter, After the debate, Miss A. As it becomes more and by 28 votes to 24 - a proposed the motion. Whitaker, Honorary more obvious that the margin of only 4 votes. She said: “The message Secretary of the prevailing ‘safer sex’ The amendment to the of the last 25 years has Community Standards message is fundamentally Council’s Teenage failed. No doubt many Association, said she was flawed, local people in Pregnancy Strategy also people have acted in good very pleased with the Cornwall almost pulled off aimed to prevent the faith, but we have to accept length and seriousness of a remarkable victory. morning-after pill from the fact that it has the debate and that the With the public gallery being given out in schools. failed…Our young people Council had agreed to hold packed by 140 supporters, a Cllr. Mrs. Armorel Carlyon, are our future – and that of a forum on abstinence motion that Cornwall Chairman of Cornwall’s our country. They are education at a later date. Proposed Welsh circular does not protect children’s innocence In Wales the National schools to teach sex policies. the circular Assembly recently sought education, when the law This draft circular would itself is lukewarm comments on a draft of its does not require them to fail children. It epitomises new sex education circular. do so.2 an approach to sex about marriage The consultation The circular is incon- education which does not finished at the end of sistent: for example, it safeguard children’s September: The Christian regularly mentions that innocence. Christians Institute responded, as did parents should be con- should pray not only for a many supporters in Wales. sulted, but then questions change of circular, but also The draft circular is whether religious parents for a change of heart. concerning in several ways. can be relied upon to teach For example, although the their children the facts of 1 Education Act 1996, Section law states that the life.3 403 (1A) and Draft “Sex and Relationships Guidance for importance of marriage Thankfully both the law Scho ols”, National Assembly should be taught in sex and the national curric- of Wales, 2001, page 3 education, the circular itself ulum are significantly 2 Ibid, page 7 is lukewarm about better than the circular. Also 3 Ibid, paragraphs 1.27 and marriage.1 The Assembly individual schools decide 1.28 also pressurizes primary their own sex education 4 Update November 2001 SEX EDUCATION Third local council bans dangerous health education materials A Christian Institute materials are not used in and community groups, I Revd. Iain Murdoch supporter in North their schools. with others urged MSPs to Lanarkshire has succeeded East Renfrewshire take action and I started to succeeded in in getting his local council Council and The Western organise a petition. getting the to ban explicit sex and Isles Council took measures “While that was going on drugs education materials. to ban resources after we concentrated on getting materials banned Revd. Iain Murdoch from receiving letters and the materials banned in Wishaw launched a local protests from Christian North Lanarkshire. Over a in North campaign to have the Institute supporters. period of five months we Lanarkshire materials banned after he Now those councils have pressed councillors and was shown materials by the been joined by North officials.