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Christianity in the News – 12/02/2008
By Marc | December 2, 2008
I wanted to write today about the state of Christianity in Europe (Is it on the rise, the decline, and why are some of the most vocal opposition to Christianity British?), but I came across many stories that I would like to share in the news.
Political party founded to defend Christian Europe
This is just awesome. In a twist of irony, Magdi Cristiano Allam, a former Muslim and recent convert to Catholicism baptized by the Pope, formed a political party to champion Christianity in Europe.
An Egyptian-born writer who was baptised by Pope Benedict XVI last Easter after converting to Christianity from Islam has announced that he has founded a political party to “defend Christian Europe” which would field candidates in next June’s European elections.
Magdi Cristiano Allam, 56, said the party, “Protagonists for a Christian Europe”, would work to defend Europe’s Christian values, which were threatened by secularism and moral relativism to the point where Europe risked “committing suicide”. The party would be open to people of all faiths.
Christian counsellor sacked for refusing sex therapy for gay couples
This is in Bristol, England. A counselor for the Relate charity was fired for not being willing to comply with their equal opportunity standards. He was willing (and happy) to give relationship counseling to heterosexual and same-sex couples, but could not give sex therapy to homosexuals due to his faith.
Gary McFarlane, a solicitor and former church elder, lost his job at a branch of Relate after telling his manager that the Bible forbade homosexual activity and it was his duty to follow this it is claimed.
Mr McFarlane, 47, a father of two from Hanham, Bristol, said he felt he could not offer psycho-sexual therapy (PST), which included giving directive advice, to homosexuals.
But the employment tribunal in Bristol heard that he told his managers that he was happy to work with homosexual couples in relationship therapy.
Mr McFarlane is claiming unfair dismissal, harassment and discrimination on the grounds of religion.
Here’s the same story from a Christian news source:
Christian counsellor heads to Employment Tribunal over dismissal
Gary McFarlane had been training and worked with Relate since May 2003 and had enjoyed good relationships with clients and colleagues, according to Christian Legal Centre. Within his role as a couple’s counsellor, Mr McFarlane counselled several heterosexual couples and same sex couples. In 2006, he began training in psychosexual therapy, which explores ways to develop and improve a couple’s sex life.
Although Mr McFarlane had never had to provide sex therapy to a same sex couple, he believed he would be able to discuss his Christian views with his supervisors if the need arose so that his position could if necessary be accommodated.
In October 2007, however, Mr McFarlane was asked by his manager to state his views on same sex couples and despite affirming that he would counsel couples in compliance with Relate’s equal opportunities policy, he was suspended in early January 2008.
Counting the Bodies in the Aftermath of Clashes in Nigeria
Whenever there is this much violence, no matter who is responsible, it’s just sad and tragic.
At least 400 people were killed on Friday, and more than 7,000 were forced to flee their homes in this central Nigerian city after angry Christian and Muslim mobs protested what they said were rigged local election results. In what turned out to be a short-lived but brutal rampage, groups of young men killed residents and burned down homes churches, mosques and schools.
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