What is a Christian voice in Politics?

...Extracts from a letter written by Nola Leach from the organisation CARE
(December 2010)

In May, almost 300 hustings events were registered on CARE's website and the results of the General Election transformed British politics. The Coalition Government is engaged in root and branch changes and CARE is already engaging with them on several important issues. A number of new MP's are Christians - about 40 out of the 200-strong new intake.

IN EDINBURGH - We give thanks that Margo Macdonald's End of Life Assistance Bill was comprehensively defeated in the Scottish Parliament earlier this month and will not be able to proceed any further. This is a great result not just for Scotland but all of the UK.

IN WESTMINSTER - Earlier in the year CARE worked closely with the Christian Institute, the Evangelical Alliance and others - to defect a section in the Equality Bill that would have seriously restricted the freedom of churches and other Christian organisations to employ people whose faith and lifestyle reflect Christian values.

Although the Government still has not acted on it, the Coalition Agreement included a commitment to recognise marriage in the tax system. This change of attitude follows years of diligent research and lobbying by CARE.

IN BRUSSELS - The EU Directive on Human Trafficking provides greater protection to victims and ensures that more traffickers are bought to justice. CARE was instrumental in persuading the European Parliament to pass an amendment to use the proceeds of crime taken from the perpetrators of trafficking for the care of the victims. At the moment the UK Government has not opted into the Directive, but we are working strenuously to change this.

CARE successfully lobbied for the European Union to stop funding organisations which practise forced sterilisations or forced abortions.

CARE also led the way in helping to defeat a serious move that would have put pressure on the 45 European states to restrict the rights of doctors and nurses to conscientiously object to taking part in certain procedures; e.g. performing abortions. However, these crucial rights have now been protected and upheld!

CARE'S CALL TO ACTION
Please consider contacting your MP about one of the following areas of concern:

Children - the Internet and other media
In our over sexualised culture, children are increasingly at risk from exposure to explicit and violent material.

ASK your MP:
to press the Government to introduce legislation that requires shops to place magazines and newspapers with sexually explicit covers out of children's sight.

ASK your MP:
to urge Immigration Minister Damian Green and Home Secretary Theresa May to opt into the Directive once it has completed its passage through the EU institutions.

Remember always to be clear, concise and polite!
Address letters to MP's at:
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

You can send emails via: http://www.writetothem.com

CARE'S CALL TO THANKSGIVING
Please continue to remember the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minsister and members of the Coalition cabinet.

Thank God for:

• the coalition Government's commitment 'to tackle the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood'.

• the Front Page Campaign to stop publications bearing sexuality explicit pictures being displayed where children might see them. http://www.thefrontpagecampaign.org.uk

• the Governments 'Click Clever Click Safe' code helping children to use the Internet safely.

• the Coalition Government's commitment to recognise marriage in the tax system and address the couple penalty.

Please pray for:

• cross-party efforts to protect children from harmful material in the media and online to result in sound legislation.

• the Home Secretary to be persuaded to opt in the EU Directive on Human trafficking and provide more support for victims.

CARE
53 Romney Street
London
SW1P 3RF

Tel: 020 7233 0455
Email: mail@care.org.uk
Website: http://www.care.org.uk