HC4u's UK Reporeter

[Pen4God]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-britain-id-cards-20100528,0,2704303.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+latimes/mostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29

Good News from the UK

Britain's new government to scr** National ID Cards

I could have told you that...but I didn't!!!!!     

God Bless
Pen 

[Pen4God]

Thank you, Mr BULL FROG, for "sticky-ing" this topic - like the UK pictures topic, I trust this one will also be to mutual benefit.

God bless
Pen 

[Pen4God]

Street preacher suing Police
over controversial arrest
The Christian street preacher who was arrested for expressing his religious belief about homosexuality is to take legal action over the incident.

BBC TV execs see faith
coverage as 'tiresome'
BBC television is in the hands of "secular and sceptical" executives who ignore religion, a Radio 4 presenter has said.

God bless
Pen 

[Ruth Ann]

Will be watching what happens with the preacher's law suit. That will determine a lot in the UK, I think.

[Pen4God]

Will be watching what happens with the preacher's law suit. That will determine a lot in the UK, I think.

I will keep you up-to-date, Ruth Ann.

In the meantime, here is a more detailed report.

Preacher to sue police
over wrongful arrest     
       
   
Street preacher Dale Mcalpine will launch a legal action against Cumbria police for wrongful arrest, unlawful imprisonment and interference with his right to free speech and religious liberty.

On 20 April this year Mr Mcalpine was arrested by police officers who said, wrongly, that it is a crime to call homosexual conduct a "sin". His arrest was caught on video.

Mr Mcalpine said: "As a Christian man, I forgive the police for their actions. However, I also want to protect others who may face similar problems in the future. This can't just be brushed under the carpet, freedom of speech is too precious for that."

God bless
Pen 
 

[Pen4God]

Let's end today with some GOOD NEWS for once - there seems to be so much bad news grabbing the headlines these days, so getting some good news makes a refreshing change

Armed robber ditches crime
for a new life serving God


Revd Matthew Martinson has abandoned his life of crime, and is due to be ordained this weekend.
Dog-collared! Armed robber who gave up crime for the priesthood (Headline is the Daily Mail newspaper)
Former post office robber to be ordained as priest (Headline in the Daily Telegraph newspaper)

A violent criminal has abandoned his life of crime and is due to become an ordained minister this weekend.
Matthew Martinson is currently a curate at St Nicholas Church in Beverley, and he is due to be ordained by the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu on Sunday.

Revd Martinson left school without any qualifications and began drinking and taking drugs.

And after years of petty crime his life reached an all time low when he carried out an armed robbery at a post office.

The 35-year-old was plagued by fear that his violent lifestyle would kill him, and he began turning to God.

Describing the experience he said: “I said to him, ‘If you get me caught alive, I will bow my knee to you’, because at the time I was getting involved with armed robbery, and with the firearms issues the violence was growing and it was a very dangerous world.

“I’d come to the point in my life when I’d had enough, I couldn’t take any more. I tried to commit suicide but it didn’t work.”

He was arrested and sentenced to eleven years in prison for the armed robbery.

But after his arrest Revd Martinson felt God speak to him saying “you now have a choice to accept me or reject me”.

The clergyman described the experience, saying: “I didn’t hear it audibly, but I just knew that he was speaking to me.”

Revd Martinson added: “I regret very much the people I have hurt. I can’t wave a magic wand and change that, but it has also made me into who I am.

“I want the opportunity to share what God has done in my life and let people know that there is someone out there who loves them and accepts them for what they are. If I can turn my life around, then anyone can.”


God bless
Pen 

[Ruth Ann]

Praise the Lord!! 

That's a great news report!!! Thanks Pen.

[Pen4God]

Thought you'd like it, Ruth Ann. 

Pen 

[Pen4God]

This is an item of news from the UK which is slightly different!

I am shortly going to launch a FRIENDS OF PEN4GOD MINISTRIES page on my main website and would like to include the names of my friends at HC4u Forum, but will only do so with your permission. Will you please let me know a.s.a.p. Thanks.

PS: if you want to check out the website before you make up your mind you will find it at www.pen4god.co.uk

God bless
Pen 

[Ruth Ann]

It's fine with me, Pen. That's a nice thought.

Your website looks even better than before!

[olivet]

That's a big fancy website Pen

[Aliva96]

    

[Pen4God]

To Olivet and Mr BULL FROG

Can I take it that the  sign means that you have agreed to become friends of Pen4God Ministries?

Please confirm, because I do not want to add your names without your permission. Thanks.

God bless
Pen 

[olivet]

Pen

I might not be able to contribute at this time due to health issues affecting the family

Impressive website

[Pen4God]

Pen

I might not be able to contribute at this time due to health issues affecting the family

Impressive website

I do not understand your comment, olivet, about contributing - becoming a Friend of Pen4God Ministries has nothing to do with contributing; all it does is acknowledge those who have visited and like what they see in the website [which you obviously do by your other comment]. So if you agree to have your name added to the list - visit the website: www.pen4god.co.uk and you will see the names posted today - it would be helpful to know your name and town/city where you live; and to keep it secure, perhaps you could send this information by a personal message; alternatively, post it here a.s.a.p., if you are happy to do it that way. I do hope you will join us on the "Friends" page - Ruth Ann is there at the top of the list!

God bless
Pen 

[Pen4God]

Pen

I might not be able to contribute at this time due to health issues affecting the family

Impressive website

I do not understand your comment, olivet, about contributing - becoming a Friend of Pen4God Ministries has nothing to do with contributing; all it does is acknowledge those who have visited and like what they see in the website [which you obviously do by your other comment]. So if you agree to have your name added to the list - visit the website: www.pen4god.co.uk and you will see the names posted today - it would be helpful to know your name and town/city where you live; and to keep it secure, perhaps you could send this information by a personal message; alternatively, post it here a.s.a.p., if you are happy to do it that way. I do hope you will join us on the "Friends" page - Ruth Ann is there at the top of the list!

God bless
Pen 

Mr BULL FROG, just in case you have the wrong impression, my post to olivet should clear it up.

God bless
Pen 

[Pen4God]

This report is really disturbing, so in spite of it being rather long, I have posted it in full. What do you think?

11-year-olds set to debate
rape, prostitution and porn

Children as young as eleven could be given lessons about rape, prostitution and pornography.
Pupils aged 11 debate rape, pornography and prostitution; Children debate 'rape myths' in lessons; 'Charlie Condom' promotes condoms to 13-year-olds; Mum’s fury as charity offers condoms to kids

School children as young as eleven could be given lessons about rape, prostitution and pornography, but critics have warned that the lessons are “too explicit” for youngsters. Charity Rape Crisis has released educational packs for secondary schools, which can be bought for £100, as part of a campaign to end violence against women.

They will prompt pupils to debate issues surrounding rape, and will also encourage them to act out a role play, which includes obscene language, where a boy and girl recall a drunken encounter.

Irresponsible

But Nick Seaton, from the Campaign for Real Education, has criticised the scheme, saying: “It is irresponsible because it is certainly not suitable for young children and probably not for older children either.

“Just because these things happen does not mean that children need to have them rammed in their faces.

“Sensible parents will be extremely perturbed that their children are being introduced to this sort of information at a young age.”

Myths

The controversial packs will encourage children to debate myths such as “women enjoy rape”, and “women ask for it by wearing short skirts”.

The packs will also cover topics such as genital mutilation, forced marriage and human trafficking.

Laura Colclough, author of the education packs, defended the scheme, saying that children are already sexualised, and that teachers are expected to use their discretion in deciding what to teach.

Sexualised

She said: “Gone are the days when young people are not sexualised. Most, if not all, see the music videos. They see the culture and they surf the internet.

“It’s not from an angle of supporting sexuality or pornography but critically evaluating it.”

The educational packs have been produced by the charity’s Wycombe, Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire branch, and are designed for use in secondary schools.

Character

Last week it was revealed that health chiefs in Southampton had created a children’s character, Charlie Condom, to promote condoms to 13-year-olds.

But critics warned that the scheme would simply normalise underage sex.

Ron Clooney, from the teachers union NASUWT, criticised the scheme, saying: “This method, where underage impressionable teenagers can get condoms so openly, condones the idea of underage sex.

“Having a giant condom launching this is ridiculous. This needs to be treated as a serious subject. No amount of silly characters with condoms on their heads are going to cure the issue.”


God bless
Pen 

[Pen4God]

I have a teenage granddaughter (admittedly at eighteen it is the upper end of teenagers) so you can see the concern I have from these two reports - this is related to the previous report, so the comments about length apply equally here.

Let girls keep morning-after
pill at home, says Govt body


Teenage girls should be allowed to keep the morning-after pill at home, according to new guidelines.
Teenagers 'should stockpile morning after pill'; Let girls keep morning-after pill at home, say NHS drugs rationing body chiefs; Outrage over nation’s first televised abortion advert; 'Charlie Condom' promotes condoms to 13-year-olds; Christian chemists to keep morning-after pill opt-out.

Teenage girls and young women should stockpile the morning-after pill at home, according to new draft guidance by the Government’s health body. The morning-after pill can cause an early stage abortion, and critics say the proposal fails to consider the emotional baggage caused by underage sex.

The draft guidance, issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), also recommends that teenagers should be able to get free condoms “in a range of types and sizes”.

Guidance

NICE argues that making contraceptives and the morning-after pill even easier to access will help to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies

But Norman Wells, Director of the Family Education Trust, criticised the scheme, saying: “The draft guidance is clearly more interested in getting young people to use contraception than it is in discouraging them from engaging in sexual activity in the first place.

He added: “Confidential contraceptive schemes are simply giving children under the age of consent the green light to experiment sexually.

“The result is more schoolgirl mums, spiralling rates of sexually transmitted infections, and growing numbers of young people carrying emotional baggage into adulthood that will make it more difficult for them to build a truly intimate, trusting and stable marriage later on.”

Advance

The NICE draft guidance recommends that doctors, nurses and pharmacies should “ensure all young women are able to obtain free emergency hormonal contraception [the morning-after pill], including advance provision”.

It also suggests that contraception and sexual health services should be established at “convenient, accessible locations such as city centres, colleges and schools”.

Dr Gillian Leng, Deputy Chief Executive of NICE, defended the recommendations, saying: “This draft guidance responds to a real need to improve existing contraceptive services, making it easier for young people, especially the most disadvantaged, to get the right information, advice and treatment at the right time.”

Doubt

However, a spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Emergency contraception should be for emergencies only – it’s better to use a regular method of contraception than to rely on emergency contraception, whether it’s supplied before or after unprotected sex.”

The spokesman added: “The Department will review this draft guidance very carefully, and respond to NICE with our comments.”

Abortion

The draft guidance, which is being published today, comes in the wake of the nation’s first ever televised advert for abortion services, which aired on Channel 4 last night.

Abortion provider Marie Stopes International claim the commercial, which will run until the end of June, will help women to make a more informed choice about their pregnancies and sexual health.

But pro-lifers have blasted the ad, warning that it “trivialises human life”.

Character

Last week it was revealed that health chiefs in Southampton had created a children’s character, Charlie Condom, to promote condoms to 13-year-olds.

But critics warned that the scheme would simply normalise underage sex.

Ron Clooney, from the teachers union NASUWT, criticised the plans, saying: “This method, where underage impressionable teenagers can get condoms so openly, condones the idea of underage sex.

“Having a giant condom launching this is ridiculous. This needs to be treated as a serious subject. No amount of silly characters with condoms on their heads are going to cure the issue.”



God bless
Pen 

[Gina]

Pen, I like your website and will look around further as I can find the time. I did read your belief statements and can say that I have essentially the same beliefs as you wrote there. I would be happy to be listed as a friend of yours and of your website. I think most here know my name and location but this being an open forum I will post it to you in a private message.

[Pen4God]

A BIG Thank You to Gina and Olivet

Thank you so much for agreeing to be a Friend of Pen4God Ministries - your names have already been added and posted on the Internet.

The sole purpose of this initiative is to identify friends around the world who have visited the Pen4God Ministries website and like what they see there, so that I can "reward" their agreeing to be a Friend by including them in the Friends Page on the site. There is NO other commitment, financial or otherwise, just a willingness to be counted as a P4G Friend.

If there are any other Friends of HC4u who have read and approved the Pen4God Ministries site who would like to have their names added, please indicate your willingness on this thread [to encourage others] and send me a personal message giving me your correct name, town/city where you live, and country [to keep the information secure on this Forum].

Thank you in anticipation of lots of replies. To refresh your memory the site can be accessed at www.pen4god.co.uk

God bless
Pen