tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48486451329939267972024-02-19T02:09:47.497+00:00Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-46067577834121095712023-08-18T23:51:00.000+01:002023-08-18T23:51:15.386+01:00Newsletter Article<p> </p><h1 class="Headline-sc-1m4tzsi-0 eYWAvN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 50px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.6px; line-height: 57px; margin: 25px 0px 20px; word-break: break-word;">Abortion Northern Ireland: Protestant and Catholic churches hit back at Chris Heaton-Harris plans to teach 'value free' lessons on how to access abortions</h1><div class="Subheadline-sc-5g9eb9-0 jGoxbQ" style="color: #6c6c6c; font-size: 30px; line-height: 37px; margin: 0px;">Churches across Northern Ireland have hit out at moves by the Secretary of State to roll out compulsory sex education in schools - including ‘value free’ scientific teaching on abortion and how to access it.</div><div class="outerWrapper"><div class="ArticleMeta__Wrapper-sc-ejna39-0 XybR" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(165, 165, 165); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(165, 165, 165); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin: 20px 0px; padding: 11px 0px;"><div class="ArticleMeta__InnerWrapper-sc-ejna39-3 ezxmWa" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: flex; flex-direction: row; flex-grow: 1; margin: auto 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><div class="ArticleMeta__AuthorDate-sc-ejna39-10 ipGpKk" style="align-self: center; display: flex; flex-direction: column;"><div class="ArticleMeta__Author-sc-ejna39-7 dTVTsd" style="font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px;"><span style="color: #282c71;">By Philip Bradfield</span></div><div class="ArticleMeta__PublishedDate-sc-ejna39-5 iEMcuD" style="color: #a5a5a5; display: flex; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="published-date-ago" data-date="1686154588">Published 7th Jun 2023, 16:39 BST<span style="margin-left: 3px;">- 5 min read</span></span></div><div class="ArticleMeta__PublishedDate-sc-ejna39-5 iEMcuD" style="color: #a5a5a5; display: flex; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="published-date-ago" data-date="1686154588">Updated 7th Jun 2023, 17:16 BST</span></div></div></div><div class="ArticleMeta__SocialShareAndCommentWrapperMeta-sc-ejna39-1 bgHynr" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; padding: 10px 0px; width: auto;"><div class="SocialShare__Wrapper-sc-urob9n-0 kQAXMy" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; display: flex; flex-wrap: nowrap; justify-content: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><amp-social-share aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="i-amphtml-layout-fixed i-amphtml-layout-size-defined i-amphtml-element amp-social-share-facebook i-amphtml-built i-amphtml-layout" data-param-app_id="192393827981222" data-param-href="https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/abortion-northern-ireland-protestant-and-catholic-churches-hit-back-at-chris-heaton-harris-plans-to-teach-value-free-lessons-on-how-to-access-abortions-4173616" data-position="in article - top" data-vars-aidclick="4173616" data-vars-ea="facebook share" data-vars-ec="social" data-vars-el="in article - top" data-vars-event="gaEvent" data-vars-titleclick="Abortion Northern Ireland: Protestant and Catholic churches hit back at Chris Heaton-Harris plans to teach 'value free' lessons on how to access abortions" data-vars-urlclick="/news/politics/abortion-northern-ireland-protestant-and-catholic-churches-hit-back-at-chris-heaton-harris-plans-to-teach-value-free-lessons-on-how-to-access-abortions-4173616" height="32" i-amphtml-layout="fixed" role="button" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"%23fff\" d=\"M212 197h-37v60h37v176h70V257h50l5-60h-55v-33c0-14 3-20 17-20h38V83h-49c-52 0-76 23-76 67v47z\"/></svg>"); 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transform: translate(0px, 0px); transition: none; width: 410px;" title="Dailymotion video player - Abortion - Abortion laws explained" width="100%"></iframe></div></div></div></div><div class="Axate__Root-sc-1egxn59-0 kCXJwE" data-selector-environment="staging" data-selector-in-page-notice=".axate-article-bottom" data-selector-premium-content=".premium" data-selector-site-key="YPOS" id="axate-wallet"></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;"><a data-vars-ea="in article - outbound" data-vars-ec="navigation" data-vars-el="/topic/northern-ireland" data-vars-event="gaEvent" href="https://www.newsletter.co.uk/topic/northern-ireland" style="color: #222222; font-weight: 600; text-decoration-color: rgb(40, 44, 113); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 2px; text-underline-offset: 3px;">Northern Ireland</a> Secretary <a data-vars-ea="in article - outbound" data-vars-ec="navigation" data-vars-el="/topic/chris-heaton-harris" data-vars-event="gaEvent" href="https://www.newsletter.co.uk/topic/chris-heaton-harris" style="color: #222222; font-weight: 600; text-decoration-color: rgb(40, 44, 113); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 2px; text-underline-offset: 3px;">Chris Heaton-Harris</a> said on Tuesday that he was updating the requirements for relationship and sexuality education (RSE) in the curriculum.</p></div><div class="PianoArticlePaywall__Wrapper-sc-10igz3o-0 ckuzeb piano-article-paywall" style="position: relative;"></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">The announcement was welcomed by the NSPCC, NI Humanists, the NI Human Rights Commission, People Before Profit, Alliance for Choice and Informing Choices NI.</p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;"><a href="https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions" id="hide-ad-link" style="color: #222222; display: inline !important; font-size: 12px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">However the move has been strongly opposed by most of the main churches across the community.</span></a></p></div><div class="helper__AdContainer-sc-12ggaoi-0 helper__DesktopAdContainer-sc-12ggaoi-1 ixkYIw cIffkq" style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; background-color: #f7f7f7; border-bottom-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: flex; height: 314px; margin: 32px 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 620px;"><div class="MarkupAds__Container-sc-1a86yj7-0 jTHBEi" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: inherit; margin: auto; position: relative; z-index: 2;"><div class="MarkupAds__Header-sc-1a86yj7-1 jzgKCJ" id="ad-header-container" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: center; display: flex; height: 25px; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px 16px 10px; z-index: 10;"><p id="advertisement-text" style="color: #9b9b9b; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Crowds of people in Belfast took part in a rally against Westminster liberalising abortion legislation in Northern Ireland." decoding="async" height="1334" loading="lazy" src="https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE4NWQ2MTViLWFiNWEtNGU5Ny1hMzExLTdhYjQ3OThmZGE4OTo0NzEyNDJmYi03MzQ1LTQ1YWEtOTI2Yy0wMTFiMTM5ZWViMWY=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65" style="background-color: whitesmoke; height: 414px; object-fit: cover; width: 620px;" width="2000" /></p></div></div></div><figure class="sc-gsnTZi ildceN" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; justify-content: center; margin: 20px 0px; width: 620px;"><div class="sc-dkzDqf fVVaTk" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center;"><picture class="sc-bczRLJ cJlIdS responsive-img"><figcaption class="sc-hKMtZM bTSPaA image-caption" style="color: #a5a5a5; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; padding: 6px 0px;">Crowds of people in Belfast took part in a rally against Westminster liberalising abortion legislation in Northern Ireland.</figcaption></picture></div></figure><div class="components__Wrapper-sc-g4ixvo-0 iJYceb sidebar-most-popular MostPopularInline__InlineMostPopular-sc-17mwz2n-0 kWmtpN mostPopularInline" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; clear: both; margin: 20px 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div class="components__SidebarHeading-sc-g4ixvo-1 CdARU" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #282c71; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 15px;"><br /></div><div class="components__TrendingXTemplate-sc-g4ixvo-3 dIvkjx" data-target="/internal-api/html/trending?section=News&start=0&domain=newsletter.co.uk&requestingDomain=newsletter.co.uk&truncateTitleSize=&limit=2"><ul style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></ul></div></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">In 2019 then Secretary of State <a data-vars-ea="in article - outbound" data-vars-ec="navigation" data-vars-el="/topic/brandon-lewis" data-vars-event="gaEvent" href="https://www.newsletter.co.uk/topic/brandon-lewis" style="color: #222222; font-weight: 600; text-decoration-color: rgb(40, 44, 113); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 2px; text-underline-offset: 3px;">Brandon Lewis</a> oversaw the relaxation of abortion legislation in NI, which at the time only allowed abortion if the health of the mother was seriously at risk.</p></div><div class="Teadsib__Wrapper-sc-18o3d5a-0 dXBytq" data-google-query-id="CM771rWi54ADFYYxBgAdFf4JvA" id="teads_adslot1" style="line-height: 0;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/154725070,8057/belfast.jp/news/politics_3__container__" style="border: 0pt none;"><iframe aria-label="Advertisement" data-google-container-id="4" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/154725070,8057/belfast.jp/news/politics_3" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/154725070,8057/belfast.jp/news/politics_3" role="region" scrolling="no" style="border-width: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" width="2"></iframe></div></div><div class="divVideoStep" id="divVideoStepAdTop"></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">In 2020 the assembly passed an indicative motion against the liberalisation of the law, which passed 46 votes to 40.</p></div><div class="ob-smartfeed-wrapper feedIdx-0"><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-browser="safari" data-dynload="" data-idx="0" data-ob-mark="true" data-os="macintel" data-src="https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/abortion-northern-ireland-protestant-and-catholic-churches-hit-back-at-chris-heaton-harris-plans-to-teach-value-free-lessons-on-how-to-access-abortions-4173616" data-widget-id="AR_2" id="outbrain_widget_0" style="border: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">Mr Heaton Harris said the regulations will make “age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion” a compulsory component of the curriculum for students.</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">His actions are based on the recommendations for NI from an United Nations committee based in New York, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).</p></div><div class="Teadsib__Wrapper-sc-18o3d5a-0 dXBytq" data-google-query-id="CM_71rWi54ADFYYxBgAdFf4JvA" id="teads_adslot2" style="line-height: 0;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/154725070,8057/belfast.jp/news/politics_4__container__" style="border: 0pt none;"><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif;"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">A statement from the Northern Ireland Office said: “The Regulations, in practice, will result in educating adolescents on issues such as how to prevent a pregnancy, the legal right to an abortion in Northern Ireland, and how relevant services may be accessed.“This should be done in a factual way that does not advocate, nor oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception.”</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif;"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;"><strong>TRANSFERORS COUNCIL</strong></p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif;"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">However The Transferor Representatives’ Council, which represents the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church and Methodist Church in education issues in Northern Ireland, objected to the lack of time allowed for consultation. The regulations will require the Department of Education to issue guidance on the content and delivery of the education to be provided by the start of next year.</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Overpass, "Adjusted Overpass Fallback", sans-serif;"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">Chairman Dr Andrew Brown said: “Laws and policies for Northern Ireland should be made in Northern Ireland by ministers who have been locally elected by its citizens – an electorate which includes parents, teachers, carers and guardians. The announcement’s timing, right in the middle of the exam season for schools and before the summer holiday, is questionable and greatly reduces the time available for any meaningful consultation with teachers and boards of governors.</p><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">“The value judgments made in the 2018 CEDAW Report that RSE is ‘underdeveloped or non-existent’ were unfair and unfounded, and run against the evidence reported by the Education and Training Inspectorate. "</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;"><strong>PRESBYTERIAN</strong></p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick, pointed out that the move would not be subject to any amendment or debate by Northern Ireland MPs or peers.</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">“It is deeply regrettable that the legislation laid today is almost impossible to amend or change in Parliament, and that neither the Secretary of State, nor his officials, found time to consult or engage in a meaningful way with any of the key stakeholders within education," he said.</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">Dr Kirkpatrick continued, “It is disappointing that the NIO has swallowed the findings of the CEDAW report as a whole without any discernment or sensitivity."</p><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">He added that Mr Heaton Harris is insisting upon the teaching of RSE "without a particular view on moral or ethical considerations" but. Surely he does not himself need to go back to school to realise that every approach to RSE will be shaped by a larger worldview, as there is no ‘neutral’ understanding of human identity and human sexuality."</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">"He is seeking to impose a particular worldview on the education of children in Northern Ireland. What has happened today, seriously undermines a school’s ability to link RSE to its agreed values and ethos, in line with current Department of Education guidelines.</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;"><strong>CATHOLIC</strong></p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">The Catholic Bishop of Londonderry Donal McKeown said he was concerned that schools not offering the lessons could be "criminalised".</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">He said: "Schools want to offer pupils education, not just information."If anyone wants to find out about abortion you get something called Google and you type in abortion," he told the BBC.Bishop McKeown said there was a need for schools to help young people develop "lifelong skills for healthy relationships".But he added: "I am really concerned this seems to be a decision by the secretary of state that will impose a particular way of approaching the issue on all schools."[That will] perhaps end up having schools penalised and criminalised for not obeying the legislation."I don't think you need to impose a duty on schools, that come from a range of different backgrounds, an obligation to provide information as if abortion and that whole area is somehow or other a value-free thing."He told BBC Radio Foyle's The North West Today programme that Mr Heaton-Harris should have engaged "with all parties in Northern Ireland, not just with CEDAW coming from New York".He said the changes to the curriculum were borne from an "ideology that says: 'This is about my rights', and there is no question of morality involved".</p><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;"><strong>FREE PRESBYTERIAN: </strong></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">The Free Presbyterian Church also expressed deep concern at the announcement. Rev Gordon Dane the convenor of the church’s Government and Morals committee said: “Once again we are having our local beliefs and preferences overridden by the UN report from the ‘Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’. This outside group which acts to a globalist and one-size-fits-all-agenda seeks to impose a liberal and immoral set of values on our province.”</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">He added: “Abortion is the killing of living human beings and for Secretary of State Heaton Harris to announce that abortion must be taught in schools in a way ‘that does not advocate, or oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception’ is frankly incredible."</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson responded: "Regulations which amend the curriculum in Northern Ireland will mirror the approach in England with regard to education on contraception and access to abortion.</p></div><div class="Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cNCxjV markup"><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 20px 0px;">"This matter became law in 2019 and there is a clear statutory duty in section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-86362455120524391822023-08-18T23:34:00.003+01:002023-08-18T23:58:39.944+01:00Statement on RSE: Released 6th June<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt;"><img align="left" alt="Description: Related image" height="59" hspace="9" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="56" /><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;">GENERAL PRESBYTERY OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ULSTER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 72pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 72pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Government and Morals Committee</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">PRESS RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: right;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rev Gordon Dane: Chairman<span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <span> <span> </span></span>Rev David McLaughlin Secretary</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Phone: 07709117500</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">email: </span></b><a style="text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">gbdane@btinternet.com</span></b></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 288pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 288pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 288pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;">FREE PRESBYTERIAN CONCERN AT HEATON-HARRIS ANNOUNCEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">The Free Presbyterian Church has expressed deep concern at the announcement last Tuesday afternoon by Secretary of State Christ Heaton-Harris that he will impose a new “sex and relationships” curriculum on the Province, including teaching pupils about their right to abortion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Rev Gordon Dane the convenor of the church’s Government and Morals committee said, “Once again we are having our local beliefs and preferences overridden by the UN report from the ‘Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’ This outside group which acts to a globalist and one size fits all agenda seeks to impose a liberal and immoral set of values on our province. It is telling that in the midst of their report from which has flowed the imposition of a liberal abortion regime in our Province they saw fit to attack what they called the “religious condemnation of women who undergo an abortion” And their agenda is an attack on traditional Christian family values.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">The statement went on, “Abortion is the killing of living human beings and for Secretary of State Heaton Harris to announce that abortion must be taught in schools in a way “that does not advocate, or oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception” is frankly incredible. How can one be morally neutral on the killing of vulnerable people in the womb? To present abortion in a “factual way” as an option, is to take a moral stand. To believe that it is “a right” is taking a moral stand by default. The Bible says “Thou shalt not kill.” That is the most basic right that anyone can have and an education system that is morally neutral about that has become immoral.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">The statement concluded, “We would call on parents to exercise their right to withdraw their children if this is to be imposed upon us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b>“…for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1 verse 9<o:p></o:p></b></p>GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-4351619849578872172020-09-21T14:35:00.003+01:002020-09-21T14:38:49.313+01:00Protest against Mid-Ulster Pride<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;">Sadly, in our land we have saw the forcing of the sodomite
agenda with the introduction of what it termed “rural pride”. As part of this,
a group was established earlier in 2020 calling themselves Mid-Ulster Pride. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;">One
of the most prominent members of this group, it’s vice-chair, is a Church of Ireland
minister named Andrew Rawding. Based in the Coalisland area with responsibility
for three parishes, he has attracted headlines by branding his own denomination
as “homophobic and prejudiced".</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ni-minister-brands-his-church-homophobic-in-plea-to-marry-same-sex-couples-39514983.html">https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ni-minister-brands-his-church-homophobic-in-plea-to-marry-same-sex-couples-39514983.html</a>)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Varela Round;">The Lord
Jesus Christ summed up such “ministers” when He said-</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Matthew 7:15 </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;">Mid-Ulster Pride held a march in Cookstown on Saturday 19<sup>th</sup>
September consisted of 13 people walking in silence holding banners.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Varela Round";">The Rev Marcus Lecky, minister of Cookstown Free
Presbyterian C</span><span style="font-family: "Varela Round";">hurch organised a Gospel witness and protest against this promotion of immorality. Around 45 were in attendance comprising of members of the local church supported by those from other congregations and local Christians.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;">Placards were displayed highlighting the Biblical view of sodomy, the love of Christ and the need for Christians to love God and walk in obedience to His commands-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050;">Leviticus 20:13 </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050;">“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination:”</span><span style="color: #00b050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050;">Revelation 1:5 </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050;">“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”</span><span style="color: #00b050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050;">2 John 1:6 </span></b><span style="color: #00b050;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050;">And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "Varela Round";">A Gospel open-air was held prior to the parade with Rev Lecky reminding the listeners of the nature of sin, the judgment of sin and the forgiveness of sin. He highlighted the great love displayed by the Lord Jesus Christ in giving His life a ransom that sinners might be saved. Sinners were exhorted to repent of their sin and turn to Christ alone for salvation.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;">As the march passed the both up and down the town, a silent protest was held with the display of the texts of Scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "Varela Round";">It was encouraging to see a good number stand and listen to the preaching of God’s Word; we pray that this sowing of the Good Seed will bring forth precious fruit.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;">In contrast, there appeared to be little interest in the pride march with only a few members of the public paying any attention. We pray that this disinterest is a reflection of their opposition to such ungodly behaviour rather than a carelessness disregard about the breaking of God law.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;">A number of ministers were in attendance – Rev Paul Hanna, Rev Daniel Henderson, Rev Ryan McKee, Rev Raymond Robinson.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Varela Round;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOi4M5rghyDjAn1oxWO9SMvwMMgdMZ4FIWYFDCOdQ8nAzt4I3ZoNGS8ToTxlBAZT06YV28D1BxzFjVcYjkAe3Dp_N67crpA_yH_Jz5qmG1cKd7K4hGk0dOLQkXKA3KW5MpQ2daBboRvxU/s1600/IMG-20200919-WA0001.jpg" style="clear: left; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6HyQReTiVGDsgdPsbadcy2B14TjW63-TrxODv6qZGtvmGgLjMq9CPt0x9Y8XmeQfVnH3MARsh0tdQWFbLItccqqXu5XTPfqqFd39C_1mMNgrQFetzTVjNLrGNCvt7aE0Q6tDmHu_HN8/s1600/IMG-20200919-WA0010.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6HyQReTiVGDsgdPsbadcy2B14TjW63-TrxODv6qZGtvmGgLjMq9CPt0x9Y8XmeQfVnH3MARsh0tdQWFbLItccqqXu5XTPfqqFd39C_1mMNgrQFetzTVjNLrGNCvt7aE0Q6tDmHu_HN8/s320/IMG-20200919-WA0010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4E5QPbbWPtr3MBGvDZpIga6el4MK5JojZ9WsL1jRqXOl0deg6I2KGgiBPHjtUCiyZKTi2sUhNjsWmJFob-ABTHGDi2e5oOvAqyiSSI7GWpcK8mquIKZcZe1Hjvp93lkhm85NBOoGXf8/s1600/IMG-20200919-WA0011.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4E5QPbbWPtr3MBGvDZpIga6el4MK5JojZ9WsL1jRqXOl0deg6I2KGgiBPHjtUCiyZKTi2sUhNjsWmJFob-ABTHGDi2e5oOvAqyiSSI7GWpcK8mquIKZcZe1Hjvp93lkhm85NBOoGXf8/s320/IMG-20200919-WA0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p>GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-27839175876298346012020-03-31T11:41:00.000+01:002020-03-31T11:51:37.706+01:00New abortion laws in Northern Ireland<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwsJfzpE844nImKx3ZRX77rdf7WJkg8p2HNpr2RLwGnIcwaP3xuagrJvAf-9G3ZECfdyfZJJ7X4p3jvMLg7vB7bijmJVHpQn2RC_fKc_VAs182dl7fhaq0KbzVo6XQYZPZNz_c3BU1hQ/s1600/Prenatal-Images-with-Scale-9wks-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwsJfzpE844nImKx3ZRX77rdf7WJkg8p2HNpr2RLwGnIcwaP3xuagrJvAf-9G3ZECfdyfZJJ7X4p3jvMLg7vB7bijmJVHpQn2RC_fKc_VAs182dl7fhaq0KbzVo6XQYZPZNz_c3BU1hQ/s320/Prenatal-Images-with-Scale-9wks-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></h2>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At
present the entire United Kingdom is in a state of lockdown due to the outbreak
of COVID-19. This virus has moved swiftly across the world leaving many dead in
its trail. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In its
wake we are brought to observe the powerlessness of world leaders to stop this
virus in its tracks. It crosses borders with impunity and reaches into every
social sphere of society, no person is exempt from its touch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many nations
have employed the most stringent of measures to try and protect their citizens
from this plague. Money has been made available to provide services and help
businesses. Authorities have implemented laws restricting the movement of
people in an effort to slow the progress of this pestilence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Millions
of pounds have been made available in an effort to safeguard the population,
laws have been enacted within days, adverts have been produced and broadcasts made
to awaken people to the terrible reality of this virus. We support and commend
the current actions of the authorities on this front.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">However, there is a stark
contrast in that nothing is being done to stop the deliberate deaths of unborn
children! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Amid the present united effort to preserve lives we have the introduction of legislation providing </span>unrestricted
abortion up to 12 weeks in Northern Ireland!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the knowledge that the NIO consultation received over
21,000 responses, 79% of which indicated there should be no change to the
current law, we ask of Westminster – is this democracy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is
the duty of Government to preserve life, even those who have shown reckless
regard for their own safety and that of others, but what about the defenseless child
in the womb? Do they not matter?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">According
to the BBC 25/3/2020 the <b>Global</b> death toll due to COVID-19 has passed <b>20,000</b>.
Government statistics state </span>“There were <b>200,608</b> abortions for
women resident in <b>England and Wales</b> in 2018”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2018">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2018</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the midst of this effort to save lives we call on
politicians to unite against the horror of abortion and extend the effort to
save lives. There is a sad slaughter that has already been taking place for
years in the United Kingdom?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God’s law states very clearly in <b>Exodus 20:13</b>, “Thou
shalt not kill<span lang="EN-US">.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We
urge our UK Government to take heed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We mourn
the loss of life with the spread of Covid-19 and pray that lives will be spared.
The Bible teaches us to value all human life. We also pray that men and women
would realize their need of a Saviour and in faith and repentance cry unto God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We implore our Prime Minister and our
Government to consider their rebellion against God in laws that have been
passed and turn from this wickedness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Bible teaches in </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proverbs 14:34, “</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Righteousness exalteth a nation: but
sin </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a reproach to any people.”</span></div>
</div>
GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-28365550750436605512020-01-13T23:47:00.000+00:002020-01-13T23:47:04.411+00:00FREE PRESBYTERIANS STILL REJECT SAME SEX MARRIAGE<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster views the introduction of same sex marriage in Northern Ireland on January 13th with deep concern. In keeping with the teaching of Scripture and consistent with our position as a Christian denomination we will only recognise marriages between biological male and female. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Therefore, in exercising their freedom of thought, conscience and religion we wish to make it absolutely plain that we a</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nticipate that ministers in our denomination will not be conducting same sex marriages in any of our churches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Marriage is a holy institution given by God for the monogamous, lifelong, marital union of men and women.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As apostasy from God and His Word deepens in our nation, all kinds of immorality abound throughout society. The consequence of this increasing immorality is that God’s institution of marriage is constantly treated with scorn as a sinful people give vent to their corrupt lusts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly, in a relatively short period of time, there has been an alarming abandonment of the teaching of Scripture on marriage as ordained by God. This contempt for Biblical marriage includes, not only the abandonment of it as a divine institution, but also direct attack upon it in the promotion and acceptance of so-called same-sex marriage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The legislation of same sex marriage violates the law of God as Creator and offends God as the Judge of all. We would remind the powers that be of the Scriptural warning that God is not mocked and that legislators of evil will be called to give account at the Great Judgment Day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“…for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9</b></span></div>
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GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-19507661077498885372019-10-25T13:02:00.000+01:002019-10-25T13:08:15.960+01:00Day of Defiance<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Monday the 21<sup>st</sup> October is a notable date in
the calendar of Northern Ireland for all the wrong reasons. It has been termed
by many the “darkest day”. A day when the abortion law that has saved the lives
of over 100,000 babies was liberalised, a day when marriage is to be redefined
to include that which is contrary to God’s law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These changes are not being implemented as a result of a
decision by the citizens of Northern Ireland nor by the majority of their
elected representatives but have been forced on the people following decisions
at Westminster and the fact that the Northern Ireland assembly is not functioning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We commend those MLA’s who signed a petition to trigger a
recall of the Assembly on Monday and who sought to introduce the “Defence of
the Unborn Child Bill 2019”. Sadly, other parties did not have the same interest
or desire to preserve the life of the unborn child despite all their talk of
equality and tolerance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The moral landscape of Northern Ireland has changed overnight
and not for the better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We now have a society where there is the potential to
have the most liberal abortion laws in Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Instead of the mother’s womb being a place of safety it
could now be the place of death. There is now the very real possibility that a
child conceived through an act of sexual crime will be put to death for the
crimes of the father. Likewise, a child thought to have abnormalities instead
of receiving dedicated care and affection, may be unwanted and discarded by
abortion. The little one who has offended no one could be aborted and put to
death if viewed as an inconvenience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God’s institution of marriage, an illustration of Christ’s
relationship with His Church<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
(Eph 5:25)</span> is to be changed to include that which is corrupt and sinful,
that which is condemned in the Word of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In both of these cases, no consideration has been given
to those who may object or have a differing point of view. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We hear much about Human
Rights, tolerance, equality but does it exist for the medical professionals who
have devoted their lives to the preservation of human life and oppose abortion?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Does it exist for those who hold to the Biblical definition
of marriage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What has happened is the mark of a secular, sinful, selfish
world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paul writes in-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2
Timothy 3:1-5 </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> For men shall be lovers of their
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers
of pleasures more than lovers of God;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof: from such turn away.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The well-known verse in John 3:16 tells us that “God so
loved the world that he gave”. This is the essence of the Gospel. A God that
loves and One that gave, what a contrast with the world we live in. The Lord Jesus Christ in
giving His life for fallen man was selfless but what we have seen taken place
in Northern Ireland reveals the sinful selfish heart of mankind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Despite the darkness, there is hope for fallen man. In love and grace, God has provided
salvation for the repentant sinner and that applies to those involved in
abortion and homosexuality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In such a time we are reminded that God is sovereign,
that Christians have a duty to pray and to witness. Regardless of what society is
doing, we are still to “preach Christ crucified”!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-23253812669907472142019-10-19T21:23:00.000+01:002019-10-19T21:40:21.992+01:00Presbytery Statement on impending Abortion Legislation.<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>TIME TO BE A
VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS</b></span></u></h2>
<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSS5BvKuNKG8Y3VWiFuXo9SIMe6_iwB9CGFuCzpYmvz66tnOSLsZSGzr_UW0DAo3zLpCsdfQPkt2eZSntGs8N-xGrOk3JmZBoVVaeMFZ8dZ75PgoxBieLLeWOazF5WDJ2BlGyMQXRJS78/s1600/GMC+blog+pic_baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSS5BvKuNKG8Y3VWiFuXo9SIMe6_iwB9CGFuCzpYmvz66tnOSLsZSGzr_UW0DAo3zLpCsdfQPkt2eZSntGs8N-xGrOk3JmZBoVVaeMFZ8dZ75PgoxBieLLeWOazF5WDJ2BlGyMQXRJS78/s200/GMC+blog+pic_baby.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our nation is counting down the days – until the 31st
October. Will our Parliament finally deliver on the expressed will of its
people, or will it trigger yet another mechanism by which to invoke another
delay to, if not revoke the result of, the referendum?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of greater concern to us in Northern Ireland than any
Brexit deadline is the fact that we can see the whites of the eyes of another
cut-off point and can hear the clock ticking on a much more sinister
countdown. One that threatens to put out eyes before they can open; to
close the ears of that child whose sensory faculties are rapidly developing
inside the womb of its mother; to mechanically – and monstrously – revoke that
child’s right ever to live, or learn to speak, or cheer, or vote. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Exhilaration<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While for some – the kind of people who recently
celebrated with air punches and cheers in New South Wales, Australia, after
they overturned an 119-year-old law against abortion and replaced it with a
most radically permissive regime; and those who in May 2018 when the barriers
to abortion fell in the Republic of Ireland threatened “The North is next!” –
21st October 2019 cannot come quickly enough; yet for many in Northern Ireland
this is a date to be dreaded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Extremity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is horrendous to think that our province has been
railroaded to such a degree that from being the safest place in the British
Isles for an unborn baby she will accommodate one of the most extreme abortion
regimes in the world, with little to no protections for anyone, including our
health workers, but especially the most defenceless, the unborn child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As one Australian MP recently depicted it, this is “the
slavery debate of our time” and laws imposed upon Northern Ireland without
local consultation gives the green light to our own version of the notoriously
wicked Holocaust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Euphemisms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Naturally this is disputed by those in our society who
perversely portray abortion as a “progressive” measure. It does
not seem to register with them that the murder of the most defenceless of our society
should never be couched in terms of advancement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The euphemisms employed to deliberately mask and minimise
the crude, cruel dismemberment of a living child in its mothers’ womb are not
only threadbare but terrifying. In a calculated effort to diminish the
horror, terms are pulled into play such as, “a woman’s right to choose,”
the deceptive, “a compassionate response to crisis pregnancy,” or the
ridiculous description, “healthcare.” Since when did we take pleasure in
healthcare that is locked into only one outcome – death? Abortion is
neither health care nor a woman’s right: it is murder; the unjustifiable,
unconscionable, sinful slaughter of the innocent. It is a completely
bewildering sight to witness some political parties vigorously campaign to
outlaw smacking a child, yet at the same time support the violent killing of a
child in the womb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Education<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we permit God’s Word to be our educator, we discover
that the weight of Biblical evidence indicates that the Lord considers the
unborn child to be a person – therefore that child’s life should be protected
as other people’s lives are protected. The Scriptures plainly teach:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">• As a basic commandment (number 6), “Thou shalt not
kill.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">• In many passages in the Bible the child in the womb is <b>described
as a person</b>: “The children struggled within her” (Rebekah, Genesis
25:22); Elizabeth “conceived a son in her old age” (Luke 1:36&57); “the
babe leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">• God’s <b>judgment always falls</b> on those
who slay the unborn (2 Kings 8:11-12; 15:16; Amos 1:13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">• God requires <b>the same punishment</b> for
killing a child in the womb as He does for killing a man (Exodus 21:22-23).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Earnestness<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With these facts in mind and the deadline quickly
approaching, I appeal to Julian Smith MP, the Secretary of State for Northern
Ireland, to recognise the mobilisation of local public sentiment on this issue,
to remember the previous votes of the Stormont Assembly not to relax our
abortion law, to redress the ambush on our democracy launched and facilitated
by the unwarranted interventions of Stella Creasy and John Bercow respectively,
and recall the Stormont Assembly before 21 October so that our own elected
representatives can take the necessary action both to prevent this law coming
into effect and so stop this Death March before it is allowed to begin.
Only by this means will we raise a necessary voice for the voiceless and
reverse one of the most wicked impositions of our times: “Open thy mouth
for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction”
(Proverbs 31:8).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rev. Ian Brown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Minister, Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on behalf of the General Presbytery of the Free
Presbyterian Church of Ulster.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-72941713319412181152019-10-11T17:55:00.001+01:002019-10-11T17:55:49.189+01:00Westminster laws for Northern Ireland<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the 18<sup>th</sup> of July 2019 when the (Executive
Formation) Bill was being debated in the house of Commons, amendments were introduced
by Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow and Conor McGinn MP for St Helens North. They
related to the imposing upon Northern Ireland legislation on the redefining of
marriage and abortion. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This would be the responsibility of the Secretary of
State if the Northern Ireland Assembly was not functioning by the 21</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
October.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, both amendments were passed by the majority of the
house despite being opposed by the majority of the Northern Ireland MP’s, whom
we commend for their opposition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In light of this the following article by the Rev Ian
Brown was published in the Belfast Newsletter-</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On history’s side? I
aim to be on eternity’s side</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realise that
the dark decisions taken by the British Parliament respecting Northern Ireland
are not yet binding... although we are well aware that they shall be if the
cartel of wicked men and women who
voted in favour of these nefarious schemes have anything further to do with
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some elements rose to the fore in our nation's
Parliament this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One element was hypocrisy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Scottish National Party further dishonoured
itself in these votes. This party has made great noises in the past about
abstaining on all votes that affect other devolved jurisdictions in order to
ringfence their own issues. But here there was no such reticence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another feature of the debates in Parliament was
perversity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since the measures passed by Parliament
specifically target Ulster. I will respond in true Ulster fashion by 'calling a
spade a spade'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Same-sex marriage is perverse. It is a perversion
of God's order, that marriage should only and always be between one man and one
woman in a loyal and lifelong union (Genesis 1:26- 27; 2:24: Mark 10:6-9).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abortion is perverse. An allegation recently
surfaced that, on the lead up to the recent Irish referendum on abortion,
YouTube (owned by Google) "blacklisted" a large number of videos on
its platform: 'abortion is barbaric', 'abortion is wrong', abortion is murdering".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If this is correct, my phrase (for the purpose of
this piece) would also have been blocked: abortion is perverse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not health care, or a woman's right: it is
murder; the unjustifiable, unconscionable, sinful slaughter of the innocent
(cf. Psalm 139:13-16; Psalm 127; Job 31:15; Psalm 22:10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 dictates that
all birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence, with certain exceptions. to
intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird, or intentionally take or
destroy the egg of any
wild bird. Yet the legislation proposed for Northern Ireland will permit
babies to be killed in their mother's womb, with not the slightest risk of
penalty by any authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">History was
made in Parliament this week. I thank God for those who registered their
opposition to these assaults on decency and democracy. Liberals are fond of
pulling in the meaningless statement. ‘On the right side of history.' As
history goes in cycles it is pretty impossible to get on the right side of it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This, of
course, is yet another crude cudgel used by the opponents of true righteousness
to force silence on any-one who speaks from a conscience educated by God's Holy
Word, the Bible. Personally. I don't care about "being on the right side
of history." Not at all. What I do care about - intensely-is being on the
right side in eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is recorded of our Lord in Matthew 25:32-33 &46:
"Before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one
from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">33. And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the
goats on the left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">46. And these
shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life
eternal."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No doubt the
so-called 'emissaries of equality' would feel an objection rise within them
right here: "How dare God be so partial? How dare He discriminate!" Whether
they like it or not, God will do as He pleases - He is God - and what He does
will always be right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man may celebrate today as if, in breaking God's laws, he
has shaken off all obligations to his Creator and does not need to worry about
Him being the eventual and eternal Judge of his actions. Of course man imagined
this thousands of years ago, as is detailed in Psalm 2:2-5: "The kings of
the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the
LORD, and against his anointed, saying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Let us
break their bands asunder, and cast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">away their cords from us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord
shall have them in derision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Then shall
He speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite the
wicked decisions of men. God is on the throne, still. For time - and eternity.
Some of the men and women in Parliament today may not live to see these
abominations imposed on Northern Ireland - but all will be obliged to give an
account to God for desecrating His laws today and heaping further misery and
judgment on our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meantime, let us continue to pray that God's promise in
Isaiah 59:19 will be fulfilled before our eyes: "So shall they fear the
name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When
the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a
standard against him."</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-57764445609345547242019-10-11T12:25:00.002+01:002019-10-21T11:01:13.989+01:00Institution of Marriage<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A STATEMENT BY THE
PRESBYTERY OFFICERS ON OUR CHURCH’S POSITION ON MARRIAGE<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Free Presbyterian
Church of Ulster unreservedly subscribes to the fundamental principle that
God’s infallible Word is the final authority on all matters of faith and
practice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Accordingly, the Free Presbyterian Church publicly re-emphasises its
purpose to uphold the clear revelation of Scripture that marriage is a covenant
and conjugal union between a man and a woman, (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-5).
As Christ’s teaching in this Matthew 19 passage reveals, this divine injunction
of marriage between male and female is binding upon all of mankind throughout
all time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The injunction is designed to
provide the only framework within which stable family life can exist.
Consequently, the pathway to the improvement of society is found in adherence
to the Biblical principle of marriage. “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but
sin is a reproach to any people,” (Proverbs 14:34).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In keeping with this
clear Biblical teaching and authority, the Free Presbyterian Church underlines
its opposition to all marital and sexual relationships outside the covenant of
Biblical marriage. Scripture clearly reveals that such marital and sexual
relationships are sinful and will prohibit entrance into the Kingdom of God. 1
Corinthians 6:9-10 – “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators…nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…shall inherit the kingdom of
God.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore, as a Church
we are saddened by the attempts of political parties to normalise and promote
marital and sexual relationships that are in contravention of the clear
teaching of Scripture. We would remind political leaders that they are subject
to God’s moral law and should endeavour to honour it, keeping in mind that one
day all men will give an account of themselves to God (Romans 14:12). We would
also put on record the Biblical reminder that only through repentance from such
sin and by faith in Christ alone will forgiveness and acceptance with God be
obtained (1 Corinthians 6:11). </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">REAFFIRMATION
OF THIS PRESBYTERY’S POSITION ON MARRIAGE<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IN THE LIGHT
OF THE INCREASING ABANDONMENT OF BIBLICAL TEACHING ON THE MATTER<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As apostasy from God and His Word deepens in our nation,
all kinds of immorality abound throughout society. The consequence of every
aspect of this increasing immorality is that God’s institution of marriage is
constantly treated with scorn as a sinful people give vent to their corrupt
lusts. Sadly, in a relatively short period of time, there has been an alarming abandonment
of the teaching of Scripture on marriage as ordained by God. This contempt for
Biblical marriage includes, not only the abandonment of it as a divine
institution, but also direct attack upon it in the promotion and acceptance of
so-called same-sex marriage. Legislation to allow same-sex marriage in England
and Wales was passed by the Parliament of the UK, July 2013. In Scotland the
legislation of same-sex marriage was passed by the Scottish Parliament,
February 2014. Currently there is an increasing lobby for its legislation in
Northern Ireland. Those who spearhead this lobby do so in defiance of God’s
moral law and with arrogant contempt toward those who wish to honour the Lord’s
revealed will for marriage. Moreover, this attack upon the divine institution
of marriage, through favour and acceptance being shown toward same-sex
marriage, is witnessed in varying degrees among visible bodies within
professing ‘Christendom’ in the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In such a day it is the duty of every section of Christ’s
Church to remain faithful to Scripture on the subject of marriage and to
reaffirm in a public manner a clear, Biblically-based position on this issue.
That is the purpose of this position paper as formulated by the Officers of the
General Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. We believe that
this reaffirmation is in keeping with the ordination vow taken by all ministers
and ruling elders in which they promise before God to believe “…the Scriptures
of the Old and New Testaments not merely to contain but to be the verbally
inspired Word of the Living God, the only infallible rule of faith and
practice.” This vow in relation to Scripture binds our consciences on what God
has revealed about the institution of marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GOD’S INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Genesis 1:27 Moses writes – “<i>So God created man in
His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He
them.</i>” This is a general statement of the creation of man in God’s image
but stressing distinction of gender. In Genesis 2 the Holy Spirit gives us some
of the finer details, not only of human creation but of the institution of
marriage also. The account of the two events melt into one as is especially
seen in the record of the creation of Eve. The striking fact is that while Eve
was taken from Adam in her creation, she was then joined to him again by the
act of marriage. This is the import of Adam’s words in v.23 – “<i>And Adam
said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.</i>” Adam’s words
indicate that the beautiful creature brought to him by God was of the same
species and nature as he possessed; a human being like him. Yet at the same
time he knew that there was a difference, indicated by his next words – “…<i>she
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.</i>” In our English
translation, but even more especially in the Hebrew original, it is seen that
the man and the woman, while the same in nature, were different in gender. The
Hebrew word for ‘man’ is <i>ISH</i> – one sense of the word being
that it signifies <i>husband</i>. But the Hebrew word for ‘woman’ is <i>ISHA</i> –
indicating one who is designed by God to be a <i>wife</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The clear message is that the creation of Eve paved the
way for the divine institution of marriage. God’s intention for marriage was
that marriage would be constituted by two human beings coming together; but two
people of different genders – male and female, as the Hebrew words <i>ISH </i>and <i>ISHA</i> signify.
This fact is then reinforced by the divine comment in v.24 – “<i>Therefore
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife:
and they shall be one flesh.</i>” Again, the word for man in this verse
is <i>ISH.</i> The word for ‘wife’ is the same Hebrew word as for
‘woman’ in v.23. So, the verse could be read – “<i>…a husband shall leave his
father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his woman and they shall be one
flesh.</i>” The Genesis 2 record of the divine institution of marriage is
fundamental to a Biblical view of marriage. It undergirds all that the rest of
Scripture has to say on the subject. It contains the implicit warning that any
attempt to erode God’s revealed will for marriage – such as is inherent within
same-sex marriage – will bring His just displeasure. In addition, Genesis 2
makes it incumbent upon Christ’s Church to be the voice for God’s institution
of marriage when that institution is under virulent attack by the same-sex
marriage agenda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CHRIST’S PROPHETIC WARNING ABOUT THE LAST DAYS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lord Jesus Christ, the only Head of the Church, in
Luke 17:28-30 delivers teaching that shows that the sin of same-sex or sodomite
practices will mark the last days. In these verses the Lord draws a parallel
between the days of Lot and the time of His Second Advent. In the course of
what He teaches, the Lord specifically verifies the historicity of the destruction
of Sodom. He declares – “…<i>the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained
fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.</i>” Certainly the
focus of Christ in Luke 17 is on the sudden destruction that will come on
sinners at His coming just as sudden destruction came on the people of Sodom.
However, other Scriptures such as Genesis 19 make it exceedingly clear that the
sin for which the people of Sodom and its partner cities were destroyed was the
sin of same-sex alliances. Therefore, in the parallel that Christ draws in Luke
17, there is surely the inference at least that the sin that brought God’s
wrath on Sodom will characterise the times that precede His coming again. In
the light of the global acceptance of same-sex or sodomite behaviour, Christ’s
Church would do well to heed His prophetic warning in Luke 17.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GOD’S ABHORRENCE OF SAME-SEX SIN ABOVE OTHER SINS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Shorter Catechism teaches that while every sin
deserves God’s wrath and curse, yet there are some sins that are more heinous
than others. Scripture leaves us in no doubt that same-sex partnerships at any
level constitute sin that is heinous in the sight of God and is utterly
abhorrent to Him. It is a sin that God specifically abominates, Leviticus
18:22; 20:13. The language used plainly speaks of a sexual alliance between
men; and declares that “…<i>they have committed an abomination.</i>” In Romans
1:24-28 Paul describes the state of the Gentile world of the 1<sup>st</sup> century.
His description plainly refers to same-sex sin on the part of men with men and
women with women, vs.26-27. His exposure of this sin reveals that when nations
and peoples are overrun by such sin it is a sign that they have been abandoned
or given up by God. In Jude v.7 the sinners of Sodom and its associated cities
“…<i>are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.</i>”
It is very striking that while the Spirit could have presented other Old
Testament examples of sinners enduring such suffering, He chooses Sodom and its
allies. His choice underlines the divine abhorrence of same-sex sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FORGIVENESS FOR ALL WHO REPENT OF SAME-SEX ALLIANCES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While Almighty God abhors the sin of sodomy and will
judge all who refuse to repent of this sin, yet He is merciful to those who
turn from it and seek forgiveness through Christ’s one atoning sacrifice. This
is the clear teaching of the Spirit of God in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. The sin of
sodomy is in view in the particular sins that Paul highlights. In v.9 the
Apostle includes those who are “…<i>effeminate,</i>” and “…<i>abusers of
themselves with mankind.</i>” These terms refer to both passive and active
participants in same-sex relationships; thus debarring those who are guilty
from entering the kingdom of God. However, v.11 gives the assurance that where
there is repentance from such sin, for the penitent one there is cleansing from
this sin, to be set apart to live a holy life through Christ, accepted and
declared righteous by God in justification.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CONCLUDING AFFIRMATION<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the light of these Scriptures this Presbytery affirms:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That marriage between one man and one woman was
ordained of God and is therefore a divine institution;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That since civil government is to base its laws
on marriage upon divine law, the law of the land should uphold the divine
institution of marriage. It follows –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That while marriage is also a civil contract, no
civil government has the right to change the divine institution of marriage;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That the introduction and legislation of
so-called same-sex partnerships or marriages by the state is a violation of
God’s moral law in relation to marriage and is abhorrent to Him;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That all ministers and elders of the General
Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, who at ordination
subscribed the Westminster Confession of Faith, which in Ch.24, Section 1
states that “Marriage is to be between one man and one woman,” are thereby
before God bound by that ordination oath not only to uphold the divine
institution of marriage between male and female but are also required not to condone
or endorse any same-sex or sodomite alliance. It follows, therefore –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->That as ministers and elders of the Free
Presbyterian Church of Ulster, being bound by our adherence to the infallible
Scriptures and by our ordination vow to defend the truths of the said
Scriptures; we hereby re-affirm our adherence to its unchanging and
unchangeable teaching on the divine and sacred institution of marriage and our
opposition to acceptance and promotion of same-sex alliances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-20650247626877219292018-10-16T16:10:00.000+01:002018-10-16T16:10:02.068+01:00Supreme Court Victory for Ashers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We are delighted with the news that on Wednesday
10th October 2018 the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of the
Ashers Baking Company.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">They stated regarding Ashers-
</span><span lang="EN-US">“By being required to produce the cake they were being
required to express a message with which they deeply disagreed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The legal action was originally brought
against family-run Ashers bakery in May 2014 by gay rights activist Gareth Lee.
He asked for a cake with the campaign slogan, ‘Support Gay Marriage’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ashers, owned by Colin and Karen McArthur and managed by their son Daniel, refused to make the cake because it
carried a message contrary to the family’s firmly-held Christian beliefs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But the
taxpayer-funded Equality Commission for Northern Ireland launched a civil
action against the family-run bakery, claiming its actions violated Northern
Ireland’s equality laws.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In the ensuing court case, District Judge
Isobel Brownlie ruled that religious beliefs could not dictate the law and
ordered the firm to pay damages of £500. Mounting an unsuccessful challenge at
the Court of Appeal in Belfast in 2016, Ashers contended that it never had an
issue with Mr Lee's sexuality, rather the message he was seeking to put on the
cake.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Christian Institute which represented
the family then took the case to the UK Supreme Court. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In a unanimous decision,
five of the UK’s most senior judges upheld Ashers’ appeal against claims of
discrimination.</span><span style="background: #F9F9F7; color: black;"> <span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Speaking on behalf of
The Christian Institute, Deputy Director (Public Affairs) Simon Calvert called
the ruling “a total vindication of Ashers Baking Company and the McArthur
family.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“The Court strongly
agreed with Ashers’ lawyers that this case has always been about the message on
the cake and not the customer; the message, not the messenger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Equality law was
never intended to be used in the way the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
tried to use it in this case.”</span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The Supreme court also raised concern about
the Equality Commission- </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“The
Court of Appeal expressed some concern that the correspondence between the ECNI
and the bakery may have created the impression that the ECNI was not interested
in assisting members of the faith community when they found themselves in
difficulties as a result of their deeply held religious beliefs (para 106). It is
obviously necessary for a body such as the ECNI to offer its services to all
people who may need them because of a protected characteristic and not to give
the impression of favouring one such characteristic over others.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Questions need to be
asked of the unelected Equality Commission regarding their pursuing of this case and the costs (approx.
£250,000) which have been incurred for the Northern Ireland taxpayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-92147762099202031102018-05-28T23:22:00.000+01:002018-05-28T23:24:40.652+01:00Response to Abortion Referendum result in the Republic of Ireland<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Much of Ireland
imagines they have joined the ranks of the liberated as a result of the
demolition of its constitutional protection for the unborn. It does not seem to
care that by the same action it has effectively delivered a death sentence on a
significant percentage of its potential population.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Actions of this nature
are the inevitable consequence of secularisation. As belief in God and
awareness of His Word declines, so does resistance to abortion laws. It’s a
matter of anthropology: when man believes himself to be a random event instead
of a purposeful creation, he will inevitably draw the same conclusion about
those both within him and around him. This will then enable him to weigh lives
on utilitarian scales and so make distinctions about their respective
value. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Bible makes it
plain that God considers even the deliberate abandonment of one’s child as an
extreme example of heartlessness (Isaiah 49:15); and does not distinguish
between the value of the child in the womb and the child who has made it into
the world, using exactly the same word to describe both (Luke 1:41&44; Luke
18:15). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We are obliged to show
compassion and offer care to the small percentage of women who are caught in extreme
circumstances, though while the ‘Yes' campaign centred its focus on those
emotive margins to gain its advantage, it is extremely disingenuous and
dangerous to ignore the fact that the overwhelming majority of women who have
presented themselves for abortion have done so for socio-economic reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The result of this
referendum is a terrible outcome for everyone. People who have celebrated this
event with the kind of enthusiasm that is more typical of a pop concert may not
even realise the extent of what they have done; declaring their freedom even as
they are delivered into the chains of their own judgment. When men sin with
abandonment, God gives them over to sin that they may be consumed by it. They
pour the drink into the glass with gladness, but do not yet realise that they
will be made to drink it with grief, every last drop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Which is why the
majority in County Donegal, plus the minority across the rest of the Republic
of Ireland, who voted to preserve the lives of both mother and child, deserve
our humble thanks – and all the efforts of those who are now determined to
extend the stretch of the killing fields to Northern Ireland should be
implacably resisted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rev. Ian Brown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clerk, Free
Presbyterian Church of Ulster<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-43762254057510969532018-05-22T22:39:00.000+01:002018-05-22T22:46:35.259+01:00Ireland's Abortion Referendum <b>In 1983 after a referendum, Ireland added what is known as the "Eight Amendment" to its Constitution. </b><br />
<b>The wording is found below-</b><br />
<table style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; max-width: 100%;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="color: blue;">"The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right."</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thirty-five years later the highly sensitive subject of abortion has been thrust into the spotlight due to the planned referendum to repeal this Eighth Amendment on the 25th May. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
By permitting the vote the Irish Government has not only pandered to political liberalism but also endorsed a process that, if approved, will lead to the deaths of an incalculable number of innocent children.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Recently, the Government was to be commended for their swift and unreserved condemnation of the murder of innocents in places such as Manchester and London, but this same Government clearly fails to recognise that life within the womb is also to be preserved and protected. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Abortion transcends national boundaries and political ideologies. Life is not the creation of man but of the God of Heaven. God created man in His own image and breathed life into him so that man "became a living soul" (Genesis ch 2v7), thus setting him apart from the animal kingdom. As such, human life is precious, and a warning is given against taking this life, except in righteous judgement. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Since Scripture clearly shows that God alone created life, it naturally follows that no human being has an absolute right over their own life or that of another. This prohibition also extends to the child in the womb. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While some try to dispute the point at which life begins, the Free Presbyterian Church in Ireland totally rejects the view that the unborn child is not a living person. The Bible plainly teaches that life begins at conception. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<ul>
<li>The Psalmist David writes "<span style="color: blue;">for I am fearfully and wonderfully made</span>" (<span style="color: blue;">Psalm 139v14</span>). </li>
<li>Job specifically says "<span style="color: blue;">There is a man child conceived</span>",(<span style="color: blue;">Job ch 3v3</span>). </li>
<li>It is said of Jeremiah the prophet "<span style="color: blue;">before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee</span>" (<span style="color: blue;">Jeremiah ch 1v5</span>). </li>
<li>Dr Luke records how Elizabeth rejoiced at the Virgin Mary's news and how that "<span style="color: blue;">the babe leaped in her womb</span>" (<span style="color: blue;">Luke ch 1v41</span>).</li>
</ul>
From the moment of conception, a new person forms within the mother, one who is genetically distinct and physically separate from her. So then, the issue of abortion cannot only be a matter of maternal choice because it involves purposefully taking away the life of another human being. In no other walk of life would this be considered either lawful or moral. <br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While we recognize that there may be circumstances where both the life of mother and child cannot simultaneously be preserved and acknowledge that the support needed for each expectant mother can differ, it must be stressed that the deliberate act of abortion can never be justified. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Government legislation may seek to accommodate the destruction of the body but it cannot destroy the eternal soul. For anyone to sentence the life of an unborn child to its physical death is an act of murder and rebellion against God the Creator. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
For these reasons the preservation of the Eighth Amendment must be maintained.</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-67113032410966600542018-05-19T21:50:00.002+01:002018-05-19T21:50:43.499+01:00Sunday Sport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyFatzsgqEkjoYSuATmv16Q5qZHOOAovdI1OSzqpz3oK9VA7HhY_ZkX_EE9hycLp4SakITsImKVxiCWf6v9g9aL278GJOzMkVgHUN30axi92Z3V7Xj-4p8Jg92Pijut9vKhBw2EW7BZw/s1600/Ulster+rugby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="800" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyFatzsgqEkjoYSuATmv16Q5qZHOOAovdI1OSzqpz3oK9VA7HhY_ZkX_EE9hycLp4SakITsImKVxiCWf6v9g9aL278GJOzMkVgHUN30axi92Z3V7Xj-4p8Jg92Pijut9vKhBw2EW7BZw/s200/Ulster+rugby.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Tomorrow, the Lord’s Day 20th May, there will be a rugby match played at the Kingspan Stadium. While
we rejoice that this is not a regular occurrence, we are nevertheless saddened
to see the desecration of the Lord’s Day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fourth Commandment states “<span style="color: blue;">Remember the sabbath day, to keep it
holy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: blue;">Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy
work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work,
thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor
thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within
thy gates: For in six days the
LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:
wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it</span><i>.</i>” (<span style="color: blue;">Exodus 20:8-11</span>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We are commanded that one day in seven is to be special
unto God. While every day should be lived in obedience and honour unto our God,
one day is to be kept “holy”. It is to “sanctified”, to be set apart unto God,
in that we worship God and thank Him for His goodness and saving grace to a
wicked world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 60 asks -<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US"><b>How is the sabbath to be sanctified?</b></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
answer is given – “<b>The sabbath is to be
sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and
recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the
public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken
up in the works of necessity and mercy.</b>” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The command includes a responsibility to ensure that family, employees and visitors are not profaning this special day. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For those that
profess the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour there is that duty and
responsibility to keep this day unto the Lord and to be a witness to others. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Saviour set an example to others, “<span lang="X-NONE"><span style="color: blue;">and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day,
and stood up for to read.</span></span>” (<span style="color: blue;">Luke 4:16</span>)<span lang="X-NONE" style="mso-ansi-language: X-NONE;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Likewise it was also the custom of the apostles “<span lang="X-NONE"><span style="color: blue;">And upon the first day
of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached
unto them,</span></span>” (<span style="color: blue;">Acts 20:7</span>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sporting fixtures are not works of necessity nor mercy
but rather entertainment and ought not to have priority over the laws of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This Lord’s Day we would encourage men and women to
forget about the sporting events and rather consider God’s love for sinful man
in providing a Saviour and as we read in Matthew’s Gospel “Seek ye first the
kingdom of God”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-31451067220695531512016-12-16T12:32:00.000+00:002016-12-16T12:32:20.921+00:00<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Policing
and Crime Bill: Legislative Consent Motion</span></u></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
On the 28<sup>th</sup> November, the above titled motion
was brought before the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The motion stated
–</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to
Northern Ireland of a number of provisions within the Policing and Crime Bill,
by amendment at Lords Committee and Lords Report stage, in so far as they
related to UK maritime enforcement powers; UK cross-jurisdictional arrest
powers; anonymity for victims of forced marriage and pardons for convictions of
certain abolished offences.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The final part of this motion included “pardons for
convictions of certain abolished offences” and was an amendment that had been introduced
to the Policing and Crime Bill at the committee stage in the House of Lords by lord
Sharkey of the Liberal Democrats. This amendment appears to have been fast-tracked through the Justice
Committee to be presented before the Northern Ireland Assembly. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In light of this plan
to posthumously pardon those convicted of homosexual offences the following statement
was issued-</b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
On Monday, the issue of pardons for those convicted of
homosexual offences was brought before the Northern Ireland Assembly. While the
Justice Minister <span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;">Claire Sugden may
view this as </span>“<span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;">an opportunity
for the criminal justice system to try and right the wrongs of the past”, the Bible
makes it very clear that homosexuality and all sexual relationships outside the
pattern of Biblical marriage of one man and one woman are forbidden by the Law
of God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;">This policy
has been introduced to appease the LGBT community, but we fear they will never
be satisfied until they have everything their own way.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The truth is that while some may be happy with a pardon
from a government, the question of eternal forgiveness and pardon still needs
to be dealt with. This is something no government can offer no matter how
powerful they deem themselves to be. Our sin is an offence before God and as
such can only be pardoned by Him.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We are told in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">1 John 1:9</span></span></b><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">“</span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.</span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">”</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The motion on the day was opposed only by Mr Allister of
the TUV while sadly many others remained silent.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Five attempts have been made in Northern Ireland to redefine marriage and
make it that which is repugnant to a Holy God. We thank and commend all who have been instrumental in defeating these plans and acknowledge the bad press they receive for doing so.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Given the
track record on this issue we have to wonder at the silence of the 28<sup>th</sup>
of November and state –</b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The Government and Morals Committee of the Free
Presbyterian Church of Ulster is deeply grieved and bitterly disappointed by
the failure of MLAs at Stormont to oppose the passing of the motion granting a
posthumous pardon for those convicted of historical homosexual offences. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
This has saddened and grieved many Christians, but most
of all grieved the God of heaven in whose eyes this is still a heinous sin. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Proverbs 14:34 </span></b><span style="color: blue;">Righteousness
exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people</span>.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-68124729635727606162016-04-15T13:58:00.000+01:002016-04-15T14:05:33.879+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Northern Ireland's Moral Dilemma</u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmyx1-xFprmOaPfxQsrRb4oxxh6rmoJ6bBgjMNQaPlLXTjyXbyZhR3agpw-o1Nz0NYq9VD4fz2MX1majbjnaYHFhW8Gy6hM17MH0Pl5i0fLum7no_KNyrNylsRFVYYNOKaa1P9oPeBmk/s1600/front+page.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmyx1-xFprmOaPfxQsrRb4oxxh6rmoJ6bBgjMNQaPlLXTjyXbyZhR3agpw-o1Nz0NYq9VD4fz2MX1majbjnaYHFhW8Gy6hM17MH0Pl5i0fLum7no_KNyrNylsRFVYYNOKaa1P9oPeBmk/s400/front+page.JPG" title="The moral dilemma" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>The above front page appeared in one of our local papers recently and brings before us the very stark moral situation that is to be found in Northern Ireland.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The girl in the picture on the left found puppies that were left to die in a skip. She rescued them, adopted one and is rightly commended for her kind-hearted action.<br />
<br />
The headline on the right directs our attention to a recent court case where a young woman was charged with accessing drugs which caused her to abort her child, the remains of which she disposed of in a bin.<br />
Her housemates who found the aborted child, which was able to be identified as a male, were not commended for reporting it to the police but instead were lambasted on social media for interfering.<br />
Why, because they were concerned not about the life of a animal but that of an unborn child. A human life, that is rightly protected by the law of our land.<br />
This was not some unrecognisable collection of cells, the Housemates state "There was a fully-formed baby in our bin with little toes and fingers". It was not just a foetus, or an embryo, it was a baby, a human being that had been residing in what should have the safest place until the time of his birth.<br />
<br />
David the Psalmist writes in <b>Psalm 139</b> "<span style="color: blue;">For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:</span>" Every child is a blessing, a gift from God. Sometimes they do not have the perfect health that we would like but that does not diminish their worth. Every child is still precious in the sight of God and deserving of our love and care.<br />
<br />
Abortion has become for many the standard means of dealing with unplanned pregnancies, but in reality it is the taking of the life of the unborn child. A transgression of the Sixth Commandment "<span style="color: blue;">Thou shalt not kill</span>."<br />
The Lord Jesus Christ said in <b>Mark 12:30-31</b> "<span style="color: blue;">And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.</span>" <br />
<div>
How can we rightly love our neighbour if we do not care for the defenceless unborn child?</div>
<div>
Our soldiers have gone to other lands to protect those under the heel of oppressive dictatorships, but what about the silent voice of the unborn child? Where is their protector?</div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>In an age when there is much talk about love and tolerance, where is the love for the child of the unplanned pregnancy?</b>GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-28407463988042983782016-04-12T20:32:00.000+01:002016-04-13T11:00:39.869+01:00<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 20.0pt;">FIGHTING AGAINST BLASPHEMY</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Government and Morals Committee of Presbytery have been engaged in on-going
correspondence with government departments and other bodies on the moral issues
of the day. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In
November last year a play was staged as part of the Outburst Queer Arts
festival in Belfast called, </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Gospel
According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven" The preview of the play on the
Outburst festival website described how in the play there was a
"revolutionary queer ritual in which bread is shared, wine is drunk and
familiar stories are re-imagined by a transgender Jesus." </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Bible reveals the Lord Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s and
the eternal Son of God. The title “Queen of Heaven” is only used in the Bible
in the book of Jeremiah to describe a heathen goddess whom God condemned. Furthermore
the Bible teaches that homosexuality and transgender is sin. The play was a
blasphemy against the Saviour whom we love and serve.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Government and Morals Committee contacted various government departments and
bodies who were listed as having sponsored this play. Among those contacted
were, the Arts Council, which distributes funds from the National Lottery,
Belfast City Council, The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, The
Department of Social Development and the Public Health Agency. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was pointed out to each that under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act
public bodies have obligations relating to promoting good relations between
people of different religious beliefs, ethnic origins, and political opinions.
The Government and Morals Committee indicated that for the LGBT lobby to
portray the Son of God, as something other than who He is does nothing to
promote good relations. Rather it is our belief that it was their direct
intention to make a mockery of Christ.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Presbytery Committee received a number of replies, a couple of which denied
that they had done anything that was contrary to section 75 of the Northern
Ireland Act and urging that the Government and Morals Committee take the matter
to the Equality Commission or the PSNI if they thought the law had been
breached. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
reply that was most dismissive was that from the Department of Culture Arts and
Leisure, which said that they supported the artist’s right to freedom of
expression. The Arts Council stated that they took their obligations under
section 75 very seriously but seemed to think that its only obligation under
section 75 was “to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different
religious beliefs.” However they look to have ignored the second section of the
Act, which says, “a public authority shall in carrying out its functions
relating to Northern Ireland have regard to the desirability of promoting good
relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or
racial group.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Belfast
City Council appeared to want to distance themselves from the event and said
that their contribution was part of an overall support given to the Community
Festivals Fund and that they did not specifically support this event. They also
pointed out that the Outburst Programme contains the statement </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">views expressed through Outburst events are not
necessarily shared or endorsed by our funders, sponsors or partners.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The letter seemed
to imply that the views of the play were not those of Belfast City Council. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
most satisfactory reply was from the Department of Social Development, which
said that they had reviewed their procedures to ensure greater scrutiny of
event programmes in the future.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
is hoped that our protest will result in greater scrutiny of events and that
this kind of blasphemy will not be supported by public money in the future. We
would ask you to pray for the Government and Morals Committee, which has the
job of replying to government consultations on moral issues and of making our
voice heard when issues like this arise.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-58763976315686031652016-02-16T16:20:00.000+00:002016-02-16T16:21:37.471+00:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Blasphemous Play</b></span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Back in November 2015 a blasphemous production was shown as part of the Queer Arts Festival in Belfast.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Below is the content of correspondence sent to the five public bodies that funded this vile event.</span></b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></div>
<br />
We write on behalf of the Government and Morals Committee of the Free Presbyterian Church to express our outrage that public money has been used to fund a blasphemy against our Lord Jesus Christ. <br />
The Committee felt it needed to express protest at the blasphemy in the play, "The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven" performed on November 15 at the Outburst Queer Arts Festival in Belfast. In this play the Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed as a transsexual. The preview of the play on the Outburst festival website described how in the play there is a "revolutionary queer ritual in which bread is shared, wine is drunk and familiar stories are re-imagined by a transgender Jesus."<br />
<br />
The Bible reveals Christ as the "King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s" and the eternal "Son of God" and the title "Queen of Heaven" is only used in the Bible in the book of Jeremiah to describe a heathen goddess whom God condemned.<br />
<br />
Furthermore the Bible teaches that homosexuality and transgender activities are sinful. Among those that <span style="color: #cc0000;">1Corinthians 6:9-10</span> informs us shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven unless they repent are the “effeminate” and the word is almost certainly a reference to homosexual prostitutes who dressed as women.<br />
<br />
We do know that God has made us male and female in his own image. In <span style="color: #cc0000;">Genesis 1:26</span>, the Bible says, “<span style="color: #cc0000;">So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them</span>.”<br />
<br />
Maleness and femaleness are God’s choice, determined at conception. This may not be politically correct but this is the historic teaching of Christianity. Therefore Jo Clifford the playwright must have known that his play would cause offence. Indeed it would be our belief, although we know that the playwright denies it that the play was written with the intention of causing offence. It has certainly done that because many evangelical Christians and others from other communities have been outraged at this play.<br />
<br />
Your organization/department has been involved in funding this play. Did you know beforehand that this play was part of what you were funding?<br />
<br />
If you did not, would due diligence not have obliged you to have found out?<br />
<br />
Under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act public bodies have obligations relating to promoting good relations between people of different religious beliefs, ethnic origins, and political opinions.<br />
<br />
Surely funding the LGBT lobby to portray the Son of God as something other than who He is does nothing to promote good relations. Indeed we contend that you have funded the LGBT lobby to make a mockery of Christ.<br />
<br />
Christians do not react as some Muslims do to such a blasphemy (ie with violence) but does that mean we are fair game?<br />
<br />
We feel the mockery of our Saviour just as much as they do their revered figures, but we are not a violent people. However we do demand that government and government funded organisations do not facilitate and promote attacks upon our Saviour.<br />
<br />
I think the least that should be done is that funding to this festival be reviewed and that they be asked to repay the money they were given to produce and promote something of deep offence to Christians.<br />
<br />
Yours Faithfully<br />
<br />
David McLaughlin (Rev)<br />
Gordon Dane (Rev)<br />
<br />Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-9647604036063475632016-02-11T12:38:00.001+00:002016-02-11T12:57:36.102+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><u>No to Abortion changes!</u></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>We welcome the outcome of yesterday's debate within the Northern Ireland Assembly that no change will be made to the current abortion law in Northern Ireland.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>We commend each MLA who voted against it.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Below is a report by the Christian Institute:</u></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Christian Institute has welcomed as ‘heartening’ Stormont’s refusal to weaken legal protections for the unborn in Northern Ireland.</span><span id="more-10718"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Late last night MLAs voted 59 to 40 against amending legislation to allow abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. They voted 64 to 32 against allowing abortion in cases of sexual crime.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During the debate, politicians from different parties expressed concern about the proposals.</span> <br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">‘Abortion on demand’</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">DUP MLA Emma Pengelly said medics had advised that there is no such term as “fatal foetal abnormality”, a point echoed by SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kelly also warned that changing the law in this way could pave the way for “abortion on demand”. </span><br />
<blockquote class="right">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Abortion is not good healthcare for women Callum Webster</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Before the debate, Attorney General John Larkin QC raised concerns that changing the law in this way could breach obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Vital protection</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The DUP has asked the Health Minister Simon Hamilton to set up a working group to look into the issues raised by severely life-limiting disabilities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Christian Institute’s Northern Ireland Officer Callum Webster said that the existing law, permitting abortion only when the mother’s life is at risk, is a vital protection for women.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“It is heartening that the majority of MLAs have voted to uphold the sanctity of life today at Stormont. There has been a media campaign to undermine the legal protections afforded to our unborn children, but thankfully politicians have resisted that co-ordinated pressure.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Overwhelming opposition</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Abortion is not good healthcare for women. Instead we need to look at improving perinatal hospice care provision for babies with very limited life expectancies”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mr Webster added: “The Government’s own consultation last year showed that the public overwhelmingly opposes weaker abortion legislation – in fact less than one per cent favoured changing the law.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“The Assembly has stood up for the people of the Province and against those who wish to sell abortion as a positive choice whilst devaluing the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lasting trauma</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“I have had the privilege of meeting many women who have a different story to tell about abortion than the one popularised by the pro-abortion activists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Women like </span><a href="http://www.christian.org.uk/news/i-got-over-the-rape-but-i-never-got-over-my-abortion/"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lesley McAskie</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> who was raped at 13 years old. A truly horrific experience but one made even worse by the lasting trauma of aborting her child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Women like the late </span><a href="http://www.christian.org.uk/news/no-disability-is-without-hope/"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hilary McDowell</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> – born with multiple disabilities and given a life expectancy of just 3 weeks – who went on to become a highly successful writer and broadcaster.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">‘Precious hour’</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Women like </span><a href="http://www.christian.org.uk/news/all-she-ever-knew-was-love/"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Charlene McCabe</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, whose little girl Myla had Edwards Syndrome, a severe genetic disorder that would have been covered by these amendments. She told me that the time she had with Myla was the most precious hour and 55 minutes of her life – time she would never forget.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“We know doctors are not infallible and they know that themselves. I have spoken to a couple right here in Northern Ireland who were told their son had a fatal foetal abnormality and were pressured to abort. The diagnosis was completely inaccurate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“And what about the voice of the unborn? The children whose lives are on the line because someone decides that their life is not worth living. I was able to meet </span><a href="http://www.christian.org.uk/news/i-knew-that-she-loved-me-no-matter-what/"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gary</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, conceived through the awful trauma of rape but whose mother refused to abort him – a decision for which he is grateful beyond words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“And these are just a few examples. Today, these people, and many more like them, can take comfort in the knowledge that their voices have been heard and that people like them are recognised for their value as human beings and for the incredible contribution they make to society.”</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christian.org.uk/news/mlas-block-push-to-weaken-protections-for-unborn/">http://www.christian.org.uk/news/mlas-block-push-to-weaken-protections-for-unborn/</a><strike><br /></strike>Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-62114480912394930242016-02-09T10:18:00.000+00:002016-02-11T12:46:35.921+00:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
</h2>
<h2 style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 22.0pt;">Proposed amendments to the Justice (no 2) Bill</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">In 2015 the Department of Justice held a consultation regarding
the criminal law on abortion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">This focused on two aspects - Lethal foetal
abnormality and sexual crime. The response was reported as follows - </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">• There were 712 individually written responses. 579 of these opposed
change, 133 supported change; </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">• There were 65 responses from representative organisations and
interested groups. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">47 of these supported change, 18 were against; </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">• there were 921 letters opposing change written in support of seven
lobby campaigns which may have been organised by individual churches or faith
groups; </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">• There were 23,622 petition signatures opposing change. The petition,
called Project Love, was organised by Every Life Counts Ireland. It was made up
of 18,000 postcards, delivered to the Department by Precious Life; a further
2,197 sent directly to the Department and 3,425 signatures to the electronic
version of the petition on a website called CitizenGo.org. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Despite the overwhelming public opposition, at the end of last month
proposed amendments were made by the Alliance party and the Green party to
implement these changes to the Justice Bill.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">It seems they are intent on riding roughshod over the views of the
people to fulfil their own liberal agenda.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">While we acknowledge the pain and the trauma of both parents and the
women involved in each of these cases, the Bible teaches us that every life is
important before God. David could say in-</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Psalm 139:14 </span></span></b><span style="color: #cc0000; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">“I will praise thee; for I
am fearfully </span><i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">and </span></i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">wonderfully made: marvellous </span><i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">are </span></i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">thy works;”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">It is our Christian duty in obedience to the commands of God to preserve
life and not to end it.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Exodus 20:13</span></span></b><span style="color: #cc0000; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> Thou shalt not kill.</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">If a child develops cancer or some handicap then both the parents and
the medical profession will rightly do all that they can to preserve the life
of their child and provide the best level of care that is possible, why should this
be different if the child is still in the womb?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Why should we as a society make such excellent provision for those who
are disabled to integrate into normal life and at the same time end the lives
of those whom we fear may be born disabled?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">The amendment states-</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">(a) a pregnancy is terminated by a registered
medical practitioner where a diagnosis has been made of a foetal abnormality
which is likely to prove fatal, and </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">(b) the diagnosis was made by two suitably
qualified registered medical practitioners who are of the opinion, formed in
good faith, that— </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">(i) the condition of the foetus is likely to cause
death either before birth, or during birth, or, (ii) if a live birth should
occur, there is no medical treatment which could be offered to alter the fatal
nature of the condition or improve the chances of survival.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">What if the medical Practitioner gets it wrong?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">They did in the case of Dale Eakin – </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-news/wee-superstar-dale-eakin-turns-18-1-7192067"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-news/wee-superstar-dale-eakin-turns-18-1-7192067</span></span></a><b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Remember</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> - one of main arguments for the abolition of capital punishment was the
risk of an innocent person being executed. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Who defines the scope of “a foetal abnormality which is likely to prove
fatal”?</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> According to the Department of Health abortion statistics for
England and Wales in 2014-</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">3,099 abortions (2%) were carried out under ground E (risk that the
child would be born handicapped). </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/abortion-statistics-england-and-wales-2014"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/abortion-statistics-england-and-wales-2014</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">When those figures are broken down 662 abortions were due to an assumed
diagnosis of Downs syndrome, others for spina bifida, cleft lip and cleft
palate.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">In the case of Rape-</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> Rape is a crime, as is incest and yet why should the innocent
unborn child be the one to suffer. The child is as much a victim as the mother;
the taking of the life of the child only compounds the damage that has been
done.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">One victim made the comment that the birth of the child was the only
light to come out of such a dark event. Another woman who had suffered this
terrible crime made the comment that she had got over the rape but not the
abortion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Figures released by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland in 2013</span><span style="font-size: 6.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">showed that in 90
cases of pregnancy through rape only 17 women and girls chose to have a
termination. In the 2014 report, 40% of those who became pregnant went on
to give birth and parent their children.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Dangers of abortion.</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Abortion for many has left them suffering from depression and a sense of
guilt that they may never get over. This is confirmed by a number of
studies- </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 48pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">A study in Finland
revealed a six-fold increased rate of deaths from suicide among aborting women.
(BMJ 1996; 313:1431-1434)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 48pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">A study conducted in
Wales on 408,000 women between 1991 and 1995; found that women who had induced
abortions were 225 percent more likely to commit suicide than women admitted
for normal delivery. (BMJ 1997; 314:902)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">There is also the risk associated with future pregnancies after induced
abortion to be considered as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Regardless of the liberal agenda within society, if we depart from
the laws of God then it will be to the detriment of our land. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Therefore we urge that the abortion Law in Northern Ireland remain as it
is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">The Lord Jesus Christ said regarding the children-</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Matthew 18:6</span></span></b><span style="color: #cc0000; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> But whoso shall
offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him
that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the
depth of the sea.</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-35412617091348615442016-02-06T00:21:00.000+00:002016-02-06T00:21:20.669+00:00Latest turn in the Ashers Baking Company case!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Reported in the Belfast Newsletter 3/2/16</span></h3>
<h3 class="article__lead">
<br />
A high profile appeal by Christian bakers who were found to have discriminated against a gay customer has been dramatically halted to facilitate an intervention by Northern Ireland’s top legal adviser.</h3>
Attorney General John Larkin QC has made a last-minute request to make representation in the case about any potential conflict between the region’s equality legislation and European human rights laws.<br />
<br />
The McArthur family’s refusal to bake the customer’s order for a cake bearing a pro-gay marriage slogan was ruled unlawful last year.<br />
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Northern Ireland’s Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said: “It is most unfortunate this issue has arisen only two days before this hearing.<br />
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“Although we have all tried to see if we could proceed with the case given the amount of work that has been done.<br />
“It seems to us that it is simply not possible to do that without running into some risk of fairness in the hearing.<br />
“We are not going to proceed with the hearing today.”<br />
Gay rights activist Gareth Lee, a member of LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, had wanted a cake featuring Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie with the slogan Support Gay Marriage for a private function marking International Day Against Homophobia in May 2014.<br />
<b><br /></b>
He paid in full when placing the order at Ashers’ Belfast branch, but two days later the company phoned to say it could not be processed.<br />
The high-profile case was heard over three days last March.<br />
Delivering her reserved judgment two months later, District Judge Isobel Brownlie found Ashers directly discriminated against Mr Lee who had been treated “less favourably”, contrary to the law.<br />
Ordering the bakers to pay agreed damages of £500, the judge said religious beliefs could not dictate the law.<br />
<b><br /></b>
The Northern Ireland Equality Commission, which monitors compliance with the region’s anti-discrimination laws, took the landmark legal action on behalf of Mr Lee.<br />
Mr McArthur said the bakery treated Mr Lee like any other customer.<br />
The appeal, which has been adjourned until May, was being heard before three of Northern Ireland’s most senior judges.<br />
Afterwards, Dr Michael Wardlow - chief commissioner with the Equality Commission, expressed disappointment at the delay.<br />
He said: “We came here today for this very important case and we were looking forward to hearing the arguments.<br />
<b><br /></b>
“We are very disappointed that at this very late stage another argument has come in and that has to be resolved.<br />
The reality is it could take months.”<br />
Throughout the brief hearing Mr Lee sat in the front row of the public gallery beside representatives of the Equality Commission.<br />
Three rows behind were Ashers directors Karen and Colin McArthur with their son, the firm’s general manager Daniel McArthur, and his wife Amy, plus Simon Calvert from the Christian Institute, which has garnered public support and financial backing for the bakers.<br />
Also in court were Democratic Unionist MLAs Paul Givan and Edwin Poots, a former Stormont health minister.<br />
<br />
Much of the hearing was dominated by complex legal argument around how the so-called “devolution issue” could be handled.<br />
Robin Allen QC, representing the Equality Commission, said it was up to the court to decide whether to “salami slice” proceedings.<br />
He added: “I dive into these waters with some degree of trepidation.”<br />
However, Sir Declan Morgan said there was a danger of “losing track” of the argument if the case was split in two with any arguments from the Attorney General being heard at a later stage.<br />
He added: “We all have life jackets on.”<br />
<br />
Outside the court, Mr Calvert spoke on behalf of the McArthur family.<br />
He said: “The court has adjourned the hearing essentially because of the importance of the issues at stake. The Attorney General has raised a number of issues. We were neutral as to whether those issues came in but the court wants to hear them.<br />
“It just confirms that this is a really important case and the court and all the parties want to make sure all the issues are properly rehearsed in court and we will be back on May 9 to do that.”<br />
The hearing has been adjourned.<br />
<br />GMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16825457864409204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-57040144118849818832015-04-26T00:22:00.004+01:002015-04-26T00:22:43.989+01:00Proposed changes with regard to Criminal law on abortion. <br />
<h2>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>On behalf of the Government and Morals Committee of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster we would like to respond to the proposed changes with regard to Criminal law on abortion.</b></span></h2>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The introduction to your consultation states, “It is not a debate on the wider issues of abortion law – issues often labelled as ‘pro-choice’ and ‘pro-life’.” And while we appreciate that the Justice Department does not want to be drawn into a deeper debate on this issue it is very hard to divorce the two subjects for they are linked. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As a church body we seek to adhere to the teaching of Scripture as found in the Ten Commandments on the preservation of life from the time of conception until natural death.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The proposed changes to Criminal law relate to two specific aspects surrounding the subject of abortion in connection with foetal disability and rape. While this has caused much media attention in recent days we believe that there is another agenda being pushed by those who desire a more liberal society and a lowering of moral standards.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In fact we view the changes being pushed within society as bringing about a devaluing of human life, whether it is that of the unborn or the elderly person who cannot care for themselves. Society has become selfish and does not want to care for the disabled at any end of the age spectrum and this proposed change is feeding that vile appetite.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>We are concerned by some of the terms that are used within this document-</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Section 1:1</b> of the document refers to a foetus being "incompatible with life"; this does not make sense since by definition-</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"A <i>foetus</i> is an unborn animal or human being in its later stages of development." (Collins English Dictionary)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The fact that development has commenced at the point of conception means that there is life. From the time of conception cells have been growing and reproducing at a vast rate. "life" is defined, as the ability to grow and to reproduce, so by the very fact that the unborn child is named a foetus is clear evidence that it is alive. Therefore the reference to a foetus being "incompatible" with life is absolute nonsense.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">With that point in view this consultation is based upon an incorrect premise!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While we strongly disagree with the terminology used, there are some important questions that need to be asked-</span></div>
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<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: 12.0px Symbol; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Who determines if the foetus is "incompatible" with life?</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: 12.0px Symbol; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On what basis do they make this determination?</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: 12.0px Symbol; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">How accurate are their procedures?</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: 12.0px Symbol; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Have they been known to make errors in the past?</span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What we are speaking about is the importance and value of one life. We must bear in mind that the one of main arguments for the abolition of Capital Punishment was the risk of an innocent person being executed. Yet in this consultation there is the desire to murder the unborn children upon the basis of a judgment made by two medical Practitioners who have a very real chance of getting it wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From the perspective of a justice department is this the line you want to go down?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Question 2 - Should the law allow for abortion in the case of lethal Foetal Abnormality?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The case mentioned in the opening chapter of the consultation is that of Sarah Ewart, whose unborn child had been diagnosed with anencephaly. There are a number of disorders that are termed as "fatal foetal abnormalities", such as Anencephaly, Edwards syndrome (Trisomy18), Inencephaly and Potter’s Syndrome.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For the parents who are given the news from the medical profession that their child/ren may have one of these disorders it is heart rending. They face the possibility of a full term pregnancy and the likelihood that their little one/s may only live for a short space of time. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For the mother who will feel the movements of the little one/s it is most traumatic. For while other expectant mums are making plans for a nursery she is unsure what to do. It is an issue, which affects not only the parents but also the family circle, and many tears can be shed and heartache felt over the situation.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In listening to and reading the comments made by Sarah Ewart this turmoil of mind is brought very readily to the fore. Yet we must remember that this unborn child is a human being. While the unborn baby may have what is termed a "lethal foetal abnormality", it does not detract from the fact that he/she is alive and has been growing within the womb. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">Advice/Support</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Where such a diagnosis is made, it is vital that the parents have all the advice that the medical profession can give and that it is not assumed that they will have an abortion. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A Report made by a working party of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in May 2010 entitled "<b>Termination of Pregnancy for Foetal Abnormality in England, Scotland and Wales</b>" made this recommendation-</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">" 6. <i>It should not be assumed that, even in the presence of an obviously fatal fetal condition such as anencephaly, a woman will choose to have a termination. A decision to decline the offer of termination must be fully supported (section 6)</i>."</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/terminationpregnancyreport18may2010.pdf) pg. ix</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Mail Online carried the story of Carrie Curtis on the 29th July 2013. This young 20 year woman was pregnant with a child that had been diagnosed with Potters syndrome and made the decision, that while there was a heartbeat she wanted to go full term. Yet she recalls how every fortnight when she went for her check-up she was asked if she wanted to terminate the baby.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the case of a young woman such as Sarah, she and her husband should have the opportunity to meet with others who have faced similar situations and not opted for abortion. They should be provided with help as to how best to prepare for the birth of the child, what to expect and how to deal with the possibility of the infant's death at whatever stage it may occur.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Having had the opportunity to speak to the parents of three children, one of which has "Hydranencephaly" and is now 20 years of age, and one who had Microencephaly who passed away aged 3 1/2. We can say that contrary to what is regularly stated, such conditions are not always fatal. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">These parents had been advised to have an abortion that none of the children would live longer than a few days, but the medical Practitioners got it wrong and this is only one instance.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The sad truth is that for children born with such conditions, help is not forth-coming for either them or the parents. They are made to feel that they are unwanted and are placing an unnecessary burden on others. This is an issue that ought to be addressed. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Section 4.13</b> states that ‘the Department believes that a woman…. whatever the effect on her mental health, should have the choice to terminate the pregnancy, if that is the action she considers appropriate.’ </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Does the Department believe that if a mother determines to continue with the pregnancy, she and the child should still have the full support of the medical facilities available?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Having read the comments of women who have had a similar experience, many of them spoke of the difficulty of the pregnancy knowing that they would most likely only see their child alive for a short time. Yet they were able to say that despite the stress and tears, they were better mentally and emotionally, for being able to hold their little infant and introducing him/her to the father and other family members. They indicated that by the time of the birth much grieving had been done and they were able to deal with the sad death in a more dignified manner.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">Risks associated with abortion</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our concern is that pregnant women carrying a child, who may have what is termed a "fatal foetal abnormality", will be pushed into having an abortion without adequate advice and time being given. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Abortion is portrayed as a quick-fix solution. A way to avoid the pain and grief that comes with the death of a child, a means of getting back to a normal routine as quickly as possible, and avoiding long periods of care for a very ill child, yet that is not the case. Abortion for many has left them suffering from depression and a sense of guilt that they may never get over.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The <b>Medical journal Vol. 290 dated 23th March 1985 (pg. 908)</b> details a study conducted in Mid Glamorgan between 1977 and 1981 focused on mothers who had an abortion because of fetal malformation. They make the following remarks-</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"<i>Twenty two women (46%)</i></span><span style="font: 9.5px 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>whose pregnancies had been</i></span><span style="font: 9.5px 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>terminated for fetal malformation recalled that at six months they still had symptoms of depression with some anxiety compared with none in the other three groups combined</i>."</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(Sequelae and support after termination of pregnancy for fetal malformation, British Medical Journal-VOLUME 290 23 MARCH 1985 pg 908)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the report mentioned earlier "<b>Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Abnormality in England, Scotland and Wales</b>" dated May 2010, with regard to Post Termination care we read "<i>Well-organised follow-up care is essential after a termination for fetal abnormality. Anecdotal feedback from Antenatal Results and Choices indicates that this is an area of care that some women find lacking</i></span><span style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">."</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Evidently since the study in the Medical Journal dated 1985 very little has changed with regard to the care given after abortion yet it is being readily promoted as a solution to an already traumatic experience. There is risk of depression and other studies indicate an increased risk of suicide-</span></div>
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<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: 12.0px Symbol; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A study in Finland revealed a six-fold increased rate of deaths from suicide among aborting women. (BMJ 1996; 313:1431-1434)</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: 12.0px Symbol; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A study conducted in Wales on 408,000 women between 1991 and 1995; found that women who had induced abortions were 225 percent more likely to commit suicide, than women admitted for normal delivery. (BMJ 1997; 314:902)</span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The suggested option four of permitting abortion on the guidance of medical practitioners as to "'compatibility' with life" is based on the premise that they are always right. This places a lot of responsibility at the feet of the medical Practitioners with regard to the definition of "fatal" and how long the child lives after he/she is born. The suggestion that two doctors sign off the abortion “in good faith” is not a sufficient safeguard as the 1967 Abortion Act has a similar provision and has been widely abused.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The statistics for abortion in England and Wales reveal that there were <b>185,331</b> in the year 2013. The largest number of abortions fell under category C which relates to the perceived mental risk to the mother's life. This high rate stands in stark contrast to abortion statistics for Northern Ireland. 2,732 abortions were on the basis of ground E (<i>there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped</i>). This statistic includes 590 abortions for Down’s Syndrome and other illnesses that can be well treated and managed with current medical advances. Such figures are extremely alarming and we fear that the altering of the law to accommodate fatal foetal abnormality could become a stepping-stone to widespread abuse of any child who may be born with a disability.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It is this trend that causes us great concern. There seems to be a mindset that if the unborn child is perceived to be impaired then abortion is a legitimate line to follow.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As mentioned this is a very emotional case and cannot fail but touch the heart of everyone who hears about it. However caution is advised for as the saying goes "hard cases make bad law". </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While the numbers of such cases are thankfully low we cannot dismiss them. These are parents facing a situation more traumatic than anything they have ever encountered. They need adequate support, care, and information about the condition of the unborn child. We believe that while a full-term pregnancy may be hard yet it gives the parents time to come to terms with the birth of the child and what to expect. They are also given the opportunity to see the little one, which helps mentally and physically in dealing with the child's passing.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We must also view this proposal of option 4 in the light of recent reports of gender selection taking place, which brings into the spotlight how legal abortions are being regulated.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>So in this circumstance we do not believe that abortion should be permitted.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Questions 6 to 9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Should the law be changed to allow abortion in the case of rape of other sexual crime.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The subject of sexual crime is one that we seldom want to talk about and yet it is a very real problem in our country. The sexualisation of women within the music culture and within the media makes them the target of the most depraved of crimes in society.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sadly this extends to the abuse of young children and the assault of anyone in such a manner is heinous.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The increase in sexual crimes is alarming and we believe it emphasises the need for stricter sentences with relation to these offences. We commend those facilities that provide counselling and help for those affected and the work that has been done to deal with human trafficking.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The proposal relating to sex crime is one that has been highlighted in the media and we do not believe that abortion is the answer. The victim needs love, care and compassion and to compound the wrong done to a victim by aborting her unborn child is not conducive to the welfare of the mother.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The main argument expressed in this instance is that it would not be right to expect a woman to carry a child for 9 months that would be a constant reminder of the sexual assault that has taken place against her and we understand that.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">However is the killing of the unborn child the way to correct that crime? Two wrongs never make a right.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Rape is a crime, as is incest and yet why should the innocent unborn child be the one to suffer. The child is as much a victim as the mother; the taking of the life of the child only compounds the damage that has been done.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We have already looked at the aftermath of abortion and again the woman has just come through one trauma and is it right to inflict another upon her?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One victim made the comment that the birth of the child was the only light to come out of such a dark event. Another woman who had suffered this terrible crime made the comment that she had got over the rape but not the abortion. Figures released by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland in 2013</span><span style="font: 6.5px 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">12 </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">showed that in 90 cases of pregnancy through rape only 17 women and girls chose to have a termination. This is one study but the figures equate to just 15% of the total. </span></div>
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<span style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">http://www.rcni.ie/rape-pregnancy-and-abortion-in-ireland-rcni-release-new-figures-today/ </span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> )</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>It is our belief that help and comfort are best given to a mother at this time and that abortion will not bring peace, or justice to the individual or their family. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Question 17 Should there be a right to a conscientious objection for those who participate in treatment for abortion in respect of (i) lethal foetal abnormality (ii) sexual crime. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We do not support a change to the law. However in the case that abortion is legislated for in these circumstances it is vital that a statutory conscientious objection clause is introduced. The 1967 Abortion Act, which operates on the mainland, protects freedom of conscience.</span></div>
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Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-89405836923473943132015-04-26T00:21:00.002+01:002015-04-26T00:21:21.599+01:00Northern Ireland Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill <br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Response of Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster to the Consultation on the Northern Ireland Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dear Sir </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I write on behalf of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster to express our support for your proposed Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill. The Bible asserts in Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Therefore it is the duty of Christians to conduct themselves according to the laws of the land. However the Bible also makes it clear that there are certain cases of conscience where allegiance to God and His Word are superior to what the government of the land might say. For example when Peter and John were forbidden to speak in the name of Christ by the Jewish Council they said “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”(Acts 4:19-20). Also when Daniel was commanded to not to pray to God he continued to go to his room and quite publically pray to God (Daniel 6:10). The denial of freedom of conscience is a mark of totalitarianism and we have a humanistic totalitarianism being imposed on us at present. We agree with your assertion that some equality legislation, passed with the intention of protecting minorities, is having an adverse effect on those with religious belief when it comes to the provision of goods and services. We feel that the equality law as it stands at the minute is being used as a weapon against those who hold to a Biblical as opposed to a secular morality. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We will answer the questions as set out in your consultation document.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Question 1:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you believe that it would be appropriate to amend the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 as proposed in Appendix 1 to ensure that individuals are not put in a position where the result of this legislation they are forced to choose between acting in violation of their faith conscience by affirming same-sex relationships, or losing their livelihood?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We not only believe that it is appropriate to amend the equality act but we feel that it is a necessity. We fear that if there is not some provision for Christian conscience then large segments of employment will be closed to committed Christians.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Question 2:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is it appropriate that goods and services legislation should be applied in such a way that it narrows diversity and choice for service users who wish to access a service in the context of a faith/particular faith ethos?</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It is certainly not appropriate that Evangelical Christians and other people with a strong religious morality, be driven from large segments of business by forcing them to go against conscience if they stay. Christians have historically contributed massively to the business life of the country and to the caring professions and the wedding industry. It is going to be detrimental to the welfare of the country to drive them from these areas. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Question 3:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As an example: a recent High Court Judgement means that Northern Ireland’s Catholic adoption agency will now be required to either be willing to act in violation of its faith identity by endorsing same-sex unions and facilitating gay adoption (which means surrendering their faith identity if they wish to continue as a provider), or to cease service provision. Do you think that gay rights are more important than religious rights such that the need to ensure gay couples can access adoption services from every provider should be pressed even when the consequence is to remove from Catholic couples the right to access a Catholic adoption service from anywhere? Is this the right balance or is there a better balance to be struck? </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">No right should be allowed to trump another right. No right is more important than another. Not only are prospective parents being robbed of choice if such agencies close but children who would normally have been sent to such an agency are being robbed of choice.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Question 4: How do you think the proposed legislation will impact on human rights? </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We feel that the proposed legislation would impact positively on human rights as it rebalances rights.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Question 5: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How do you think the proposed legislation will impact on equality of opportunity? </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The proposed legislation would impact positively on equality of opportunity as it gives more equality for a Christian provider to preserve his or her conscience.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Question 6: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you have any comments on the likely cost / financial implications of the proposed legislation? </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We are not in a position to make a comment about this.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Question 7 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you have any other comments on the proposed draft legislation? Would you suggest any further amendments? </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We feel that the proposed amendment needs to be more detailed and the practicalities need to be worked out. We have no doubt that as it progresses through the legislative process and particularly with committee stage that more, “meat will be put on the bones” but it is probably open to criticism at present because opponents will be able to latch on to this haziness. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">However can we commend Mr Paul Givan MLA for his desire to redress what is an injustice to those who hold to Biblical morality. We wish him well in his desire to advance this amendment and will be praying to the end that it will succeed.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Yours faithfully,<br />
Rev Raymond Robinson<br />
(Convenor)<br />
Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster Government and Morals Committee </span></div>
Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-11615991089193224012015-04-26T00:19:00.002+01:002015-04-26T00:19:43.588+01:00Press release on the Ashers Bakery case and Lord's Day Observance.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This week we see two great moral issues brought to the fore in Northern Ireland that should cause deep concern to the heart of every Bible believing Christian. </span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Firstly there is the court case regarding Ashers Baking Company and secondly the Euro 2016 qualifier being played on the Lord's Day.</span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Firstly in regard to the court case against Ashers, the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster would like to reiterate its support for the Biblical definition of marriage as found in - Mark 10:6-8 "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh." </span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We reject and oppose the efforts by some to introduce a form of "marriage" that is contrary to Scriptural teaching and will undoubtedly be detrimental to society and the family unit.</span><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Testimonies from those who have been brought up in the environment of same-sex "marriage" reveal that both male and female parenting, by a mother and a father is the "best and most successful family structure" within the home. </span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In our adherence to the Divine institution of marriage, we wholly oppose the efforts that are being made by the so-called Equality Commission to prosecute Ashers Baking Company Ltd, for their refusal to endorse unlawful "gay marriage". We believe that they, as well as everyone else, should be permitted to conduct their lawful business enterprise in accordance with their Christian conscience.</span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The recent comments in the Guardian by the chairman of this publically-funded body Mr Michael Wardlow, that Christians should "either look at the law or maybe that is not the business they should be in" clearly highlight the attitude of the Commission to those opposed to "gay marriage". It would certainly seem from this statement and others made by the Commission that they have decided that sodomite partnerships should be made legal in Northern Ireland. </span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Secondly in connection with the football match, we would once again voice our opposition to the decision by the IFA to permit this game to be played at Windsor Park on the Lord's Day 29th March. The fourth commandment states "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy". This match is a blatant dismissal of this command and serves only to please the television companies. It has been planned without any thought for, or consultation with, the local church community. </span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Having already expressed our views to the IFA, we will be making a public protest to display our opposition to this dishonouring of the Lord's Day.</span></span></h2>
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Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-62486996666813591422014-12-01T15:52:00.003+00:002014-12-01T15:55:13.263+00:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dear Sir</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster is extremely concerned at the recent decision by the Equality Commission to take Ashers Baking Company to court over their refusal to endorse a cake with the political slogan "Support gay marriage".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As a Denomination we take our definition of marriage from the Word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ said in-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Mark 10:6-8 </b>But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font: 8.0px 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><sup>7</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font: 8.0px 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><sup>8</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">However what is at stake with regard to Ashers is not merely a case of discrimination as some would have you believe. Rather it is a determined effort by a publically funded body, the Equality Commission, to infringe the rights of a Christian business to conduct their business in accordance with their Christian faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ashers Baking Company did not refuse to serve customers. Neither do they ask the religion, the sexual orientation, the ethnicity or political views of any customer. What they did refuse to do was endorse a cake with a controversial slogan at variance with their Christian beliefs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In accordance with those same Christian beliefs they pay their taxes, run their business in an open and lawful manner, and treat their employees with dignity and respect. Is this not the sort of business we want?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Equality Commission stated on 28th April 2014 prior to the Assembly debate-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“The Commission supports the introduction of legislation to permit same-sex marriage with sufficient safeguards so that religious organizations and their representatives who do not wish to marry same-sex couples cannot be compelled to do so."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Same-sex "marriage" has been rejected by the Northern Ireland Assembly on three occasions, yet this tax-payer funded body seems intent on silencing opposition to that which is not lawful in the land. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Do they not respect the views of the NI assembly? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Are they permitted to protect that which is outside of the law in Northern Ireland while at the same time persecuting a law-abiding family run business adhering to their Christian principles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What would the Equality Commission think of being taken to court for promoting same sex "marriage"? We know they would be indignant! However they are swift to act against Christians, who, according to their conscience, cannot participate in the promotion of same sex "marriage"! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It would seem from this statement, and the actions of the Equality Commission, that religious organisations and individuals are not permitted to act in accordance with their own conscience even when legislation in the Province on this issue supports them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We would ask the Equality Commission to reconsider this decision and explain exactly what rights a business owner has in providing public services, especially when asked to do that which is contrary to their conscience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sincerely</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Government and Morals Committee of the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster</span></div>
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Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848645132993926797.post-38972295219301826802014-07-12T17:28:00.001+01:002014-07-12T17:32:08.051+01:00<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe - Ashers Bakery were right to refuse gay marriage cake.</span></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9X2WHreAOlDQEJKoLp4_o0iIoMR2I2DvnRyiWFAdkTl_h5V1vFqi_kz2RImttV8IL-XBs1gxLlHSdgO-pErBE4oagt4ncez0pAiu0r5AELGKUwyQ7_3TCe93u9iW-APDyDFBoXvvaOI/s1600/Ann_Widdecombe_1783397a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9X2WHreAOlDQEJKoLp4_o0iIoMR2I2DvnRyiWFAdkTl_h5V1vFqi_kz2RImttV8IL-XBs1gxLlHSdgO-pErBE4oagt4ncez0pAiu0r5AELGKUwyQ7_3TCe93u9iW-APDyDFBoXvvaOI/s1600/Ann_Widdecombe_1783397a.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Former conservative minister Ann Widdecombe has came out in defense of the rights of businesses to operate according to their beliefs. Her comments come in light of a possible legal challenge to Ashers bakery based in Northern Ireland.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The company refused to bake a cake with a message in support of gay marriage. Mr. Daniel McArthur, general manger of Ashers said they are happy to bake cakes for anyone, but could not fulfil that particular order as it clashed with the ethos of the business. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ms. Widdecombe expressed her views through the Daily Express, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>“Surely it is an elementary feature of true democracy that nobody should be obliged by law to affirm that which he or she does not believe”, </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If the baker had refused merely to bake a cake because the customer was gay then that would indeed have been both unpleasant and illegal but the refusal was specific to the message requested for the cake."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prime minister David Cameron has given repeated assurances that introducing gay marriage “would not cause discrimination against those who believed it wrong”. David Cameron failed to back religious tolerance and equality when asked about the 'Ashers' case. His response to DUP MP Gregory Campbell during Prime Ministers question time indicated that he was unaware of the potential legal case against the company, however, he did say: 'commitment to equality in terms of people with different sexualities, is a very important part of being British.'</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ms. Widdecombe highlighted the repeated reassurances given to Parliament by stating “What price your assurances now, Mr Cameron?” she posed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can read Ms. Widdecombe's article here:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/ann-widdecombe/487617/Ann-Widdecombe-on-Gay-bakery-controversy-Wimbledon-and-Monty-Python" target="_blank">Daily Express article.</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Rev. Paul Thompson</span></div>
Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07645778713337371154noreply@blogger.com0