Members of the European Parliament are calling on the legislative body to counteract what they say is a deterioration of freedom of conscience on the continent. Parliamentarians from four political groups have signed the ‘Declaration on the Importance of Strengthening the Fundamental Right of Freedom of Conscience’ which calls for “robust protection of freedom of conscience”. The religious freedom lobby group ADF International described the declaration as “a wake-up call” for the EU.
The Society of St Vincent De Paul is calling on the Government to act at once to reverse what it says is an escalating “erosion” of rural Ireland. Citing the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), the charity points to “a continuing escalation of poor living conditions and a lack of basic services which adds to the exclusion of those who live in what is called ‘rural’ Ireland”. The charity added that “a large number of people suffering from stress and anxiety, [feel] forgotten by successive government agencies”.
A new report compiled by three Christian charities and the University of East London charts the extent of modern decreases in Christian populations across the Middle East and argues that the departure of the community risks damaging the fabric of Middle Eastern society as well as, in the case of Iraq and Syria, impacting their economies. Before 2011, Syrian Christians comprised around 8-10% of a 22 million population, though 40-50% of those Christians have since left. Meanwhile, there were approximately 1.5 million Christians in Iraq before 2003, but estimates now range from 200,000 to 500,000.
A council in Britain has written to all parents whose children begin school this year to recommend that children as young as four be allowed to select their preferred gender before term begins in September. In a letter from Brighton and Hove Council, parents are urged: “Please support your child to choose the gender they most identify with. Or if they have another gender identity please…discuss with your child’s school.”
Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin has announced the formation of a Council for Marriage within his diocese. The Bishop stated that the move was a response “following from the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia and in preparation for the World Meeting of Families in 2018…At this stage I have just identified the need and am beginning to consider what shape it should take”.
A priest has stated that clergy in Ireland are becoming “sacramental firemen” as they move from one crisis to another resulting from high levels of suicide here. Fr Paddy Byrne spoke out after no fewer than eight suicides in Co. Laois in recent weeks. The cluster of suicides comes after another which saw five men die by suicide in Newbridge, Co. Kildare in March. “I do think people are quite alone in Irish society,” Fr Byrne said.
The British Houses of Common has voted unanimously to declare the actions of Islamic State against Christians and other religious minorities as genocide. The religious freedom group ADF International immediately welcomed the outcome of the Westminster debate as “a day of hope for every Christian, Yazidi or member of other religious minorities suffering under the terror reign of ISIS”.
